Hardwood flooring cost in Eau Claire, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,200 – $11,900
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $23.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #138
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Eau Claire area: $5,200 to $11,900 for 500 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% lower than the US figure. 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 Eau Claire, WI, standard level
$7,200 to $9,850
About $14.50 to $19.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $3,150 | $4,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,200 | $9,850 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Eau Claire, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,400 | $3,600 | $4,800 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,200 | $8,550 | $11,900 | 100% |
Where the Eau Claire price comes from
Labor is 42% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (70%), floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (30%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Eau Claire the blended ratio comes out at 0.96.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Eau Claire is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $4,900 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.8: $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 Eau Claire. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Eau Claire cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Minneapolis is the priciest of the group at $9,900. Wausau is the cheapest at $8,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WIthis page | $5,200 – $11,900 | $8,550 | |
| Wausau, WI75 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −5% |
| Rochester, MN85 miles | $5,500 – $12,400 | $8,950 | +5% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,550 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN100 miles | $6,050 – $13,700 | $9,900 | +16% |
| Oshkosh, WI140 miles | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +13% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | +2% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Eau Claire ranks #138 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Eau Claire is 2% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +13% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,550 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Eau Claire against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $4,750 – $11,000 | $7,850 | −8% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,100 | −5% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −5% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,550 | level |
Eau Claire: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Eau Claire. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from one room (200 sq ft) to whole house (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$5,200 to $7,900
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,200 to $9,850
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,200 to $11,900
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,150 | $2,900 – $3,950 | $3,700 – $4,750 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,200 – $7,900 | $7,200 – $9,850 | $9,200 – $11,900 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,500 – $18,900 | $17,300 – $23,700 | $22,100 – $28,400 |
Who does the work: Eau Claire trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Eau Claire the blend is 0.96.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $28.41 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.39 and $38.28 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 41.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Eau Claire 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $890 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $450. That is a swing of roughly 5.3% to 10.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Eau Claire has 86,060 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 226th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $23.39 | $28.41 | $38.28 | $29.12 | 0.98 | 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% | 0.96 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Eau Claire bid
Permit
Flooring rarely needs a permit, so no permit fee is included in this estimate.
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.
What nearby projects cost in Eau Claire
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Eau Claire wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+5%) and laminate flooring lowest (−5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,900 – $6,600 | −5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,000 | +2% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,500 | −3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,500 | +5% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $7,200 to $9,850 for Eau Claire, WI is attached.
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Hardwood flooring in Eau Claire: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Eau Claire?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,200 to $11,900 in the Eau Claire area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,200 to $9,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Eau Claire?
About $10.50 to $23.50 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 Eau Claire or Wausau?
Wausau is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,150, which is 5% less than Eau Claire ($8,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Eau Claire?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,600 out of $8,550. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Eau Claire?
$5,200 to $11,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Eau Claire expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Eau Claire is 2% below 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 Eau Claire?
The BLS median is $28.41 an hour in the Eau Claire area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.39 to $38.28.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Eau Claire?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,200 to $7,900 and premium work $9,200 to $11,900. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Eau Claire
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.