Flooring is one of the few remodeling decisions where the choice is genuinely between categories rather than between grades of the same thing. Luxury vinyl plank and wood flooring look similar in a photograph and behave very differently in a house.
Current Ranges
Published 2026 figures put luxury vinyl plank at roughly two to twelve dollars per square foot installed, with most residential projects landing in the middle of that band. Materials alone are commonly quoted from about one to seven dollars per square foot depending on wear layer thickness and core construction.
Solid hardwood installed is commonly quoted from around six to twenty four dollars per square foot, with a frequently cited average somewhere around ten to fourteen dollars. Engineered wood generally sits below solid and above vinyl, with installed figures often quoted around six to eighteen dollars per square foot.
For a thousand square feet, that produces a rough comparison of perhaps four to eight thousand dollars for vinyl against eight to fifteen thousand for wood, with premium products in both categories running well above.
Regional labor rates, subfloor condition, and the installation method move all of these substantially.
What Actually Separates Them
Water. Vinyl plank tolerates moisture in a way wood does not, which is why it dominates in kitchens, baths, basements, and laundry rooms. Wood in those locations requires more care and is a genuine risk in below grade spaces.
Repairability. This is the reverse. Wood can be sanded and refinished several times over its life, typically every seven to ten years at a cost of a few dollars per square foot. Vinyl cannot be refinished. Damage to a vinyl plank is permanent unless the plank is replaced, which depends on having matching stock and on the installation method allowing it.
Longevity. A wood floor maintained properly can last for generations. Vinyl has a finite life determined largely by its wear layer.
Feel and sound. Wood is harder underfoot and sounds different. Vinyl over a proper underlayment is quieter and warmer, and some homeowners find it obviously not wood in a way that matters to them and some do not.
Resale perception. In some markets and price tiers, buyers specifically want wood. In others, a well installed vinyl floor is entirely acceptable. This is local, and a real estate agent working your neighbourhood will have a better answer than a national article.
What Drives Vinyl Pricing
Within the vinyl category the biggest price driver is wear layer thickness, commonly expressed in mils. Thicker wear layers cost more and hold up better under traffic, pets, and furniture. Core construction is the next factor, with rigid cores generally costing more than flexible ones and handling subfloor imperfections better. Plank width, texture, and brand account for the rest.
A cheap vinyl floor and an expensive one can look identical when new and diverge sharply after three years of use. If you are comparing quotes, compare wear layer and core, not just the product name.
The Costs That Are Not the Flooring
Quotes vary for reasons that have nothing to do with the material:
- Removal and disposal of the existing floor, which is more involved with glued down or tiled surfaces
- Subfloor preparation, leveling, and repair, which is the most common source of surprises
- Transitions, thresholds, and trim
- Moving furniture and appliances
- Removing and reinstalling baseboards versus using quarter round
- Stairs, which are priced separately and are labor intensive
Ask for these as line items. A quote that is only a per square foot number is not comparable to one that lists them.
Where Prices Are Heading
Material costs across wood products and imported flooring have been affected by trade measures, which we covered in wood product duties are showing up in flooring quotes. Both categories have been affected, though not identically, which is another reason to get current quotes rather than relying on a figure from a couple of years ago.
Getting Good Quotes
Ask each installer what they would do about the subfloor, how they are handling transitions, and what happens if moisture testing shows a problem. Ask for the specific product, including wear layer and core for vinyl or species, grade, and finish for wood. And ask about the warranty terms, which differ substantially and often depend on the installation being done to the manufacturer's specification.
If you are planning new flooring, tell us about the rooms and we will connect you with installers serving your area. It is free to use, with no obligation to hire.