Cheap vs Expensive Vinyl Plank: What You're Actually Paying For

We hear it every week: "This one's half the price and looks the same." Sometimes it really is fine. Sometimes we're back two years later because the edges are chipping and the click joints are pulling apart. Here's how to tell the difference.

Where the money goes

	Budget	Mid-range	Premium
Wear layer	6–12 mil	20 mil	22–30 mil + extra coating
Core	Thinner, sometimes softer SPC	Dense SPC	Dense SPC or engineered composite
Click joint	Basic. Can chip or pop	Solid	Very tight, often a patented system
Print	Few plank designs, obvious repeats	More variation	Many unique planks, grain-matched embossing
Pad	None or thin	Attached IXPE	Thicker or acoustic pad
Trims and stair nosing	Often limited	Usually available	Full matching set
Warranty	Short or vague	Solid residential	Long, sometimes light commercial

The hidden costs of cheap vinyl

• Same labour. Installing cheap vinyl takes the same time (often more, because weak click joints break). If labour is half your total, saving a little on material barely moves the final price.
• Chipped edges. Thin cores chip at the joints when they're tapped together or when something heavy drops.
• Joint failure. Weak locks open up over an imperfect subfloor or under heavy furniture.
• Visible repeats. Only a handful of plank designs means you see the same knot every few feet.
• No matching trims. You end up with a mismatched stair nose or transition that ruins the look.
• Discontinued fast. If a plank gets damaged in two years, you may not be able to get more. Keep a spare box either way.

When cheap is fine

• Closets, storage rooms and a basement you rarely use.
• A quick refresh before selling, where the buyer may redo it anyway.
• Small rooms with no pets and shoes off.

When to spend more

• Main living areas you'll live with for 10+ years.
• Kids, dogs or rental tenants.
• Big open areas, where repeats and weak joints show the most.
• Stairs. You want a product with a proper matching stair nose.
• Rooms that get hot direct sun, where better products are more stable.

How to spot quality in the store

1. Ask for the wear layer in mil. If they don't know, that's a sign.
2. Click two planks together and try to twist them. Good joints feel tight and solid.
3. Look at 6–8 planks side by side and count how many different designs there are.
4. Ask if there's a matching stair nose and T-moulding.
5. Read the warranty for heat and sun exclusions and subfloor requirements.
6. Check the FloorScore or similar indoor air quality certification.

Common questions

Is expensive vinyl plank worth it?

Mid-range usually is: a 20 mil wear layer, dense SPC core and attached pad will outlast budget plank by years in a busy home. Top-tier premium lines are often more than a typical home needs.

Is Costco or big box vinyl plank good?

Some of it is decent mid-range product. Judge it by the specs: wear layer in mil, core type, attached pad, warranty terms and whether matching trims are available, not by where it's sold.

Why does cheap vinyl flooring chip at the edges?

Thin or low-density cores and basic click profiles are more fragile at the joints. They can chip during install or from impacts, and joints can open over an uneven subfloor.

Should I buy extra vinyl flooring?

Yes. Order about 10% extra for cuts (more for diagonal or herringbone) and keep a spare box for future repairs, because products get discontinued.

Who's writing this: Rose and Thorn Flooring is a flooring company in Surrey, BC. We install floors for a living, so yes, we'd love to do yours. But nobody pays us to say nice things about a product, and we don't earn commission from any brand. If something here is wrong or out of date, text us at 604-716-4160 and we'll fix it.