Vinyl vs. Laminate Flooring: Which Is Best for Your Home? (2024)

Easy DIY installation for most homeowners

Durable and lasts for decades

Made of 100% waterproof materials

Some types of vinyl can be difficult to install on your own

Heavy appliances can cause dents

Limited design choices

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Affordable

Comfortable on the feet

Realistic wood appearance

May need to be replaced within 10 years

Less water-resistant, and some types offer no water resistance

Laminate flooring tends to be slightly higher quality than vinyl flooring. It has more realistic embossing that looks closer to hand-scraped hardwood.

Vinyl is manufactured with synthetic materials. Usually, the base layer of vinyl sheets is made of fiberglass and coated with PVC vinyl and a plasticizer. Then, it’s embossed with a design and finished with layers of wear protection like no-wax polyurethane.

Laminate, on the other hand, has a core made of wood byproducts. It’s then sealed with a resin. The top layer, which is the surface you walk on, is a transparent plastic layer to protect against wear. It’s placed over the design layer with your color and pattern of choice. Laminate tends to be a little thicker than vinyl flooring, which leads to more warmth and softness when standing or walking on it.

Advantage: Laminate

The biggest difference between laminate and vinyl flooring is water resistance. Most modern vinyl floors are made of 100% polymer materials, meaning they can withstand heavy amounts of water. It can be immersed in water, dried out, and reused as normal. You can also install a single vinyl sheet in an entire room, meaning there are no seams for water to seep through.

Laminate, however, has limited moisture resistance. There’s a fiberboard core in most products, which can swell or soften if exposed to moisture for a prolonged period of time. A waterlogged center can eventually cause the top layers to peel away. Laminate, therefore, isn’t a good choice for rooms where there’s a lot of moisture, like family bathrooms or laundry rooms.

Advantage: Vinyl

Both laminate andvinyl flooring installationcan be pretty easy, depending on the type of flooring products you choose. Both may be good options for DIYers.

Laminate flooring uses a click-and-lock installation. This means the planks are fitted into the groove of adjoining planks, and when they’re locked in, it closes the seam. Most laminate projects are installed as “floating” floors, which means they can be installed over your existing flooring. You can use a regular table saw to cut pieces to fit your floor.

Vinyl offers a greater variety of installation methods. You can also select click-and-lock planks, as well as peel-and-stick, glue down, and more. Sheet vinyl is a little more difficult to manage, as it’s heavy and requires precise cutting around the shapes and angles in your room. For that reason, it may require professional installation.

Advantage: Even

Vinyl flooring is easy to clean and maintain. You can use a wet mop on these floors and scrub them with safe cleaning products for stubborn messes. Vinyl allows for a variety of cleaning methods, and it does not need much care besides cleaning.

Caring for and cleaning laminate floors can be a more delicate process because of its limited moisture resistance. It’s best to use dry methods like a broom. If you need to mop, use a damp mop that is almost dry when touched. Other than that, laminate is relatively low maintenance.

Advantage: Vinyl

Vinyl and laminate flooring are similar in cost. They’re both less expensive than other flooring materials like hardwood or porcelain tile. However, vinyl can get more expensive as you explore the luxury flooring options.

Most laminate flooring can be purchased for about $1–4 per square foot. The price will depend on the thickness of your flooring materials and the design styles you choose. Laminate installation costs between $4–8 per square foot.

Vinyl floors start at around $1 per square foot for simple glue-down sheet vinyl. Prices can reach up to $5 per square foot for luxury vinyl planks. You get more for your money, however, as high-end luxury vinyl comes with features like a special waterproof core and a thicker wear layer. Vinyl installation costs range from $400–1,400 for a 200-square-foot room if you do it yourself.

Advantage: Even, but vinyl may be more expensive if you choose luxury options

Laminate flooring is strong and durable, but it can succumb to water damage. Also, if scratches appear on the top layer, they often cannot be repaired. Most laminate flooring can last up to 10–25 years, but this is heavily dependent on proper care and maintenance.

Vinyl flooring is also very durable and resilient. While it may be considered lower-quality flooring because of its price point, vinyl can stand up well against everyday wear and tear. Depending on the care and maintenance, some vinyl flooring can delaminate over time, but typically they can last for up to 20 years.

Advantage: Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is well-suited to areas prone to moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens, due to its waterproof qualities. Laminate flooring can offer a realistic, wood-like appearance, making it a great choice for living areas where moisture is less of a concern.

The initial installation costs for laminate flooring are often lower than for vinyl, with labor and materials starting at around $1 per square foot for laminate as compared with $1–4 per square foot for vinyl.