Laminate flooring cost in Duluth, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $2,000 – $7,000
- Per sq ft
- $4.05 – $14
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $4,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #84
- 1 = most expensive
A laminate floor in Duluth, MN usually costs $2,000 to $7,000 for 500 sq ft. That works out to about $4.05 to $14 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) earn a median of $28.55 an hour in the Duluth area, 5% above the US median of $27.15.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Duluth, MN, standard level
$3,500 to $5,500
About $7 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $2,300 | $3,350 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $3,500 | $5,500 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,650 | $2,850 | 37% |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,850 | $4,100 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $2,000 | $4,500 | $7,000 | 100% |
Why Duluth prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Duluth wages are 1.03 times the national level. Labor makes up about 63% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Duluth is at 95.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,750 nationally becomes $1,650 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.8: $0 to $0.
Data note: 60% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Duluth. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Duluth
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 Duluth the blend is 1.03.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 60% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Duluth metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median: $28.55 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.49 and $47.67 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $29.10 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $36.50 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 49.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles)) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $430. That is a swing of roughly 9.5% to 25.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Duluth has 124,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 173rd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 60% | $21.49 | $28.55 | $47.67 | $27.15 | 1.05 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.05 | $29.10 | $36.50 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Is Duluth cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Duluth. Wausau is the lowest at about $4,100 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 210 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $2,250 – $7,750 | $5,000 | +11% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $1,900 – $6,600 | $4,250 | −5% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $1,800 – $6,400 | $4,100 | −9% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $1,850 – $6,450 | $4,150 | −8% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $2,100 – $7,250 | $4,650 | +4% |
| United States | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Duluth ranks #84 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Duluth is 4% below the Minnesota figure.
Elsewhere in Minnesota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $2,250 – $7,750 | $5,000 | +11% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $2,050 – $7,050 | $4,550 | +1% |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $1,850 – $6,600 | $4,250 | −6% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,950 – $6,700 | $4,300 | −4% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $1,900 – $6,650 | $4,250 | −6% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $1,650 – $5,900 | $3,750 | −16% |
Cost by quality level and size in Duluth
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Duluth. 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
$2,000 to $4,000
Basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor
Standard
$3,500 to $5,500
Thicker waterproof laminate, standard trim
Premium
$5,000 to $7,000
Premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $810 – $1,600 | $1,400 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,800 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $2,000 – $4,000 | $3,500 – $5,500 | $5,000 – $7,000 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $4,850 – $9,600 | $8,400 – $13,200 | $12,000 – $16,800 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Duluth bid
Heated floors
Radiant floor heating adds $7-$17 per sq ft and has to go in before the floor does.
Brand
Name-brand laminate such as Pergo runs $5-$17 per sq ft installed.
Floating versus glued
Click-lock or floating laminate is the easiest and cheapest to install (HomeGuide).
Planning more than one job in Duluth?
Jobs that often go together with laminate floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Duluth wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (+8%) and hardwood flooring lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,400 – $12,200 | −2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,950 – $10,500 | +8% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,200 – $31,000 | −2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,000 | +7% |
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 $3,500 to $5,500 for Duluth, MN is attached.
Detailed laminate flooring report for Duluth, MN, $9
The report lays out the laminate flooring numbers for Duluth, MN line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Laminate flooring in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to install laminate flooring in Duluth?
For 500 sq ft, expect $2,000 to $7,000 in the Duluth area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,500 to $5,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for laminate floor in Duluth?
About $4.05 to $14 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $14.
+Is laminate floor cheaper in Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $4,500, which is 0% more than Duluth ($4,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $2,850 out of $4,500. Materials are 37% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Duluth?
$2,000 to $7,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does laminate floor need a permit in Duluth?
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 Duluth area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for laminate floor compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 4% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($4,650 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) earn in Duluth?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $28.55 an hour, compared with $27.15 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.49 to $47.67.
+What do basic and premium laminate floor work cost in Duluth?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $2,000 to $4,000 and premium work $5,000 to $7,000. Basic means: basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor. Premium means: premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair.
Laminate flooring near Duluth
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.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Laminate Flooring Installation Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $3-$8 per sq ft laminate labor, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.