Hardwood flooring cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,300 – $12,000
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $24
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #112
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Appleton, plan on $5,300 to $12,000 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10.50 to $24 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$7,350 to $10,000
About $14.50 to $20 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $3,250 | $4,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,350 | $10,000 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,750 | $5,000 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,300 | $8,700 | $12,000 | 100% |
Why Appleton prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 70%, floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) at 30%. Weighted together, Appleton wages are 1.00 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $4,900, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Appleton. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Appleton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$5,300 to $8,000
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,350 to $10,000
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,350 to $12,000
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,150 – $3,200 | $2,950 – $4,000 | $3,750 – $4,800 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,300 – $8,000 | $7,350 – $10,000 | $9,350 – $12,000 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,800 – $19,200 | $17,600 – $24,100 | $22,500 – $28,900 |
Planning more than one job in Appleton?
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs +5% and laminate flooring −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,950 – $6,700 | −4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,000 | +2% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,000 – $30,600 | −3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +5% |
Appleton against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Oshkosh is the priciest of the group at $9,650. Wausau is the cheapest at $8,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +11% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +1% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,700 | level |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −6% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | level |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #112 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Appleton is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +11% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $5,200 – $11,900 | $8,550 | −2% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,550 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $5,400 – $12,200 | $8,800 | +1% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,850 | −10% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,300 | −4% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $5,500 – $12,400 | $8,950 | +3% |
Why two Appleton quotes can differ
Solid versus engineered
Solid hardwood is $11-$25 per sq ft installed and engineered hardwood is $9-$20 (HomeGuide).
Materials and labor
Materials are $6-$15 per sq ft and installation labor adds $3-$10 per sq ft.
Layout
Room shape, stairs and installation method change the labor side.
Appleton labor market for hardwood floor
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Appleton is 1.00 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $30.04 an hour, which is 3% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.40 and $40.83 an hour. BLS counts 700 of them working in the area, 56.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Appleton metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $25.42 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.49 and $34.27 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($40.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $970. At the 25th percentile ($24.40) it shrinks by about $510. The total moves by 11.2% or 5.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $24.40 | $30.04 | $40.83 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $22.49 | $25.42 | $34.27 | $27.15 | 0.94 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
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Hardwood flooring in Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Appleton?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,300 to $12,000 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,350 to $10,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Appleton?
About $10.50 to $24 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $11 to $25.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $9,650, which is 11% more than Appleton ($8,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $3,750 out of $8,700. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$5,300 to $12,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Appleton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Appleton area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 0% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($8,700 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $30.04 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.40 to $40.83.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Appleton?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,300 to $8,000 and premium work $9,350 to $12,000. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Appleton
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.