The decision to replace carpeted treads or dated pine planks with hardwood instantly lifts the look, feel, and resale value of any home. Yet most homeowners—and even many contractors—struggle to quote the job confidently. The cost to put hardwood on stairs is influenced by far more than square footage. Species selection, local labor rates, staircase design, and finishing details can swing the final investment by thousands of dollars. In this in-depth guide, CountBricks breaks down every variable and shows you how our AI-powered estimating platform removes the guesswork so you can bid and build with total clarity.
Although each project differs, CountBricks data drawn from thousands of residential takeoffs shows that the typical cost to put hardwood on stairs in single-family homes falls between $2,300 and $5,800. That range assumes:
• 12 treads and 13 risers
• Mid-grade prefinished red oak
• Standard 36-inch width
• Basic skirt boards and shoe molding
High-end exotic species, curved staircases, or custom iron balusters can elevate the price to $10,000 or more. Conversely, straight builder-grade installations using entry-level oak can occasionally drop under $2,000 when labor rates are low.
Stair work blends carpentry, finish work, and site preparation. That mix creates a layered cost structure:
• Materials: treads, risers, nosing, adhesives, fasteners, matching trim, stain or finish
• Labor: demolition, stair prep, cutting, test fitting, fastening, sanding, finish coats
• Site variables: demolition complexity, squeak repair, code upgrades, floor protection
• Project overhead: waste factor, delivery fees, cleanup, permit or inspection costs
1. Red Oak – The workhorse of American stairs, widely available and cost-effective.
2. White Oak – Slightly higher price, prized for durability and modern grain pattern.
3. Maple – Smooth, contemporary appearance; harder to stain evenly.
4. Walnut, Hickory, Exotic Imports – Premium aesthetics that raise material cost 40-120%.
• Prefinished treads speed installation and minimize dust but limit custom color options.
• Site finished allows perfect color matching to adjacent floors yet adds 1-2 days of labor for sanding and multiple coats.
• Skirt boards and riser veneer for a wrapped look
• Coves or returns where stairs meet drywall
• Open-side miters or false stringers for exposed balustrades
Each add-on seems minor until it’s multiplied across every tread and riser—another reason detailed digital takeoffs on CountBricks.com/services pay dividends.
Installing one hardwood tread properly can take 45–90 minutes depending on cut complexity and finish method. Multiply that by every tread, riser, and trim component, and labor often represents 55–70% of the total bill.
1. Demolition and Prep – Remove existing coverings, repair squeaks, check code dimensions.
2. Dry Fit – Measure and cut treads, risers, and skirts precisely.
3. Installation – Secure components with construction adhesive and finish nails or screws.
4. Sand & Finish – When site finishing, sanding progresses from 80-grit to 120-grit before stain and clear coats.
5. Final Detail – Caulk, touch-up stain, install shoe molding, and clean work area.
Traditional stair estimates rely on clipboards and guesstimates. CountBricks leverages voice-to-AI technology so you can walk the jobsite, describe each detail aloud, and watch the platform build an itemized proposal in real time.
• Real-time regional material pricing prevents budget surprises
• AI suggests waste allowances and code compliance checkpoints
• Instant PDF quote branded with your logo is ready before you leave the driveway
Visit CountBricks.com/consultation to schedule a live demo for your team.
Homeowners comfortable with finish carpentry can save on labor, but they assume risk:
• Speciality saw cuts around bull-nose returns are easy to mis-measure
• Uneven substrate causes permanent creaks if not corrected
• Professional-grade finishes require climate control and dust management
A CountBricks professional can itemize separate material and labor lines so clients see the true cost of “sweat equity” compared to turnkey service.
Least expensive; fewest miters and no custom railing transitions.
Additional skirts, mitered returns, and landing nosing add 15–25%.
Requires bespoke bending of treads and handrails, often doubling both labor time and material waste.
• Choose prefinished treads if color-matching to existing floors is not critical
• Keep railing system changes minimal; reuse sound balusters and newel posts
• Schedule stair work alongside main-floor hardwood installation to share mobilization costs
• Use CountBricks AI to compare red oak versus white oak pricing in seconds
Whether you are a general contractor crafting bids or a homeowner evaluating proposals, the first move is an accurate takeoff. Upload your floor plan or snap smartphone photos, start a voice session, and CountBricks’ AI maps every tread and riser automatically. From there, tweak species, finish type, and trim details until the price aligns with your budget without compromising craftsmanship.
Explore sample stair quotes at CountBricks.com/portfolio, or request your own custom estimate at CountBricks.com/services. With CountBricks, transparency and speed turn complex stair upgrades into predictable, profitable projects.
A local San Antonio remodeler recently contacted CountBricks about a 14-tread oak stair replacement. Previously, he needed two site visits and a spreadsheet marathon to finalize pricing. With the CountBricks mobile app, he completed the entire process in 27 minutes.
1. Voice Walkthrough – Standing at the staircase, he dictated dimensions, curve details, and requested white oak with site finish.
2. Instant Takeoff – The AI translated his narration into an on-screen 3D model, applied regional material costs, and suggested a 7% waste factor.
3. Client Review – The homeowner viewed side-by-side options for prefinished vs. site finished, then chose site finished for perfect color match.
4. Final Proposal – A branded PDF with line-item pricing, payment schedule, and timeline hit the client’s inbox before the contractor packed his tape measure.
• Estimate accuracy within 1.8% of final invoiced amount
• Signed agreement and deposit the same day
• Labor hours spent on paperwork reduced by 90%
• Automated code compliance alerts prevent costly rework
• Change-order management updates material and labor totals instantly
• Integration with CountBricks invoicing ensures every tread, riser, and quart of finish is billed
The cost to put hardwood on stairs no longer needs to be a best guess. Whether you’re bidding tract homes or bespoke luxury builds, CountBricks delivers clarity that wins jobs and protects margins. Sign up for a free onboarding session today at CountBricks.com/consultation and see how quickly you can turn stair upgrades into your most predictable profit center.
