Where to Buy Unfinished Hardwood Flooring: 8 Retailers (2026)

Unfinished hardwood flooring runs $1 to $12 per square foot depending on species and retailer, but Home Depot and Lowe’s stock only a few common species in-store while online wholesalers like BuildDirect and Hurst Hardwoods carry oak, hickory, and exotic species by the pallet. Buying from the wrong source means paying retail markup or waiting weeks on backorder. This guide compares 8 verified retailers by price range, species selection, and where they sell.

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Where to Buy Unfinished Hardwood Flooring: 8 Verified Retailers

Before comparing individual stores, it helps to know the two broad paths: big-box retailers with same-day pickup but a limited species lineup, or specialty and online sellers with far more wood species and widths but longer lead times. Our full wood flooring guide covers how unfinished compares to prefinished and engineered options if you’re still deciding which type to buy.

Retailer	Price Range (per sq ft)	Species Available	Where to Buy
The Home Depot	$1 – $6	Oak, hickory, maple (solid)	In-store & online, free shipping on qualifying orders
Lowe’s	$3 – $12	Oak and a smaller regional selection	In-store & online pickup
Floor & Decor	$1 – $6	Wide species range, solid & engineered	In-store & online, largest in-person selection
LL Flooring (formerly Lumber Liquidators)	$1 – $8	Oak, hickory, maple, walnut — R.L. Colston unfinished line	Online & showrooms
BuildDirect	$3 – $12	Domestic & exotic species, wide planks	Online only
Hurst Hardwoods	Wholesale, varies by species	Solid & engineered, all widths and lengths	Online only, fast wholesale shipping
Panel Town & Floors	From ~$1	Solid & engineered, multiple grades	Online, wholesale pricing
Hardwood Bargains	Mid-range, manufacturer-direct	Wood, bamboo & laminate	Austin, TX showroom + install referrals

A few more sources worth checking depending on what you need: Bruce sells USA-made, NWFA/NOFMA-certified solid oak direct from the manufacturer; Lanham Hardwood distributes unfinished flooring milled by Henry County Hardwoods in Paris, Tennessee, through its Kentucky/Ohio dealer network; Mohawk Factory Outlet stores carry discontinued and overstock hardwood at reduced prices; and Woodwudy resells Hearthwood Floors’ engineered lines online. If you’re specifically comparing what Home Depot stocks, see our deep dive on Home Depot’s unfinished hardwood selection, including their current species and pricing.

Before You Buy: Check Moisture Content and Let It Acclimate

Unfinished hardwood is kiln-dried but not sealed, so it keeps absorbing and releasing moisture from the room it sits in. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, solid wood flooring should be within a few percentage points of the subfloor’s moisture content before installation — skipping this step is the single most common cause of gapping and cupping in new hardwood floors.

Whichever retailer you buy from, get the planks delivered to the actual room at least a week before installation and check both the wood and the subfloor with a pin-type moisture meter before you nail or glue anything down.

Unfinished vs. Prefinished: Which Costs Less Overall?

Unfinished flooring almost always has a lower sticker price, but the total project cost depends on who’s doing the sanding and finishing. See our full prefinished vs. unfinished hardwood comparison for a room-by-room cost breakdown.

Factor	Unfinished	Prefinished
Material cost	Lower – raw wood only	Higher – factory finish included
Total installed cost	Often equal or higher once sanding, staining, and on-site finishing labor are added	Often comparable or lower since labor is already done at the factory
Customization	Unlimited stain colors and sheen, seamless site-sanded surface	Fixed factory colors, though options have expanded in recent years
Durability of the finish	Depends entirely on installer skill — a rushed job wears faster	Factory-cured finishes are typically harder and more consistent

How Much Extra Should You Order? (Waste Factor)

Order more than your exact square footage — every retailer above sells by the box, and cutting boards to fit doorways, closets, and room edges always leaves scrap. For a standard straight or parallel layout, order 5 to 10 percent extra. For a diagonal or herringbone pattern, order 15 percent extra since more of each board gets cut away at the angles. Our flooring cost estimator factors in waste percentage automatically if you want an exact number for your room.

Solid vs. Engineered Unfinished Hardwood: What These Retailers Actually Stock

Solid unfinished hardwood is a single piece of wood, usually 3/4 inch thick, that can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life. Engineered unfinished hardwood has a real hardwood wear layer bonded over plywood layers — it handles humidity swings better but can only be sanded down once or twice before hitting the plywood core. Floor & Decor, LL Flooring, and Hurst Hardwoods carry both types unfinished; Home Depot and Lowe’s lean mostly solid in their unfinished lineup. See our full solid vs. engineered wood flooring breakdown for which one fits a basement, kitchen, or over-radiant-heat installation.

Check the Grade Before You Order a Full Room

Every retailer above sells unfinished hardwood in graded tiers, and the grade name on the listing matters as much as the species. Select & Better (sometimes labeled “Clear” or “Premium”) has the fewest knots and the most consistent color, and it costs the most per square foot. No. 1 Common allows visible knots, mineral streaks, and more color variation for a noticeably lower price — a popular middle ground for farmhouse or rustic-style rooms. No. 2 Common (sometimes called “Tavern” or “Rustic” grade) has the most character marks and knots and is the cheapest, but expect more waste when you’re cutting around larger defects.

Before ordering enough for a full room from any of these retailers, request a sample box rather than a single swatch — grading standards vary slightly between mills, so a “No. 1 Common” board from one supplier can look different from another’s. Also confirm the return policy in writing for special orders: many online sellers charge a restocking fee of 15 to 25 percent on unopened boxes, and custom-milled or discontinued runs (like Mohawk Factory Outlet stock) usually can’t be returned at all.

“We always let unfinished oak sit in the actual install room a full week before laying it — skip that step and you’ll see gaps open up along the seams by the first winter, especially in older homes with forced-air heat.”

FAQ

Where can I buy unfinished hardwood flooring?

The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Floor & Decor carry unfinished hardwood in-store and online for same-day pickup. For wider species selection and wholesale pricing, online sellers like BuildDirect, Hurst Hardwoods, and Panel Town & Floors ship directly to your job site.

Is it cheaper to buy unfinished or prefinished hardwood flooring?

Yes, unfinished flooring usually costs less per square foot to buy. But once you add sanding, staining, and on-site finishing labor, the total project cost often comes out close to or even above prefinished flooring — the savings depend on whether you finish it yourself.

Can I buy unfinished hardwood flooring online?

Yes. BuildDirect, Hurst Hardwoods, LL Flooring, and Panel Town & Floors sell unfinished hardwood entirely online with shipping. Order a sample first, since color and grain vary more than photos show, and check the seller’s return policy before ordering a full room.

How much extra hardwood should I order for waste?

Order 5 to 10 percent more than your measured square footage for a standard straight-lay installation, and 15 percent more for diagonal or herringbone patterns, which require more angled cuts and generate more scrap.

What is the difference between solid and engineered unfinished hardwood?

Solid unfinished hardwood is one piece of wood that can be refinished several times over its life. Engineered unfinished hardwood has a hardwood wear layer over plywood, which resists humidity changes better but can only be sanded down once or twice.

Which wood species are most common for unfinished hardwood flooring?

Oak, maple, and hickory are the most widely stocked species across the retailers above. Oak is the most affordable and widest available; hickory and maple cost more but offer harder wear surfaces and different grain patterns.

What does the wood flooring grade mean?

Grade describes how many knots, mineral streaks, and color variations are visible in the boards. Select & Better has the fewest and costs the most; No. 1 Common allows more character for a lower price; No. 2 Common (also called Tavern or Rustic) has the most knots and is the cheapest option.

Whichever retailer you choose, buy a sample first, let the wood acclimate in the actual room, and order enough extra to cover cuts — unfinished hardwood rewards the extra prep step with a floor you can finish exactly the way you want.