LVP vs LVT vs laminate: a plain-English guide
The flooring aisle is full of acronyms that sound interchangeable but aren't. Here's the plain-English version of LVP, LVT, and laminate — and how to know which one belongs in your home.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
LVP is a plank-shaped vinyl floor designed to look like wood. The good stuff (especially SPC, or stone-polymer core) is fully waterproof, tough against scratches and dents, and warm underfoot. It's our most-recommended floor for main levels, kitchens, basements, and any home with kids or pets.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
LVT is the same idea as LVP but shaped and styled like stone or ceramic tile rather than wood. It gives you a tile look — slate, marble, travertine, concrete — that's warmer underfoot than real ceramic, won't crack, and skips the grout-scrubbing. It's a favorite for bathrooms, foyers, and kitchens.
Laminate
Laminate is an older technology: a photographic wood-look layer over a dense fiberboard core. It can look great and cost less, but the fiberboard core swells if it gets wet, so it's a poorer fit for kitchens, baths, and basements. For most homes today, LVP has simply taken laminate's place — which is why we steer most customers toward vinyl.
So which should you choose?
- Want a wood look that handles anything? LVP.
- Want a stone or tile look without the cold and grout? LVT.
- On the tightest budget for a dry room? Laminate can work — but compare it to LVP first.
The easiest way to decide
Honestly? Hold them next to each other in your own home. Tell us your room and we'll mail free samples of the options that fit — so you can see and feel the difference before you spend a dollar.