- Vinyl: look at the wear layer in mil. 12 = light use, 20 = busy family home, 28+ = tank.
- Laminate: look at the AC rating. AC3 = most homes, AC4 = pets and busy homes.
- Engineered hardwood: look at the wear layer in millimetres. That's how much real wood you can sand.
- Total plank thickness is mostly marketing. Don't pick by thickness.
Flooring boxes are full of numbers, and most of them don't matter much. These are the ones that do.
Vinyl plank: wear layer in mil
The wear layer is the clear protective film on top of the printed picture. Once it's worn through, you're looking at worn-out print, and there's no fixing that. It's measured in mil, thousandths of an inch (not millimetres). 20 mil is about half a millimetre.
| Wear layer | Good for |
|---|---|
| 6–8 mil | Builder-grade. Closets, a quick flip. Wears fast in traffic. |
| 12 mil | Bedrooms, low-traffic rooms, adults-only homes. |
| 20 mil | Our default for family homes, kids, pets, rentals and main floors. |
| 22–30 mil | Heavy use, big dogs, light commercial. |
Also worth checking on vinyl:
- Core type: SPC (rigid, dent-resistant) or WPC (softer, warmer, dents more).
- Attached pad: an IXPE or cork backing helps sound and comfort. If it has one, don't add another underlay unless the maker allows it.
- Top coat: some brands add a ceramic or urethane coating on top of the wear layer for extra scratch resistance.
Laminate: AC rating
The AC (abrasion class) rating comes from a standard test that grinds the surface to see how long it takes to wear through.
| Rating | Good for |
|---|---|
| AC1–AC2 | Bedrooms, light use. We'd skip it. |
| AC3 | Most rooms in most homes. |
| AC4 | Busy homes, pets, main floors, light commercial. Our usual pick. |
| AC5 | Commercial. Usually overkill at home and sometimes looks less natural. |
Also check: the thickness of the core (8–12 mm feels more solid), whether it's water-resistant (and for how many hours), and the bevel (a micro-bevel looks more like real wood planks).
Engineered hardwood: wear layer in millimetres
This is the real hardwood on top. It decides whether your floor can be sanded and refinished, and how many times.
- Under 2 mm: no full sanding. Plan on a 10–20 year floor.
- 3–4 mm: one or two full sandings.
- 4–6 mm: several, close to solid hardwood.
And the finish matters: aluminum-oxide urethane is tough but hard to spot-repair. Hardwax or UV oil is softer and needs upkeep, but you can fix scratches yourself. More on engineered vs solid.
The numbers that are mostly marketing
- Total thickness on vinyl (e.g. "8 mm!"). A thick plank with a thin wear layer still wears out. Thickness helps a little with feel and sound, not lifespan.
- Warranty years on their own. A "lifetime" warranty with a long exclusion list isn't better. Read what it covers.
- "Commercial grade" with no number behind it. Ask for the mil or the AC rating.
Common questions
What is a good wear layer for vinyl plank?
For a family home with kids or pets, look for 20 mil or more. 12 mil is okay for bedrooms and low-traffic rooms. Under 12 mil wears quickly in busy areas.
What does mil mean on vinyl flooring?
Mil is a thousandth of an inch. It measures the clear wear layer on top of the vinyl. 20 mil is about 0.5 mm. It isn't the same as millimetres.
What AC rating should laminate be?
AC3 is fine for most homes. AC4 is better for busy homes, main floors and pets. AC5 is commercial-grade and usually more than a home needs.
Does a thicker vinyl plank last longer?
Not by itself. Lifespan depends on the wear layer, not total thickness. A thicker plank may feel and sound a bit better, but a thin wear layer still wears through.
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.