How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors? [2025 Data]

We take great pride in a well-preserved, richly-hued hardwood floor to add a touch of classic coziness to our home. But how much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors? While this floor favorite is beautiful and sturdy, it can get scratched, warped, and faded from typical wear and tear over the years. When the time comes, expect to pay an average of $1,889—but it ranges between $1,107 and $2,680—for the cost to refinish hardwood floors, depending on the size, shape, and style of your hardwood.

While this floor favorite is beautiful and sturdy, it can get scratched, warped, and faded from typical wear and tear over the years. Refinishing your floor can bring back its former glory.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost Factors 

Like most home renovation jobs, nailing down your specific price to refinish hardwood floors will depend on your unique home. When you receive a quote from your local floor team, expect the price tag to make your wood floors look new to come down to the following factors.

Size 

Above all else, your final hardwood floor finish cost will likely come down to square footage. A smaller space will, naturally, mean a lower price tag in the long run.

Here’s how much hardwood floor refinishing might cost based on square footage: 

You may receive a more affordable per-square-foot quote for larger spaces—a bit like buying in bulk.

Overall, professional floor refinishers will charge anywhere from $3 to $8 per square foot. The cost jumps a bit to between $5 and $8 per square foot for the less-disruptive dustless refinishing method—a process that requires commercial vacuums. These numbers come from the combined cost of the job from start to finish, including sanding, staining, and finishing.

For example, sanding alone costs $0.50 to $3 per square foot, while staining adds $1 to $3 per square foot. The team will top everything off with a coat of finish, running you $1 to $2 per square foot.

Hardwood Floor Material

Your home's hardwood flooring material can sway the cost of refinishing. Here are some estimated refinishing costs based on the type of wood flooring: 

Popular floor varieties such as cherry and oak cost between $3 and $5 per square foot. Professionals are familiar with their refinishing process, and the floors often don't require significant sanding. However, refinishing a material such as mahogany can cost up to $8 per square foot since it requires far more care to protect its deep hue.

Refinishing Method 

You’ll pay more depending on your contractor's method of refinishing your floors. Traditional refinishing costs less than dustless refinishing.

Traditional Refinishing 

Traditional refinishing costs $3 to $8 per square foot. During traditional refinishing, your contractor will sand down the top layer of your hardwood floor. This creates a lot of dust, which can be difficult to fully clean after-the-fact and can trigger allergies for some homeowners.

Dustless Refinishing 

Dustless refinishing has a higher price tag at $5 to $8 per square foot. This method produces significantly less dust. During this process, your contractor will use a commercial vacuum attached to the sander to collect dust as it’s created (and before it can spread all over your room). This can be very beneficial for homeowners with allergies or breathing difficulties.

Flooring Condition

The inspiration to refinish your hardwood floors may have stemmed from spotting some serious damage. In some cases, your pro will need to spend more time sanding away scratches and dents, increasing floor sanding costs.

Your floor might also need more significant repairs. For most homeowners, flooring repairs cost $200 to $600. If you need to replace the floorboard, hardwood floor installation costs between $6 and $12 per square foot. You can also replace a floorboard yourself in some cases and save between $400 and $1,400 in labor in the process.

Labor

The other 80% of your estimate goes toward the extensive labor process. Add between $2 and $8 per square foot for labor to your total floor refinishing costs. The higher per-square-foot prices account for more complex floor materials like pine and mahogany. Areas that require more concentration, such as on steps, around tight corners, or on older floors, will also add to the price. If your team offers a quote in hours, expect to pay between $60 and $160 per hour for the full project.

Subfloor Repairs

Warped, sinking, or water-damaged floors may signal that your subflooring needs replacing. The cost to replace a subfloor ranges from $3 to $10 per square foot, but you may pay more in labor to remove and replace the hardwood flooring planks on top before and after.

Carpet Removal 

Is it time to rip up that old wall-to-wall carpet and reveal the cherry oak floors underneath? Carpet removal costs between $120 and $720 on average, or between $1 and $5 per square foot. You could tackle the whole project yourself for about $25, but it is labor- and time-intensive. You will also need to pay between $75 and $150 to have the carpet hauled away.

Furniture Moving

Your hardwood floor pros may offer a special service to move the furniture out of the way for a fee of $20 to $50 per room. You may want to offer to move the furniture yourself if you're hoping to cut costs, but keep in mind that your floor team will have access to dollies, protective wrap, and a larger team to do the hauling.  

Screening or Buffing

If your floors are only lightly damaged, you may only need to partially refinish them. Instead, you can use screening (or buffing) to lightly remove minor imperfections. Buffing a hardwood floor costs between $1 and $2.50 per square foot. Your contractor will use a thinner sanding disc to remove a thin layer of topcoat without touching the wood below. This means you won’t have to sand and restain the hardwood—just replace the topcoat.

Sanding and Staining

If you break down the refinishing process into stages, you can take a closer look at how the costs play out. Sanding a hardwood floor contributes between $0.50 and $3 per square foot, depending on the depth necessary to repair the damage.

Staining your floors and choosing a wood floor stain color is only necessary when you want to enrich the color. Fading from exposure to the sun or general wear and tear may call for it, but it's not always necessary. Add between $1 and $3 per square foot to the total cost to stain your floor. Remember you'll also need to set aside an extra 24 hours or so for the stain to dry.

Coating and Finishing

Your final topcoat adds a protective finish that acts as a barrier against wear and tear and provides a stylish sheen. Choose between an oil- or water-based polyurethane topcoat or various floor waxes and acid-cured finishes. A gallon of finish costs between $20 and $55 per gallon on average, though penetrating oil or acid-cured finish can cost much more.

Here's the average cost range per gallon for different finishes: 

Polishing 

Polishing can refresh the look of tired floors in-between refinishes. This is a fairly simple DIY. Most homeowners spend $20 to $50 per gallon on hardwood floor polish. You’ll also need a sponge mop to spread the polish, which costs around $20, and a microfiber mop to finish the job, which costs $15 to $30.

Post Cleanup 

Take a close look at the contractor's estimate to see if cleanup is included in the price. In many cases, the team will do a quick sweep through their work area, but they may not take care of all the dust that has accumulated around the room. You may be able to add this to your contract for an hourly rate of $60 to $160 or hire a local cleaner for a second pass.

Signs That You Should Refinish Your Hardwood Floors 

Are you on the fence about whether it's time to refinish your hardwood floors? 

While a few dents and dings here and there are often not enough to lug in the sander, there are a few telltale signs it's time to wipe the slate clean.

• Significant gouges, scrapes, or dents throughout your floors

• Major discoloration from stains or sun exposure

• Signs of water damage such as rotting, warping, or bowing

• Weak spots in the floors that indicate damaged subflooring

• Missing panels, hardware, or areas of stain

• An overall dull appearance across the floors

Refinishing vs. Replacing Hardwood Floors

If your floors have seen some hard years, you may have to decide whether to repair or replace your hardwood floors entirely. In many cases, you will be able to replace individual boards and areas of subflooring if the floor is warped from water damage, mold, or long-term wear and tear.

As for scratches, gouges, and discoloration, you will often be able to sand into the wood during the refinishing process to start fresh. In many cases, the decision will depend on the type, age, and condition of the wood. Since hardwood flooring costs more than other floor types, most homeowners try to repair it when possible. Always speak with an experienced floor installer if you're on the fence. 

Cost to Refinish vs. Replace Hardwood Floors

It’s much cheaper to refinish hardwood floors than to replace them. Refinishing hardwood flooring costs anywhere from $600 to $4,500, while replacing hardwood flooring costs $2,475 to $7,030. The price fluctuates depending on the type of hardwood you choose, the size of the area, and other factors.

Why You Should Hire a Hardwood Floor Refinishing Pro

Hiring a local hardwood floor refinishing pro may cost more upfront, but it ensures a smooth, even finish that lasts for years. Professionals have the experience, tools, and techniques to sand, stain, and seal your floors properly—saving you time, effort, and the risk of costly mistakes.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a hardwood floor refinishing pro

Refinishing hardwood floors is a labor-intensive project that requires precision and skill. Here are some of the top reasons to work with a pro:

• Pros ensure even sanding, staining, and sealing for a flawless, professional-looking finish.

• They have specialized equipment to remove old finishes and smooth imperfections without damaging the wood.

• Working with a pro reduces the risk of dust, streaks, or uneven staining.

• Professionals can repair minor damage, scratches, or gaps as part of the refinishing process.

• Bundling refinishing with floor repairs or protective coatings can save time and improve durability.

If you want to DIY prep for hardwood floor refinishing

If you want to handle some prep work yourself, these tasks can help reduce labor time and costs:

• Remove furniture, rugs, and décor from the room to provide full access to the floors.

• Clean and vacuum the floors thoroughly to remove dust and debris before sanding begins.

• Identify and note any damaged areas or deep scratches to discuss with the pro.

• Ensure adequate ventilation and plan for drying time after staining or sealing.

Tips to Save on Hardwood Refinishing Costs

The best way to lower your bottom line is to decide whether you truly need full refinishing. Remember, buffing your floors will cost only $1 to $2.50 per square foot and is a much easier DIY. Here are some other cost-saving tidbits to keep in mind:

• Compare at least three professional estimates before signing a contract.

• Move the furniture out and back into the room yourself.

• Clean the space yourself after the process.

• Inquire about holiday or low-season specials from local companies.

• Consider hardwood floor repairs for scratches and dents before scheduling a full refinish.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 10,000 real Angi 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. 

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