LVP vs hardwood is the question we hear more than any other. Today's luxury vinyl plank (LVP) looks so much like wood that guests often can't tell the difference. But the two floors behave very differently over 10 or 20 years. The right answer depends on the room, who lives in it, and how long you plan to stay in the house.
Here's the honest comparison, the same one we walk through in people's living rooms across Columbus.
The short answer
- Choose hardwood for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms when you want real wood, a floor that can be refinished, and the most resale appeal.
- Choose LVP for basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms and busy kitchens, anywhere water, pets or heavy traffic are part of daily life.
- Use both. Plenty of homes run hardwood through the main living spaces and LVP below grade and in wet areas.
What's the difference between LVP and hardwood?
Solid hardwood is one piece of real wood from top to bottom. Engineered hardwood is a real wood top layer bonded to a stable core. Luxury vinyl plank is a layered synthetic floor: a rigid waterproof core, a high resolution printed wood image, and a clear protective wear layer on top.
So hardwood is wood. LVP is a very convincing photograph of wood with a tough, waterproof body.
LVP vs hardwood, side by side
Water resistance
This is the biggest difference. Most LVP is fully waterproof, so a spill, a leaking dishwasher or a wet dog won't damage the planks. Hardwood, solid or engineered, is not waterproof. Wipe up spills quickly and it does fine, but standing water can cup or stain it. That's why we don't put hardwood in basements or full bathrooms.
Scratches and dents
A good LVP wear layer resists scratches better than most hardwood finishes, which makes it popular with dog owners. Hardwood will scratch and dent over time, especially softer species. The difference is what happens next: hardwood can be sanded and refinished to look new again, while a badly damaged LVP plank has to be replaced.
Lifespan
Solid hardwood can last for generations because you can refinish it many times. Engineered hardwood can be refinished one or more times depending on the thickness of its wood layer. LVP typically lasts 10 to 25 years depending on the wear layer and how hard the room is used.
Look and feel
Up close, real wood still wins. Every board is different, it feels warmer and more solid underfoot, and it ages naturally. Higher end LVP has embossed grain and longer planks that get very close, but the pattern can repeat across a large room.
Comfort and sound
Hardwood feels solid. LVP can sound a little hollow without a good underlayment, and it tends to feel slightly cooler. Both are comfortable with area rugs in the right places.
Resale value
Hardwood is still what most buyers in Columbus neighborhoods like Clintonville, Upper Arlington and Bexley expect in the main living spaces. In finished basements and newer family homes, quality LVP is widely accepted and often preferred.
Cost
LVP usually costs less to buy and install than hardwood. Engineered hardwood often sits in the middle, and wide plank solid hardwood is typically the most expensive. For real numbers and what moves them, see our guide to how much new flooring costs.
Is engineered hardwood better than LVP?
It depends on what "better" means for the room. Engineered hardwood is real wood, so it wins on authenticity, warmth and resale, and it's more stable than solid wood in humid summers and dry Ohio winters. LVP wins on water and scratch resistance. In a dry main floor living room, engineered hardwood is usually the better choice. In a basement, mudroom or a kitchen with kids and a dog, LVP usually is. We break this down further in our hardwood vs LVP comparison.
Our room by room recommendation
- Living and dining rooms: hardwood, solid or engineered.
- Bedrooms: hardwood for warmth, or LVP if budget matters most.
- Kitchens: either. Engineered hardwood if you're careful, LVP if the kitchen is a splash zone.
- Basements: LVP. Read the best flooring for basements for why.
- Bathrooms and laundry: LVP.
- Homes with big dogs: LVP or a hard, matte hardwood. See the best flooring for dogs.
Not sure which room needs what? Our floors by room guide covers every space in the house.