Vinyl flooring is a broad category of flooring made from synthetic materials, primarily PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Modern vinyl flooring often comes in two popular formats: vinyl plank flooring (LVP) and vinyl tile flooring (LVT), as well as traditional sheet vinyl.

• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): These are plank-shaped vinyl boards, usually made to imitate hardwood planks. They typically come in lengths around 36–48 inches and widths of 5–9 inches, though sizes vary. LVP has a multi-layer construction, generally including a UV-cured wear layer (for durability), a printed design layer (for the wood or stone look), a vinyl core (flexible or rigid PVC composite), and sometimes an attached underlayment pad. LVP installs as individual planks, often with interlocking click edges or sometimes glue-down.

• Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT): These are tile-shaped vinyl pieces, usually mimicking stone or ceramic tile (though they can also mimic wood in square tile form). Construction is similar to LVP, just in a tile format (like 12″x24″ tiles, as an example). LVT can also be click-lock or glue-down. Often, when people say “LVT,” they include planks in that general term, but technically plank vs tile is shape difference.

• Sheet Vinyl: This is the traditional vinyl that comes in large rolls (sheets) of flooring. It’s a single, continuous sheet of vinyl and typically is cut to the size of the room. Modern sheet vinyl is quite durable and often cushioned. It’s known for being seamless (in small rooms it can be laid without seams) and very water-resistant. Installation can be fully glued, perimeter glued, or loose-laid depending on the product. Sheet vinyl used to have a reputation of being lower-end (your grandma’s linoleum-like floor), but it has improved in looks and quality over time.

When people talk about “vinyl flooring” today, they often mean LVP or LVT, especially the rigid core variants (which have a solid, stiff core for stability). These have become extremely popular for their realistic appearance, ease of installation, and waterproof nature.

Luxury Vinyl vs. Standard Vinyl: You might hear the term “luxury vinyl.” There isn’t a strict definition, but generally it implies the product is of higher quality with better visuals (e.g., high-def prints, textured surfaces) and a thicker wear layer. Standard vinyl tile (VCT) or older peel-and-stick tiles are thinner and simpler. LVP/LVT typically are thicker overall (maybe 4mm-8mm thick) and have more robust layers.

In summary, vinyl flooring is a versatile, waterproof flooring material available in planks, tiles, or sheets, designed to emulate natural materials while being durable and low-maintenance. When you see gorgeous “hardwood” floors in a kitchen in a model home, there’s a good chance it might actually be vinyl plank! It’s a go-to choice now for both residential and commercial projects.