These days, you have a wide range of vinyl and laminate flooring options to choose from. That can make picking the right one a daunting task. In this post, we break down the differences between vinyl vs laminate flooring based on 5 key categories, so you can confidently select the best material for your home.
Both LVP, or Luxury Vinyl Plank, and laminate flooring are popular alternatives to natural hardwoods when it comes to home remodels or for those simply looking to upgrade some of their existing floors. So how do you know which is the better choice for your home? Let’s look at vinyl vs laminate for the following 5 categories:
Best for Kitchens & Bathrooms: Vinyl OR Premium Waterproof Laminate
Best for Living Rooms & Bedrooms: Laminate
Best for Basements: Vinyl
Most Budget-Friendly: Laminate
Most Realistic Wood Look: Laminate
We tested 5 different floors with 24 hours of standing water. Here's what happened:
Zero damage - can handle floods, spills, anything
100% waterproof throughout
Safe for any room including bathrooms
Budget laminate: Swelled up, stayed warped
Mid-range laminate: Some swelling, mostly recovered
Premium waterproof laminate: Zero damage (just like vinyl)
The Bottom Line: Vinyl is always safe around water. With laminate, you need to spend more for waterproof versions.
Best Choice: Vinyl OR Premium Waterproof Laminate
Why: Kitchens have spills, dishwasher leaks, and heavy traffic. Both options handle water and resist scratches from dropped items.
Avoid: Cheap laminate (will swell if water gets underneath)
Best Choice: Laminate
Why: These rooms rarely see water, so you can focus on appearance. Laminate looks more like real hardwood and feels more natural underfoot.
Best Choice: Vinyl OR Premium Waterproof Laminate
Why: Bathrooms need 100% waterproof flooring. Regular laminate will fail here.
Critical: Only use laminate specifically labeled "100% waterproof core"
Best Choice: Vinyl
Why: Basements can have humidity and moisture issues. Vinyl handles these better than any laminate.
| Project Size | Vinyl Cost | Laminate Cost | Savings with Laminate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small room (100 sq ft) | $500-800 | $300-600 | $200-300 |
| Kitchen (200 sq ft) | $1,000-1,600 | $600-1,200 | $400-600 |
| Whole house (1,500 sq ft) | $7,500-12,000 | $4,500-9,000 | $3,000+ |
Why laminate looks better:
Why vinyl feels better:
Wet mop anytime - completely waterproof
Steam clean safe
Spills don't matter - clean when convenient
Pet accidents no problem
Damp mop only - too much water can cause problems
No steam cleaning
Clean spills quickly (especially on cheaper laminate)
Easy daily cleaning with vacuum or sweep
But check: Make sure the wood comes from sustainable forests
For most homeowners doing a remodel: Start with laminate in living areas (better look, lower cost) and vinyl in wet areas (kitchens, bathrooms, basements). This gives you the best of both worlds.
For whole-house projects: If you want one floor throughout, vinyl is the safest choice - it works well everywhere and eliminates any water damage risk.
For budget-conscious projects: Quality laminate in dry areas offers the best value, but don't cheap out in kitchens and bathrooms.
Remember: Both vinyl and laminate are excellent "better" level flooring options. Your choice depends more on your specific rooms and priorities than finding an overall "winner."
Ready to choose the perfect flooring? Our design-build team can help you evaluate your specific needs and see samples that would work beautifully in your home.