Best Flooring for Kitchens: Comparing Based on Cost, Durability, and More

The best flooring for kitchens will be waterproof and stainproof to resist damage from leaks and spills. You should also choose a flooring option that stands up well to foot traffic, as the kitchen is one of the most frequented rooms in a home. 

The best and most popular types of flooring for kitchens are usually ceramic or porcelain tile for their water and stain resistance, followed by luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring for their affordability. Consider these options when planning out your kitchen remodel.

Quick Takeaways

• The best and most popular kitchen flooring is tile (ceramic or porcelain), as it can last a lifetime, is easy to clean, and is waterproof.

• Choose a kitchen floor that matches your lifestyle. Consider the risk of staining, as well as scratches and dents from children and pets, and resistance to foot traffic.

• LVP and LVT flooring are popular because they blend durability with upfront affordability.

1. Ceramic or Porcelain Tile

Tile floors are the most common in kitchens across the U.S., and there are good reasons for that. Tile is hard and resists damage from impact well. It’s entirely waterproof, so it won’t warp or crack if you have a leak from your sink or an appliance. It’s also water-resistant and stain-resistant and will stand up to heavy scrubbing, making it easy to clean.

Ceramic tile is more affordable but is more likely to stain than porcelain tile, and it’s also more prone to cracking from impact.

Both ceramic and porcelain are available in a wide array of colors and styles, so you’ll have plenty of room to customize your kitchen’s appearance if you choose this flooring.

While tile floors are a solid choice overall, they can be slippery if they get wet, and the installation cost ranges from $10 to $20 per square foot, making them relatively expensive. DIYing this flooring also takes a lot of skill, so it’s more likely that you’ll need to hire a professional to get the job done.

2. Luxury Vinyl Plank or Luxury Vinyl Tile

LVP and LVT flooring are increasingly popular flooring options for kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and everything in between. Vinyl costs $5 to $13 per square foot, making it more affordable than tile, natural stone, and solid hardwood.

Vinyl flooring is not only more affordable than many other kitchen flooring options, but it’s also an easy material to install yourself. You could pay just $2 to $7 per square foot for the materials, putting it at less than half the cost of a tile floor.

Vinyl flooring can be waterproof, and it’s a good idea to make sure you’re getting a waterproof version of the material if you’re installing it in the kitchen. You might pay a bit more for this, but it’s worth it to avoid damage from plumbing leaks or spills that you aren’t able to clean up right away.

Make sure you buy a high-quality vinyl floor with a thick wear layer to stand up to the frequent foot traffic your kitchen floor is likely to see.

3. Natural Stone Tile

Natural stone flooring can include tiles made from granite, marble, travertine, or slate. This flooring provides a more natural and, generally, a more aesthetically pleasing appearance than vinyl.

Stone flooring is waterproof and usually resists staining well, but be aware that some stone can stain if not sealed properly.

Natural stone is one of the most durable flooring options and can last 100 years or longer with proper maintenance. It’s one of the best choices for a kitchen floor if you have pets or children that will put added wear and tear on your flooring.

Natural stone tile can get quite expensive, sometimes reaching up to $50 per square foot or more for marble or high-end granite. It can also be slippery when it gets wet, which is problematic for some kitchens, and it’s not an easy material to install yourself. Finally, it’s a hard material that can be tough on joints, so it’s not ideal for homeowners with knee or back issues.

4. Hardwood or Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood and engineered hardwood are classic flooring options for kitchens. They provide a warm, natural appearance and can help you achieve a luxurious kitchen look and feel.

Wood floors stand up extremely well to foot traffic, which is one reason they’re a popular choice in kitchens. They’re also one of the only types of flooring you can refinish, so while they can scratch or stain, you’ll have the option to sand and refinish them, making them look like new again.

Provided your wood floors don’t come in contact with water or moisture, they can last for a century or longer with proper maintenance and routine resealing.

There are some downsides to wood floors, though. They can get quite expensive to install, ranging between $6 and $20 per square foot in most cases, with exotic wood species pushing costs up to $40 per square foot. Wood and engineered wood floors can also warp if they’re exposed to excessive moisture, so you need to be diligent about addressing leaks and cleaning up spills immediately.

5. Polished Concrete Flooring

Polished concrete is a simple and often affordable option for your kitchen floor if you have a slab foundation, as you can just hire a professional to level the existing concrete and polish the surface.

Polished concrete is extremely durable and can last for 100 years or more, even when exposed to constant foot traffic and impacts, so it’s great if you have children and pets that could put added stress on your kitchen floor.

Polishing existing concrete is often affordable, costing as little as $2 per square foot. You could pay up to $16 per square foot if you need your slab leveled and surfaced before polishing, though.

Polished concrete comes with some downsides, too. Most notably, it can stain, and the polishing process requires specialized equipment that makes DIYing the work a challenge. It’s also a very hard flooring option that can be uncomfortable to walk on, so it may not be ideal for elderly homeowners or those with back or joint issues.

6. Laminate Tiles or Sheets

Laminate tiles and sheets are some of the most affordable kitchen flooring options, totaling between $3 and $12 per square foot. Laminate flooring is relatively easy to install, so you could pay just $1 to $6 per square foot if you opt for a DIY installation.

Laminate sheet flooring can be waterproof, and while laminate tiles can leak water between the cracks, leading to subfloor damage, the actual flooring will not get damaged from exposure to water or moisture. It’s also stain-resistant, so you don’t have to worry as much about spills.

Laminate flooring is one of the least durable kitchen floor materials, though, and you’ll only get 15 to 25 years out of a laminate floor. Laminate also doesn’t have as appealing of an aesthetic as most other options, so you’re likely to see less of a positive impact on your home value if you choose this flooring.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Best Kitchen Flooring

Tile and vinyl are the two most popular kitchen flooring options, but there are numerous things you should consider when deciding which material is ideal for your kitchen.

Lifestyle

First and foremost, you should consider your lifestyle to help determine which kitchen flooring option is right for you. If you have elderly people living in your home, or you or a family member has back or knee issues, think about how forgiving the floor will be on those joints. Flooring materials like polished concrete and natural stone can be hard on joints, while vinyl plank or tile with a soft subfloor can offer some give and be the most comfortable flooring.

You should also consider the likelihood of your kitchen floor getting wet from spills and wet footprints, as some materials — like marble, tile, and natural stone — can be more slippery when wet.

Cost

Whether you’re on a strict budget or not, you should always consider the cost per square foot of the flooring material you’re considering. Laminate is the most affordable, followed by polished concrete, then vinyl plank or vinyl tile flooring. If cost is no issue, your best kitchen flooring options should be high-end and highly durable materials, like natural stone or porcelain tiles.

Durability and Lifespan

Your kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in your home, so choose a floor that can stand up well in high-traffic areas and resist scratching and impact. This will ensure your new floor can stand up to everything you, your family, your guests, and your pets have to throw at it. Polished concrete, natural stone, and porcelain tile are some of the most durable kitchen floor materials available, and they’ll all stand up well to physical use.

You should also consider the lifespan of the flooring material you’re installing. Natural stone may cost more than most other options, polished concrete can stain, and porcelain tile can be slippery when wet. But all three of these flooring materials can last 100 years or longer. 

Compared to laminate flooring, which only lasts for 15 to 25 years, these can be expensive upfront but end up saving you money on flooring repairs and replacements in the future.

Aesthetic and ROI

Consider what look you’re going for with your kitchen flooring ideas, and choose a material that matches your decor and is generally desirable.  You can always hire an interior designer to help you nail down your ideal kitchen design and aesthetic. 

Most buyers prefer the look of natural stone, wood, and tile over laminate and polished concrete, so if you like one of the first options, you’re likely to see a good return on your investment if you sell your home in the near future.

Ease of Installation

Finally, consider how easy the material is to install. If you’re looking for a DIY project, laminate and vinyl flooring are going to be your best options. Steer clear of polished concrete, which demands specialized equipment to install, and natural stone and tile, which are challenging for non-professionals.

FAQ: Best Flooring for Kitchens

There’s no general rule of thumb when it comes to coordinating your kitchen floor and kitchen cabinet color, although it’s a good idea to keep them at least two shades apart to prevent them from blending together. A lighter floor can make your kitchen look larger, while a darker floor can make a wide-open space seem a bit cozier.

Natural stone, polished concrete, and porcelain tile are low-maintenance kitchen flooring options that are easy to clean and stand up to wear and tear. These all stand up to water and staining well if properly sealed, resist heavy foot traffic and scratching, and are easy to scrub clean without damaging.

Polished concrete and natural stone floors are the most resistant kitchen flooring materials. Both will resist scratches and wear from excessive foot traffic extremely well, and they can last for 100 years or more, even in the busiest of kitchens.