How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

On average, homeowners spend $1,887—or roughly $3 to $8 per square foot—with most projects averaging between $1,103 and $2,672. The cost to refinish hardwood floors varies depending on the refinishing method, labor, the room size, and the type of wood selected. Plan on tackling the job every seven to 10 years and rely on a seasoned professional to achieve a smooth, even finish without stretching your budget.

Hardwood Flooring Refinishing Cost Factors

The average cost to refinish hardwood floors depends on several factors, including materials, labor, moving furniture, dustless options, and the type of hardwood floors you currently have.

Square Footage

The average cost to refinish wood floors is $3 to $8 per square foot. As a result, the size of your space is one of the most important factors in determining your cost estimate.

Refinishing one small room often costs more per square foot because pros still have to cover materials, travel, and equipment. Larger projects raise the overall bill but often lower the square-foot rate; many companies offer volume discounts to secure bigger jobs.

If you’re looking to refinish your stairs or railings, you can expect the cost to refinish stairs to come in between $4.50 and $8 per square foot.

Labor

The average cost for labor is between $2 and $8 per square foot or $60 to $160 per hour. Labor plays a significant role in the cost of refinishing hardwood floors. You can expect to pay up to 80% of the overall project price.

Be sure to get a few estimates to compare prices. The cost comes down to:

• Labor prices where you live, with metropolitan areas and the Northeast corridor charging more for labor

• The extent of the refinishing process

• The size of the room

• Other factors affecting the project length, like drying time, local humidity, and the type of wood

Traditional vs. Dustless

Refinishing kicks up plenty of dust. A dustless system keeps the mess in check by pairing the sander with a commercial-grade vacuum that grabs debris before it settles. Choosing dustless equipment adds an average of $2 per square foot, increasing the total to $5 to $8, as the job requires specialized equipment and expertise.

Even with a dustless technique, there is no such thing as a dust-free sanding process. Ensure that all furniture and fixtures are removed from the room. Tape plastic drop cloths around the perimeter of your walls to keep dust out of vents and other surfaces.

Prep Work

Before you can refinish your hardwood floors, you’ll need to prepare the space. Move all furniture, decor, and other furnishings out of the room. If you don’t handle this task yourself, expect to pay $20 to $50 per room for this service.

Here are some common prep tasks that you might encounter before beginning your hardwood floor refinishing project:

• Hardwood floor repair costs range between $200 and $600. 

• If a floorboard requires replacement, the cost is $6 to $12 per square foot. 

• Carpet removal costs range between $120 and $720 on average, with an additional $75–$150 fee for hauling the carpet away. 

Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost by Wood Type

No matter the type of wood you’re working with, the cost to sand and finish hardwood floors remains about the same, averaging $3 to $8 per square foot.

The price fluctuations stem from the unique needs of each wood or manufactured material. Local hardwood floor refinishing pros may also have more experience with common materials like oak. 

Solid hardwood can withstand several refinishings over its lifetime, while engineered planks reach their limit at one or two refinishings before exposing the core and needing a full replacement.

Oak

Expect to pay between $3 and $5 per square foot for oak refinishing. Oak is one of the most common and durable hardwood flooring types. It’s easy to finish and can withstand a lot of foot traffic.

Cherry Wood

Cherry wood refinishing costs between $3 and $5 per square foot. Cherry wood is also a common and durable type of hardwood with a smooth surface, making it easy to refinish. You can expect the color of this wood to deepen over time, so factor that into your stain and finishing options.

Parquet

Parquet floor sanding costs between $3 and $5 per square foot. Parquet flooring requires specialized sanding due to its inconsistent grain, which means the flooring runs in different directions.

Engineered Hardwood

Expect to pay between $3 and $5 per square foot to refinish engineered hardwood. A professional should handle the specialty sanding of the thin top layer of hardwood to ensure you don’t grind too deeply into the flooring. For context, engineered hardwood costs $7 to $20 per square foot to install.

Pine

Pine flooring requires special care when sanding, so you can expect to pay between $4 and $7 per square foot to refinish it. Pine is a softer wood that’s more prone to dents and scratches.

Maple

Incorrectly staining maple can result in imperfections, so it costs between $6 and $8 per square foot to have it refinished. Maple is more costly yet very durable. It’s also more difficult to stain.

Mahogany

Refinishing mahogany flooring costs between $6 and $8 per square foot. Mahogany requires slow, delicate sanding to avoid damaging its dark hue.

Bamboo

You’ll pay between $2 and $6 per square foot to refinish bamboo floors. To prevent splintering, you must sand bamboo flooring at an angle in the first round.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost by Task 

The process of refinishing hardwood floors consists of several steps, and each task carries its own estimated cost.

Sanding

The average cost to sand hardwood floors is $0.50 to $3 per square foot. Sanding is the process of removing the top layer of wood and smoothing out any imperfections and blemishes in your hardwood flooring. More significant damage can add significant flooring repair costs to your overall budget.

Sanding hardwood floors requires a large drum sander with sandpaper and a belt sander for the perimeter. Your local pro runs the sander across the floor several times, changing to lower-grit sandpaper along the way, before vacuuming and cleaning the floor to prep the hardwood for the next step.

Staining

After sanding, the process of staining hardwood floors adds between $1 and $3 per square foot to the final cost, including labor and materials. Once sanded, you may want to skip staining your floors and apply a finishing coat directly over the untreated wood. Staining is only necessary if you want to change or reinvigorate the color of your floors.

Like any other design choice, the wood stain comes down to aesthetics. The most popular options are oil-based or water-based stains. Much like painting a room, the per-gallon price range depends on type and quality, ranging between $30 and $100 per gallon.

Finishing and Coating

Once your floors are sanded and stained, the final step is adding a long-lasting topcoat finish of oil-based or water-based polyurethane.

• Oil-based topcoats cost $20–$45 per gallon, add a slight amber hue to your floor, and take up to 10 hours to dry.

• Water-based topcoats dry clear but cost a bit more at $25 to $55 per gallon and only take two to four hours to dry.

Your hardwood floor refinishing contractor will apply two or three topcoat layers with a brush or roller. Topcoat finishes run the gamut from flat to high-gloss. They may also buff the final coat for added shine.

Adding a topcoat of polyurethane finish protects your floor from future damage and provides a high-quality shine. Depending on the initial state of your floors, recoating is either the final step in the larger process or the only step you need.

Alternatives to Refinishing Hardwood Floors

If your hardwood floors are in good condition, you may decide to screen, buff, or polish them to breathe new life into them instead of refinishing.

Screening or Buffing

With slightly worn floorboards, you may be able to cut out the sanding and staining process. Instead, screening (also known as buffing) uses a thinner sanding disk to remove the thin topcoat of your floors without affecting the wood beneath. For this step, you’ll pay between $1 and $2.50 per square foot.

Polishing

Polishing hardwood keeps your floors looking new between coats and refinishes. You’ll pay between $20 and $50 per gallon for hardwood floor polish. If you DIY this project, you’ll also need to pay $20 for the sponge mop and between $15 and $30 for the microfiber mop to finish it off.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing vs. Replacement

If your hardwood floors appear worn, it may be time to refinish them. Signs to look out for when deciding whether to refinish your hardwood floors include:

• Visible scratches

• Stains from sunlight

• Water damage

• Inconsistent coloration

• Separation from the walls or crown molding

Original hardwood floors can last over a century when properly cared for and finished. Refinishing your hardwood floors costs two to three times less than replacing them.

Depending on the condition of your hardwood flooring, you may need to replace it entirely. It might be time for a total replacement if you notice extensive damage, such as severe water damage, deep scratches or dents, extreme fading, warping, dullness, or board separation. Installing new hardwood flooring averages $5 to $15 per square foot.

Does Refinishing Hardwood Floors Increase Home Value?

While it can be challenging to pinpoint a precise return on investment (ROI), refinishing hardwood floors can significantly enhance the perceived value of your home in the eyes of potential buyers. Freshly sanded and refinished hardwood floors can add that “wow” factor to a home listing, signaling to prospective buyers that the home is well-maintained and offers higher-end finishes. If your existing hardwood floors look worn, it may be worth the investment to refresh them before listing your home for sale.

Budgeting for Refinishing Hardwood Floors

To reduce your overall cost of refinishing hardwood floors in your home, keep these budget-friendly strategies in mind:

• Request detailed quotes from at least three local pros to compare pricing and service levels.

• Remove all furniture and other decor items from the area yourself to save on labor costs.

• If it’s time to replace your hardwood floors, consider cost-effective alternatives. For example, wood tile flooring costs less than large planks of real hardwood.

• Bundle your hardwood refinishing projects with other related home improvement tasks.

• Think about screening or polishing your hardwood floors instead of fully refinishing them if wear and damage levels are minimal.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed over 10,000 real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.