Our Home Experts Found the Best Laminate Flooring Options on the Market

There’s a reason sales of laminate flooring are surging. Once the ugly duckling of residential flooring — flimsy, cheap, unattractive — today’s laminate looks better than ever and is also some of the toughest flooring to pass through the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab's rigorous testing. "The winners from our latest laminate flooring tests proved to be extremely stain and scratch resistant, in patterns that are easy to mistake for real hardwood flooring," says Rachel Rothman, executive technical director of the GH Institute.

While the enhancements have driven up the cost of laminate a bit, especially at the higher end of the category, it’s still one of the most affordable flooring materials on the market. And it's as easy to install as ever, with tongue-and-groove planks that snap together over any smooth, stable surface. While wood-look is the clear favorite, if you prefer stone or tile, most major brands carry laminate in those designs as well.

Our top picks:

Once you’ve taken a spin through our list of winners, read on for more about how we test flooring and advice on laminate flooring, including installation costs and the best places to shop.