Laminate flooring cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $1,950 – $6,700
- Per sq ft
- $3.85 – $13.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $4,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #114
- 1 = most expensive
A laminate floor in Appleton, WI usually costs $1,950 to $6,700 for 500 sq ft. That works out to about $3.85 to $13.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $180 less. 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
$3,350 to $5,300
About $6.75 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,100 |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $3,350 | $5,300 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,650 | $2,800 | 38% |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,700 | $3,900 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,950 | $4,300 | $6,700 | 100% |
Why Appleton prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles), who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $25.42 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Appleton is 0.97 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 62% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Appleton is at 93.8 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 92.4: $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 Appleton. The wage table below marks each row.
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 $4,700. Wausau is the cheapest at $4,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $1,950 – $6,700 | $4,300 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $2,150 – $7,300 | $4,700 | +9% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $2,050 – $7,000 | $4,500 | +4% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $1,950 – $6,700 | $4,350 | level |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $1,800 – $6,400 | $4,100 | −5% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $1,950 – $6,750 | $4,350 | +1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,950 – $6,700 | $4,300 | level |
| United States | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | +4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Appleton ranks #114 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Appleton is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,950 – $6,750 | $4,350 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,900 – $6,600 | $4,250 | −2% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $2,050 – $7,000 | $4,500 | +4% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $2,150 – $7,300 | $4,700 | +9% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,900 – $6,600 | $4,250 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,900 – $6,600 | $4,250 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
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 | $2,000 – $7,000 | $4,500 | +4% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $1,650 – $5,900 | $3,750 | −13% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $1,850 – $6,600 | $4,250 | −2% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $2,050 – $7,050 | $4,550 | +6% |
What local crews earn in Appleton
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 Appleton the blend is 0.97.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 60% 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.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $30.04 an hour, 3% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.40 and $40.83 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 56.3 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 $540 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $180. That is a swing of roughly 4.1% to 12.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Appleton has 124,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 174th 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% | $22.49 | $25.42 | $34.27 | $27.15 | 0.94 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $24.40 | $30.04 | $40.83 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Appleton bid
Trim
Baseboards run $6-$9 per linear foot and are a common add-on.
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Appleton
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Appleton. 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
$1,950 to $3,850
Basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor
Standard
$3,350 to $5,300
Thicker waterproof laminate, standard trim
Premium
$4,800 to $6,700
Premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $770 – $1,550 | $1,350 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,700 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $1,950 – $3,850 | $3,350 – $5,300 | $4,800 – $6,700 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $4,650 – $9,200 | $8,100 – $12,700 | $11,500 – $16,100 |
Planning more than one job in Appleton?
Jobs that often go together with laminate floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Appleton wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+5%) and hardwood flooring lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring | 500 sq ft | $5,300 – $12,000 | −3% |
| 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% |
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Detailed laminate flooring report for Appleton, WI, $9
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Laminate flooring in Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install laminate flooring in Appleton?
For 500 sq ft, expect $1,950 to $6,700 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,350 to $5,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for laminate floor in Appleton?
About $3.85 to $13.50 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 Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $4,700, which is 9% more than Appleton ($4,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $2,700 out of $4,300. Materials are 38% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$1,950 to $6,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does laminate 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 laminate floor compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 0% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($4,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) earn in Appleton?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $25.42 an hour, compared with $27.15 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.49 to $34.27.
+What do basic and premium laminate floor work cost in Appleton?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,950 to $3,850 and premium work $4,800 to $6,700. Basic means: basic click-lock laminate on a flat subfloor. Premium means: premium or brand-name laminate, subfloor repair.
Laminate 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.
- 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.