Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors in Madison WI
Prices vary a lot, and here are the estimate ranges we could source for Madison and for the country, plus the things that raise or lower a real quote.
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Estimate ranges we found
These come from third-party guides, and they are not our prices.
| Estimate | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Madison, typical project | $1,121 to $2,228* | Angi Madison page* |
| Madison, low to high | $450 to $3,500* | Angi Madison page* |
| National, typical project | $1,099 to $2,661* | HomeAdvisor* |
| National, average | $1,880* | HomeAdvisor* |
| National, low to high | $600 to $4,500* | HomeAdvisor* |
| National, per square foot | About $3 to $8* | HomeAdvisor* |
| National, stairs | About $4.50 to $8 per square foot, or $40 to $75 per step* | HomeAdvisor* |
A project that costs less than the low end is usually one room or a recoat, and one above the high end is usually a big floor with repairs and stain. Go to the home page for the services behind each number.
Cost to refinish hardwood floors Madison WI: estimate your own
Enter your floor size, pick the job and add any stair steps, and the range uses the per-square-foot and per-step prices from the HomeAdvisor guide linked below. It is an outside estimate, not a quote from us.
Where the numbers come from
- Full refinish: about $3 to $8 per square foot (HomeAdvisor*).
- Stain adds about $1 to $3 per square foot (HomeAdvisor*).
- Dustless sanding: about $5 to $8 per square foot (HomeAdvisor*).
- Screen and recoat: screening or buffing at $1 to $2.50 plus topcoat at $1 to $2 per square foot, added together here to about $2 to $4.50 (HomeAdvisor*).
- Stairs: about $40 to $75 per step (HomeAdvisor*).
Repairs, moving heavy furniture, hard-to-reach rooms and the wood itself can move a real quote above or below this range. HomeAdvisor shows 1,000 square feet at $3,000 to $5,000, and this tool uses its wider $3 to $8 rate, so expect a wide band.
What moves the price
- Square feet, and how many rooms are open to each other
- Full sand or screen and recoat
- Repairs such as gaps, gouges or boards to replace
- Stain color and finish type
- Stairs, which are priced differently
- Extra equipment such as dustless sanding
How to compare two quotes
Ask each contractor to write down the same things so the numbers line up.
- Square feet. Rooms, halls, closets and stairs listed one by one.
- Prep and repairs. What gets fixed before sanding.
- Number of sanding passes and finish coats. More coats can mean more cost and longer cure.
- Brand or type of finish. Cure times differ, for example about three days for one waterborne finish (data sheet).
- Lead-safe plan, for pre-1978 homes. See the lead rule guide.
Can you save money?
Sometimes, and if the finish is dull but intact, a recoat may do the job, and NWFA suggests a fresh coat every three to five years (NWFA). Doing it on time can delay a full sand; on the other hand, a floor with deep damage will cost more if you wait. Read refinish or replace for the bigger picture, including a side-by-side table of cost, time and dust for a refinish, a recoat and a replacement.
Refinishing Cost: questions answered
What is the cost to refinish hardwood floors Madison WI homeowners should plan for?
One Madison estimate page lists a typical range of $1,121 to $2,228 and a low-to-high range of $450 to $3,500 (Angi*), and use the estimator above for your own square footage.
How does the cost estimator work?
It multiplies your square feet by the low and high per-square-foot price for the job you pick, and adds $40 to $75 per stair step (HomeAdvisor*). It gives a range, not a quote.
How much does it cost to refinish hardwood floors in Madison WI?
One Madison estimate page lists a typical range of $1,121 to $2,228 and a low-to-high range of $450 to $3,500 (Angi*), and your quote depends on your floor.
How much per square foot?
National guides list about $3 to $8 per square foot (HomeAdvisor*).
Is refinishing cheaper than replacing?
Often, when the wood is thick enough, and see refinish or replace.
Do stairs cost extra?
They are priced separately, and national figures run about $4.50 to $8 per square foot, or $40 to $75 per step (HomeAdvisor*). See stairs.
Does dustless sanding add cost?
It can, because of the equipment, and ask for both prices; see dustless sanding.
Why do you not post a price list?
Floors differ too much. We quote after we see yours.
Does the cost to refinish hardwood floors in Madison WI change by season?
The sources we found do not break prices out by season, and ask each contractor for a written quote with dates.
Get a real number for your floors
Send the form with your rooms and photos if you like, and we will explain the quote line by line; you can also return to the home page.
* Cost figures are estimates from the linked third-party guides, not a quote from us, and Madison prices vary with floor size, wood, condition and the finish you pick.