Compare
Compare flooring types.
Every type here is the right floor for someone. Compare scratch resistance, maintenance and radiant heat to see which one fits your home.
Laminate
Best when… Budget leads and the room stays dry
- Price per sq ft (material)
- $2.99 to $3.79
- Everyday scratch resistance
- Good
- Installation stability
- Good
- Underfoot feel
- Fair
- Realistic wood appearance
- Good
- Easy maintenance
- Excellent
- Radiant heat compatibility
- Good
- Busy family / rental use
- Good
Vinyl (SPC)
Best when… Water, pets and heavy traffic
- Price per sq ft (material)
- $3.99
- Everyday scratch resistance
- Very good
- Installation stability
- Excellent
- Underfoot feel
- Fair to good
- Realistic wood appearance
- Good to very good
- Easy maintenance
- Excellent
- Radiant heat compatibility
- Excellent
- Busy family / rental use
- Very good
Engineered Hardwood
Best when… Real wood matters more than anything else
- Price per sq ft (material)
- $5.99 to $6.99
- Everyday scratch resistance
- Good
- Installation stability
- Fair to good
- Underfoot feel
- Excellent
- Realistic wood appearance
- Excellent
- Easy maintenance
- Good
- Radiant heat compatibility
- Good
- Busy family / rental use
- Good
Hybrid Engineered
Best when… Wood looks in a room that takes a beating
- Price per sq ft (material)
- $4.79
- Everyday scratch resistance
- Excellent
- Installation stability
- Excellent
- Underfoot feel
- Excellent
- Realistic wood appearance
- Excellent
- Easy maintenance
- Excellent
- Radiant heat compatibility
- Excellent
- Busy family / rental use
- Excellent
| Laminate | Vinyl (SPC) | Engineered Hardwood | Hybrid Engineered | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per sq ft (material) | $2.99 to $3.79 | $3.99 | $5.99 to $6.99 | $4.79 |
| Everyday scratch resistance | Good | Very good | Good | Excellent |
| Installation stability | Good | Excellent | Fair to good | Excellent |
| Underfoot feel | Fair | Fair to good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Realistic wood appearance | Good | Good to very good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Easy maintenance | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Radiant heat compatibility | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Busy family / rental use | Good | Very good | Good | Excellent |
| Best when… | Budget leads and the room stays dry | Water, pets and heavy traffic | Real wood matters more than anything else | Wood looks in a room that takes a beating |
Installation stability is rated against stone-core vinyl and hybrid. Among the wood floors, engineered hardwood's layered core holds its shape better than solid wood when humidity swings, which is why it is the hardwood we recommend for condos.
Prices are material per square foot across each type's collections; your free estimate adds installation. Ratings based on our manufacturing partner's comparison of typical products in each category. Solid hardwood isn't rated here because it's a different kind of choice. See solid hardwood floors.