New flooring is one of the most transformative — and highest-return — changes you can make to a home. Refinishing hardwood floors recovers 147% of its cost, the highest of any remodeling project, and flooring is a top planned project for 13% of homeowners (NAR/NARI, 2025; Angi, 2025). This guide compares flooring types by cost, covers renter-friendly options, and shows what a flooring before-and-after really involves.
Key Takeaways
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is now the most popular flooring — durable, waterproof, and budget-friendly (Grand View Research, 2025).
- LVP costs $3.50–$9/sq ft installed; refinishing hardwood recovers 147% at resale (HomeGuide, 2026; NAR/NARI, 2025).
- Peel-and-stick and floating LVP give renters a no-damage floor upgrade.
- Match the floor to the room — waterproof for kitchens and baths.
How Do Flooring Types Compare?
The main flooring types trade off cost, durability, and look. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) has become the most popular choice because it is waterproof, durable, and budget-friendly, and it convincingly mimics wood (Grand View Research, 2025). Hardwood is the premium option with the best resale value, laminate is a low-cost wood look, and tile is the most water-resistant.
| Flooring type | Installed cost / sq ft | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | ~$2–$6 (materials) | Budget wood look, dry rooms |
| Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) | $3.50–$9 | Most rooms — waterproof, durable |
| Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) | $3–$13 | Kitchens, baths, tile look |
| Hardwood | Highest | Resale value, living areas |
Is Peel-and-Stick Flooring Good for Renters?
Peel-and-stick and floating LVP are the best renter flooring options because they install over existing floors and come up without damage. Floating click-lock LVP requires no glue and can be lifted and taken with you, while peel-and-stick vinyl tiles cover a dated floor for a few dollars per square foot. With 67% of people improving their current home over moving, no-damage upgrades are increasingly popular (Angi, 2025).
Always confirm with your landlord first, and choose removable products for a rental. These options let renters cover ugly vinyl or worn carpet without touching the original floor underneath.
How Do You Choose Flooring by Room?
The right floor depends on the room’s moisture and traffic. Kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways need waterproof flooring — LVP, LVT, or tile — while living rooms and bedrooms can use hardwood, laminate, or LVP for warmth. Because LVP handles moisture and heavy traffic, it has become the versatile all-rounder that works nearly everywhere (Grand View Research, 2025).
Using one consistent floor throughout an open-plan space makes a home feel larger and more cohesive. For a small home, a single light-toned floor visually expands the whole area.
What Does Flooring Cost?
Flooring cost depends on the material and room size. LVP runs $3.50–$9 per square foot installed, LVT $3–$13, and laminate materials about $2–$6, while hardwood sits at the top (HomeGuide, 2026; Forbes Home, 2025). DIY floating LVP cuts labor cost significantly, since click-lock planks install without professionals.
If you have hardwood under carpet, refinishing is the highest-value move — it recovers 147% of its cost and earns a perfect 10 Joy Score (NAR/NARI, 2025).
What Does a Flooring Before and After Look Like?
New flooring is the change that makes a whole home feel renovated. Worn carpet or dated vinyl replaced with light LVP transforms a space instantly, brightening rooms and unifying an open plan. For homes with hardwood hiding under carpet, refinishing delivers the most dramatic and highest-ROI before-and-after at 147% cost recovery (NAR/NARI, 2025).
Floors set the tone for everything on top of them, so the before-and-after ripples through the whole room. A cohesive, light floor is often the single biggest visual upgrade a home can get.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular flooring in 2026?
Luxury vinyl is now the most popular flooring type, thanks to being waterproof, durable, and budget-friendly, with luxury vinyl tile holding about 64.7% of the US vinyl category by revenue (Grand View Research, 2025). LVP works in nearly every room and convincingly mimics real wood.
How much does LVP flooring cost?
Luxury vinyl plank costs $3.50–$9 per square foot installed, with materials at $2–$5, while LVT runs $3–$13 installed (HomeGuide, 2026). DIY floating click-lock LVP cuts the labor cost, making it one of the most budget-friendly floor upgrades.
What flooring is best for renters?
Floating click-lock LVP and peel-and-stick vinyl tiles — both install over existing floors and come up without damage. Floating LVP can even be lifted and taken when you move. Confirm with your landlord and choose removable products. With 67% of people improving their current home, no-damage floors are increasingly common (Angi, 2025).
Is refinishing hardwood floors worth it?
Yes — refinishing hardwood recovers 147% of its cost, the highest return of any remodeling project, and earns a perfect 10 Joy Score (NAR/NARI, 2025). If you have hardwood hiding under carpet, refinishing is the single best-value flooring project you can do.
Sources
- NAR/NARI, “2025 Remodeling Impact Report”, April 2025, https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/top-remodeling-projects-for-homeowner-satisfaction-and-cost-recovery-revealed-in-nar-report
- HomeGuide, “Luxury Vinyl Flooring Cost”, 2026, https://homeguide.com/costs/luxury-vinyl-flooring-cost
- Forbes Home, “Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost”, 2025, https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/flooring/vinyl-plank-flooring-cost/
- Grand View Research, “Vinyl Flooring Market”, 2025, https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/vinyl-flooring-market
- Angi Inc., “2024 State of Home Spending Report”, January 2025, https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/28/3016441/0/en/Angi-Releases-2024-State-of-Home-Spending-Report.html