Flooring Shop Smart Chart

To help you compare the most popular types of flooring, use this at-a-glance chart. Price ranges include the average material cost, but installation expense varies considerably so check with an installer for an accurate total cost.

Type	What it is	Style pointers	What it costs
Cork	A natural material consisting of the ground bark of the cork oak tree, cork is molded, baked, cut, and varnished to create tiles and planks. Its airy structure causes the flooring to naturally reduce sound, retain heat, and absorb shock from extended standing time, such as when you’re at the range while cooking.	Cork flooring goes beyond basic tan speckles. Decorative patterns include wine cork flooring, with cross sections of wine bottle corks; mosaic cork flooring that features pieces in an array of shapes and colors; and burled cork, a mottled pattern similar to burled wood.	Cork flooring generally ranges in price from $3 to $6 per square foot. The more complex patterns fall on the high end, while the basic flecked variety runs about $3 per square foot, making it an economical flooring option for the kitchen.
Laminate	Laminate features an image of a material, such as wood or stone, layered between a clear protective coating on top and a dense fiberboard on the bottom. It typically has a “floating” installation in which pieces fit together in grooves and do not need to be nailed together.	Product advances include the reduction of noticeable seams between laminate planks. Other visual enhancements are wood-grain and stone-texture embossing and beveled edges between wood “planks” within a laminate board. Choose laminate patterns without obvious repeats to play up the realism.	Cost varies depending on the quality of the pattern. Basic wood laminate can retail for about $1.45 per square foot, while embossed laminates run closer to $3.99 per square foot. Often there is a discount for large quantities.
Linoleum	Linoleum products contain wood or cork powder, resins, pigments, and other materials combined with linseed oil. This mixture is pressed onto a jute backing. The material cures for two to three weeks before it can be shipped for installation.	This flooring consists of natural materials with limitless color and pattern options. New linoleum floors can match the muted colors and traditional marble patterns of existing flooring in older homes. Or create an eye-catching modern design in vibrant, saturated colors. Designs won’t fade, because the pattern and color permeate the entire sheet of flooring.	Linoleum is affordable, with basic patterns ranging from $2 to $4 per square foot. Intricate patterns that include multiple colors, borders, and other details run more and can cost up to $10 or more per square foot.
Vinyl	Often called resilient flooring because of its softness, vinyl consists of a protective top coat over a printed layer of vinyl on a backing. There are two types of vinyl: common felt-back vinyl or fiberglass vinyl, which installs without adhesive.	Fool-the-eye photographic images make vinyl a flooring chameleon. Like laminate flooring, some vinyl flooring features surface texture that increases the look and feel of the simulated materials. This durable material makes installing complex “tile” patterns effortless because it rolls into place and doesn’t need adhesive if it’s fiber-backed.	Thickness and design quality vary greatly in vinyl flooring options. This means the price can range anywhere from 50 cents to $5 per square foot. As with all flooring, you also need to add the installation when calculating costs.
Wood	Solid hardwood flooring includes varieties from standard oak to exotic tigerwood. Plank widths are 2¼–5 inches, and thickness can be up to ¾ inches. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times and often adds to a home’s value.	When choosing a hardwood floor, consider the amount of wear and tear it will get. Some hand-sculpted planks have enough variation to hide the wear and dents that occur in high-traffic areas. If you want the look of site-finished wood but the ease and longer warranty of prefinished wood, request a square end and edge instead of the prefinished beveled end and edge.	Some Web sites offer hardwood floors for as little as $2.30 per square foot, but watch for knots and color consistency. Midgrade hardwood starts at about $4 per square foot. Exotic woods, wider widths, and special finishes start at $10 per square foot.
Ceramic Tile	Ceramic tile is a mixture of clay and minerals molded and baked in a kiln. Types of ceramic tile include glazed ceramic, quarry, porcelain, and terra-cotta. Porcelain tile comes from finer clay that is baked at a higher temperature, making it extra durable and water-resistant.	From simple squares to elaborate mosaics, ceramic tile can define the style of a kitchen. Liven up the look of a simple tile by installing it diagonally or choosing a contrasting grout color. To define areas of a kitchen or outline the room, use coordinating border tiles. For a special effect, place decorative tiles throughout the floor.	The price of ceramic tile starts at as low as 75 cents per square foot and goes up depending on the glaze, thickness, and production method. Also keep in mind that installation cost can double the cost of the flooring.