Vinyl plank flooring cost
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) costs $4–$12 per square foot installed in 2026, with most projects landing at $6–$9. A 300 sq ft room is typically $1,800–$2,700 installed, or $700–$1,200 if you lay it yourself.
Vinyl plank sits in an unusual spot: it is the cheapest floor that still looks like wood, and it is the only floor that tolerates a bathroom, a laundry room and a basement equally well. That combination is why it has taken market share from both laminate and hardwood over the last decade.
Material cost by wear layer
The wear layer — the clear film on top, measured in mil (thousandths of an inch) — is the single best predictor of price. It is also the single best predictor of how long the floor lasts.
| Wear layer | Material per sq ft | Installed | Realistic life |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–8 mil | $1.50–$2.50 | $4–$7 | 5–10 years |
| 12 mil | $2.50–$4.00 | $5–$9 | 10–15 years |
| 20 mil | $4.00–$6.00 | $7–$12 | 20+ years |
| 28 mil+ (commercial) | $6.00–$8.00 | $10–$15 | 25+ years |
Thickness is marketed heavily but matters less than the wear layer. A 5 mm plank with a 20 mil layer will outlast an 8 mm plank with a 6 mil layer, and it will feel more solid because the layer is what takes the traffic. Thickness mainly affects sound and how forgiving the floor is over a slightly uneven subfloor.
Labour cost
| Work | Cost per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Click-lock floating install | $2–$4 |
| Glue-down install | $3–$6 |
| Subfloor levelling | $1–$3 |
| Old floor removal and disposal | $0.50–$3 |
| Stairs, per step | $25–$60 |
| Transitions and trim, per linear ft | $3–$8 |
Most contractors add a minimum charge of $400–$900, which is why one small bedroom often costs more per square foot than a whole ground floor.
How LVP compares to other floors
| Floor | Installed per sq ft | Water resistance | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl plank (LVP) | $4–$12 | Excellent | Firm, slightly hollow |
| Laminate | $4–$10 | Poor | Hard, wood-like |
| Engineered hardwood | $8–$20 | Low | Real wood, warm |
| Solid hardwood | $10–$25 | Low | Real wood, refinished |
| Porcelain tile | $9–$25 | Total | Hard, cold |
| Carpet | $3–$8 | None | Soft, quiet |
The honest summary: LVP is the value pick for wet rooms and basements, engineered hardwood is the pick for living rooms where you want resale appeal, and tile is the pick where water or durability is the whole point. If you are weighing tile, start with the cost to tile a floor guide — the gap is wider than most people expect once labour is included.
Hidden costs people forget
- Subfloor prep. Manufacturers require flat within 3/16 inch over 10 feet. On an old floor, levelling compound is the most common surprise on the invoice.
- Moisture barrier. Required over concrete, about $0.10–$0.30 per sq ft, and sometimes also a moisture test before installation.
- Acclimation. Planks need 48 hours in the room. That is not a cost, but it is two days of boxes in your hallway.
- Baseboards. If the old baseboard comes off, new MDF baseboard runs $2–$5 per linear foot installed.
- Door undercuts. A thicker floor can mean trimming door bottoms, $30–$60 per door.
- Transitions. Every doorway between LVP and another floor needs a T-moulding or reducer.
Is DIY worth it?
For click-lock LVP, often yes. The tools are modest — a utility knife, a tapping block, a pull bar, spacers and a straightedge, roughly $60–$120 total. There is no adhesive, no curing time and no wet saw. A patient first-timer can lay 300 sq ft over a weekend.
The saving is real: at $3 per sq ft of labour, 300 sq ft is $900. But two conditions have to be met. The subfloor must be flat, and you must leave the expansion gap at every wall. Skip either and the floor will click, squeak or buckle within a year — and fixing it means taking the room apart.
Glue-down LVP is a different job. The adhesive sets fast, mistakes are permanent, and a badly spread glue bed telegraphs through the plank. Hire that out unless you have done it before.
How many boxes to buy
Box coverage ranges from about 18 to 30 sq ft depending on plank size, so the per-square-foot price on the shelf does not tell you the box price. Use the plank flooring calculator with the coverage printed on the specific carton, add 10% waste, and buy one extra box to keep sealed.
Estimate scope and price checks
These are broad US planning ranges, not a local installation quote. The installed price can change with wear layer, product, subfloor preparation, moisture requirements, transitions, removal and contractor minimums. Compare written quotes with matching scope. Use the plank flooring calculator for box quantities; use this guide for budget ranges, not quantity calculations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does vinyl plank flooring cost installed?
Plan on $4–$12 per square foot installed in 2026, with most homeowners paying $6–$9. Material accounts for $1.50–$8 and labour $2–$6 depending on whether it is a click-lock floating floor or glue-down, and how much subfloor prep is needed.
Is vinyl plank cheaper than laminate?
Roughly the same at the budget end and slightly more expensive at the top end. LVP wins on water resistance — it is the only sensible choice for bathrooms, kitchens and basements. Laminate wins on hardness and feels more like wood underfoot, but a single leak can ruin it.
Can I install vinyl plank myself?
Click-lock LVP is one of the easiest flooring installations for a confident DIYer: no adhesive, no nails, and most planks cut with a utility knife. Expect 2–4 days for a 300 sq ft room including acclimation. Glue-down LVP is messier and less forgiving of a bad substrate.
How long does vinyl plank flooring last?
A 12 mil wear layer lasts 10–15 years in a normal home. A 20 mil layer lasts 20 years or more. The floor itself rarely fails — what fails is the wear layer in traffic lanes, or the click joints if the subfloor was not flat enough.
Do I need underlayment under vinyl plank?
If the plank has an attached pad, no. If it does not, a 2–3 mm underlayment smooths minor imperfections and reduces noise. Over concrete you also need a 6 mil moisture barrier regardless of what the plank has attached.