Hardwood flooring cost in Racine, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,200 – $11,800
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $23.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #151
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Racine area: $5,200 to $11,800 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 6% 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 Racine, WI, standard level
$7,150 to $9,800
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 | $3,100 | $4,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,150 | $9,800 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Racine, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,900 | $7,050 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,550 | $4,750 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,200 | $8,500 | $11,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Racine number
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 Racine the blended ratio comes out at 0.95.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Racine 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 96.0: $0 to $0.
Is Racine cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group at $10,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racine, WIthis page | $5,200 – $11,800 | $8,500 | |
| Milwaukee, WI10 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +3% |
| Kenosha, WI15 miles | $5,600 – $12,800 | $9,250 | +9% |
| Sheboygan, WI65 miles | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,700 | +3% |
| Janesville, WI65 miles | $5,700 – $12,800 | $9,250 | +9% |
| Chicago, IL70 miles | $6,500 – $14,600 | $10,500 | +24% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | +2% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Racine ranks #151 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Racine 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 | +3% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,650 | +2% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $5,350 – $12,100 | $8,750 | +3% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $5,300 – $12,000 | $8,700 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $5,950 – $13,300 | $9,650 | +14% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $5,200 – $11,900 | $8,550 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Racine against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $6,300 – $14,200 | $10,200 | +21% |
| Warner Robins, GA | 76,050 jobs | $4,850 – $11,100 | $8,000 | −6% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $6,050 – $13,700 | $9,850 | +16% |
| Kenosha, WI | 75,450 jobs | $5,600 – $12,800 | $9,250 | +9% |
Who does the work: Racine 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 Racine the blend is 0.95.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $29.29 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.17 and $40.84 an hour. About 320 work in the metro. That is 42.0 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), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.09 an hour, 19% below the US median of $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $21.95 and $26.06 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 3.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 1.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,050 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $460. That is a swing of roughly 5.4% to 12.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Racine-Mount Pleasant has 76,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 243rd 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% | $24.17 | $29.29 | $40.84 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $21.95 | $22.09 | $26.06 | $27.15 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Racine
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Racine. 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 $7,800
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,150 to $9,800
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,150 to $11,800
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,050 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $3,900 | $3,650 – $4,700 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,200 – $7,800 | $7,150 – $9,800 | $9,150 – $11,800 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $12,400 – $18,800 | $17,200 – $23,500 | $21,900 – $28,300 |
Planning more than one job in Racine?
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Racine wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+4%) and laminate flooring lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,400 | −9% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,650 – $9,950 | +2% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,000 – $30,600 | −3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,100 | +4% |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Racine
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.
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 $7,150 to $9,800 for Racine, WI is attached.
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Multi-page report for Racine, 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 Racine: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Racine?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,200 to $11,800 in the Racine area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,150 to $9,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Racine?
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 Racine or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee is 10 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $8,750, which is 3% more than Racine ($8,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Racine?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,550 out of $8,500. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Racine?
$5,200 to $11,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Racine?
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 Racine area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Racine expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Racine 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 Racine?
The BLS median is $29.29 an hour in the Racine area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.17 to $40.84.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Racine?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,200 to $7,800 and premium work $9,150 to $11,800. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Racine
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.