How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Stairs? [2026 Data]

In 2026, the average cost to refinish stairs is $800 nationwide, based on data from 1,861 verified projects reported by Angi Pros. Most homeowners fall between $345 and $1,324, depending on the number of steps, the wood's condition, and staircase complexity. If you have an older home or a more intricate design with curved stairs or carved banisters, costs can climb higher—but refinishing wooden stairs remains one of the more rewarding ways to brighten a space and add value to your home.

Design of Stairs

Wooden stairs used to be the norm, but they're also a great area of the house for people to show off their wealth, style, or woodworking skills. For this reason, some staircases are far more complicated than simple wooden boards placed at neat angles.

A home may have a curved staircase if it's older and grand. A newer home may have a modern design, like a floating staircase or spiral staircase. No matter the style of staircase , assume an uptick in the required budget when dealing with any design elements that would increase the project's timeframe—double that if those elements require specialized care (carved banisters often do).

Cost to Refinish Stairs by Size: What to Expect

Staircase size is a major cost driver, as wider stairs require more time and materials. A standard one-story staircase has 12 to 17 steps, but if yours measures between 36 and 48 inches wide, budget an extra 15% to 20% above the base estimate. The table below covers per-step refinishing pricing only and doesn’t include banister refinishing or specialized labor and materials:

Stair Contractor Costs: What to Budget For

Stair builders, also called stair pros, are the best professionals to hire for refinishing work, and they charge between 20% and 30% of the total project cost. Some pros quote a flat rate for labor instead of a percentage, so it's worth asking upfront which pricing structure applies. Contact a local stair company to connect with a pro and get a refinishing estimate.

Carpenter Cost for Refinishing Stairs

Professional carpenters cost $50 to $200 per hour for stair work, reflecting the precision and expertise their specialized woodwork demands. Carpenters bring a deep understanding of wood—how it behaves, how to repair it, and how to work with it—that justifies the higher rate compared to general labor.

General Contractor Cost for Refinishing Stairs

A general contractor is rarely needed for stair refinishing unless you're replacing structural elements or railings. General contractors charge a percentage of the total project cost, and because refinishing jobs tend to be lower-cost, some contractors may be incentivized to inflate the price. For a straightforward refinishing project, get quotes from stair professionals first before engaging a general contractor.

Stairs Costs by Location: Where Prices Vary Most

Where you live significantly affects what you'll pay to refinish stairs, and prices vary widely even within the same region. Large markets with abundant skilled labor can offer competitive rates, but some major cities rank among the most expensive in the country. The table below reflects regional pricing for refinishing a 14-step stairway:

Stairs Cost Factors: What Determines the Price?

Wood preparation and permits are among the key cost factors that can affect your total stair refinishing budget. Understanding these variables upfront helps you plan accurately and avoid surprises once the project is underway.

Demolition and Prep

Prep work is the largest component of any stair refinishing job, accounting for the majority of billed labor hours. Getting the wood ready for stains or other treatments takes hours of careful handiwork. Demolition is rarely a factor unless you're fully replacing the stairs, and prep costs are almost always folded into your main project quote rather than billed separately.

Permits

Most stair refinishing projects don't require a permit, as long as you aren't altering the structure of the stairs. If structural work is involved, permits can range from $450 to $2,800 or more, with the cost of a permit determined by the scope of work and your zip code. If you're rebuilding any part of your staircase as part of the refinishing project, check with your municipality before work begins.

Warranties

Stairs themselves rarely come with a warranty, but the labor performed by a professional may be covered, depending on the contractor. Ask your stair pro upfront whether a warranty is offered—for example, coverage for damage caused by a chemical they applied is a reasonable protection to request. For most standard refinishing projects, a warranty won't be included, but it's always worth confirming before work begins.

Repairs

A stair or woodworking pro can handle any repairs identified during the refinishing process, with costs ranging from $40 to $150 per hour depending on the complexity of the work. Whether specialized materials or tools are required will determine where your repair costs fall within that range.

Custom Work

Custom stair work should always be handled by a carpenter, and it will add to the overall project cost. A local stair company can typically handle standard refinishing, but intricate or irreplaceable woodwork requires a specialist skilled in handling delicate details without causing damage.

Why You Should Hire a Stair Service Pro

While the pros make it look easy, refinishing stairs requires patience and skill—a stair service contractor must evenly sand each tread, completely remove all dust and debris, and then carefully stain and finish every surface. Without practice and the right tools, it's easy to leave swirl marks, uneven stain patterns, or drips that stand out every time you walk by. Hiring a local stair company to do the work means you can count on a professional job that is smooth and consistent.

Here's why it's ideal to hire a stair refinisher

Here's why hiring a stair refinisher comes with benefits that a DIY job can't accomplish:

• Stair service pros use professional-grade sanders to evenly remove old finish without gouging the wood.

• They know how to reach tight corners and edges without damaging the wood.

• A stair refinisher can recommend stains and finishes to match the existing flooring.

• A contractor provides expert dust control to protect the rest of your home.

• They apply even, durable finish coats that resist wear, leaving your stairs looking beautiful.

If you want to DIY stair refinishing

Stair refinishing is a skilled task that's best left to the pros, but there are a few ways you can help with smaller tasks:

• Remove old carpet, nails, staples, gripper tape, and other materials from the treads.

• Thoroughly dust and mop the stairs before your pro begins sanding.

• Apply painter's tape to protect walls and railings.

• Install stair protectors after your contractor is done and the finish is cured.

Refinishing Stairs Replacement vs. Repair

Unless your stairs are rotting through , pose some other type of danger, or you simply cannot stand looking at them anymore, repairing them alongside a refinish is the way to go. Replacing stairs is a big job that requires permits, multiple professionals, and thousands of dollars worth of materials.

If you notice any damage to the wood itself, you need to hire a pro to verify it's only that section that's affected. Many times, what occurs in one piece of wood is happening to many others.

Tips to Reduce Cost While Refinishing Stairs

Many times, the only materials you need to refinish stairs are sandpaper, stain, gloves, a mask, a brush, a vacuum, some old cloths, and a garbage bag. It's hard to save money on such items, but there are still ways you can save while refinishing stairs:

• Buy in Bulk: Buy bulk products if possible.

• Choose Water-Based Finishes: Use water-based finishes, which tend to require fewer coats.

• Refinish in Phases: Only refinish part of the stairs at a time.

• DIY Where Possible: Do as much (if not the whole project) by yourself.

Does Refinishing Stairs Increase Home Value?

Refinishing stairs increases home value, but more in softer ways and less in hard numbers to the market price of the house (there are better projects to consider for this). A refinished set of stairs boosts the visual appeal of the home. This can be parlayed into gathering more quotes from buyers if you're selling as it's an often overlooked part of the home that positively shines when refinished.

If you sell, you may be able to recoup around 25% of the investment in the project. This is lower than other projects, so you should make sure you're refinishing the stairs for the right reasons. Namely, this is to increase the aesthetic value of your home, not necessarily the financial value.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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