Is Laminate Flooring Still Worth It in 2026?

Laminate has been declared dead every year since LVP arrived. It keeps outselling projections anyway — because on two specs, it still beats vinyl outright.

Where laminate wins

Scratch resistance: an AC4 or AC5 laminate wear surface is harder than any vinyl wear layer made. If your primary threat is dog claws and dragged chairs rather than standing water, laminate is objectively tougher.

Visual realism at a price: laminate's printed layer resolution still exceeds vinyl at the same price point, especially in light oak and ash tones.

Where it doesn't

Standing water remains the weakness. Modern cores now survive 24-hour spills — a massive improvement — but for bathrooms and basements, vinyl's fully waterproof core is still the safer call.

The verdict

For bedrooms, living rooms, offices, and upstairs spaces, premium laminate delivers the most durability per dollar of any category. Pair it with vinyl in wet rooms and you've optimized the whole house.