Cost guide · Greater Boston
How much does a hardwood floor cost in Greater Boston?
Most flooring projects in Greater Boston run $6,000 – $9,600, with a typical flooring project around $7,800. Adjust the estimate for your job below. Figures reviewed 2026-07.
Steps to install or refinish, if any.
Estimated range
$6,000 – $9,600
Typical flooring project around $7,800
A ballpark from regional averages — not a quote. Your price depends on the specifics of the job, so get written quotes from two or three licensed pros before deciding.
How this estimate works
A ballpark from regional averages — not a quote. Your price depends on the specifics of the job, so get written quotes from two or three licensed pros before deciding.
- Installation rates are all-in (labor plus materials) and assume a sound, level subfloor; significant subfloor repair runs $2–$10 per sq ft extra.
- Site-finished floors add sanding, staining, and sealing labor over prefinished planks; herringbone and diagonal layouts add roughly 30% for cutting and layout time.
- Refinishing assumes a full sand to bare wood plus three coats; small single-room jobs price above the per-foot rate because machine setup dominates.
- A screen-and-recoat only works on floors that aren't worn through to bare wood — it's the cheap maintenance step that postpones a full refinish.
Ranges reflect published Greater Boston contractor pricing and regional cost data, last reviewed 2026-07.
What drives the price
Species and grade
Red oak is the Greater Boston workhorse and the price anchor; white oak and maple run a step higher, and wide-plank or exotic species climb quickly. Within a species, clear grades cost more than character grades with knots and color variation.
What's under the floor
Installers quote assuming a flat, sound subfloor. Old homes rarely oblige — leveling, plywood repair, or replacing a bouncy subfloor runs $2–$10 per sq ft and is the most common source of quote-versus-final drift. Ask how the bid handles subfloor surprises.
Finish choice and layout
Site-finishing adds labor; herringbone, diagonal, and border layouts add roughly a third for cutting and layout time. Stairs are their own line — figure $75–$160 per tread installed or refinished.
Job size
Per-foot prices fall as jobs grow: a 200 sq ft room can cost 25–50% more per foot than a whole-floor project, because setup, machine rental, and finishing time don't shrink with the room. That's also why minimum charges of $500–$1,000 exist.
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Request coverageHardwood Floor cost questions, answered
- How much does hardwood flooring installation cost in Greater Boston?
- All-in installed prices in Greater Boston typically run $10–$16 per sq ft for solid red oak, $12–$20 for white oak or maple, and $8–$14 for engineered hardwood. A 500 sq ft project usually lands between $5,000 and $11,000; 1,000 sq ft runs roughly $10,000–$22,000 depending on species and finish.
- How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors in Greater Boston?
- Sanding and refinishing runs $4.30–$5.50 per sq ft across the Greater Boston area — a 500 sq ft refinish is typically $2,000–$4,500. Expect a practical minimum around $500–$1,000 even for one room, since machine setup takes the same time either way.
- Is engineered hardwood cheaper than solid hardwood?
- Usually — engineered installs run $8–$14 per sq ft against $10–$20 for solid oak or maple, and it handles basements and concrete subfloors better. The trade-off is refinishing headroom: solid wood can be sanded many times, engineered once or twice at most depending on the wear layer.
- Prefinished or site-finished — which costs more?
- Site-finishing adds roughly 20% for on-site sanding, staining, and sealing, but yields the traditional seamless look and lets you match stain exactly. Prefinished planks install faster with no dust or fumes, and their factory finishes are hard-wearing — it's a look-and-logistics call more than a durability one.
- When should I recoat instead of refinish?
- If the finish is dull or lightly scratched but the wear hasn't reached bare wood, a screen-and-recoat at $1.50–$3 per sq ft restores the surface for a fraction of a $4.30–$5.50 per sq ft refinish. Once you see gray or bare patches, it's too late — the floor needs the full sand.