Hardwood stair installation costs a published average of $2,400, with most projects totaling $1,800 – $6,300 depending on the number of steps, wood species, and labor rates (HomeAdvisor, which scopes these figures to the full project).2 Fixr publishes a $3,563 national average scoped to a red oak straight staircase with 10 risers and two handrails, professionally installed, with an average range of $2,000 – $5,000 across interior staircase types and materials.3 Angi’s headline range and average are omitted: its page labels the same range “per step” in one place and as a project total in another, conflicting with its own per-stair figures (see What the sources say).1 Prices are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the staircase type, shape, materials, number of steps, railing choices, and local labor rates.
$2,400
average project (HomeAdvisor)
$1,800 – $6,300
project range (HomeAdvisor)
$3,563
avg, red oak straight 10-riser (Fixr)
$2,000 – $5,000
average range (Fixr)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor (updated Jun 2026) | Average $2,400; project totals $1,800 – $6,300; overall span $750–$30,000; $100 – $300 per stair installed | Scopes its figures to the full project; corporate sibling of Angi |
| Angi (updated Oct 2026) | Headline range and average omitted | Its page labels the $1,800 – $6,300 range “per step” in its summary but treats it as a project total in the text, and its own $100 – $300 per-stair figure can’t be reconciled with a per-step reading. With the unit unresolved, the general figures are omitted (within-source conflict); its per-stair, species, labor, permit, and refinishing figures are unaffected and included below |
| Fixr (updated Jan 2025) | Average $3,563 (red oak straight, 10 risers, 2 handrails, installed); range $2,000 – $5,000; low $1,043; high $8,869 | Separately published, pages state no shared sourcing; scopes its average and low/high to named projects |
Cost by staircase location
Fixr prices interior staircases by where they sit in the home:3
| Location (Fixr) | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Attic ladder | $250 – $1,000 |
| Basement stairs (unfinished) | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Basement stairs (finished) | $1,100 – $3,200 |
| Main staircase | $2,000 – $5,000 |
Fixr’s low-end project ($1,043) is an unfinished open-riser basement staircase with 13 risers and one handrail; its high end ($8,869) is a red oak spiral staircase with 15 risers and two double-steel tubular handrails.3
Cost by staircase shape
Fixr prices eight staircase shapes, from straight runs to floating designs:3
| Shape (Fixr) | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Straight | $1,900 – $5,000 |
| Winder | $2,000 – $5,500 |
| L-shaped | $2,200 – $5,700 |
| U-shaped | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| Spiral | $2,500 – $15,500 |
| Curved | $9,000 – $100,000 |
| Circular | $9,000 – $100,000 |
| Floating | $15,000 – $100,000 |
HomeAdvisor separately publishes a $10,400 average for spiral staircases; it is presented alongside Fixr’s spiral range rather than merged with it.2,3
Cost per step by material
HomeAdvisor and Angi publish the same per-step figures for hardwood species, including materials and installation (matching sibling figures):1,2
| Wood species (HomeAdvisor/Angi) | Cost per step |
|---|---|
| Oak | $100 – $200 |
| Maple | $120 – $220 |
| Cherry | $150 – $250 |
| Walnut | $180 – $300 |
| Hickory | $140 – $250 |
| Engineered hardwood | $90 – $170 |
| Eco-friendly options | $120 – $300 |
Fixr publishes a wider set of staircase materials at materials-only per-step pricing; the scopes differ from the installed figures above and the tables are not merged:3
| Material (Fixr) | Cost per step (materials only) |
|---|---|
| Wood | $50 – $150 |
| Brick | $60 – $100 |
| Stone | $80 – $120 |
| Composite | $80 – $150 |
| Tile | $80 – $150 |
| Metal | $100 – $200 |
| Glass | $150 – $250 |
| Concrete | $200 – $300 |
Within wood, Fixr prices species from plywood at $50 – $60 per step up to cherry at $100 – $150; glass stairs can add $100–$500 for integrated LED lighting.3
Labor costs
HomeAdvisor and Angi put professional installation labor at $50–$100 per hour, with Angi also quoting $40–$100 per step depending on region and design complexity; HomeAdvisor estimates labor at close to 40% of the total project (matching sibling figures on the hourly rate).1,2 Fixr publishes different labor figures: $70–$150 per hour, typically $1,100 – $3,500 of a $2,000 – $5,000 total installation. The two sets of estimates differ and are presented separately.3
Railings and handrails
Fixr prices railing materials per linear foot, materials only:3
| Railing material (Fixr) | Cost per linear ft. |
|---|---|
| Wood | $10 – $40 |
| Stainless steel | $25 – $60 |
| Wrought iron | $50 – $300 |
| Cable | $60 – $200 |
| Glass | $100 – $500 |
Handrails run $25 – $40 per linear foot wall-mounted (mopstick $25 – $35, pig’s ear $30 – $40) and $30 – $100 per linear foot for integrated designs.3
Additional costs to budget for
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Building permit (Angi) | $100 – $500 |
| Custom features and add-ons (Angi) | $50–$1,500+ per addition |
| Carpet removal (HomeAdvisor) | $60–$65 per hour for a handy person if the carpenter doesn’t handle it |
| Subfloor repair or replacement (HomeAdvisor) | Average $1,560, or $3–$10 per sq. ft. |
| Refinishing or resealing existing stairs (HomeAdvisor/Angi) | $300 – $1,000 (matching sibling figures) |
| Stair repair (Angi) | $200 – $1,000 for creaky steps, loose treads, or cosmetic damage |
| Old staircase removal and disposal (Fixr) | $500–$1,000 added to replacement projects |
| Carpeting a staircase (Fixr) | Average $750 |
| Stair overlays or covers (Fixr) | $200 – $1,500 or more |
| Individual stair treads installed (Fixr) | $50 – $300 per tread |
Fixr puts a carpet-to-wood staircase conversion at $100–$300 for carpet removal plus $100–$200 per step installed, or $1,500 – $3,000 for a typical 12- or 13-step staircase.3
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install a staircase?
HomeAdvisor puts hardwood stair installation at a $2,400 average with most projects totaling $1,800 – $6,300.2 Fixr puts the interior staircase average at $3,563 for a red oak straight staircase with 10 risers and two handrails, with a $2,000 – $5,000 average range.3
How much do hardwood stairs cost per step?
HomeAdvisor and Angi put hardwood stairs at $100 – $300 per stair including materials and installation, with most homes having 10 to 20 steps.1,2 Fixr’s per-step figures are materials only and run $50 – $300 depending on material.3
How much does a spiral staircase cost?
HomeAdvisor publishes a $10,400 average for spiral staircases.2 Fixr puts spiral staircase installation at $2,500 – $15,500 depending on style, diameter, and height.3
How much does it cost to convert carpeted stairs to wood?
Fixr puts carpet removal at $100–$300 plus $100 – $200 per step for wooden steps installed, totaling $1,500 – $3,000 for a typical 12- or 13-step staircase.3
Related guides
See our guides to stair refinishing costs, stair runner installation costs, stair lift costs, hardwood floor refinishing costs, baseboard installation costs, and crown molding costs.
Sources
- Angi – How Much Does It Cost to Install Hardwood Stairs? [2026 Data] (updated Oct 2026, accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- HomeAdvisor – How Much Does It Cost to Install Hardwood Stairs in 2026? (updated Jun 2026, accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Fixr – Cost to Install an Interior Staircase (updated Jan 2025, accessed Nov 3, 2026)