How much should I pay for floor sanding?
Andrew Henderson
Updated on March 15, 2026
How much should I pay for floor sanding?
The cost of floor sanding per square meter in New South Wales is about $28 per square metre. On the other hand, customers pay an average of $33 per square metre in Western Australia for the same services.
How much does it cost to sand 1000 square feet of hardwood floors?
Cost to refinish hardwood floors
| Room size | Square feet | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Stairs (12 to 14 steps) | — | $300 – $1,200 |
| Whole house | 1,000 | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Whole house | 1,500 | $2,800 – $6,000 |
| Whole house | 2,000 | $3,400 – $8,000 |
Is it worth sanding your own floors?
Sanding wood floors is a time consuming but relatively easy procedure. Sanding wood floors & refinishing yourself will definitely save money, and even an inexperienced homeowner can likely do a better job than the lowest bidding handyperson who quotes on it.
Can you sand and refinish floors yourself?
If you only have some minor scratches and dings or a dull finish, you might be able to simply buff and add a new coat of varnish. But, even if your floors need a complete makeover, refinishing hardwood is a very manageable and rewarding do-it-yourself job that can save a lot of money.
How much does it cost to have hardwood floors sanded and stained?
If your hardwood floors are dull, scratched, and looking old, it’s probably time to refinish them. According to HomeAdvisor, the typical price range to refinish hardwood floors is between $1,074 and $2,485, with the national average at $1,757. This comes out to $3 to $8 per square foot, including materials and labor.
How much does it cost to have hardwood floors sanded and refinished?
To completely refinish a hardwood floor—including sanding down the top layer to bare wood, then applying several coats of new finish like polyurethane—expect to pay flooring professionals $1.50 to $4 per square foot, or $340 to $900 for a 15-by-15-foot room.
Do you tip floor refinishers?
Should You Tip Floor Installers And Refinishers? You do not have to tip floor installers, but it is a nice gesture. Since floor installers are skilled laborers, they have usually received some training. They are typically paid adequately for their services.
Do you have to remove baseboards to refinish hardwood floors?
As a general rule, we recommend leaving your base and shoe on when having your floors refinished, especially if it is painted. Depending on how the painters prepped your base, you can actually cause more damage to the base and walls by removing it.
Can you sand floors with a hand sander?
The process for sanding a floor by hand would be, as a general rule, to start on a 40 grit sandpaper and work your way up to 100 or 120 grit paper to leave a fine finish. It is important to keep any sander moving so it does not dig into or burn the floor. Get yourself a floor sander, or better still hire a pro.
Do you fill gaps in floorboards before sanding?
Filling with a mix of resin and sawdust is the optimal choice for gaps between planks of up to 6mm. The resin and the dust are mixed in a bucket and applied with a filling knife or spatula. Any excess material is then sanded before the finish is applied.
Can I use a hand sander to sand a floor?
How many sanding sheets does it take to sand a floor?
It’s hard to say without knowing the size and condition of your flooring. But with the right tools (like a drum sander and edger), you should do three sanding passes in an average-sized living room or bedroom in a day.
