Best Type of Flooring

Types of Flooring: A Complete Comparison Guide

The most popular flooring types include hardwood, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), tile, laminate, carpet, engineered hardwood, and vinyl sheet. Your best option depends on factors like moisture in the room, how much traffic it gets, your budget, and how long you plan to live there.

Which Flooring Type Is Right for Your Home?

Choosing the right flooring starts with how the room will be used. Moisture, foot traffic, comfort, maintenance, and long-term value all matter when narrowing down your options.

Best Flooring for Homes with Kids or Pets

Luxury vinyl plank is the best choice because it is fully waterproof, highly scratch-resistant, and one of the most affordable options for busy households. Laminate with at least 10-millimeter thickness and an AC4 rating or higher is another good option and looks more like real wood or stone. Both are much more durable in high-traffic, high-spill areas than hardwood, carpet, or cork.

Best Flooring for Bathrooms and Kitchens

Luxury vinyl plank and porcelain tile are the best choices. LVP is completely waterproof, feels warmer underfoot, and costs less to install than tile. Porcelain tile is harder, lasts longer, and works well for large tiles or heated floors. Hardwood, laminate, and cork are not good for bathrooms, and laminate needs quick cleanup if water spills in kitchens.

See our full guides to the best flooring for bathrooms and kitchens.

Best Budget Flooring Options

Carpet and laminate are the most affordable flooring options for homes.

• Carpet starts at about $3 per square foot installed and is the cheapest choice for bedrooms and low-traffic areas.
• Laminate costs $5 to $11 per square foot installed and gives you the look of wood or stone for less.

Vinyl sheet is also a good option for utility spaces because it is durable, fully waterproof, and one of the least expensive floors you can buy.

Best Flooring for Long-Term Value and Resale

Solid hardwood gives you the best return on investment when you sell your home. The National Association of Realtors 2022 Remodeling Impact Report says new hardwood floors return about 118% of their cost, and refinishing hardwood returns about 147%. Engineered hardwood is rated similarly by most buyers and appraisers. Porcelain tile is also very durable and is popular with buyers in kitchens and bathrooms.

See our full guide to flooring ROI and resale value.

Overview of Each Flooring Type

Each flooring material has its own strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases. Here is a closer look at the most common options homeowners compare.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

LVP is one of the most common flooring materials installed in the U.S. It is fully waterproof, very durable, comes in realistic wood and stone looks, and can be installed as a floating floor over almost any subfloor.

Average installed cost is $6 to $12 per square foot.

Learn more about this flooring type in our full LVP guide and our picks for the best LVP brands.

Hardwood

Solid hardwood lasts longer than any other flooring, can be refinished many times, and adds the most value to your home. It is not good for rooms with a lot of moisture and needs more upkeep than most other options.

Average installed cost is $10 to $25 per square foot.

Learn more about your options in our guides to hardwood types, installation cost, and best hardwood flooring brands.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood has a real wood top layer over a plywood base, so it looks like solid hardwood but handles moisture better and works with concrete subfloors and radiant heat.

Average installed cost is $7 to $20 per square foot.

Read more about costs and benefits in our engineered hardwood guide.

Laminate

Laminate looks like hardwood or stone but costs much less. High-quality laminate resists scratches and dents. It cannot be refinished and can be damaged by water if moisture gets into the seams.

Average installed cost is $5 to $11 per square foot.

Learn more in our laminate flooring guide and see our picks for the best laminate flooring brands.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a grass, not a wood, but it installs and performs like hardwood flooring. It is a sustainable choice because bamboo grows back quickly, though quality can vary between brands.

Average installed cost is $8 to $15 per square foot.

Learn more about this sustainable hardwood alternative in our guide to bamboo flooring.

Tile (Ceramic and Porcelain)

Tile is the most water-resistant hard flooring and can last over 50 years if installed well. Porcelain is harder and less porous than ceramic, and both come in many styles, colors, and sizes.

Average installed cost is $5 to $20 per square foot.

Learn more in our guides to types of tile flooring and the cost to install them.

Carpet

Carpet is the softest and warmest flooring, and it helps reduce noise, so it works well in bedrooms and low-traffic living areas. It holds onto allergens more than hard floors and needs regular vacuuming and deep cleaning.

Average installed cost is $3 to $8 per square foot.

Compare styles and costs in our full carpet installation guide.

Vinyl Sheet

Sheet vinyl comes in large rolls and is one of the most waterproof and affordable flooring choices. It is often used in laundry rooms, utility spaces, and budget-friendly kitchens.

Average installed cost is $3 to $8 per square foot.

See the pros cons, and costs in our vinyl flooring installation guide.

Linoleum

Linoleum is made from natural materials like linseed oil, wood flour, and cork dust. It has antimicrobial properties and lasts 20 to 40 years. People often confuse it with vinyl, but it is a different, eco-friendly product.

Average installed cost is $5 to $9 per square foot.

Get a comprehensive look at this type of flooring in our guide to linoleum floors.

Cork

Cork feels soft and cushioned, insulates sound, and is hypoallergenic, so it works well in bedrooms, home offices, and libraries. However, it can scratch easily, is sensitive to water, and needs to be resealed sometimes.

Average installed cost is $7 to $14 per square foot.

See whether cork flooring is right for you in our full cork flooring guide.

How to Choose the Right Flooring

Once you narrow down the material, think through the practical details that affect how the floor will perform in your home over time.

1. Choose flooring that matches the room’s moisture level

Fully waterproof floors like LVP and tile are needed for bathrooms and are a good idea for kitchens and laundry rooms. Avoid hardwood, laminate, and cork in rooms that often get wet.

2. Pick flooring based on how much traffic the area gets

For busy spots like hallways, entryways, and family rooms, choose floors made for heavy use, like tile, LVP, or hardwood with a Janka rating over 1,200. For bedrooms and low-traffic rooms, softer floors like carpet and cork are good choices.

3. Think about whether the flooring will work with your subfloor

LVP and laminate can be installed over concrete, but solid hardwood needs a wood subfloor. Engineered hardwood works over concrete and radiant heat. The condition of your subfloor can also affect the total cost.

4. Look at the total cost, not just the price per square foot

The cost of materials is only part of the picture. Installation, subfloor prep, removing old flooring, and trim all add to the final price. Ask for itemized quotes that show these costs separately.

5. Think about whether the flooring can be refinished

Solid hardwood can be refinished five to 10 times, so it lasts longer than almost any other type if you take care of it. Engineered hardwood can be refinished one to four times, depending on how thick the veneer is. LVP, laminate, and carpet cannot be refinished, so damaged sections need to be replaced.

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