Shoe molding can get expensive, but it’s often worth the investment just for the aesthetic
Subtle finishing details of your home give your space a polished look—and shoe molding is no exception. It hides the gap between your floor and baseboards, as the baseboard alone doesn’t often cover the seam. Installing shoe molding costs $4.25 per linear foot on average. The total cost depends on what type of molding you install and whether you do the work yourself. In this guide, we’ll provide a full breakdown of project costs based on key factors.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $2.00 | $4.25 | $6.25 |
The price you’ll pay for shoe molding installation varies due to a few factors that affect your pricing, including the material used and the labor required to install it.
The cost to install shoe molding ranges from $2.00 to $6.25 per linear foot, depending on the type of shoe you choose and the labor costs. As you might guess, larger pieces of shoe molding will typically cost more because you’ll have higher material costs, and installing thicker, wider or more decorative pieces can drive up labor costs, as well.
Shoe molding is usually between 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch thick, and it can range from 1/2-inch to 1-inch tall or more.
| Shoe Molding Size (Height x Depth in Inches) | Typical Cost (per Linear Foot) |
|---|---|
| 1/2 x 1/2 | $2–$3 |
| 3/4 x 1/2 | $2–$5 |
| 1 x 1/2 | $2–$6 |
| 1 x 3/4 | $3–$6.25 |
| 1-1/2 x 3/4 | $4–$6.25 |
Base shoe molding costs anywhere from $0.38 per linear foot to $4.50 per linear foot for the material alone, depending on the type of material, thickness, and style. Wood tends to be the most expensive, while MDF (medium-density fiber) trim is at the lower end.
| Type of Shoe Molding | Typical Cost (per Linear Foot) |
|---|---|
| MDF | $0.50–$1.50 |
| PVC | $0.75–$2 |
| Wood | $0.90–$4 |
Shoe molding comes in a variety of types, such as quarter round molding, traditional rounded shoe, and craftsman shoe with a rectangular profile. The more decorative the shoe molding is, the higher the price tends to be. The same goes for thickness. A thicker shoe molding tends to cost more than a thinner shoe. Wood shoe molding tends to have the most options for decorative finishes, and you can stain, paint, or leave it as-is for a traditional look.
Expect to pay between $1 and $5 per linear foot when hiring a local carpenter to install your shoe molding. Carpenters generally charge between $65 and $105 per hour to install trim. Their quotes usually include measuring, cutting, nailing, caulking, prep work, and clean-up.
Your labor costs might increase if you’re installing a highly-decorative shoe molding, as the work could be more involved to get the desired appearance. Your labor costs could also be higher if your wall and/or flooring have a lot of imperfections, as your pro will take more time to cover gaps and waves with the molding.
Finally, if you want shoe molding to be part of your staircase, labor costs will increase even more, as cutting around steps takes more time than trimming out the long, straight walls of a room.
If you’re painting or staining your shoe molding and not buying prefinished trim, expect to pay an extra $0.50 to $2 per linear foot. Painting and staining is detailed work that requires time and the right tools. This is definitely a portion of the job that you can DIY to save money on labor.
If you install shoe molding yourself, you’ll need a few tools and supplies to do the job right.
| Tool/Material | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Hammer | $12 |
| Miter saw | $300 |
| Nails | $1 per box |
| Paint or stain | $12 |
| Painter’s tape | $6 per roll |
| Pneumatic nailer | $200 |
| Tape measure | $8 |
| Wood filler | $8 |
| Wood glue | $5 |
The bigger factor in the materials cost of your shoe molding is what it’s made of: wood, MDF, or PVC. The material you use will affect the cost, ease of installation, finish options, durability, and more.
| Wood | MDF | PVC |
|---|---|---|
| Most expensive | Most affordable | Mid-range price |
| Highest durability | Lowest durability | Medium durability |
| Painted, stained, or natural | Painted | Painted or natural |
| Most decorative options | Some decorative options | Minimal decorative options |
Wood shoe molding can be crafted out of any type of wood. Pine tends to be the least expensive, but you may want to choose oak or another wood to match your home’s interior. If you plan to paint the wood, you can save money by using pine, as you won’t need the high-quality look of oak.
You can stain or paint your wood shoe molding, but you can also buy prefinished wood shoe molding that doesn’t require finishing work. Wood shoe molding costs between $0.90 and $4 per linear foot, in most cases.
MDF is made of resin and sawdust. It’s more flexible than wood, making it great for closing the gap between your baseboard and floor–if you have a lot of imperfections. You can paint MDF, but wood is the better choice if you plan to stain the trim or leave it unfinished. MDF shoe molding costs between $0.50 and $1.50 per linear foot.
PVC is made of polyvinyl chloride in a cellular form. It’s a wood alternative that tends to be less expensive. It’s an ideal material if you want your trim to be white or another color instead of a natural wood, but it can only remain unfinished if the baseboard trim it's being installed against matches the white color. PVC shoe molding costs between $0.75 and $2 per linear foot.
Installing shoe molding is a great project for a homeowner DIY project. Although there is a hefty list of tools needed, the materials are affordable, so any mistakes made as you learn won’t cost you too much. As such, installing shoe molding is a great way to improve the appearance of your home and sharpen your DIY skills.
For a beginner, installing shoe molding in an 18-foot by 12-foot room may take up to three hours or more. For a more experienced DIYer, it could be done in about an hour if all your tools and materials are prepped and close by. Prefinished shoe molding also saves time, as staining or painting your trim adds significant time to the project.
If your floors aren’t level, the job could be more tricky because you’ll need to flex the shoe molding into place before securing it, and you might need to seal around the molding with caulk to fix any trim issues. You can save yourself time by hiring a local baseboard installation specialist, if you’re not up to the job.
Installing shoe molding yourself can save you anywhere from $1 to $5 per linear foot. In a room that’s 12-feet by 18-feet, you might save $60 to $300 in labor by doing the installation yourself.
Installing shoe molding is relatively affordable, but many homeowners will look for ways to cut costs on the project. You can save on trim installation costs by following these tips:
Choose MDF or PVC trim over real wood. Real wood tends to look better and last longer, but it can cost two to three times as much per linear foot.
Opt for prefinished trim or finish it yourself. You can save between $0.50 and $2 per linear foot on labor if you buy prefinished trim, or paint or stain it yourself, instead of having your installer do it.
Install the shoe molding yourself. One of the best ways to save some money is to do the installation yourself. If you’re comfortable with the process, you could avoid spending between $1 to $5 per linear foot on labor, or up to around $300 per room.
Choose a smaller, less decorative shoe molding. The bigger and more decorative your molding is, the more you’ll pay for materials and labor. Keep it simple to keep costs down.
Installing baseboard and shoe molding costs $9.15 per linear foot, on average for labor and materials. That includes between $2 and $6.25 per linear foot for the shoe molding and between $3 and $7 per linear foot for the baseboard trim. If you need baseboard or shoe molding removed, expect your project price to go up.
You should consider the style of shoe molding you want and whether you want natural wood, MDF, or PVC. Real wood usually looks better and lasts longer than MDF and PVC, but it’s a little more challenging to install, especially if there are wide gaps you need to cover, and it’s more expensive. Purchasing prefinished shoe molding means not as much time spent painting or staining each piece—or paying someone to do this work.
Before installing shoe molding, evaluate redoing or refinishing any floors and painting your walls or baseboard before putting on your shoe molding. If you don’t already have baseboard trim, you should install that before adding shoe molding. Shoe molding is the final touch. Additionally, a carpenter or other professional that’s installing shoe molding might also give you a deal on installing crown molding and replacing other trim if you get them done at the same time.
