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There’s a reason sales of laminate flooring are surging. Once the ugly duckling of residential flooring — flimsy, cheap, unattractive — today’s laminate looks better than ever and is also some of the toughest flooring to pass through the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab’s rigorous testing. Rachel Rothman, executive director of the GH Institute, said that laminate flooring proved to be very scratch and stain resistant in patterns that could easily be mistaken for hardwood flooring.
While the enhancements have driven up the cost of laminate a bit, especially at the higher end of the category, it’s still one of the most affordable flooring materials on the market. It’s also easy to install, thanks to tongue-and groove planks that can be glued over any flat, stable surface. Laminate is available in a variety of designs, including wood-look and tile.
These are our top picks
Once you’ve taken a spin through our list of winners, read on for more about how we test flooring and advice on laminate flooring, including installation costs and the best places to shop.
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Best Laminate Flooring
Bruce
TimberTru Landscape Traditions
| Thickness | 10mm |
|---|---|
| AC Rating | 4 |
| Plank width | 8.03 inches |
| The plank length | 47.64 inches |
| Attached pad | Yes |
Laminate Flooring at the Best Value
LL Flooring
Dream Home Pewter Oak Laminate Flooring
| Thickness | 8mm |
|---|---|
| AC Rating | 3 |
| Plank width | 7.64 inches |
| The plank length | 50.63 inches |
| Attached pad | No |
Bathroom Flooring: Best Laminate Flooring
Pergo
Elements
| Thickness | 12mm |
|---|---|
| AC Rating | 4 |
| Plank width | 7.5 inches |
| The plank length | 47.25 inches |
| Attached pad | Yes |
Laminate Flooring: The Best Lookin’
Shaw Floors
California Dreaming
| Thickness | 12mm |
|---|---|
| AC rating | 3 |
| The plank length | 50 inches |
| Plank width | 7.50 inches |
| Attached pad | Yes |
Most Durable Laminate Flooring
LL Flooring
Autumn Cider Oak Waterproof Laminate Flooring
| Thickness | 12mm |
|---|---|
| AC rating | 4 |
| Plank width | 7.5 inches |
| The plank length | 50 inches |
| Attached pad | No |
Best Laminate Flooring for Basements
Hartco
Return to Home
| Thickness | 12mm |
|---|---|
| AC Rating | N/A |
| Plank width | 8 inches |
| The plank length | 47.64 inches |
| Attached pad | Yes |
How to test laminate flooring
We began this project by surveying the marketplace to identify the flooring brands and products that you’re most likely to find in stores and online. Next we deployed a range of tests to assess flooring performance in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab.
To test for stain resistance, we apply mustard, chocolate and mud to laminate flooring samples. After that, they are allowed to dry overnight. The sticky substances can then be removed using paper towels and an all-purpose cleaner. Laminate flooring is very stain-resistant.
Our experts place two cups water on a laminate floor, and then let it sit for an hour. Thanks to their water-tight joints, the best models are free from seepage.
Our experts have the best results with the abrasion tests. To measure wear and scratch resistance, we use an abrasion machine with hundreds of passes. The best flooring for wear resistance is those with thick layers of wear, such as 20-mil and more.
The flooring’s ability resist dents and other damage, such as those caused by a falling cast iron pan, is determined using an impact machine. Lab’s accelerated climateing machine measures fade resistance. It uses intense UV lighting to simulate years of sunlight exposure. Our experts also consider ease of installation. This includes how easy it is to cut the material and the fit of tongue-and groove profiles.
What should you look out for when selecting laminate flooring
Laminate flooring can be expensive. These models are less attractive and have lower performance. But that’s not always the case. Here are some additional factors that will help narrow down the ideal laminate.
✔️ Thickness: Laminate flooring with a thickness of 10mm to12mm will last longer than laminate flooring with a thickness of 8mm or less. There are always exceptions though, so it’s good to check the AC rating, short for abrasion coefficient. Based on a 1 to 5 scale, this industry standard measures a floor’s ability to withstand scratches. Look for an AC rating of 3 and higher in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen or mudroom. AC-1 and AC-2 can be used in areas that are rarely used, such as a guest bedroom.
✔️ Underlayment: An attached pad can make laminate flooring more durable. However, basement floors with damp floors might still require an extra polyethylene water barrier. The backing can be made of rubber, cork, foam or foam and will muffle the sound. It is great for laminate floors being installed on an upper floor of the house.
✔️ Wood-look patterns: Most laminate flooring consists of a photo of actual wood that’s sandwiched between dense fiberboard and a clear-plastic protective wear layer. Although the most recent printing technology can produce authentic grain patterns, too many repetitions can lead to confusion. A typical pattern repeat is every six planks. However, laminate flooring can have a pattern repeat of 10, 12 or more to create a more realistic floor.
What is the cost of installing laminate flooring?
If you’re a capable DIYer, the answer to that question could be zero, excluding the cost of tools and materials. That’s because laminate is one of the easiest flooring materials to install; known as a floating system, it features planks that simply snap together with a tongue-and-groove profile. It can be laid on any surface that is stable and smooth like concrete or wood. Don’t get us wrong — a lot of complex measuring and cutting is needed to get the flooring just right. Some homeowners are skilled enough to DIY.
If you don’t have the time or skill set, Laminate flooring installation costs average $3,000According to ANGI, the online marketplace for home services, it is around $3-8 per square feet. If you’re only doing a single room or area of the home, expect to spend $3 to $8 per square foot (that works out to $600 to $1,600 for a 200 square-foot kitchen). Variation is due to a variety of factors including the quality and condition of the substrate.
What’s the best place to shop for flooring?
Because laminate is a mass-market flooring product, it’s easy to find and you won’t have to deal with long lead times, unless you choose a specialty item. Here are some of these major retailers.
✔️ The Home Depot There are more than 2300 locations in the United States that carry a variety of laminate floors. It’s a big seller of Pergo, a reputable brand that performed well in our latest tests. The Home Depot also offers installation service and a certified technician will even come take in-home measurements, so you don’t have to worry about getting the order wrong.
✔️ Lowe’s: The country’s second biggest home center is another safe bet for laminate flooring. The center offers a wide range of services, including professional installation, in-home measurements and design consultations.
✔️ LL Flooring Previously known as Lumber Liquidators. LL Flooring now has over 400 locations in 47 states. They also have an excellent website that allows you to easily find the right flooring for your home and even gives you up to four samples.
✔️ Floor & Décor: Though LL Flooring has the most locations, Floor & Décor sells the most flooring, so you’re guaranteed to find a wide selection of laminate floors at all price points. For those who want to save money by installing their own flooring, the site offers a large library of virtual tutorials.
Good Housekeeping: Why should you trust it?
Dan DiClerico has been covering the residential flooring industry for over two decades. In that time, he has tested every major flooring material — not just laminate, but also vinyl, stone and all types of wood. He also wrote numerous articles on how to install and maintain floors. He works closely with professionals in order to fully understand the latest innovations and techniques. Dan attends trade shows and industry events regularly to keep up with current trends. Dan works closely with engineers and product experts to oversee all flooring testing. He also oversees consumer surveys that capture homeowner experiences with different flooring materials.
Home Improvement & Outdoor Director
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
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