Basement Flooring Guide

For many homeowners, the basement isn't just for storage. It's the family room, the play room, the home gym — a frequently enjoyed living space that deserves attention to great design, just like the rest of the house. The challenge with rooms that are below grade (underground) is that they are subject to environmental concerns like moisture and humidity that can damage certain floors.

Traditional Luxury Vinyl Tile & Plank Flooring, Vivero Collection | U5071

What is the best flooring for basements?

Whether you're finishing your basement for the first time, or want to step up your style with a new floor, we offer plenty of basement flooring options in a range of performance levels and styles.

The only one of our flooring types that we do not recommend in basements is solid hardwood. Engineered wood is a wonderful alternative to solid hardwood if you want a real wood floor that can safely be installed in a basement.

The two basement-friendly flooring options with the best moisture resistance are our traditional luxury vinyl tile and rigid core, which are 100% waterproof, so planks won't swell, buckle or lose integrity when exposed to water. Engineered tile and vinyl sheet flooring also repel water well and are perfect for basement installation.

Laminate and vinyl tile are great options for smaller budgets.

With a wide range of styles available in real engineered wood and wood-look or stone-look flooring, almost any basement flooring idea you can imagine can be brought to life in your basement.

Find a floor that fits your Basement! Try the Floor Finder

Need basement flooring ideas?

We're here to help.

Our Customer Service Design Team is available to answer your questions and talk to you about basement flooring options that meet your style, durability and budget needs.

Give us a call at 1-800-233-3823.