Laminate and vinyl plank look almost the same in a showroom, cost about the same, and both click together as a floating floor. So it’s no surprise people mix them up. But they’re built from completely different stuff, and that changes how they handle water, pets, noise and the rooms you put them in. Here’s how to pick the right one, and how to figure out which one is already in your house.
Quick Answer: Which One Should You Choose
Pick vinyl plank if water is a worry. Kitchens, laundries, bathrooms, homes with little kids or pets having accidents, and rentals all suit vinyl, because its core is plastic based and won’t swell. It’s also softer and quieter underfoot.
Pick laminate if you want the toughest surface against scratches and the most realistic timber look for your money. It’s great in living areas, bedrooms and hallways that stay dry.
And no, they’re not the same thing. Laminate has a wood fibre core with a photo layer and a hard melamine top. Vinyl is made from PVC, either as a thin flexible plank or as a rigid core plank (which is what Aussie stores call hybrid).
Laminate vs Vinyl Plank at a Glance (Comparison Table)
| Laminate | Vinyl plank | |
|---|---|---|
| Core | High density fibreboard (compressed wood fibre) | PVC, either flexible or rigid stone core |
| Water | Water resistant at best, swells if water sits in the joints | Waterproof core |
| Scratches | Excellent, very hard melamine surface | Good, depends on wear layer thickness |
| Dents | Resists dents well, edges can chip | Flexible vinyl dents more, rigid core holds up well |
| Feel underfoot | Firm and a bit cooler | Softer and warmer |
| Sound | Can sound hollow without good underlay | Quieter |
| Look | Deep textures and bevels, very realistic | Very good, thinner planks can look flatter |
| Typical thickness | 7mm to 12mm | 2mm to 5mm flexible, 6.5mm to 9mm rigid core |
| Installed price in Melbourne | About $45 to $85 per m² | About $50 to $130 per m² |
| Best for | Dry living areas, bedrooms, hallways | Kitchens, laundries, bathrooms, rentals |
What Each One Is Made Of: Core, Wear Layer and Backing
Laminate is basically a sandwich with four layers. On top is a clear melamine wear layer toughened with aluminium oxide, which is why laminate is so hard to scratch. Under that sits a printed decor paper, then a thick high density fibreboard (HDF) core, and a balancing layer on the bottom to stop the board warping.
Vinyl plank comes in two main styles:
- Flexible vinyl (LVP or LVT). Layers of PVC with a printed film and a clear wear layer, usually 0.3mm to 0.7mm. It’s thin and bendy, and it’s glued down or laid loose.
- Rigid core vinyl (hybrid). The same top layers bonded to a stiff core, usually an SPC core made from limestone and PVC, often with underlay attached. It clicks together like laminate.
The key thing to take away: laminate’s strength is its surface, vinyl’s strength is its core. That’s where every other difference comes from.
Browse the ranges behind this comparison:
- 12mm AC4 laminate for living areas
- our full laminate flooring range
- 7.5mm rigid core hybrid planks
- waterproof hybrid flooring for wet rooms
- how to read AC ratings and laminate specs
Water Resistance: Where the Real Difference Shows Up
This is the big one. Laminate’s fibreboard core acts a bit like a sponge. If water gets into the joints or edges and sits there, the boards swell and the edges peak up. Once that happens, it doesn’t go back down, and those boards need replacing.
Modern water resistant laminates are much better than the old stuff. They use sealed or waxed edges and a denser core, so everyday spills wiped up in reasonable time are fine. But they’re still not built for a dishwasher leak overnight, a flooded laundry or a wet bathroom floor.
Vinyl’s PVC core doesn’t absorb water, so the planks themselves won’t swell. The catch is that any floating floor can still let water run underneath at the edges, so big spills should be cleaned up quickly whatever you choose.
Bottom line: anywhere water is part of daily life, vinyl wins easily.
Scratch, Dent and Heavy Furniture Performance
Laminate’s melamine top is one of the hardest surfaces in residential flooring. Grit from shoes, chair legs and dog claws struggle to mark it, especially with an AC4 rated board. Where it can let you down is the edges, which can chip if you drop something heavy and sharp.
Vinyl is softer at the surface. Flexible vinyl can scuff and it can dent under heavy point loads like a fridge, a piano or a narrow chair leg. Rigid core vinyl is far better at resisting dents, and a 0.5mm wear layer handles pets and kids really well. It’s just not quite as scratch proof as a good laminate.
Whichever you choose, felt pads on furniture legs and a doormat at every entry make a massive difference.
Comfort, Sound and Feel Underfoot
Laminate feels firm and solid, and a thick 12mm board feels closest to real timber. The downside is noise. With hard shoes it can make a clicky, hollow sound, and it feels cooler to bare feet in winter. A quality underlay helps a lot.
Vinyl feels softer and slightly warmer, and it’s generally quieter to walk on. Glue down vinyl is the quietest of all because there’s no gap under the plank to echo. If you work from home, have a baby sleeping, or live in an apartment, that quietness is a real plus.
Cost per m2 in Melbourne: Supply and Installed
Here’s a realistic guide for 2026:
| Floor type | Supply only (per m²) | Supplied and installed (per m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $20 to $45 | $45 to $85 |
| Flexible vinyl plank (LVP) | $20 to $55 | $50 to $130 |
| Rigid core vinyl (hybrid) | $25 to $60 and up | $45 to $120 and up |
Laminate often gives you more floor for the money, especially if you want a thick 12mm board. Flexible glue down vinyl can end up dearer than it looks, because the subfloor has to be perfectly smooth first, and that prep costs time and money.
Don’t forget the extras that sit outside the per m² rate: underlay, removing your old floor, levelling, scotia or new skirting, and trims at doorways. For a detailed breakdown, see our guides to laminate flooring prices per square metre and what vinyl plank costs installed.
Installation Differences: Floating, Glue Down and Subfloor Tolerance
Laminate is always floated. The boards click together over an underlay (with a moisture barrier on concrete slabs) and need an expansion gap around every wall. Most brands want the subfloor flat to about 3mm over 2m.
Flexible vinyl is usually glued down. It hugs the subfloor, so every bump, crack and dip shows through. That means skim coating or levelling is almost always part of the job.
Rigid core vinyl floats just like laminate, with similar flatness requirements.
So which is better for uneven floors? Neither loves them. A rigid core vinyl or a thick 12mm laminate will bridge small dips better than flexible vinyl, which shows everything. For anything more than minor imperfections, level the floor first. It’s the difference between a floor that lasts and one that squeaks and gaps in a year.
Related guides worth reading first:
- levelling an uneven subfloor before installation
- what goes under hybrid and laminate flooring
- floating versus glue down installation
- laying new floors over particleboard subfloors
- how long each floor type actually lasts
Look and Realism: Embossing, Bevels and Plank Size
Laminate has the edge on realism, mostly because of thickness. Good laminates use embossed in register (EIR) texture, where the surface grooves line up with the printed grain, plus deep bevelled edges. Stand back and a 12mm board with real texture is very hard to pick from timber.
Vinyl prints have come a long way, and rigid core vinyl now uses EIR texture and bevels too. Thin flexible vinyl can look a little flatter, especially in raking light from big windows.
Two quick checks in the showroom: look at a large display from standing height rather than up close, and count how many different plank designs repeat. More unique prints means a more natural floor.
How to Tell If Your Existing Floor Is Laminate or Vinyl
Not sure what’s under your feet? Try these, from easiest to most reliable:
- Check for leftover boxes. Look in the garage or shed. Laminate boxes mention HDF or an AC rating. Vinyl boxes say LVP, LVT, SPC or hybrid.
- Look at a cut edge. Lift a doorway trim or floor vent, or look inside a cupboard. Brown compressed wood fibre means laminate. A solid plastic edge, often grey or white for rigid core, means vinyl.
- Tap it and feel it. Laminate sounds hollow and clicky and feels cool and hard. Vinyl gives a duller thud and feels slightly softer and warmer.
- Measure the thickness. At a trim or edge, laminate is usually 7mm to 12mm. Flexible glue down vinyl is only 2mm to 5mm.
- Do a flex test on a spare plank. Flexible vinyl bends easily. Laminate won’t bend and will snap if forced. Rigid core vinyl is stiff but feels heavy and plastic.
- Look for water damage. Swollen, peaked edges near the dishwasher or back door are a classic laminate giveaway. Vinyl doesn’t swell like that.
Still stumped? Snap a photo of an edge and send it to our team, or we can identify it on the spot during a free measure.
Which One Wins by Room: Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom, Rental
| Room | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Rigid core vinyl | Spills and dishwasher leaks won’t swell the core |
| Bathroom and ensuite | Vinyl (never inside the shower) | Laminate and wet floors don’t mix |
| Laundry | Vinyl | Washing machine leaks happen |
| Living and dining | Either, laminate for realism and scratch resistance | Dry areas where laminate shines |
| Bedrooms | Laminate, or vinyl for extra warmth and quiet | Low water risk, comfort is the priority |
| Hallway | Laminate or rigid core vinyl | Both handle traffic, laminate resists grit scratches best |
| Rental property | Rigid core vinyl | Tough, waterproof and easy to replace single boards |
| Apartment | Vinyl, or either with acoustic underlay | Quieter, and strata rules may apply |
Plenty of homes use both: laminate through the living areas and bedrooms, and vinyl in the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms. If you go that way, pick colours together so the transitions look planned.
At Flooring Expert, we stock quality 12mm laminate alongside our waterproof hybrid range, so you can compare them side by side in the showroom and get honest advice on which one suits each room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are vinyl and laminate the same thing?
No. Laminate has a wood fibre core with a melamine surface. Vinyl is made from PVC. They look similar but handle water very differently.
Is vinyl better than laminate?
It depends on the room. Vinyl is better for water and comfort, laminate is better for scratch resistance and realism in dry areas.
Is laminate or vinyl cheaper in Australia?
Entry prices are similar. Laminate is often better value for thick quality boards, while glue down vinyl can cost more once subfloor prep is added.
Is laminate or vinyl better for uneven floors?
Rigid core vinyl or 12mm laminate handle small dips best. Flexible vinyl shows every bump. Big dips need levelling whichever you choose.
Can you put laminate in a kitchen?
You can with a water resistant laminate, as long as spills are wiped up quickly. For busy family kitchens, rigid core vinyl is the safer bet — see our guide to the best flooring for kitchens.
Which is better if I have dogs?
Laminate resists claw scratches best, while vinyl handles accidents and water bowls better. A rigid core vinyl with a 0.5mm wear layer is a great middle ground, as our guide to the best flooring for dogs explains.
Can you lay laminate over old vinyl?
Usually yes, if the old vinyl is flat, firmly stuck down and a single layer. Floating or cushioned vinyl should come up first.
Which one lasts longer?
A quality laminate or rigid core vinyl typically lasts 15 to 25 years in a home. Budget products of either type wear out much sooner.
Can I steam mop laminate or vinyl?
No. Steam pushes heat and moisture into the joints and can void your warranty. Use a damp microfibre mop and a pH neutral cleaner instead, and see how to deal with scratches in laminate and vinyl.
Compare Laminate and Vinyl Samples at Home: Order Free Samples
The best way to decide is to see both floors in your own space. A board that looks perfect under showroom lights can look totally different next to your kitchen cabinets or in afternoon sun.
Here’s how we make it easy:
- Order free samples of our laminate and hybrid ranges and lay them side by side at home
- Visit our Balwyn North showroom at 3/308 Doncaster Road to feel the difference underfoot
- Book a free on site measure and quote anywhere in Melbourne
- Let our own install team handle removal, levelling, trims and installation in one go
Call us on 03 9958 1824 or request your free measure and quote. We’ll help you choose the right floor for each room, without the sales pressure.
