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Laminate

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Laminate gets picked for the same reason people pick it over and over: it looks like wood or stone, costs less, and clicks together without glue or nails.

Getting Oriented in Laminate Flooring

If you're new to laminate, start with the Laminate Flooring Buying Guide — the AC rating is the number that matters most, and it tells you whether a plank belongs in a guest bedroom or a hallway that sees the dog and the kids all day. From there, How to Install Laminate Flooring covers the click-lock, floating-floor process most homeowners can do themselves in a weekend.

One question comes up more than any other: laminate or vinyl. Laminate vs. Vinyl Flooring: What's the Difference? settles it room by room rather than declaring a winner — moisture risk decides it more often than looks do. And if a spill or a leak is your main worry, the waterproof laminate buying guide explains which laminate constructions actually hold up to moisture and which ones don't.

Shopping for Laminate Flooring

Once you know the wear layer and AC rating you're after, the laminate flooring shop page is where you'll find the actual plank options — sorted by look, thickness, and finish. It's worth deciding on waterproof vs. standard laminate before you start browsing colors, since that choice narrows the field fast. If budget is the driver, cheap laminate flooring generally means a thinner plank with a standard (non-waterproof) core and a lower AC rating — fine for a low-traffic bedroom, but worth upgrading past for a kitchen or hallway.

Already own laminate and just trying to keep it looking new? How to Clean Laminate Floors covers the cleaning products and habits that won't dull the finish or swell the seams.

Laminate Flooring FAQs

Is laminate flooring waterproof?

Standard laminate is not waterproof — its core is wood-based and will swell if water sits on it. Waterproof laminate uses a different core material specifically to resist moisture; see the waterproof laminate buying guide for how to tell the two apart before you buy.

Is laminate or vinyl flooring better?

Vinyl is the better pick for wet rooms — bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, anywhere standing water is a real possibility — because its core doesn't swell. Laminate is the better pick for living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways, where its embossed wood texture reads more realistically than vinyl at the same price. Vinyl also feels softer and quieter underfoot; laminate feels harder and more like real wood. Match the material to the room's moisture risk first and the look second. The full comparison is in Laminate vs. Vinyl Flooring: What's the Difference?.

Can I install laminate flooring myself?

Yes, laminate is one of the more DIY-friendly floors because most products use a click-lock floating system with no glue or nails. How to Install Laminate Flooring covers subfloor prep, underlayment, and the actual install steps.

What does the AC rating on laminate mean?

The AC rating measures how much wear and abrasion a laminate's top layer can take, from AC1 (light residential use) up to AC5 (heavy commercial traffic). Higher-traffic homes and any commercial space should look for AC3 or higher.

How much does laminate flooring cost per square foot?

Laminate is one of the cheapest wood-look floors per square foot, and the price ladder tracks three things: plank thickness, AC rating, and whether the core is waterproof. Thin, AC3, standard-core planks sit at the bottom; 12mm waterproof-core planks with AC4 or AC5 ratings sit at the top and can approach rigid-core vinyl pricing. Budget underlayment separately unless the plank has it attached, and add 5–10% overage for cuts. Current per-square-foot pricing is on each product page.

How long does laminate flooring last?

Most quality laminate floors last 15 to 25 years with normal care, depending on the wear layer thickness and how much foot traffic the room gets. Keeping grit swept up and avoiding standing water are the two biggest factors in getting the long end of that range.