Engineered Hardwood vs. LVP – Which Is Better for Your Home?

Published January 30, 2026 | By Robbins® Flooring Expert

Even though you might prefer solid hardwood flooring, sometimes it’s not a good fit. For example, your room might have water challenges, such as a basement or a kitchen. Or perhaps, you’re concerned about heavy traffic from kids and pets marred your hardwood.

Engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) are two of the most popular alternatives to solid hardwood flooring, each offering durability, style, and a wide range of design options.

The good news is that you can still capture the beauty of hardwood flooring with equally beautiful, durable options such as laminate, engineered hardwood, and vinyl. Let’s examine two of those options: engineered hardwood vs. LVP.

Key Takeaways

• Engineered hardwood features a real-wood surface.
• LVP offers strong scratch resistance and delivers 100 percent waterproof performance.
• You can refinish engineered hardwood.
• LVP is typically the more budget-friendly option.

Before comparing the two, let’s start by understanding these types of flooring.

What Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?

If you put engineered hardwood flooring next to a solid hardwood floor, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference between them. That’s because engineered hardwood uses a real wood veneer on its surface.

Solid hardwood planks are made from a single piece of natural wood from top to bottom. Contrastingly, engineered hardwood planks limit the real hardwood to a veneer. That veneer is generally 2-3mm thick.

If your preference is white oak flooring, the veneer will be oak. Prefer hickory? The veneer uses natural hickory wood.

Beneath that top ply are layers of crisscrossed plies made of various composites, often plywood rather than a solid piece of wood. That plywood core layer makes the planks tighter and less porous. As a result, it’s more resistant to water damage than solid hardwood.

In addition, the plywood core typically makes engineered hardwood less expensive than solid hardwood, though wide-plank versions can be more expensive.

What Is LVP Flooring?

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring uses polyvinyl chloride (PVC), yet it looks remarkably like real hardwood. Modern imaging technology gives LVP convincing visuals that mimic oak, hickory, maple, and other wood species.

How is LVP Flooring Made: The Four Key Layers

Like engineered hardwood, LVP uses multiple layers to deliver durability and realism. These layers include:

• Veneer layer: A top coating often containing aluminum oxide or other performance additives that helps prevent scratching and scuffs.
• Protective film: A transparent layer that guards against ripping and tearing.
• Design layer: A photo-realistic image that recreates natural hardwood with impressive clarity. Many products even capture distressed textures, hand-scraping, and nail holes.
• Vinyl core and backing: A rigid vinyl base that makes up most of the plank’s thickness. This core gives the floor a semi-rigid feel and allows planks to snap together during installation.

Homeowners can also consider rigid-core LVP, which uses wood- or stone-composite materials to further enhance durability.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Engineered Hardwood and LVP

Both options offer outstanding performance. The choice comes down to your lifestyle and personal preferences.

“When homeowners compare engineered hardwood and LVP, they are really deciding between the authenticity of real wood and the convenience of vinyl. Engineered hardwood gives you the warmth, stability, and long-term value of natural wood. LVP gives you fast installation and strong everyday durability. The best choice depends on how you live and what you want your space to feel like.”
—  Devon McGrorty, Marketing Manager, AHF™.

Here’s how engineered hardwood and LVP compare across the most critical performance categories.

Engineered Hardwood vs. LVP: How They Compare

The plus to either flooring option is the variety. Either allows you to select a preferred wood species, grain, and finish. Both typically cost less than hardwood flooring.

How Engineered Wood Feels Compared to Vinyl Flooring

One significant difference is the material, wood vs. vinyl. If you’re looking for the look and feel of natural hardwood flooring, engineered hardwood is your better choice. After all, it is made of natural wood.

If you’re looking for the warmth of a solid hardwood floor, engineered hardwood accomplishes that. It also feels similar underfoot. You can tell you’re walking on a hard, rigid surface.

Even though LVP approximates hardwood floors, some with an authentic wood look, they’re still vinyl. You can feel the difference when you touch the floor’s surface.

You can also tell by walking on the LVP flooring. Because it’s semi-rigid, it feels softer underfoot.

Engineered Hardwood vs. LVP Durability: Which Lasts Longer?

Durability is a top concern for homeowners when comparing engineered hardwood and LVP. Both flooring types hold up well in busy spaces, but they differ in scratch and dent resistance and long-term wear. Here’s how each material measures up.

Scratch and Dent Resistance: Engineered Hardwood vs. LVP

Many homeowners choose LVP because it resists scratching and chipping. Dog owners often turn to LVP to prevent pet-related gouges.

However, LVP has some drawbacks. Vinyl planks can tear when you move heavy furniture. Heavy objects can also leave dents in LVP. While you can replace planks, dents and tears remain a concern.

Engineered hardwood is susceptible to dents, just like LVP. It is more vulnerable to surface scratching, but advanced protective finishes help minimize visible wear.

Refinishing Options: Why Engineered Hardwood Outlasts LVP

Here’s where engineered hardwood stands apart. You can refinish it.

If you install engineered hardwood with a ply layer at least 2mm thick, you can sand and refinish the surface. A thicker veneer allows multiple refinishing cycles.

Because it can be refinished, engineered hardwood can last for decades. Manufacturers often provide warranties of 25 years or more. Robbins® warrants its Nature’s Canvas™ engineered hardwood for 50 years.

LVP cannot be refinished. Once the surface wears down, you must replace it. Lower quality LVP typically lasts 10 to 15 years. Higher quality products may last 20 to 30 years, but eventually the wear layer will show its age.

Is Engineered Hardwood or LVP Easier to Care For?

How well you care for your floors significantly contributes to their longevity. Well, both LVP and engineered hardwood are easy to maintain.

Caring for Engineered Hardwood

With engineered hardwood, you want to avoid harsh cleaning agents that can damage the wood’s finish. Otherwise, you can vacuum and use a soft-bristle broom to clean your floors. Manufacturer-approved cleaning solutions, such as Bruce® products, perform well on hardwood floors.

Engineered hardwood can also withstand damp mopping, unlike solid hardwood flooring, though many manufacturers don’t recommend it. However, that doesn’t mean you should saturate your floor with water. You can also keep your engineered floors looking great with touch-up kits.

Caring for LVP

Like engineered hardwood, you can clean LVP flooring with a broom and vacuum cleaner. Unlike most engineered flooring, this flooring can also be wet-mopped. It’s best to avoid floor wax and abrasive scrubbers.

Water Resistance: LVP vs. Engineered Hardwood

Water performance is often a deciding factor for homeowners choosing between these two flooring types. Both handle moisture better than solid hardwood, but in different ways.

Water Resistance of LVP

Luxury vinyl plank flooring offers built-in water resistance, and many products go even further with 100 percent waterproof construction. If you are highly concerned about splashes, spills, or moisture-prone rooms, LVP can be the safer choice.

Water Resistance of Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood offers better moisture stability than solid hardwood because its layered core reduces expansion and contraction. However, most engineered hardwood floors are not fully waterproof.

That said, some brands, such as Robbins, offer 100 percent waterproof engineered hardwood. HydroGuard®, for example, provides waterproof protection along with strong scratch, stain, and dent resistance.

Is LVP or Engineered Hardwood Easier to Install?

Both flooring types are relatively easy to install, but they differ in the time, skill, and preparation required. Here is how installation compares across materials.

Installing LVP

Luxury vinyl plank is the best option for a quick installation. Most LVP products allow you to float your floors with a simple click-lock system. Some LVP flooring even uses a peel-and-stick method for an easier, faster install.

For DIY-minded homeowners, LVP makes installation feel almost effortless and requires very few tools.

Installing Engineered Hardwood

You can float engineered hardwood, but you can also glue, nail, or staple planks to the subfloor. These installation methods take more time and often require more experience.

It is wise to acclimate engineered hardwood to the room before installation. While it is less sensitive than solid hardwood, proper acclimation still helps with long-term performance.

Some homeowners enjoy tackling the project themselves. Others prefer hiring a professional who understands hardwood installation techniques and can deliver the best possible result.

Which Costs More: Engineered Hardwood or LVP?

Although you can find comparably priced engineered hardwood vs. LVP, engineered hardwood will cost more often than not. Though, as mentioned, both options will save you money compared to solid hardwood.

The type of wood, finish, and thickness drive the cost of engineered hardwood. Plus, you’ll incur additional fees if you choose professional installation. The counter to those costs is that engineered hardwood flooring is often the last floor you’ll have to install.

Engineered hardwood flooring is more expensive than LVP flooring, with average costs ranging from $3 to $20 per square foot. LVP flooring often costs $1 to $10 per square foot (The Spruce).

If budget is a significant driver of your decision, LVP flooring will almost always be the more cost-effective option.

Engineered Hardwood vs. LVP: Which Is Better for Your Home?

When comparing engineered hardwood vs. LVP for real-world living conditions, the best choice depends on your priorities: natural beauty, long-term value, or budget considerations.

Both flooring options perform well and offer the look of hardwood, but they shine in different ways.

When Engineered Hardwood Is Better Than LVP

If your preference is natural wood flooring, engineered hardwood is the clear winner. It delivers authentic wood beauty, a natural feel underfoot, and long-term durability.

Many products, including Robbins HydroGuard, offer both waterproof performance and strong scratch- and stain-resistance.

The tradeoff is cost and installation time. Engineered hardwood typically costs more than LVP and may require professional installation for the best results.

When LVP Is Better Than Engineered Hardwood

If budget is your primary concern, LVP is hard to beat. You get the look of natural hardwood through realistic imaging, along with easy installation and a lower price point. LVP makes it simple to refresh a space quickly without stretching your budget.

Explore Robbins® Flooring Options

Explore our full collection of solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring. Our designer hardwoods offer a wide range of looks, species, and finishes to match your style.

You can also try our room visualizer. Take a photo with your smartphone, upload it, and see how our flooring looks in your own room. When you are ready, find your nearest Robbins retailer and start your project with confidence.