The Best Laminate Flooring of 2023

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.

When shopping for laminate flooring, cheaper models tend to have a tradeoff in looks and performance. But that’s not always the case. Here are the other factors that will help you zero in on the perfect laminate.

✔️ Thickness: Generally speaking, thicker laminate flooring in the 10mm to 12mm range will hold up better than those that are 8mm-thick 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. For high-traffic areas, like a kitchen or mudroom, look for an AC of 3 or higher. AC-1 and AC-2 are suited to seldom-used parts of the home, like a guest bedroom.

✔️ Underlayment: Better laminate flooring has an attached pad that can eliminate the need for a separate underlayment during installation (damp basement floors may still need an additional polyethylene water barrier). Whether made of foam, cork or rubber, the backing will help muffle sound, nice for laminate floors that are being installed on an upper level of the home.

✔️ 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. While the latest printing technology can result in incredibly authentic grain patterns, too much repetition can be a give away. Typical pattern repeat is every six planks, but some laminate flooring has a pattern repeat of 10 or 12, creating a more realistic variation across the floor.

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 installed over any smooth, stable surface, such as concrete, wood subfloor or even an existing floor made of vinyl or tile. Don’t get us wrong — a lot of complex measuring and cutting is needed to get the flooring just right. But DIY is an option for some skilled homeowners.

If you don’t have the time or skill set, professional installation of laminate flooring averages $3,000, according to ANGI, the home services marketplace. 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). The variation is due to several factors, including the quality of the laminate and the condition of the existing substrate.

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 the biggest retailers.