What Is the Best Flooring for a Bathroom?

The options for bathroom flooring may seem endless, but most of your choices are centered around a few key materials. Bathroom floors are exposed to daily water and prolonged periods of elevated moisture levels, which makes your choice of bathroom floor materials crucial to maintaining a beautiful, clean, and long-lasting floor for years to come.

Explore bathroom flooring ideas centered on the most durable bathroom floor material options to achieve the look you want with a floor that won’t cause you to slip over budget.

Bathroom Flooring Basics

Flooring options for bathrooms must meet a few critical criteria to be functional in your home. This largely rules out some materials, including hardwood and engineered hardwood, which are better suited for kitchens, bedrooms, and drier areas of the home.

The best flooring coverings for bathrooms check all of these boxes:

Water-resistant (or waterproof). Bathroom floor materials must be water-resistant or waterproof to avoid warping when exposed to water or humidity. This is one reason homeowners lean toward porcelain or ceramic tile, which are waterproof and widely used in bathrooms. It’s also why manufacturers have developed water-resistant laminate flooring for bathrooms and laundry rooms, offering a lower-cost alternative to traditional bathroom tiles.
Stain-resistant. Shampoos, cosmetics, and toothpaste can stain certain kinds of bathroom flooring. Choose a material that is resistant to stains and easy to clean.
Slip-resistant. Bathrooms are among the most dangerous areas of the home, especially for seniors. For homeowners currently or planning to age in place, look for textured finishes or slip-resistant ratings, especially in tile or vinyl products installed in wet areas.

Need help choosing the right bathroom floor options? Your local flooring team will help you evaluate materials, select the best color and finish, and explain our installation process.

Choosing the Best Bathroom Floor Material

From luxurious granite to cost-effective laminate, homeowners have plenty of options. Here’s how the most common bathroom flooring materials stack up.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile for Bathrooms

There’s a reason ceramic and porcelain bathroom tiles are popular choices among homeowners. Both materials are extremely hard, making them scratch- and dent-resistant and exceedingly durable. Crucially, they’re also water-resistant and do not stain easily. Both types of bathroom tiles are available in countless colors, shapes, and sizes, and your Design Associate will help you find the perfect look.

Luxury Vinyl Tile for Bathrooms

Also known as LVT, luxury vinyl tile features a waterproof surface, making it an excellent choice for bathrooms. Like other floating floors, however, water can still seep underneath during major leaks, so proper installation is key. While it may not have the prestige of natural stone or porcelain, LVT has some advantages, including being softer underfoot and generally much less expensive. LVT also makes it easy to mimic the look of stone or ceramic tiles or introduce a range of colors.

Is vinyl flooring good for bathrooms?

Absolutely! We sometimes hear hesitancy toward installing vinyl floors in bathrooms. But waterproof-rated LVT and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring correctly installed by a professional is a safe, cost-effective option.

Laminate Flooring for Bathrooms

Today’s laminate flooring has come a long way—all FCI laminate options are waterproof, offering strong resistance to moisture, scratches, and stains. That said, laminate still functions as a floating floor, which means water can seep underneath during major leaks or prolonged exposure to standing water.

Because of that, laminate is not typically the first choice for full bathrooms, especially those with frequent splashing or high humidity. However, with professional installation, the right underlayment, and prompt cleanup of spills, it may work well in lower-risk spaces like powder rooms or half baths.

If you love the look of hardwood but want a more affordable, water-resistant alternative, talk to one of our Design Associates about whether laminate could be a fit for your space—or if vinyl or tile would better meet your needs.

Need Fresh Bathroom Floor Ideas? We Can Help!

Floor Coverings International^®has the experience and selection to help you find the perfect flooring for your bathroom or any space in your home. Let our Design Associates bring the catalog to you with our Mobile Flooring Showroom™ and see all your options in a comfortable, familiar setting.

See why we have the highest customer satisfaction rating; find your local flooring team or schedule a consultation today!