Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost Calculator
Estimate refinishing cost from floor area and job scope — screen & recoat, full sand, or sand-and-stain — plus repairs and stairs. Click any i for detail.
Your floors
Floor area (sq ft)
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Floor area
Finished hardwood area to refinish. Skip rooms you will leave alone. |
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Job scope
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Job scope
Screen & recoat refreshes a sound finish. Full sand removes finish to bare wood. Sand + stain adds color change. |
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Board repairs (sq ft)
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Board repairs
Area needing board replacement or heavy patching before finish work. |
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Your state
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Your state
Scales midpoints for typical state-level labor and material costs versus the U.S. average. Not a local contractor bid. |
Options
How to use this calculator
- Enter hardwood square footage.
- Choose screen & recoat, full sand, or sand-and-stain.
- Add repair square footage if boards need replacing.
- Toggle stairs if those are in scope.
Results explained
The headline is a job midpoint after state scaling. Repair and stair lines appear only when used.
Quick reference: refinishing rates
U.S.-average midpoints per sq ft before state scaling.
| Scope | Per sq ft | 800 sq ft example |
|---|---|---|
| Screen & recoat | $2.25 | $1,800 |
| Full sand & refinish | $4.50 | $3,600 |
| Sand, stain & finish | $5.75 | $4,600 |
Board repairs ≈ $12/sq ft. Stair allowance ≈ $450.
How the estimate is built
Area × scope rate, plus repairs × $12/sq ft and optional stair allowance, then state scaling.
Example scenario
An 800 sq ft full sand at U.S. average pricing is about $3,600. Add stairs (~$450) ≈ $4,050.
FAQ
Can every floor be refinished?
Thin engineered wear layers may not take a full sand. When in doubt, ask a pro to measure remaining veneer.
Dustless sanding?
Often a premium add-on not modeled here — ask shops to line-item it.
How long until we can walk on it?
Water-based finishes can be light-use in a day or two; full cure takes longer.