This is a monotypic species.

Described as Centurus Hoffmannii (Cabanis 1862); type locality Costa Rica.

Hoffmann’s Woodpecker sometimes is classified in the genus Centurus, with other species of Melanerpes with a black and white barred back. Hoffmann's Woodpecker also has been classified as a subspecies of Golden-fronted Woodpecker (M. aurifrons) (e.g., Peters 1948). Short (1982) considered hoffmanni to be a member of a superspecies with Melanerpes carolinus (Red-bellied Woodpecker), Melanerpes superciliaris (West Indian Woodpecker), Melanerpes aurifrons, and Melanerpes uropygialis (Gila Woodpecker); Winkler and Christie (2002) have a narrower view, including hoffmanni in a superspecies only with aurifrons.

Melanerpes hoffmanni hybridizes with Melanerpes aurifrons where these overlap, in the northern part of the range of hoffmanni (Monroe 1968), and at the southern end, also hybridizes with Melanerpes rubricapilus (Red-crowned Woodpecker) (Stiles and Skutch 1989, Winkler and Christie 2002).