We researched the best cheap flooring options based on price per square foot, water resistance, durability, and overall appearance. And for expert help, we consulted Deane Biermeier, a contractor living in Minnesota with nearly 30 years experience in home repair, maintenance, remodeling, and carpentry, and a member of The Spruce Member Improvement Review Board. The Pergo Outlast+ 7.48 in. W Graceland Oak Waterproof Laminate Wood Flooring is our top pick because it’s designed with SpillProof technology and can withstand scratching from kids and pets. Here are the best cheap flooring options on the market. What do buyers say? 300+ Home Depot reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above. Many varieties of laminate replicate the look of wood grain, without the price point of real wood flooring. Pergo Outlast+ Waterproof Laminate Wood Flooring is our top pick because it requires no additional underlayment layer and is easy to install in any part of your home. Pergo is the name brand for Perstorp, the inventor of laminate flooring, and it carries an AC4 rating, meaning the flooring is approved for residential and some light commercial use. “Bedrooms and low-volume areas do just fine with inexpensive laminate flooring,” points out Deane Biermeier, a Minnesota contractor whom we consulted for this article. “The kitchen and baths do well with an inexpensive vinyl sheet or vinyl plank flooring, as long as it’s water-resistant in the kitchen and waterproof in the bathroom. Spend the remaining budget dollars on high-traffic spaces like the living room and hallway carpet or laminate.” Pergo’s Outlast+ design withstands water and scratches from pets or children. Unlike traditional wood flooring, its wood finish is designed not to fade or wear down over time. A lifetime residential warranty is offered, and a 10-year commercial warranty is also available. This flooring features a patented Uniclic joint, which keeps the pieces together as the flooring expands and contracts with environmental changes. It’s also easy to install, but professional installation services are available if preferred. Unlike real wood flooring, laminate flooring cannot be refinished. If the floor is damaged, you have to replace the entire floor. makes their flooring an excellent overall choice for cheap flooring. Price at time of publish: $51 Dimensions: 54.33 x 7.48 inches | Coverage: 16.93 square feet | Finish Type: Laminate wood flooring | Installation Method: Uniclic joint FloorPops is a leading manufacturer of peel and stick tiles and offers a variety of stylish patterns and prints. The Medina tile comes in a pack of 10 tiles; each measures 12 x 12 inches, but you can cut and trim it to fit your space. The tiles are water-resistant, washable, and frequently used in bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways. You can lay these peel and stick tiles over just about any existing flooring surface—but you can’t easily remove them—the adhesive strongly bonds to the surface underneath. Price at time of publish: $18 Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches | Coverage: 10 square feet | Finish Type: Vinyl | Installation Method: Permanent adhesive backing This engineered bamboo flooring from the Home Decorators Collection is strand-woven bamboo with an impressive Janka hardness rating of 3,000, meaning it resists dents more. (A best-selling option for oak hardwood flooring is rated just 1,290.) While this flooring is easy to install, thanks to click-lock edges, it lacks an underlayment, so you have to purchase that in addition to the flooring. Price at time of publish: $99 Dimensions: 36.02 x 4.92 inches | Coverage: 24.62 square feet | Finish Type: Bamboo, honey brown finish | Installation Method: Click-lock This Foss carpet is treated to offer lifetime stain and soil resistance, and it also carries a lifetime limited warranty with FrayGuard technology to prevent pulls or snags. While it’s not the plushest carpet, and its polyester fibers can be prone to flattening, it makes a great pick for budget remodels or quick replacement of worn, dirty, or damaged carpeting. Price at time of publish: $97 Dimensions: 24 x 24 inches | Coverage: 60 square feet | Finish Type: Polyester finish carpet | Installation Method: Peel and stick When choosing ceramic tile as a cheap flooring material for the bathroom, you also need to factor in the grout, backer board, and thinset. Even still, this tile’s budget price makes it an obvious choice for wet rooms, where you want a durable, easy-to-clean flooring option. Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches | Coverage: 10.67 square feet | Finish Type: Ceramic | Installation Method: Grout and backer board required The major draw for LVP flooring in kitchens? It’s waterproof—the boards don’t swell or buckle when exposed to moisture from routine activities such as washing dishes or cooking. And while some other cheap flooring materials, such as ceramic, are also waterproof, a dish dropped on LVP is less likely to shatter when it hits the floor. Price at time of publish: $49 Dimensions: 36 x 5.91 inches | Coverage: 22.17 square feet | Finish Type: Vinyl plank flooring, slate oak color | Installation Method: Click-lock Vinyl tile flooring, like this 12 x 24-inch Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Tile from MSI, gives you an upscale look that is easy to clean and maintain. It’s ideal for high traffic areas and makes a good pick for homes with kids or pets. You can use it in any room, including areas prone to moisture such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas. This durable yet cheap flooring material comes in a variety of looks and patterns, making it easy to find a style and color to fit your decor. Price at time of publish: $64 Dimensions: 12 x 24 inches | Coverage: 19.37 square feet | Finish Type: Vinyl, white ocean color | Installation Method: Click-lock Our expert, longtime contractor Deane Biermeier, advises being flexible in color and design preferences and always shop the flooring clearance aisle and carpet remnant rack first, especially if you’re working on small rooms or multiple rooms. “It’s almost shocking how low stores sometimes price 150 square foot, high-quality leftovers that didn’t sell!” Deane says.
Water Resistance
If you’re shopping for cheap flooring for a room with considerable water exposure or moisture, consider each option’s water resistance. Kitchens and bathrooms need water-resistant flooring such as luxury vinyl plank or ceramic tile. “Kitchens and baths do well with an inexpensive vinyl sheet or vinyl plank flooring,” Biermeier says, “as long as it’s water-resistant in the kitchen and waterproof in the bathroom. Spend the remaining budget dollars on high-traffic spaces like the living room and hallway carpet or laminate.”
Cost per Square Foot
When choosing affordable flooring, compare the cost per square foot of each material. Cheap flooring usually ranges from $1 to $2 per square foot, but sometimes even less. However, cautions contractor Deane Biermeier, “It’s easy to make the mistake of comparing two boxes of flooring by the cost of the box. Packs of flooring can have vastly different quantities.” A related factor is the warranty for each type of flooring. Some cheap flooring may offer only a short warranty period, while other options might give you up to 10 years of protection against normal wear and tear.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Erica Puisis researched and wrote this roundup. As a professional writer with experience in home improvement and interior design, she has written more than 200 articles for The Spruce since 2017. In researching this article, we also consulted Deane Biermeier, an award-winning Minnesota-based contractor and flooring expert who sits on The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
