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Laminate vs LVT flooring - what's best for your home?
Updated 02/26
By: Content Team
Reviewed: Kim Staples
Two of the most popular flooring options on the market are luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and laminate. Both have their pros and cons, and both can look stunning - but which one is right for your home?
In this guide, we’ll look at these two types of flooring - including the key differences, their pros and cons, installation costs, and more.
Fast Facts
Both are effective, low-cost ways to bring a wood look to your floor
Generally, LVT is best for a kitchen or bathroom - and laminate is best for a lounge or dining room
Laminate costs a little less than LVT, especially high-end LVT options
What is luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring?
Luxury vinyl tile or LVT planks are traditionally made of a plastic core, which makes them flexible and soft. They come in a range of colours and designs, including mimicking wood and stone.
Recent advances in LVT technology have resulted in SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) vinyl, which has a more rigid core - meaning better durability and more design possibilities.
What is laminate flooring?
Used as a low-cost alternative to wood, laminate planks are made up of several layers of pressed wood pulp and topped with a durable plastic layer.
Laminate flooring is available in a variety of colours and designs and typically features a 'click' style fitting technique, making it easy to install.
Laminate vs LVT flooring: What's the difference?
To look at them on a floor, you might struggle to see the difference between LVT and laminate, but there are quite a few things to be aware of before you make a decision on your flooring project.
Laminate | LVT | |
|---|---|---|
Material composition | Wood pulp and resin with a plastic top layer | Plastic or stone plastic composite |
Installation | A 'floating floor' - it should never be glued or nailed down | Can either be glued or floating |
Thickness | 6-12mm | 1.5-5mm |
Durability | Moderate | High |
Cost-wise, basic LVT is similar to laminate, but a high-end LVT option will considerably more.
Manufacturer warranties also tend to be longer on LVT compared to laminate, due to higher levels of durability.
A trusted flooring installer can always advise which is the best option for your specific project. Enter your postcode to get quotes from local flooring specialists.
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Laminate vs LVT flooring: Pros and cons
If you're wondering which is better - LVT or laminate - then it really depends which factor you're looking at.
Durability
While both are very hard-wearing, LVT wins over laminate as it's less likely to show signs of surface wear and its layers are more resilient to separation.
Water-resistance
This is LVT's trump card. It's made from plastic, which can be submerged in water with no effect on its integrity or form.
On the other hand, laminate is made from a wood fibre core that will soften and deform if exposed to water for prolonged periods.
Heat resistance
Laminate has better resistance to direct heat. Both will handle high room temperatures well - but LVT can have upper limits of around 27 degrees due to its plastic core.
Warranty period
Advances in flooring technology mean that high-quality LVT and laminate come with warranties of around 15 years in residential settings and around 5 years in commercial environments. Although on the whole, LVT warranties will be longer.
Appearance
The thicker structure of laminate allows for deeper and more rich surface designs, which is excellent for mimicking wood.
However, luxury LVT will match this and also offer textured finishes that you can feel underfoot. The downside is that all those mini-ridges can catch dirt, especially in a kitchen!
Cleaning
LVT is waterproof, so no surprise that it can handle wet mopping without any damage. The same cannot be said for laminate, which is best cleaned with a brush and almost dry-to-the-touch mop.
When it comes to stains, laminate will resist better than LVT, but LVT can be scrubbed more vigorously.
Installation
Both laminate and LVT are equally easy to install, even if you're DIY-ing it.
However, the finish can make or break the look of a room, which is why it's always a good idea to get a trusted flooring installer in to do the job to the highest standard.
Comfort and sound
Neither will replicate the feel of solid wood flooring underfoot, but laminate will have more of a natural feel than LVT due to its composition.
The sub-base and underlay you use can have a real impact here, so consider screeding and investing in a high-quality foam layer.
Sustainability
In terms of environmental impact, neither LVT nor laminate can be considered green flooring options. However, laminate has the edge due to its wood fibre content, which in some cases can be from recycled sources.
That said, LVT is likely to last longer and withstand being removed and relaid in a new property, which gives it a longer life through reuse.
Laminate vs LVT: Cost comparison
Laminate flooring costs
In general, laminate flooring is cheaper than LVT with prices ranging from around £30 - £60 per m² for walnut laminate - a popular choice in UK homes.
Underlay will set you back about £7.50 per m² and the cost of installation at a day rate will cost between £240 and £300 on average.
LVT flooring costs
Average LVT flooring prices range from £10 to £60 per m² depending on the quality, with luxury vinyl tile being at the higher end.
If you want a more unique pattern such as Herringbone, then you'll pay around £60 per m² on average.
Underlay will come in at around and professional installation will start at around £300 a day on average.
Data verified by our professional estimators
Estimators are CIOB & RICS members
Get a quote for your floor
The best way to find out how much a new laminate or LVT floor will cost in your home is to gather quotes from trusted local tradespeople who offer flooring installation. Enter your postcode to start searching for floor installers and request quotes.
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Laminate vs LVT: Underfloor heating
Generally, both laminate and LVT can be laid over electric or water-based underfloor heating.
Note that because many floor coverings should not be heated above 27°C, the underfloor heating temperature will need to be restricted. Because of this, LVT or laminate should not be installed in any room with high heat losses, such as conservatories, as it would not be able to sufficiently heat the room when restricted.
It's recommended that you use a floor temperature sensor if you have underfloor heating beneath a laminate or LVT floor.
Speak to a trusted local tradesperson about the range of floor coverings available, the subfloor, adhesives, temperatures and suitability.
Underfloor heating for laminate
Laminate is not as prone to warping under changes in temperature when laid over underfloor heating. The recommended maximum temperature that the floor should be heated to is 27˚C, to avoid damaging the laminate.
LVT flooring underfloor heating
The thin nature of LVT flooring makes it ideal for underfloor heating as the heat can rise through the floor more easily.
Always check the manufacturer’s recommended maximum floor surface temperature. Most manufacturers state 27°C, which is more than adequate for most underfloor heating.
The adhesive used to fix the flooring should also be sufficient for underfloor heating (maximum 27˚C). If it cannot sustain this temperature, then the floor may become unstuck, begin to bubble, and the edges may begin to curl upwards.
Underfloor heating cost: 2026 UK price guide & breakdown
Here, you'll find the typical underfloor heating costs in the UK, including the installation and running costs for both electric and wet systems, and factors that affect pricing.
LVT or laminate: Conclusion
Taking into account all of the differences, benefits and drawbacks of both LVT and laminate, the right choice for your home depends on your individual project and desires. Flooring is always a very personal purchase and if you want a specific design, then all of these pros and cons may go out of the window!
In general...
If you're buying flooring for a kitchen or bathroom, then LVT may be best as it's completely waterproof, easier to clean, and may even feature antibacterial properties.
But if you're flooring a lounge or dining room, then laminate offers a greater range and depth of designs that can give you the dream look you're after.
Always hire a trusted flooring installer
While LVT and laminate flooring have been designed to make installation as easy as possible, there's a lot of detailed work that goes into laying a floor correctly.
Your perfect floor begins with a level sub-base and the right underlay, and it finishes with faultless corners and room edges that give a professional look and feel you'll see and love for years to come.
This is why getting a local installer in is always advisable. Simply enter your postcode to get quotes from local flooring installers, all checked by us and reviewed by real customers.
Laminate vs LVT flooring FAQs
LVT has some advantages over laminate. It's water-resistant, more durable, and easier to clean.
However, laminate comes in a wider range of design styles, and resists stains a little better.
LVT luxury vinyl tile, also known as click vinyl.
It's a kind of flooring that mimics wood or other materials such as stone. LVT is made of flexible, soft tiles or planks, which have a plastic core.
Disadvantages of LVT flooring include:
It's more expensive than other wood-look options (such as laminate)
Damage can be difficult to repair
It's difficult to remove
Direct sunlight can cause discolouration
If these are likely to be an issue, consider other flooring options for your space.
It can be, especially if you choose a high-end option. LVT costs around type: embedded-entry-inline id: 5UcXPE3lOpyTOfI75b6lLe to type: embedded-entry-inline id: 1CSYsQTScz3EOZsiuSLuTL per m².
As a basis of comparison, laminate flooring costs around type: embedded-entry-inline id: 2OqJLfs4T2MFFzpppvllbY - type: embedded-entry-inline id: cudFtmzDJu5xLAYXL9BSe per m² for walnut laminate, while real solid wooden flooring will set you back around type: embedded-entry-inline id: 3zvrEO5dCbh3CS71RHsoXD.
Yes, unfortunately mould can grow underneath vinyl flooring such as LVT.
You can help prevent it from happening with proper installation from a trusted tradesperson, good ventilation, and controlling any water damage to your floor.
Yes, you can use washing up liquid on LVT - in fact, a few drops in a bucket of warm water is a recommended cleaning method for some types of vinyl tile!
LVT flooring can last between 10-25 years, depending on thickness, design, and maintenance.
You can help extend its lifespan with proper installation and regular cleaning and upkeep.
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