Maple vs Red Oak Flooring: Compared
Updated July 2026 · Pricing data from Floormath's flooring cost model
Hard Maple — Domestic: Harder than oak, clean fine grain, light color. Best for modern, Scandinavian, and contemporary styles. Takes stain unevenly — most homeowners keep it natural or light.
Red Oak — Domestic: America's most-installed hardwood for a century. Reliable, refinishable, plentiful. Open grain accepts stain well. Slight pink undertone — most homeowners stain darker or stay natural.
Head to head
| Hard Maple — Domestic | Red Oak — Domestic | |
|---|---|---|
| Spec | Solid 3/4" · 2.25–3.25" wide · Janka 1,450 | Solid 3/4" · 2.25–3.25" wide · Janka 1,290 |
| Material/sf | $4.49–$8.99 | $3.49–$7.99 |
| 1,000 sf installed | $8,539–$14,289 | $7,439–$13,189 |
| Typical 1,000 sf total | $11,139 | $10,039 |
The bottom line
Red Oak — Domestic saves about $1,100 on a 1,000 sq ft job at typical pricing. Whether the upgrade is worth it comes down to traffic: Harder than oak, clean fine grain, light color. Best for modern, Scandinavian, and contemporary styles. Takes stain unevenly — most homeowners keep it natural or light.
See the exact price gap for your square footage
Run the free calculator →Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: Hard Maple — Domestic or Red Oak — Domestic?
Red Oak — Domestic — by about $1,100 on a typical 1,000 sq ft installed project ($11,139 vs $10,039).
Is the upgrade worth it?
If the space sees heavy traffic, pets, or moisture, the pricier tier usually earns its premium in lifespan; in a low-traffic bedroom, the cheaper tier performs nearly identically.