Replacing carpet with hardwood costs $8 to $22 per square foot installed, or roughly $2,400 to $6,600 for a 300 square foot room. Removing and disposing of the old carpet is only $1 to $2 of that. The number is set by what the carpet was hiding: a flat, dry, solid subfloor is a straightforward install, and anything else adds $1 to $4 per square foot before a single plank goes down.
We supply the flooring from our Derwood showroom and H&C Construction does the install, so the figures below separate the material from the work rather than blending them into one number.
What it costs, by material
| Material | Installed per sq ft | 300 sq ft room | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineered hardwood | $8 to $15 | $2,400 to $4,500 | Stable over concrete and in basements |
| Solid oak, prefinished | $10 to $18 | $3,000 to $5,400 | The default in most Maryland homes |
| Solid, site-finished | $14 to $22 | $4,200 to $6,600 | Sanded and finished in place, seamless |
| Wide plank or exotic | $18 to $30+ | $5,400 to $9,000+ | Material-driven |
Labor is $4 to $8 per square foot of those totals. In Montgomery County expect the upper half of each range.
The line items people forget
| Item | Cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet and pad removal | $1 to $2 per sq ft | Always |
| Tack strip and staple removal | Included above | Always, and it is tedious |
| Subfloor leveling | $1 to $3 per sq ft | Whenever the floor is out of flat |
| Subfloor replacement | $3 to $6 per sq ft | Water damage, soft spots, delaminated panels |
| Door undercutting and transitions | $100 to $400 per room | Hardwood sits at a different height than carpet |
| Baseboard removal and reinstall | $2 to $5 per linear ft | Optional, but shoe moulding alone looks like a shortcut |
The height change is the one that surprises people. Carpet and pad are about half an inch thick. Hardwood over underlayment is often thinner or thicker, and every doorway, every transition to tile and sometimes the bottom of every door has to be reconciled.
Why the subfloor is the whole story
Carpet is forgiving. It stretches over small humps and hides dips because the pad compresses. Hardwood is not forgiving: a dip of more than about an eighth of an inch over six feet becomes a hollow spot you can hear, and eventually a squeak.
So the honest sequence is: pull a corner of the carpet before anyone quotes the job. If the subfloor is clean plywood in good condition, you are at the low end of every range above. If there is particleboard, staining, or a previous layer of something, you are not.
For the comparison against cheaper surfaces, see carpet vs vinyl plank and replacing carpet with laminate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace carpet with hardwood?
$8 to $22 per square foot installed, which is about $2,400 to $6,600 for a 300 square foot room. Carpet removal is $1 to $2 per square foot of that.
Is it worth replacing carpet with hardwood?
In living areas and hallways, generally yes, both for durability and for resale. In bedrooms it is a preference question, and in basements engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl handles moisture better than solid wood.
Do you have to remove the subfloor to install hardwood?
No, in most cases the existing plywood subfloor stays. It has to be clean, dry, flat and solid. Replacement is only needed where there is water damage or delamination.
How long does it take to replace carpet with hardwood?
Two to four days for a prefinished install in a typical room. Site-finished flooring adds three to five days for sanding, finishing and curing before furniture can return.
Does hardwood add more value than carpet?
It generally shows better and lasts three to five times longer, which is why buyers price it in. The gain is largest in main living areas and smallest in bedrooms.
Want a real number for your rooms? Bring your square footage to our Derwood showroom and we will price the same floor in engineered, prefinished solid and site-finished. Call (301) 939-0009 or book a showroom visit.