How Much Does It Cost to Install Solid Hardwood in a 16x18 Room?
Updated July 2026 · Pricing data from Floormath's flooring cost model
A 16×18 room measures 288 square feet. Using Floormath's current pricing model — 7 real hardwood product tiers plus professional labor — installing hardwood flooring in a room this size runs $2,142 to $6,174, and most homeowners land near $3,438.
Cost by hardwood product tier for a 16x18 room
| Product tier | Material | Installed range | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak — Domestic | $5.49/sf | $2,142–$3,798 | $2,891 |
| Hard Maple — Domestic | $6.49/sf | $2,459–$4,115 | $3,208 |
| Engineered Oak — Stable | $6.49/sf | $2,171–$4,115 | $3,064 |
| Hickory — Hardest Domestic | $6.99/sf | $2,682–$4,511 | $3,438 |
| White Oak — Premium Domestic | $7.49/sf | $2,682–$4,828 | $3,597 |
| Brazilian Cherry / Exotic | $9.99/sf | $3,381–$6,174 | $4,461 |
| American Walnut — Luxury | $10.99/sf | $3,698–$6,174 | $4,778 |
Totals include 10% material waste and professional installation.
Budgeting this room honestly
Start from the tier that matches the room's job — traffic and moisture, not looks, should pick it. In a 288 sq ft room every $1/sf of material tier is a ~$317 decision, while installation labor stays fairly fixed at about $1,224 nationally (states run 0.80x–1.25x). The 10% waste factor is already baked into everything on this page.
See your exact 16x18 room cost with your state's labor rates
Run the free calculator →Frequently asked questions
How long does a 288 sq ft hardwood install take?
A professional crew typically completes a single 288 sq ft room in one day, plus removal time if old flooring is coming out.
Will my state change these 16x18 room prices?
Materials barely move by state, but labor does — Floormath adjusts installation from 0.80x in the cheapest markets to 1.25x in the priciest. On this room that swings the labor line by up to ±$306.
What's the cheapest way to floor a 16x18 room with hardwood?
The budget tier (Red Oak — Domestic) installed professionally starts around $2,142. Installing it yourself removes the labor line entirely and can cut the total by 30–45%.