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Updated August 3, 2020
You’re trying to decide on new floors and you’ve narrowed it down to tile vs. laminate. But you’re stuck because tile and laminate are both awesome types of flooring and each one offers tons of advantages. So now what?
If you simply want to know our favorite tile brand, it’s Paradiso. Their 2022 collection is stunning and the products have incredible warranties.
For Laminate, our favorite brand is Newton. Their new collections are extremely competitively priced and durable. Their products are 100% waterproof with low to no VOCs.
Below, we’re going to compare the pros and cons of tile vs. laminate floors at every level. We’re going to look into tile vs. laminate cost. We’re going to talk about each material’s makeup. We’ll discuss resale value, installation, and durability concerns.
Then, we’re going to talk about the pros and cons of each flooring material’s maintenance, waterproofing, underfoot feel, and appearance. We’ll even go into the pros and cons of tile vs. laminate in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
Basically, we’re going to dive into everything you need to know about tile vs. laminate flooring. Because we’re here to help.
Table of Contents
If you’ve been looking into your flooring options, you probably know this already—but tile and laminate are two very flooring different materials. Here’s the quick side-by-side:
What is laminate flooring? In its most basic form, laminate flooring is made up of three layers: a rigid base layer (usually made of high-density fiberboard), a photo-realistic image layer, and a hard plasticate wear layer. Thanks to its super-realistic image layer, laminate flooring can mimic just about any type of material—wood, stone, even fabric.
When it comes to flooring, here are two main types of tile: man-made tile and natural stone tile. Man-made floor tiles are usually made from ceramic or porcelain. Natural stone tiles are different types of rock—marble, slate, onyx, quartzite, etc.
And these days, tiles can be made to resemble other flooring materials as well. Wood-look tile, for instance, has become a very popular flooring option recently.
You’ll notice that we didn’t mention vinyl when we discussed man-made tile. There’s a reason for that! Vinyl tile (often called LVT) isn’t really a tile per se. It’s a synthetic flooring material that is sometimes shaped like a tile. So while LVT might be one of the best types of vinyl flooring around, we don’t think of it as a “true” tile like porcelain or stone.
When it comes to pricing out tile vs. laminate floors, you’re going to see a pretty even split for the materials themselves. Laminate strips will often run you between $1 and $5 per square foot, while ceramic or porcelain tiles will often cost between $1.50 and $5 per square foot.
Natural stone tiles, on the other hand, can cost much more than that (depending on the product you choose).
While the materials themselves might be close in price, their installation costs are not. We’ll explain why a little further down, but suffice to say that laminate generally costs $1–$2 per square foot to install, while tile generally costs between $5–$8 per square foot to install. And remember: these are just ballpark figures. The actual price of installation will vary depending on your location, materials, and project.
While tile might be more expensive to install, it does have a much higher long-term value. Laminate can’t be refinished, meaning that when it’s worn out, you’ll need to replace it (every 10–25 years or so on average). And it doesn’t add a huge amount of value to your home.
Tile, on the other hand, can last forever if maintained correctly—and it does add value to your home.
When it comes to price, both laminate and tile have significant perks. Laminate is cheaper to purchase and install but has less long-term value. Tile comes with a higher initial investment, but will last longer and increase your home’s value. Trade-offs, you know?
This one’s a doozy. See, tile is not the easiest flooring to install. Because tile is attached directly to your subfloor, that subfloor needs to be perfectly level (and what is subflooring, you ask?) Plus, the tiles themselves need to be laid down with spacers to ensure they’re all the same distance from each other. And after that, the tiles also need to be grouted together in order to create a waterproof surface.
Also, grouting is not the easiest process in the world. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy to make a mess and ruin your beautiful tile floors—so it’s easy to see why tile costs so much more to install than laminate. It’s also why installing tiles is not a DIY project unless you really know what you’re doing. Ask your local flooring professional instead; it’ll save you a massive headache.
We should also add: fueled by the ongoing flooring installer shortage, there have been some amazing advances in do-it-yourself flooring products recently. If you’re interested in a DIY flooring project but you also want real porcelain tile, look into snap-together tile flooring products—they’re easy to install (just like other floating floors), but with a fraction of the effort. You’re welcome.
Laminate floors, on the other hand, are comparatively easy to install. Almost all laminate products come as click-together flooring, meaning they snap together using interlocking grooves. This makes laminate something called a “floating floor”—one that’s not nailed or glued down to a subfloor.
And no, floating floors are not “cheap” or “shoddy”. If you’ve done any research, you’ll know that most of the best engineered wood flooring products on the market today are commonly sold as floating floors, as are many of the best hardwood floor alternatives. Almost every single hardwood floor brand makes floating floors!
In any case: while laminate is easy to install, it does need an appropriate underlayment. Some laminate floors require a specific underlay to dampen noise; some require a specific underlay to improve underfoot feel; some come with a built-in underlay; some require… well, you get the point. Basically, your underlayment will be dictated by the specific laminate product you buy. It’s not as cut-and-dried as installing tile.
Laminate is easier to install, but it necessitates an underlayment (whereas tile doesn’t). That said, regardless of where you land on the tile vs. laminate question, you need to make sure you’re using a correct underlayment or subfloor. Otherwise, you’re not going to get the results you want.
Depending on the product, tile can be one of the most durable flooring options around. When grouted correctly, it’s entirely waterproof (even though some tiles may stain in standing water). Heavy foot traffic, dogs, tapdancing—none of it will phase tile. Plus, it’s one of the most pet-friendly flooring options due to its resistance to scratching and denting.
The only thing you’ll need to worry about with tile is chipping or cracking (although it heavily depends on what kind of tile you purchase). Tile is really strong, but you still shouldn’t drop a refrigerator on it. Luckily, if you do end up cracking a tile, it’s easy to replace—just dig out the broken tile and grout a new one in its place!
Laminate is also a really durable type of flooring. Most laminate floors have a very hard wear layer that’s designed to prevent dings and scratches. That’s why laminate is also an excellent floor for houses with pets and kids! Like we mentioned before, though, laminate floors will wear out in 10–25 years on average (depending on the specific product you buy and traffic it receives).
Additionally—and we can not stress this enough—laminate is not a waterproof flooring option. If you spill a bunch of water on your laminate floor (or if you install it somewhere with super high humidity) it’ll swell and warp into an absolute mess. Plus, if you drop something super heavy on it (or lay a very heavy piece of furniture on it) laminate can dent.
Both tile and laminate are great floors for busy households; they’re both durable, they’re both scratch-resistant flooring options, and they’re both resistant to water. But: only tile is waterproof. Additionally, nothing short of cracking an entire tile is going to affect a tile floor—whereas laminate can be dented by heavy furniture.
Tile is relatively easy to maintain. As always, it depends on what kind of tile you buy, but in general, tile can be mopped, scrubbed, you name it. Some types of tiles need to be resealed periodically (cement, for instance), but some do not. As long as you keep your grout clean and sealed, your tile floors can last forever.
Laminate is also pretty easy to maintain. Unlike tile, you don’t have to worry about resealing. But, you do have to be careful not to wet mop it (because it’s not waterproof) and only use certain cleansers on it (some can eat through the wear layer). But as always, the specifics come down to the particular product you choose.
Laminate might be easier to install, but tile is much easier to repair. Think about it: if you damage a tile, you can just chisel it out and grout in a new one! But if you damage a laminate plank, you’re going to have to remove the entire floor all the way to the wall—because the planks are click-locked together.
As far as maintenance is concerned, the tile vs. laminate debate is pretty much even. Sure, tile does take a bit more care and consideration, but it’s also much easier to repair if anything happens to it.
It’s true: tile can absorb heat or become a bit chilly. If you live in a warm climate, though, that’s probably a big plus, especially if you’re using tile as sunroom flooring. Florida, we’re talking to you!
And of course, you can always put down some rugs or peel-and-stick carpet tiles if you’ve got sensitive feet.
It depends on the specific floor you purchase, but some cheaper laminates have been known to feel a bit plasticky and artificial underfoot. Take that into account when you’re pricing out your flooring options!
Generally speaking, laminate is a bit more flexible underfoot since it “floats” atop an underlayment. That can be a pro or a con depending on the type of floors you like, though!
This part of the tile vs. laminate comes down to personal preferences. Some people like a floor with some give, while some people like the rigidness of tile. Some people want a floor that’s going to stay cool in the heat, while some people want a floor that’ll stay warm. It’s totally up to your wants and needs!
If you’re choosing between tile and laminate for your kitchen, there are a few things you’re going to need to consider. Most significantly, how wet does your kitchen get?
Look, we know that laminate flooring can stand up to the occasional spill (and some brands even claim to offer entirely waterproof options). But: most laminate flooring isn’t completely waterproof. That means there’s always a risk of water seeping into the space between the floor and the subflooring/underlayment below. This is one of the common disadvantages of floating floors, and it’s what we in the biz call a “major bummer”.
On the other hand: while tile is completely waterproof, it can also be quite slippery if you don’t purchase a product with a high Coefficient of Friction (CoF) rating. And if you’re choosing between tile and laminate for your kitchen, this is going to be a significant concern. Our advice: talk to your local flooring dealer about which product is right for you.
The pros and cons of tile vs. laminate for bathrooms are largely the same as they are for kitchens. But the big difference is that in the bathroom, you know you’re going to have water splashing around. That’s why so many bathroom floors are tiled!
So if you’re dead-set on having laminate in your bathroom, make sure to look into laminate brands that claim to offer fully waterproof products. Pergo, for instance, makes some of these products—just make sure to check out some Pergo and Pergo Extreme reviews before purchasing. But really, either option is better than a wood floor bathroom, so you can rest easy on this one.
If this were a debate between laminate vs. wood floors for your basement, it would be a no-brainer. Laminate is much less susceptible to a basement’s underfloor moisture and temperature changes than solid wood is. But: tile is equally up to the task! In fact, when it comes to flooring your basement, the real question isn’t what kind of surface you want—it’s what kind of underlayment you want. That’s really what’s going to determine the longevity of a basement floor.
While tile is a completely waterproof flooring option, laminate can also be somewhat, or even very much waterproof. With that in mind, neither surface really has a huge advantage over the other anywhere except for the bathroom. And when it comes to basements, it’s more about the underlayment than it is about the surface.
In the battle of tile vs. laminate flooring, we have no choice but to declare…no winner. Sorry! If you were looking for a definitive answer, we can’t help you. Both of these flooring options are fantastic in their own way, and each serves a different purpose.
If you’re looking for something long-lasting, totally waterproof, and don’t mind the higher price point or maintenance concerns, tile might be the surface for you. If you’re looking for something water-resistant, versatile, and with fewer maintenance or cost concerns, look into laminate!
Whichever surface you choose, you’re going to get a great floor. Just remember: the best way to make the right decision when buying new floors is to talk to an actual flooring expert—so use this flooring dealers near me search to find an amazing local retailer in your area. And for more information on choosing the right floor for you, check out:
Hickory luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring has become one of the most popular types of flooring over the past few years. It is a durable and affordable alternative to traditional hardwood flooring, as well as being fairly easy to install. Here we will take a look at what hickory LVP flooring is, how it compares […]
If you’re looking into waterproof laminate flooring, you probably have some questions. First among them: is there waterproof laminate flooring? As in, does it even really exist? As it turns out, waterproof laminate flooring is real—and some of the best laminate flooring brands make it.
If you’re looking into different types of floor tiles, you’re probably in on the secret already. But if not, you should know: tile is cool now! And we mean cool. Like, hipster-fabulous, Brooklyn-bound, ultra-chic cool. Let’s put it this way: tile is so cool, the Washington Post even wrote an article about just how cool it is.
Thank you for noting all the different advantages that tile floors have when used in kitchen setups. It’s about time that my kitchen got a makeover, and I felt like choosing new flooring could help it evolve from its messy and hard-to-clean state. If I can find a flooring provider that offers some nice tile options that are designed like wood, I’ll definitely have them as part of the project.
Thank you friend for sharing this informative article. Most people nowadays choose indoor floor laminations to make their homes look more attractive. We have actually decided to renovate our home and were looking for good articles for guidance. Right Indoor floor laminations change the appearance of our home itself and we are now looking for good laminate providers.
Keep writing!
Expecting more such articles in the future.
Such an informative blog to read! Thank you so much for sharing this topic and for giving me more factors to consider. Keep it up!
Thanks so much for the kind words and our pleasure entirely!
Lots of information to think about…personally, I’d prefer to have tile in kitchen and bathroom as there is a strong likelihood of water consistently being on the floor. Plus, tile looks great and gives a nice eye-pleasing aesthetic to the house!
Thank you so much this was an amazing article really cleared things up for me and my decision….
So happy to help!
“No choice but to declare…no winner!” Some people might get mad at this, but there’s no definitive answer. It all depends on each situations factors and what is best suited for those looking for flooring replacement.
It’s actually a great and helpful piece of information. It would be smart to have a durable flooring. I know that is to hard selecting good materials to use. It does sound like a good idea to have a professional to help what is the best flooring.
I love that not only do you indicate Pros and Cons for laminate flooring, but you also provide a detailed step-by-step process for how any person can implement this type of flooring. The benefits you outlined for installing laminate flooring, are some of the reasons I too decided to install this in parts of my home.
I also love how you indicate the differences between the types of flooring available.
Well done, Samuel.
I’ll jump in and say thank you on Sam’s behalf. We’re glad you enjoyed reading—hope you enjoy your new laminate floor!