Engineered Hardwood vs Laminate: Cost, Durability & Resale

Engineered hardwood and laminate are the two floors homeowners most often confuse. Both come in planks, both mimic wood, and both are click-friendly. That's where the similarity ends.

The real cost difference

• Laminate installed: roughly $3–$9 per square foot.
• Engineered hardwood installed: roughly $7–$16 per square foot.

You're paying for a real wood wear layer on the engineered product. Laminate's surface is a photograph under aluminum oxide — tough, but not wood.

Lifespan and resale

Engineered hardwood can be refinished once or twice and lasts 30–80 years; it also moves the needle on resale. Laminate lasts 10–25 years, can't be refinished, and most buyers see it as a budget choice.

When laminate wins

Rental units, kids' rooms, and any space where you want the wood look for under $5 a foot installed. For a primary residence you plan to sell, engineered hardwood pays back.

Compare them head-to-head in our Compare Tool.