When it comes to luxury vinyl plank flooring, one size doesn’t fit all—literally. Thickness plays a huge role in how your floors look, feel, and perform over time. But how thick should your luxury vinyl flooring be? Whether you're upgrading your home or designing a high-traffic space, this guide will help you decode the mysteries of LVP flooring thickness and make the best choice for your lifestyle and budget.
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What is luxury vinyl plank flooring thickness?
First, let’s break it down. The thickness of LVP flooring refers to the total height of the plank, measured in millimeters (mm). Most luxury vinyl ranges between 2 mm and 8 mm, though there are exceptions. It might seem like a small number, but trust me, that little difference makes a big impact.
Thicker planks generally feel sturdier, offer better sound insulation, and mimic the texture of real hardwood more convincingly. Thinner planks, on the other hand, are lightweight, budget-friendly, and easy to install in low-traffic areas. The right choice depends on where you’re planning to install the flooring and how much wear and tear it’s likely to face.
Why does thickness matter?
Think about it this way: the thickness of your luxury vinyl plank flooring affects more than just the look. It determines how the floor feels underfoot, how much noise it absorbs, and how long it lasts. Let’s dive into the specifics.
Choosing the right LVP flooring thickness for your needs
How do you know what luxury vinyl flooring thickness is best? It all comes down to your space and priorities. Let’s break it down:
What about wear layers?
Don’t confuse plank thickness with wear layer thickness—they’re not the same. The wear layer is the top coating that protects your luxury vinyl plank flooring from scratches and stains. For busy spaces, aim for a wear layer of at least 12 mils (0.3 mm). For even tougher conditions, like commercial use, look for 20 mils or more.
Your experts on LVP flooring in Baton Rouge, LA
Choosing the right luxury vinyl plank thickness can make all the difference in your flooring project. Don’t settle for something that “just works.” Think about your lifestyle, the room’s purpose, and how much you want to invest. With a little planning, you can enjoy stunning, durable floors that feel as good as they look.
As the leader in vinyl plank flooring, Mannington has put together a guide that details everything you need to know about vinyl plank floors. Learn about benefits, common misconceptions, installation, cleaning and more.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Options
Vinyl planks allow you to achieve the look of hardwood or tile at a fraction of the cost. They are all waterproof, easy to clean and maintain, scratch resistant and more. Learn more about the most popular types of vinyl plank floors:
Expanded Polymer Core (WPC): Manufactured with a rigid expanded PVC core instead of a solid PVC backing, WPCs have tiny air pockets in the core that create great sound properties in a space. This expanded core is joined with a traditional thin LVT Cap to create it’s visual and usually has an attached pad on the back to create softness under foot. Most WPC products have a locking system and are installed as a floating floor requiring no glue.
Solid Polymer Core (SPC): This type of flooring includes a solid PVC core with a thin traditional LVT cap to create the visual. This solid un-plasticized core is incredibly stiff and tough with great indentation and temperature stability properties. This product is also generally a floating floor and can be installed without any glue.
Traditional Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT): Traditional LVT floor is composed of multiple layers of flexible PVC making it much less stiff then the rigid core products. It is composed of a scratch resistant wearlayer, a decorative/image layer and a durable flexible backing layer and is known to be stable and reliable. Most Traditional LVT requires adhesive and is glued to the floor in an installation.
Mannington has a family of four vinyl plank options called ADURA®. Any ADURA® vinyl plank floor you choose offers the same incredible detail, stunning style and high-performance features. Simply choose the ADURA® floor that best matches your lifestyle – learn more below:
ADURA®APEX – this WPC floor is perfect for making a statement in any room including kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, living areas, dining spaces.
For more Wholesale Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooringinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
ADURA®Max – a WPC floor that’s ideal for sound dampening, giving you peace and quiet in homes with multiple stories or those with media rooms, music rooms and kids play spaces.
ADURA®Rigid – a strong and durable SPC floor with superior indentation resistance ideal for home gyms, kids’ rooms and kitchens. It’s also stable in wide temperature changes and can be used in three season porches and cabins that may not be temperature controlled.
ADURA®Flex – a stable and reliable traditional LVT glue-down floor that can be installed in long runs without transition strips, ideal for homes with open floor plans and with seniors or those with special needs. Tile can be installed with or without grout.
Benefits of Vinyl Plank
Waterproof. Waterproof vinyl planks can be used anywhere, but have added benefits in areas that might be more likely to have spills and leaks like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
Easy to Clean & Maintain. As with any type of flooring, vinyl plank requires the occasional cleaning. This is especially true if it’s used in a high traffic area – but luckily they’re are easy to clean and maintain.
Scratch and Indentation Resistant. Vinyl plank flooring is made to be lived on. It doesn’t scratch, indent or stain easily, which makes it kid and pet-friendly. Vinyl planks durable qualities allow you to install it virtually anywhere in your home.
Realistic Visuals. From wood to marble, stone, decorative tile, parquet, shiplap and concrete, your options for flooring choices are virtually limitless.
Ample Variety. Not only will you be able to easily find a floor you love that fits in your desired home décor style, you may have trouble choosing just one favorite!
Cleaning Vinyl Planks
To keep your vinyl planks looking new, use a broom, vacuum or microfiber sweeper for a quick clean up. For deeper cleans, a damp mop and mild cleaner get the job done. As a bonus, there’s no waxing required! Plus, vinyl plank flooring has a protective wearlayer on it that allows it to maintain it’s luster for years to come.
Installing Vinyl Planks
Vinyl plank installation is much easier to install than hardwood and other types of flooring and can be completed by the homeowner or a professional installer. If you choose to install yourself, be sure to carefully follow installation instructions from the manufacturer.
Bonus: Mannington’s ADURA®APEX, ADURA®Max and ADURA®Rigid can be installed over existing hard surface floors, including those with grout lines (like ceramic tile). Watch the demo below!
Misconceptions About Vinyl Plank Flooring
Below, Mannington clears up some of the most common myths associated with vinyl floors:
It’s outdated or unattractive. Vinyl floors have come a long way since the 70s! Today’s vinyl plank flooring is available in a wide variety of options including ones that mimic the appearance of hardwood or tile.
It’s flimsy and cheap. Like any other type of flooring, not all vinyl planks are created equal. There are some bargain friendly brands that won’t stand the test of time, but all of the vinyl plank that Mannington offers is waterproof, extremely durable and resistant to stains, scratches and general wear and tear.
It will eventually lose its design and luster. Many homeowners think that vinyl plank flooring comes with a risk of walk-off, which is the idea that after years of use, the design wears off the vinyl. Today’s vinyl planks are made with a protective wear layers and a topcoat that helps keep the floor beautiful for a lifetime.
The company is the world’s best Peel & Stick Vinyl Flooring supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.