Luxury vinyl plank vs laminate flooring
Both look like wood — but only one is truly waterproof.
By The T.A.P. Team · March 2024 · 5 min read
Luxury vinyl plank and laminate look similar and cost similarly, so homeowners constantly weigh them against each other — but there's one difference that usually settles it: water. LVP has a vinyl core and is 100% waterproof, while laminate has a wood-fiber core that's water-resistant but swells if water sits on the seams. Both are attractive, affordable wood-look floors, and each has its strengths. Here's how luxury vinyl plank and laminate really compare.
- LVP: vinyl core, 100% waterproof
- Laminate: wood-fiber core, water-resistant only
- Laminate can swell if water sits on seams
- Laminate often feels harder and more like real wood
- Both are budget-friendly, click-together wood looks
What each one is
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is made of PVC/vinyl layers with a printed wood-look image and a wear layer — entirely plastic, so water can't hurt the core. Laminate is a high-density fiberboard (compressed wood) core topped with a photographic layer and a hard wear surface. That core is the whole story: vinyl shrugs off water, while laminate's wood-based core can swell and delaminate if moisture gets in.
Water resistance — the decider
This is where the choice is usually made. LVP is fully waterproof, so it's the clear pick for kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, and basements — anywhere spills or humidity happen. Laminate is fine in dry areas like bedrooms and living rooms, but standing water on the seams will ruin it. If any part of the space sees water, LVP wins outright — the same logic behind the best bathroom flooring.
Feel, durability, and looks
Laminate's rigid wood core often feels a bit harder and more like real hardwood underfoot, and its printed layer can look very convincing. LVP is a touch softer, warmer, and quieter, and newer products look excellent too. Both resist scratches well and suit busy households, though for the toughest scratch resistance with pets, high-quality LVP is a common favorite.
Which should you choose?
The rule of thumb: choose LVP if there's any chance of water or you want the lowest-worry floor, and consider laminate for a dry room where you want a very wood-like feel, sometimes at a slightly lower price. Both are DIY-friendly click-together floors, though large areas and subfloor prep are better left to a pro. See where each fits in choosing flooring for your home, and our flooring team can install either.
| Factor | Luxury vinyl (LVP) | Laminate |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Vinyl (plastic) | Wood-fiber (HDF) |
| Water | 100% waterproof | Water-resistant only |
| Feel | Softer, warmer, quieter | Harder, more wood-like |
| Best rooms | Anywhere, incl. wet areas | Dry rooms |
| Scratch resistance | Excellent (quality LVP) | Very good |
You can DIY
- Click-together install in a room
- Choosing waterproof LVP for wet areas
- Basic subfloor cleaning and leveling
- Adding transitions and trim
Call a pro
- Large or whole-home installs
- Subfloor repair and leveling
- Stairs and complex layouts
- Moisture testing on concrete
Because LVP and laminate look and cost so similarly, the smart tiebreaker is water. Homes have spills, humidity, and the occasional leak, and a waterproof floor simply removes a whole category of worry — which is why LVP has become the default recommendation for most rooms. Reserve laminate for dry spaces where you specifically want its harder, more wood-like feel, and go LVP everywhere water is even a possibility.
Wood-look floors in North Texas
We install both luxury vinyl and laminate wood-look floors across McKinney, Frisco, and Garland. See our flooring team.
The short version
- LVP and laminate are similar-looking, similarly priced wood-look floors.
- LVP has a vinyl core and is 100% waterproof; laminate has a wood-fiber core.
- Laminate is only water-resistant and can swell if water sits on the seams.
- LVP is the clear choice for kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, and basements.
- Laminate often feels harder and more like real wood in dry rooms.
- When water is even a possibility, choose waterproof LVP.
Luxury vinyl vs laminate — frequently asked questions
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