The 9 Best Underlayments For Vinyl Flooring
This wiki has been updated 22 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Unlike hardwood and laminate, vinyl flooring calls for a dense and thin underlayment, in order to prevent indentations in the finished product. Here are some of the most popular options, many of which are designed to work specifically with the relatively flexible nature of this cost-effective material. Varying styles are available for traditional tiles, as well as rigid, luxury vinyl plank. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. BestLaminate VisQueen
2. Floor Muffler UltraSeal
3. Shaw Selitac
Editor's Notes
November 12, 2020:
In this update, we decided to add MP Global QuietWalk, an environmentally-friendly option made from recycled fiber and treated to have antimicrobial properties. We also added FloorLot Black Luxury, which is especially easy to install thanks to the grid conveniently printed on the side to enable quick and precise measurement.
Though we found several other options advertised as being compatible with LVT as well as laminate and hardwood flooring, these were often at least 2 millimeters thick, which isn't ideal for LVT floors since underlayments designed specifically for vinyl fall within the 1-1.5 millimeter thickness range. While some claim that these options truly are as versatile as advertised, we felt that customers would be better off purchasing choices that were more specifically designed for LVT flooring. If you've got laminate flooring instead, check out our list of the best laminate underlayments.
December 06, 2018:
Grades of vinyl flooring differ somewhat, from the common (and wildly inexpensive) variety that offers no structural support to relatively firm planks and luxury vinyl tile that, in some cases, can mimic harder, laminate materials. If your plywood subfloor is in good shape, maybe stick with a straight-up vapor barrier like BestLaminate VisQueen, which is compatible with the thinnest flooring. Floor Muffler UltraSeal and BestLaminate Pro-Line are excellent for LVT installations, and Shaw Selitac comes with a handful of expert testimonials. Of course, you can't beat Steico Natural in terms of performance and moisture resistance, but due to its construction and the size of its available packages, it costs roughly an arm and a leg.
4. BestLaminate Pro-Line
5. Steico Natural
6. TMS Mass Loaded Vinyl
7. FloorLot Black Luxury
8. MP Global QuietWalk
9. SoundBuffer Luxury
Luke is a writer, director, and illustrator living in Massachusetts. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Literary Arts from Brown University, where he honed his skills as a writer and editor working for various campus newspapers, festivals, and film organizations. Upon graduating he traveled the world, eating scorpions in Thailand and hitchhiking across New Zealand before settling down in New England to write prose fiction. An autodidact and media sponge, he’s well-versed in topics such as literature, nonfiction, textbooks, film, television, recording equipment, video games, and art supplies. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, boxing, playing the piano, and translating complex subjects into plain language.