Scratches on Hardwood Floor
Scratched hardwood floors? Learn DIY repair methods for light and deep scratches, plus refinishing costs ($200–$800).
Typical repair cost: $200–$800 · DIY difficulty: Easy · About 30–60 minutes.
What usually causes it
- Furniture dragging
- Pet claws
- High heels
- Grit and debris
- Heavy foot traffic
What you need
- Wood filler or wax stick
- Fine steel wool
- Matching stain
- Polyurethane
How to fix it yourself
- For light surface scratches, rub with a walnut or wood floor restorer product
- For deeper scratches, clean the area and apply color-matched wood filler
- Sand lightly with fine steel wool or 220-grit sandpaper
- Apply matching stain with a small brush
- Seal with a thin coat of polyurethane and let dry
- For widespread damage, consider professional refinishing
When to call a pro
If scratches are deep and widespread, professional sanding and refinishing will give the best result.