Key differences
- Laminate: wood fiber core — swells with prolonged water; often cheaper at entry level
- LVP: plastic core (WPC/SPC) — waterproof; softer underfoot; glue-down or click
- Both float over underlay except glue-down LVP
- LVP tolerates basements and kitchens better
When laminate still wins
Dry rooms where you prefer a more rigid feel underfoot and sharper click-lock. Premium laminate with AC5 can outwear budget LVP. Compare specific products, not categories alone.
Room-by-room decision tree
Run both material paths in the vinyl plank calculator and laminate calculator with the same room list to compare box counts.
- Basement / slab: waterproof LVP with vapor-rated underlay
- Kitchen / mudroom: LVP or waterproof laminate — not standard laminate
- Bedrooms (dry): laminate or LVP — preference and budget
- Whole-house one SKU: LVP simplifies wet-adjacent zones