19 Affordable Options for Beautiful Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring has many benefits: It is beautiful and durable, and more hygienic than carpeting. If there's a downside to hardwood floors, however, it is that installing new flooring can cost a hefty sum. If you'd like to renew your kitchen, entryway, bedroom—or any room—by adding new hardwood floors, but high costs are preventing you from achieving your dream home, take heart. There are affordable options for hardwood flooring, if you know where to look. When shopping for hardwood flooring, pay attention to the grade and the Janka hardness rating. Grade refers to the quality of the wood, and indicates the likelihood that boards will be marked by visible imperfections like knots, holes, wormholes, and color variation. Because these imperfections do not appeal to all consumers, lower grade wood floors like Natural or Cabin are generally less expensive than higher grade floors like Clear or Select. The Janka hardness rating, on the other hand, is a measure of the durability of the flooring. Trees like Bamboo, Hevea, and Acacia are softer than consumer favorites like Maple and Oak, while Hickory is harder and more durable than almost any other hardwood flooring. Even if you don't have a big budget to spend on new hardwood floors, chances are you can find something that works for your home and your budget. Check our list to see some of the affordable hardwood flooring options that exist today.
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Amber Brazilian Oak

lumberliquidators.com

Made of a South American wood called Tauari, also known as Brazilian Oak, these golden-hued floors are notable for their strength and straight, fine graining. Part of the Lumber Liquidators Bellawood line, the floors carry a Janka hardness rating of 1650, and are backed by a whopping transferable 100-year warranty. Available from LumberLiquidators.com; $3.99/foot.

Gunstock Oak

lumberliquidators.com

It’s no wonder that Red Oak is America’s favorite material for hardwood flooring. It is both beautiful and durable, and it can easily be sourced and milled domestically. These particular millrun grade floors feature some natural color variation and mineral coloring that give it distinctive character. Backed by.a 30-year warranty and carrying a Janka hardness rating of 1290, they are designed to bring beauty to your home for years to come. Available from LumberLiquidators.com; $3.47/foot.

Copper Hevea

lumberliquidators.com

Made from Hevea, also known as Rubberwood, these solid hardwood floors from Lumber Liquidators are about 15 percent softer than Red Oak, with a Janka hardness rating of 1092. However, despite the floors relative softness, they are surprisingly durable due to their butcher block construction, and are backed by a 50-year limited warranty. Available from LumberLiquidators.com; $2.99/foot.

Hickory Natural

homedepot.com

High quality Hickory floors can outlive your furnace, your roof, and almost any fixture in your home, thank to their Janka hardness rating of 1820. In the case of these hardwood floors, made from sustainable domestic sources, a 50-year finish warranty proves just how confident the manufacturer is that the floors will endure for years and decades to come. Available at HomeDepot.com; $3.99/foot.

Envi Brazilian Teak

overstock.com

This online retailer might not be on your radar as a source for hardwood flooring, but Overstock.com offers a number of options at reasonable price points, like this richly colored Envi Brazilian Teak, which comes with a 25-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. Available at Overstock.com; $130.62 for a box of 15.56 square feet.

Antique Red Oak

reallycheapfloors.com

Perfect for homeowners with rustic sensibilities, the Antique Cabin collection from ReallyCheapFloors.com allows for knots, color variation, wormholes, and other imperfections that lend unique charm. The Red Oak floors carry a 1290-1360 rating on the Janka hardness scale. Available from ReallyCheapFloors.com; $1.99/foot. 

Oak Parquet

homedepot.com

Embrace the color variation of natural oak by opting for hardwood parquet flooring. These solid wood parquet tiles have a Janka wood hardness rating of 1290, and a low-gloss finish, which means that, even with wear, it will be difficult to spot dents, nicks, and imperfections. The tiles can be glued down for easy installation. Available from HomeDepot.com; $3.29/foot.

Plano Natural Hickory

homedepot.com

With a Janka hardness rating of 1820, these moderately priced Hickory floors are some of the most durable you can get for your money. Sourced almost entirely from domestic materials, the Bruce Plano collection of hardwood floors celebrates natural imperfections like mineral streaks, knots and wormholes, adding character to a well-loved home. Available at HomeDepot.com; $3.99/foot.

Red Natural Oak

homedepot.com

Sourced from responsibly harvested forests, these domestic Red Oak hardwood floors with a Janka hardness rating of 1152 are made to last and backed by a 30-year finish warranty. The natural color variation of the boards is protected by a medium gloss finish. Available at HomeDepot.com; $3.95/foot.

Bar Harbor Acacia

lumberliquidators.com

The distressed finish of these Acacia hardwood floors will appeal to homeowners of rustic or industrial sensibilities, although they also work well when paired with contemporary decor. The floors have a Janka hardness rating of 783 and are backed by a 30-year warranty. Available from LumberLiquidators.com; $4.19/foot.

Farmer's Market Acacia

lumberliquidators.com

The craftsmanship of Virginia Mill Works hardwood flooring evokes the artisan charm of the homes built in Colonial America. Although manufactured by modern means, the distressed finish and natural graining give the impression that they were carefully finished by hand. Available from LumberLiquidators.com; $2.77/foot.

Chestnut Hill Hevea

lumberliquidators.com

Prefinished in a rich chestnut hue, these natural grade Hevea floors are most suitable for shoes-off and pet-free households, as dark-colored floors can show signs of wear and tear faster than light-colored floors. All the same, with a Janka hardness rating of 1180 and a 30-year warranty, one can expect these hardwood floors to last. Available from LumberLiquidators.com; $3.29/foot.

Winchester Charcoal

reallycheapfloors.com

Sleek and sophisticated in color, yet hard and durable by design, the Winchester hardwood flooring in Charcoal offers the best of both worlds for budget-conscious consumers. Available at ReallyCheapFloors.com; $2.19/foot.

Oak Strip Taupe

reallycheapfloors.com

Also from North Carolina, these solid Red Oak floors, with a Janka hardness rating of 1290, are prestained in Taupe for a modern look.  Available from ReallyCheapFloors.com; $1.99.

Antique Butterscotch

reallycheapfloors.com

Sourced from North Carolina, these solid Oak hardwood floors, rated between 1290-1360 on the Janka hardness scale, are finished in a Butterscotch-colored stain to bring warmth to any room. Available from ReallyCheapFloors.com; $1.99/foot

Winchester in Tumbleweed

reallycheapfloors.com

Aside from Oak, Maple is one of the most popular materials for durable hardwood floors. Maple wood is harder than Oak, which means that it can stand up better to daily use. That said, Maple floors are often finished in dark stains, which can’t hide damage or imperfection as well as lighter colored floors. These Maple floors in Tumbleweed fall on the lighter side of the spectrum, making them a worthy option. Available from ReallyCheapFloors.com; $2.39/foot.

Select Red Oak

homedepot.com

These unfinished Select Red Oak hardwood floors lend traditional ambiance to home interiors. Designed for nail-down installation, the tongue-and-groove edges ensure a snug fit and minimize the risk of gaps forming between floor boards. The floors have a Janka hardness rating of 1290 and come with a lifetime structural warranty. Available at HomeDepot.com; $3.07/foot.

Yorkshire Strip

reallycheapfloors.com

This solid hardwood floor, finished in a light stain, showcases the natural color variation of the White Oak tree, from which it is sourced. The Yorkshire Strip flooring in Canyon comes with a 5 Year Finish Warranty. Available from ReallyCheapFloors.com; $1.79/foot.

Appalachian in Hickory Nutmeg

reallycheapfloors.com

These floors are made of Hickory, one of the hardest option for hardwood floors with a Janka hardness rating of 1820. The durability of the material and the low-gloss finish make it a safe bet for pet owners who want hardwood floors that won’t be marred by pitter patter of tiny claws. Available from ReallyCheapFloors.com; $2.99/foot.

Frugal Flooring

bobvila.com

With all the new advancements, hardwood floors are more affordable than ever before.