It is one of the most common questions our residential clients ask during a renovation call: “How much does hardwood stairs cost?” The honest answer is that it depends on a mix of material selections, site conditions, and finish details—but that does not mean you have to guess. By combining decades of journeyman carpentry with CountBricks’ real-time pricing engine, we can narrow the range to dollars and cents, on site, in minutes. This article explains the cost drivers, reveals up-to-date price ranges, and shows how CountBricks.com removes the uncertainty from stair upgrades.
• Species and grade of hardwood (oak, maple, hickory, walnut)
• Number of risers, treads, and landings
• Demolition of existing stairs or carpet removal
• Newel posts, balusters, and handrail style
• On-site versus pre-finished staining and sealing
• Local labor rates and accessibility (tight stairwells add hours)
• Building code upgrades such as nosing returns or child-safe spacing
Entry-level oak retrofit—replacing carpeted treads with pre-finished red oak and paint-grade risers runs between $115 and $175 per stair. A 14-tread flight lands at $1,600–$2,450.
Mid-range full replacement—solid white oak treads, matching risers, and standard Poplar railing system average $230–$320 per stair. The same 14-tread flight prices out at $3,200–$4,500.
High-end showcase—wide white oak or walnut treads, custom box newels, iron balusters, and hand-rubbed oil finish push costs to $375–$550 per stair. Expect $5,300–$7,700 for that 14-tread run.
Prices include labor and material based on recent CountBricks residential bids in metropolitan areas. Rural projects often trend 8–12 % lower; tight urban sites can add 10–15 %.
Traditional stair bids are built on allowances, vendor guesswork, and outdated material sheets. CountBricks replaces that friction with an AI-driven workflow:
1. Your project manager walks the stairs with a phone or headset.
2. CountBricks listens, captures dimensions, and pulls live lumber pricing within seconds.
3. Labor factors update automatically for demolition time, finish coats, and hardware.
4. You receive a line-item PDF and a digital blueprint takeoff before we leave the site.
The result is transparent pricing that can be locked in on the spot at CountBricks.com/estimate.
A recent CountBricks client in a two-story colonial chose 14 solid white oak treads and Poplar risers:
• Demolition and disposal of carpet: $420
• White oak treads (14 @ $68): $952
• Poplar risers (14 @ $22): $308
• Sand, stain, and water-based poly: $610
• Standard railing package: $1,180
• Labor (carpentry + finish, 3.2 crew-days): $1,970
Total project cost recorded in CountBricks cloud: $5,440
• Subfloor squeak repair—often uncovered when carpet is removed
• Code-compliant rise/run adjustments in older homes
• HVAC or drywall patching after railing relocation
• Extra finish coats for darker stain colors
• Select paint-grade risers instead of matching hardwood
• Opt for site-finished stairs only if you need a custom color
• Use streamlined square balusters rather than ornate turned spindles
• Schedule install during other renovations to share mobilization costs
• Real-time material feeds mean no “subject to change” clauses
• Voice-controlled takeoffs cut measuring time in half
• Automated code checks flag compliance issues before they hit your wallet
• Instant financing links inside every CountBricks.com proposal
Does hardwood add appraisal value? Appraisers routinely add 75–90 % of project cost to market value when carpeted stairs are replaced with hardwood, according to CountBricks case data.
Can I refinish instead of replace? If your existing treads are solid wood, a sand-and-seal package costs about 35 % of a full replacement.
Is DIY realistic? Tread notching, consistent nosing, and railing layout require pro-level tools. Most homeowners choose DIY-friendly painting tasks and leave the stair install to CountBricks crews.
1. Record a quick video walk-through of your stairs.
2. Upload it to CountBricks.com/consultation or schedule a live voice call.
3. Approve the auto-generated estimate and select your installation window.
Your hardwood staircase upgrade is now on the calendar—no spreadsheets, no guesswork, just data-driven precision from CountBricks.
So, how much does hardwood stairs cost? With CountBricks, the answer is whatever the live lumber market and exact scope dictate—delivered to you in minutes instead of days. Whether you need a simple retrofit or a grand entry statement, our AI-backed estimating platform guarantees transparent pricing and flawless execution in residential settings.
In Lakeview Heights, a homeowner dreamed of replacing tired beige carpet with sweeping walnut hardwood. Traditional contractors offered “ballpark” figures from $7,000 to $12,000—too vague to sign. Enter CountBricks.
1. Our project lead opened the CountBricks mobile app and dictated measurements while climbing the stairs.
2. The AI recognized 16 treads, one mid-landing, and a curved starter step, then suggested code-compliant tread depth adjustments.
3. Within 90 seconds, it generated a material list: 17 walnut treads, 16 walnut risers, three box newels, 54 iron balusters, and a continuous handrail.
• Live walnut board-foot price: $11.40 pulled from CountBricks supplier feeds
• Labor automatically adjusted for curved starter step (+0.4 crew-day)
• The homeowner toggled between oil and water-based finishes inside the proposal, instantly seeing a $320 savings with water-based poly
Total contract price locked at $9,860—3 % below the client’s budget cap and fully guaranteed for 21 days. The client signed digitally on the same visit.
• Demolition to final coat completed in 5 on-site days, two fewer than scheduled
• Zero change orders thanks to AI-driven scope validation
• Post-project CountBricks survey recorded a 10/10 satisfaction score
• Capture a short video of your existing stairs before your consultation; clear visuals improve AI takeoff accuracy by up to 18 %
• Ask your CountBricks estimator to show both site-finished and pre-finished pricing; you may save on labor or gain a richer stain color
• Schedule railing installation and wall painting consecutively; combining tasks trims an average of $240 in set-up charges
Ready to see your own numbers? Visit CountBricks.com/services and schedule a free voice estimate. In less time than a coffee break, you will know exactly how much hardwood stairs cost for your home—powered by CountBricks precision.
