Flooring guide
How Much Does Hardwood Floor Refinishing Cost in Ontario?
If your hardwood floors look worn, scratched or dated, refinishing is usually the cheapest way to make them look new again. But prices vary widely between companies, and it can be hard to tell what a fair hardwood floor refinishing cost looks like.
This guide is written by Guelph Flooring Pros, a flooring installation and refinishing contractor in Guelph, Ontario. We have been sanding, staining and finishing hardwood floors for more than 15 years and have completed over 1500 flooring jobs across Wellington County and Waterloo Region. The numbers below come from real Ontario projects, not national averages converted from US dollars.
We break the cost down per square foot and per room, explain the seven factors that push prices up, show where refinishing stops making sense compared with replacing, and explain why two quotes for the same floor can differ by thousands of dollars. By the end, you should be able to estimate your own project and compare quotes with confidence.
- 15+ years
- 1500+ jobs
- WSIB covered
- 2-year labour warranty
1500+
floors completed
The Short Answer
In Ontario in 2026, a full hardwood floor sand and refinish typically costs $3.50 to $5.50 per square foot with a clear finish, and $4.50 to $7 per square foot with a stain colour change.
A lighter screen-and-recoat, which refreshes the finish without sanding to bare wood, costs about $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot. Stairs are priced separately, usually $50 to $100 per step.
Most Ontario homeowners refinishing a living room, dining room and hallway spend roughly $2,000 to $5,000.
Cost Per Square Foot, Broken Down
A full refinish is really three jobs priced together.
| Step | Typical cost per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Sanding to bare wood (three grit passes plus edging) | $2 to $3 |
| Stain application, if changing colour | $1 to $1.50 |
| Sealer and two to three coats of finish | $1.50 to $2.50 |
Sanding is the largest part because it takes the most time and equipment. Finish costs depend on the product: a commercial-grade two-part water-based finish costs more than a standard single-component polyurethane but wears longer.
What a Typical Room Costs
People think about floors room by room, not in square feet. Here are typical ranges for common Ontario spaces, including sanding and three coats of finish.
| Space | Approx. size | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | 120 to 150 sq ft | $500 to $1,000 |
| Living room | 250 to 350 sq ft | $900 to $2,400 |
| Living, dining and hall | 500 to 600 sq ft | $1,750 to $4,200 |
| Whole main floor | 800 to 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 to $7,000 |
| Staircase, 13 treads | per step | $650 to $1,300 |
Small single rooms often land at the higher end per square foot because setup, equipment and travel are the same regardless of size. Many contractors also set a minimum charge.
Seven Things That Push the Price Up
1. Stairs
Every tread is sanded by hand or with small tools, which is slow. A staircase can cost as much as a medium room.
2. Pet damage
Urine stains often go deep into the wood and may need boards replaced. Claw scratches may need extra sanding passes.
3. Previous bad sanding
Floors sanded unevenly before, with dips, chatter marks or swirls, take more passes to flatten.
4. Dark-to-light stain changes
Removing a dark stain means sanding deeper to reach clean wood, and some species don't take light colours evenly.
5. Water damage
Cupped or stained boards may need drying time, replacement or both before sanding.
6. Furniture
Most quotes assume empty rooms. Moving heavy furniture, pianos or full kitchens adds cost.
7. Occupied homes
Extra containment, phased scheduling and working around people all add time.
Refinishing vs Replacing: Where the Lines Cross
Replacing a solid hardwood floor in Ontario typically costs $11 to $20 per square foot installed, plus $2 to $4 to remove the old floor. That's roughly three to five times the cost of a refinish.
So refinishing wins in most cases. It stops making sense when:
- more than about a quarter to a third of the boards need replacing,
- the floor has been sanded so many times that tongues or nails are showing,
- an engineered floor's wear layer is too thin to sand,
- or you want a completely different material or plank width.
When your floor is near one of those thresholds, it's worth getting both prices before deciding.
Why Quotes Vary So Much
Two refinishing quotes for the same floor can differ by 50 percent or more. The difference usually comes down to four things that aren't obvious from the headline price.
Dust containment
Sanders connected to proper extraction, plus plastic containment at doorways, take more equipment and setup time than a sander with a cloth bag.
Number of coats
Two coats versus three is a big difference in durability, and some quotes don't specify.
Finish type
Commercial-grade two-component water-based finishes cost more than single-component or oil-based finishes but wear significantly longer.
Edging and corners
Some quotes assume the drum sander covers everything and leave a visible band around walls. A proper quote includes edging, hand-scraping corners and screening the whole floor. When comparing quotes, ask each company to list the grits, the coats, the finish brand and how they control dust.
What Refinishing Costs in Guelph and Wellington County
Prices in Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo and Wellington County sit close to the Ontario averages above.
Older homes in Guelph's downtown neighbourhoods, Elora and Fergus often have original oak, maple or pine floors that have been sanded before. Those floors can still be refinished, but they need careful inspection first to check how much wood is left.
For a local price, see our hardwood floor sanding and refinishing in Guelph page, where we explain our process step by step.
FAQ
Refinishing Cost Questions
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace hardwood floors?
Refinishing is almost always cheaper, typically $3.50 to $7 per square foot compared with $13 to $24 to remove and replace. Replacement only makes more sense when the floor is badly damaged, too thin to sand or you want a different material.
How much does it cost to refinish a staircase?
Usually $50 to $100 per step, depending on whether risers are included, how worn the treads are and whether you are changing stain colour. Staircases with winders or open sides cost more.
Does the cost change for engineered hardwood?
The price per square foot is similar, but not every engineered floor can be sanded. Floors with a wear layer of 3mm or more usually can.
Thinner ones may only be suitable for a recoat. Our engineered vs solid hardwood guide explains wear layers in detail.
Let Us Handle It
Prefer to leave it to a professional crew? These are the services this guide covers.
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- 1
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Tell us the rooms, the floor you want and your timeline.
- 2
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We measure, check the subfloor and take moisture readings.
- 3
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