Hardwood flooring cost in Oshkosh, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,950 – $13,300
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $26.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #36
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Oshkosh, plan on $5,950 to $13,300 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $12 to $26.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 7% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $40.59 an hour in the Oshkosh area, 39% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Oshkosh, WI, standard level
$8,150 to $11,100
About $16.50 to $22 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,100 | $5,750 |
| Labor | $4,100 | $5,350 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,150 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Oshkosh, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 51% |
| Labor | $3,150 | $4,700 | $6,300 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,950 | $9,650 | $13,300 | 100% |
Where the Oshkosh price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $40.59 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Oshkosh is 1.26 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 49% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Oshkosh 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 (92.9) 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 Oshkosh. The wage table below marks each row.
Oshkosh 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 Oshkosh is 1.26 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $40.59 an hour, which is 39% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.01 and $41.48 an hour. BLS counts 650 of them working in the area, 69.3 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 Oshkosh 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 ($41.48 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($29.01) it shrinks by about $1,050. The total moves by 0.8% or 10.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,750 jobs in the Oshkosh-Neenah area. That makes it the 215th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $29.01 | $40.59 | $41.48 | $29.12 | 1.39 | 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% | 1.26 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Oshkosh
Because every project leans on different trades, Oshkosh's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs +9% and kitchen remodel +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,150 – $7,300 | +5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $9,950 | +1% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,400 | +9% |
How Oshkosh compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 500 sq ft range from $8,150 to $9,650 across Oshkosh and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WIthis page | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | |
| Appleton, WI20 miles | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | −10% |
| Green Bay, WI45 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | −9% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,700 | −10% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $4,950 – $11,300 | $8,150 | −15% |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | −10% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | −10% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −7% |
Across 300 US metros, Oshkosh comes in at #36 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Oshkosh is 11% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | −9% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | −10% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | −9% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | −10% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $5,200 – $11,900 | $8,550 | −11% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,550 | −11% |
Cities with a workforce like Oshkosh's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Oshkosh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $5,000 – $11,400 | $8,150 | −15% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $5,800 – $13,100 | $9,450 | −2% |
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $5,100 – $11,600 | $8,350 | −13% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $6,000 – $13,600 | $9,800 | +2% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: hardwood flooring pricing in Oshkosh
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Oshkosh 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
$5,950 to $8,900
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$8,150 to $11,100
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$10,400 to $13,300
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,400 – $3,550 | $3,250 – $4,450 | $4,150 – $5,350 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,950 – $8,900 | $8,150 – $11,100 | $10,400 – $13,300 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $14,300 – $21,400 | $19,600 – $26,700 | $24,900 – $32,000 |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Oshkosh
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.
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 $8,150 to $11,100 for Oshkosh, WI is attached.
Detailed hardwood flooring report for Oshkosh, WI, $9
Multi-page report for Oshkosh, WI: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Hardwood flooring in Oshkosh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Oshkosh?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,950 to $13,300 in the Oshkosh area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,150 to $11,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Oshkosh?
About $12 to $26.50 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 Oshkosh or Appleton?
Appleton is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,700, which is 10% less than Oshkosh ($9,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Oshkosh?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $4,700 out of $9,650. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Oshkosh?
$5,950 to $13,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Oshkosh?
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 Oshkosh area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Oshkosh expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Oshkosh is 11% 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 Oshkosh?
The BLS median is $40.59 an hour in the Oshkosh area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.01 to $41.48.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Oshkosh?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,950 to $8,900 and premium work $10,400 to $13,300. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Oshkosh
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.