From across a room, a good LVT plank floor and a good laminate floor look almost identical. Both come in realistic wood and stone designs, both click together as floating floors, and both are significantly cheaper than the real materials they imitate. But underneath the surface, they're very different products — and choosing the wrong one for your room is a mistake that's expensive to fix.
Here's a straight comparison.
Laminate is a wood-based product. It has a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core with a photographic image layer on top, protected by a clear wear layer. The HDF core is what makes it feel substantial underfoot — but it also means it's vulnerable to moisture. Water that gets into the joints causes the core to swell and warp, which is irreversible.
LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile or Plank) is a plastic product. It has a PVC core with a photographic layer and a clear wear layer on top. The whole thing is 100% waterproof — moisture cannot damage it. It's also slightly softer and warmer underfoot than laminate because vinyl has a little give to it.
| LVT | Laminate | |
|---|---|---|
| Waterproof | ✅ 100% — safe in bathrooms, kitchens | ❌ No — water damages the core |
| Underfoot feel | Slightly soft and warm | Harder, more solid feel |
| Realistic look | Excellent — deep embossed texture | Excellent — embossed texture |
| Thickness | 2–5mm typical | 8–12mm typical |
| UFH compatible | ✅ Yes | ✅ Most ranges |
| Scratch resistance | Very good (0.55mm+ wear layer) | Very good (AC4/AC5 rated) |
| Noise underfoot | Quiet — the vinyl absorbs sound | Can sound hollow, especially upstairs |
| Subfloor tolerance | Low — needs very flat subfloor | More forgiving with a good underlay |
| Typical cost | £25–£55/m² fitted | £20–£45/m² fitted |
| Warranty | 15–25 years typical | 15–25 years typical |
Anywhere water is present, LVT is the right choice. A spill on laminate that isn't mopped up immediately will seep into the joints and cause irreversible swelling. LVT shrugs it off completely. LVT is also quieter underfoot, which makes a real difference in open-plan living spaces and upper floors. For pet owners, the waterproofing is crucial — and LVT's wear layer handles scratches very well.
Laminate's thicker boards (8–12mm) give it a more substantial feel underfoot — it feels closer to real wood than thin LVT planks. It's also generally slightly cheaper than equivalent LVT. In a bedroom or formal dining room where water isn't a factor and you want that solid, woody feel, laminate is a genuinely good choice. Our water-resistant ranges like Love AQUA extend laminate into kitchen and utility territory too.
LVT is less forgiving over an uneven subfloor than laminate. A 12mm laminate with a good underlay will bridge minor imperfections that a 3mm LVT would telegraph straight through. If your subfloor isn't in great condition, laminate is easier to live with — or factor in the cost of proper subfloor prep before LVT goes down.
SPC (Stone Polymer Composite) is a newer type of LVT with a rigid mineral core instead of a flexible vinyl core. It's thicker and more dimensionally stable than standard LVT, handles temperature changes better, and is more forgiving over slight subfloor imperfections. Our Furlong Endura SPC is a good example. It bridges the gap between standard LVT and laminate on the rigidity scale, while keeping the 100% waterproof advantage of vinyl.
If you're fitting a whole house and want one consistent floor throughout: go LVT. The waterproofing means it works in every room without compromise, and a consistent floor flowing from kitchen to lounge to hallway looks and feels cohesive.
If you're fitting a single dry room on a tighter budget and want the most solid, woody feel possible: go laminate. Just be honest with yourself about whether water is genuinely not a risk in that room.
If you're fitting a kitchen or bathroom specifically: LVT, no question.
💡 Not sure which looks best in your space? We can post free samples of both LVT and laminate ranges so you can see them in your home. Request samples here →
We stock LVT and laminate ranges side by side in our showroom in St Leonard's on Sea. Free measuring across Hastings, Bexhill and East Sussex.
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