Guide

Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring: Which Is Cheaper?

Laminate and luxury vinyl (LVT) are the two most popular DIY floors in the UK, and they're close enough in price that the decision usually comes down to the room. Here's how the costs compare.

Material cost

Budget laminate starts around £8 to £12 per square metre, with mid-range products at £15 to £25. Luxury vinyl tends to start a little higher, from about £12, with quality click-fit LVT reaching £30 or more per square metre. At the mid-range, they overlap heavily.

The hidden costs

Laminate almost always needs underlay unless it's pre-attached, adding a few pounds per square metre. Vinyl often needs a very flat, well-prepared subfloor, and glue-down vinyl adds adhesive cost. Both need beading or scotia and door bars to finish. Our flooring cost calculator includes underlay so you can compare like for like.

Where each one wins

Vinyl is fully waterproof, warmer and quieter underfoot, which makes it the better choice for kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms. Laminate is harder-wearing against scratches and often cheaper for large living areas and bedrooms where water isn't a concern.

The verdict on cost

For a like-for-like mid-range floor, laminate usually works out slightly cheaper once underlay and fitting are included, but not by much. In wet rooms, vinyl's waterproofing is worth the small premium because a damaged laminate floor in a kitchen costs far more to replace than the initial saving.