How much does hardwood flooring cost?

Installed hardwood runs about $10 to $16 per square foot on average (range $6 to $25), so a 500 sq ft floor is roughly $5,000 to $12,000. DIY material plus tools is about $2,500 to $7,500.

Can I install hardwood flooring myself?

Engineered click-lock floating floors are very DIY-friendly. Nail-down solid hardwood needs a flooring nailer and more skill but is doable for a determined homeowner. A flat subfloor and proper acclimation are essential.

Solid or engineered hardwood?

Solid wood can be refinished many times and lasts generations but moves with humidity and is not for basements. Engineered wood is a real-wood veneer over a stable core, better for humidity and below-grade installs, with fewer refinishes.

How long does hardwood flooring take to install?

A 500 sq ft room takes a confident DIYer a weekend or two, plus the acclimation days before. Pros move faster but you still wait on acclimation and any subfloor prep.

Do I need to remove baseboards?

It is easier and cleaner to remove the baseboard or shoe molding, install the floor with an expansion gap, then reinstall the trim to cover the gap. You can also add new shoe molding instead.

UPDATED JUNE 2026

Hardwood Flooring Cost in Illinois

Locally calibrated hire vs. DIY cost data for hardwood flooring projects in Illinois. Cited sources, permit requirements, and a full build guide, free.

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HIRE A PRO

$5,100–$12,200

Fully installed, labor + materials

DIY COST

$2,500–$7,500

Materials + rentals, your labor free

Moderate

Requires some construction knowledge and proper planning.

Government Data · Government Data · Submitted Quotes (n=0)

How we got these numbers

National benchmark costs from RSMeans, Angi, Fixr, and HomeGuide are adjusted for Illinois using two federal datasets: the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity (RPP) index and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Illinois's RPP is 1.0 (national baseline = 100) and its BLS labor adjustment factor is 1.04. Higher RPP means goods and services cost more relative to the national average; the BLS factor scales contractor labor rates to local wage levels. We blend these two adjustments, weighted 40% RPP, 60% BLS labor, to produce the ranges shown above.

adjusted_cost = national_benchmark × (0.4 × RPP/100 + 0.6 × bls_labor_adj)

RPP(Illinois) = 1.0 · BLS adj = 1.04

Full methodology →

What's included

Item	Qty	Unit Cost	Subtotal
Hardwood flooring	about 500 sq ft plus 10 percent waste	$6	$3,000
Underlayment or rosin paper	500 sq ft	$0.4	$200
Fasteners or flooring adhesive	1 set	$120	$120
Transition strips and trim	1 set	$150	$150
Materials Total			$3,470

Tools you'll need

See the tools we'd buy →

TOOLS YOU PROBABLY OWN

TOOLS TO RENT OR BUY

Flooring nailer
Rent for a nail-down solid floor
Miter saw and table saw
Tapping block, pull bar, and spacers
Cheap kit for floating floors

Build sequence

1
Acclimate the flooring in the room for several days before installing.
COMMON MISTAKE
Skipping acclimation leads to gaps or buckling later.
2
Check the subfloor is flat, dry, and clean, and add underlayment.
3
Plan the layout and start along the straightest wall with an expansion gap.
COMMON MISTAKE
No expansion gap causes the floor to buckle.
4
Nail, glue, or click the boards row by row, staggering the seams.
5
Install transitions, reinstall baseboard or shoe molding, and finish.

Permits and code requirements

PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Permit rules for hardwood flooring vary by city and county in Illinois. Most structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work needs a permit and an inspection. Confirm with your local building department, or see the Illinois guide for specifics.

PERMIT THRESHOLD

Varies by municipality

Disclaimer: Always verify permit requirements with your local building department before starting work. Requirements vary by municipality and are updated periodically.

Frequently asked questions

NEXT STEPS

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UPDATED JUNE 2026