The Best Flooring for Laundry Rooms
The Best Flooring for Laundry Rooms
Our top picks: Best floor for a laundry room
Your laundry room is one of the busiest spaces in your home, and its flooring needs to handle moisture, heavy appliances, and daily wear and tear. Choosing the right material can make all the difference in durability, functionality, and style. In this guide, we share our top picks for the best laundry room flooring options for this busy space.
Tile flooring
Tile flooring is a timeless choice for laundry rooms thanks to its durability and water resistance. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are completely waterproof, making them ideal for areas prone to spills or humidity. They’re also easy to clean and available in a wide range of designs, from colorful geometric patterns to sleek modern styles.
Pros: Waterproof, durable, easy to clean, and available in endless designs
Cons: Can feel cold underfoot and often requires professional installation
Luxury vinyl flooring
Luxury vinyl flooring is another durable and stylish choice for laundry rooms, offering waterproof protection and versatile design options like plank (LVP) and tile (LVT). Its ability to mimic natural wood or stone adds elegance while standing up to moisture, heavy appliances, and daily wear.
Pros: Waterproof, affordable, durable, comfortable, low-maintenance, and available in a wide range of realistic designs
Cons: Severe damage may require full replacement rather than repair.
Laminate flooring
Modern laminate flooring with water-resistant features is a budget-friendly choice for laundry rooms. It offers realistic wood-look designs and a protective surface that resists moisture, making it suitable for light to moderate use. While not as durable as some materials, laminate is easy to install and provides an affordable way to update your laundry area.
Pros: Budget-friendly, stylish wood-look designs, and easy installation
Cons: Requires sealing for moisture protection; less durable than other options
Sheet vinyl flooring
Sheet vinyl flooring is one of the most practical choices for laundry rooms. The seamless installation prevents water from seeping through gaps, making it highly waterproof. It’s also durable enough to support heavy appliances and comes in various designs, from wood-look patterns to bold contemporary styles.
Pros: Waterproof, seamless installation prevents leaks, durable, cost-effective, and available in diverse designs
Cons: Can look cheap compared to high-end materials, and the synthetic composition may not appeal to eco-conscious homeowners
Polished concrete flooring
Though somewhat less common, concrete flooring is one of the most durable options for laundry rooms. Polished or sealed concrete resists water damage and easily supports heavy appliances without cracking. It’s highly customizable with stains or epoxy coatings for added style, making it a perfect fit for modern design aesthetics.
Pros: Extremely durable, water-resistant, low-maintenance, and customizable
Cons: Cold and hard underfoot unless softened with rugs or mats
Terrazzo flooring
Another standout option for laundry room flooring is terrazzo, a material that combines durability, water resistance, and unique style. Made from marble or granite chips set in concrete or epoxy resin, terrazzo creates a seamless surface that resists water penetration. It’s highly customizable with various colors and aggregates while offering exceptional longevity.
Pros: Waterproof, highly durable, resistant to stains and mold, low-maintenance, customizable designs, and long-lasting
Cons: High upfront cost and can be slippery if not properly finished with anti-slip treatments
Engineered wood flooring
Engineered wood flooring is a stylish option that combines the warmth of natural wood with better moisture resistance. Made from layers of wood veneer over a plywood base, it’s less prone to warping than solid hardwood. While not fully waterproof, it performs well in laundry rooms with controlled humidity but requires some care to preserve its beauty.
Pros: Beautiful wood aesthetic with better moisture resistance than hardwood
Cons: Not fully waterproof; requires careful maintenance over time
Be sure to place a pan under the washing machine and protective mats near your washer and dryer to prevent water from seeping into the planks and causing damage.
Worst laundry room floors
No guide about laundry room flooring would be complete without highlighting the materials you should avoid. While these options may work well in other areas of your home, they fall short in handling the unique demands of a laundry room:
Carpet: Carpet absorbs moisture easily, which can lead to mold and mildew—definitely not ideal near your washer and dryer.
Solid hardwood: Solid hardwood, while beautiful, is prone to warping and swelling when exposed to water.
Standard laminate (non-waterproof): Standard laminate without water-resistant features can swell or buckle if exposed to leaks or spills.
Marble: Marble is porous and absorbs stains from detergents and chemicals, and it can also become dangerously slippery when wet.
Cork flooring: Cork is soft and prone to water damage, making it unsuitable for high-moisture areas like laundry rooms.
Unfinished concrete: While durable, unfinished concrete is porous and can absorb water, leading to potential cracking or staining over time.
Laundry room flooring cost
To assist with your budget planning, the table below highlights the average cost per square foot for popular flooring materials commonly used in laundry rooms.
| Flooring material | Average installed cost (per square foot) |
|---|---|
| Tile floor cost | $10 – $50 |
| Luxury vinyl flooring cost | $4 – $16 |
| Vinyl flooring cost | $2 – $12 |
| Polished concrete floor cost | $3 – $15 |
| Terrazzo flooring cost | $20 – $50 |
| Laminate flooring cost | $4 – $14 |
| Engineered hardwood floor cost | $7 – $20 |
Looking for other ideas to spruce up a boring laundry room? Visit our Laundry Room Ideas guide for stylish ideas and practical tips to make doing laundry less of a chore.
Best laundry room flooring FAQs
What is the best flooring for a basement laundry room?
Vinyl flooring is the best choice for basement laundry rooms because it is affordable, waterproof, durable, and resistant to mold and mildew.
What is the best subfloor for a laundry room?
A level, moisture-resistant subfloor like concrete or plywood primed with acrylic or urethane-based sealers is ideal for laundry rooms.
Do you need a floor drain in the laundry room?
A floor drain is highly recommended in laundry rooms to prevent water damage in case of leaks or overflow from the washer.
The same durable materials that work well in laundry rooms are also ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. Check out our guides on the best flooring for kitchens and the best flooring for bathrooms to discover durable and stylish options for these spaces.
Getting estimates from flooring installers
Choosing the best flooring for your laundry room can be a tough decision, but hiring a professional installer doesn’t have to be. Follow these tips to find a qualified flooring installer near you:
Compare at least three estimates to ensure competitive pricing and quality service.
Check reviews, references, and photos of previous work to verify the installer’s credibility.
Confirm the installer is licensed, bonded, and insured for added protection.
Ask for a written contract detailing costs, timelines, and warranties before work begins.
Questions to ask a flooring installer
Ask your flooring installer these questions to ensure a smooth laundry room flooring project:
Are you licensed, insured, and certified to install flooring?
Can you provide references or photos of past installations?
Do you offer a warranty on your work, and what does it cover?
Will you handle subfloor preparation, and is it included in the price?
What type of underlayment will you use, and is it recommended by the flooring manufacturer?
How will you address moisture issues, and do you take moisture readings before installation?
How long will the installation take, and what is the daily work schedule?
Will you move appliances, remove old flooring, and handle cleanup after the job?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.