Basic
$5.87 – $14 per sq ft
1x6 knotty pine tongue-and-groove wall paneling, blind-nailed over existing walls, clear finish, simple trim
How Much Does Tongue And Groove Paneling Cost in Chicago, Illinois?
Install solid wood tongue and groove wall paneling (pine to mid-grade hardwood) over existing walls, materials and labor, per sq ft of wall.
Tongue And Groove Paneling in Chicago, Illinois typically costs $6.90 to $16 per sq ft as of 2026. Prices reflect local labor and material rates. Use our calculator below for a detailed, ZIP-code-adjusted estimate.
Tongue And Groove Paneling in Chicago, Illinois
$6.90 – $16
per sq ftPrices in Chicago are 19.0% higher than the national average for tongue and groove paneling.
National average: $6 – $14 per sq ft
What you get at each price level
Standard
$6.90 – $16 per sq ft
1x6 select pine tongue-and-groove, blind-nailed, sanded and finished, matching casing and baseboard trim
Premium
$8.63 – $20 per sq ft
1x6 red oak tongue-and-groove paneling, blind-nailed, stained and clear-coated, matching hardwood trim
Cost Breakdown in Chicago
| Component | Category | Price Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | material | $2.89 – $6.74 | sq ft |
| Labor | labor | $2.73 – $6.37 | sq ft |
| Supplies & Other | supplies | $0.77 – $1.80 | sq ft |
| Equipment & Disposal | equipment | $0.51 – $1.20 | sq ft |
Prices adjusted for Chicago local market conditions.
Tongue And Groove Paneling photo examples
Diagonal pine tongue and groove wall paneling with blue-stain streaks above baseboard
Photo: C094728 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
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Design styles
See how tongue and groove paneling looks in each style, with photos of real projects by working designers.
Chicago style: Greystone traditional and industrial loft
Chicago's housing stock sets the style: greystones and two-flats call for traditional millwork, while converted lofts in Bucktown and the West Loop call for exposed brick, steel and open plan. Prairie School detail and mid-century bungalows are the third reference.
Work by Chicago designers first, then the styles Chicago draws from.
Built from
Industrial living room
Photo: Studio Code · Profile
Industrial bedroom
Photo: Studio MAK · Profile
Traditional living room
Photo: Emora Design Studio · Profile
Traditional interior
Photo: Jo Lyle & Co. · Profile
Traditional bathroom
Photo: Angela Rennie Design · Profile
Traditional bathroom
Photo: Jo Lyle & Co. · Profile
Traditional kitchen
Photo: Dogwood Proper · Profile
Traditional kitchen
Traditional living room
Photo: 615interiors · Profile
Cost Factors in Chicago, Illinois
What Affects Pricing
- Materials ($2.70-$6.30 per square foot)
- Labor ($2.10-$4.90 per square foot)
- Supplies & Other ($0.72-$1.68 per square foot)
- Equipment & Disposal ($0.48-$1.12 per square foot)
Local Price Adjustments
Material costs7.0% above avg
Labor costs30.0% above avg
Labor costs in Chicago run proportionally higher than materials, which may favor material-heavy solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Adnan Painting and Remodeling: Tongue and groove paneling cost, adnanpaintingandremodeling.com, retrieved Nov 2026
- Construction wages by metro and rural area, used for the labor adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Regional price parities for goods, used for the materials adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024
Get Free Estimates in Chicago
Connect with local tongue and groove paneling contractors in Chicago for personalized quotes based on your specific project.