Flooring comparison
Luxury Vinyl Plank vs Laminate Flooring: Cost Comparison
These two get cross-shopped constantly because they look similar in a showroom and sit close on price. The difference that matters is what happens when water gets on them, and that decides most of these jobs.
Luxury vinyl plank
$4 to $12 per sq ft installed
Laminate
$3 to $9 per sq ft installed
| Feature | Luxury vinyl plank | Laminate |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost per sq ft | $4 to $12 | $3 to $9 |
| Typical 500 sq ft room | $2,000 to $6,000 | $1,500 to $4,500 |
| Water resistance | Waterproof core | Swells at wet seams |
| Suits basements and baths | Yes | No |
| Underfoot feel | Softer, quieter | Harder, hollower |
| Scratch resistance | Depends on wear layer | Very good |
| Lifespan | 15 to 25 years | 10 to 20 years |
| Repair | Replace a plank | Replace a plank |
Luxury vinyl plank
- Genuinely waterproof, safe in baths and basements
- Softer and quieter underfoot
- Thicker wear layers handle pets and traffic
- Can go over slightly imperfect subfloors
- Costs a little more than laminate
- Cheap thin-wear-layer product scratches quickly
- Can dent under heavy point loads
Laminate
- Lowest cost of the two
- Very hard, scratch-resistant surface
- Wide range of convincing wood looks
- Easy click-lock installation
- Water at a seam swells the core permanently
- Not suitable below grade or in wet rooms
- Sounds hollow without a good underlayment
The verdict
Choose luxury vinyl plank for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms and any house with pets or children, where the waterproof core is worth the small premium. Choose laminate for bedrooms, hallways and living rooms on a tight budget, where its harder surface resists scratches well and water is unlikely. When comparing LVP products, ignore the total thickness and look at the wear layer in mils: 12 mil is entry level, 20 mil is what holds up in a busy house.
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Foam underlayment cushions and quiets laminate or vinyl plank.
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Spacers hold the expansion gap along walls during install.
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Tapping block and pull bar kit seats planks tight.
View on AmazonFrequently asked questions
Is LVP or laminate cheaper?
Laminate is usually a little cheaper, around $3 to $9 per square foot installed against $4 to $12 for luxury vinyl plank. The gap is small enough that water resistance, not price, should decide the choice in any room where spills are likely.
Can laminate flooring go in a bathroom?
It is not a good idea. Laminate has a compressed wood fiber core, and water that gets to a seam swells the core and lifts the edges permanently. Some products are sold as water resistant, which means they survive a wiped-up spill, not standing water. For bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements, luxury vinyl plank or tile is the safer specification.
What wear layer do I need on luxury vinyl plank?
For a normal home, 12 mil is the entry point and 20 mil handles pets, kids and heavy traffic. Wear layer is measured in mils and is separate from the overall plank thickness, which mostly affects how the floor feels rather than how long the surface lasts. A thick plank with a thin wear layer will look worn long before a thinner one with 20 mil.
Do I need to remove the old floor first?
Not always. Both products are frequently floated over an existing hard floor if it is flat, sound and dry, which saves demolition and disposal cost. What matters is subfloor flatness within the manufacturer tolerance and a moisture test on any concrete slab. Skipping the moisture check on a basement slab is the most common cause of a failed floating floor.