The 10 Best Flooring for Basements

The right basement flooring can make a huge difference in the space’s aesthetics and functionality. So, let’s explore some of the best types of basement flooring to help you find the right one for your home.

1. Top Choice: Outlast+ Waterproof Laminate Wood Flooring by Pergo

Price: $2.79 per square foot or $54.76 per case.

Pergo’s Outlast+ laminate flooring is the top choice for 2023 due to its high quality, waterproof nature, and durability. Although pricey compared to other laminate options, the functionality and quality justify its cost.

Outlast+ is equipped with SpillProtect technology, preventing liquids from penetrating the seams between planks, even to the point of withstanding steam mopping. It also features SurfaceDefense protection, making it more resistant to scratches, dents, and stains than other laminate options. And replicates the appearance of real hardwood flooring with its authentic-looking irregular cracks and splits on each plank.

Why You Should Get It:

• Waterproof.
• Durable.
• Scratch, dent, and stain-resistant.

2. Best Luxury Vinyl Plank: Primavera Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring by Shaw

Price: $4.79 per square foot.

The Primavera Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring by Shaw is a top-quality luxury vinyl plan that resembles real hardwood but is more durable. Not only is it high-quality, but also very versatile, as you can use it on wooden or concrete basement subfloors.

It features a 20-millimeter wear layer and an optional Armourbead finish, giving it high scuff, scratch and skid resistance. It is suitable for high-traffic basements, such as playrooms or entertainment centers.

It also comes with an attached Soft Silence acoustical pad, reducing the noise of every step and increasing comfort.

It is also FloorScore-certified, ensuring installed planks do not release harmful emissions that worsen indoor air quality.

Why You Should Get It:

• Durable while resembling real hardwood.
• Scuff, scratch and skid-resistant.
• Noise reduction.
• VOC-free.

3. Best Laminate: TimberTru Landscape Traditions by Bruce

Price: $8.90 per square foot.

Bruce’s TimberTru Landscape Traditions laminate flooring features exceptional long-term durability against foot traffic, withstanding years of foot traffic and wear from people and pets. It also boasts excellent resistance to stains and water, making it suitable for any basement.

Finally, TimberTru Landscape Traditions is also an excellent option for sustainability and non-toxicity. It is FloorScore-certified, meeting strict standards for limiting formaldehyde emission and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Why You Should Get It:

• Durable.
• Resistant to traffic.
• Stain and water-resistant.
• VOC-free.

4. Best Tile: Porcelain Floor by Marazzi Montagna

Price: $1.79 per square foot or $25.99 per case.

Marazzi’s product stands out due to its durability, safety, and aesthetic appeal. Since it’s outdoor-rated, you can be sure it’s particularly well-suited for homeowners facing occasional flooding. It’s slip-resistant and also scratch, dent, and stain-resistant.

The wood-grain design looks great on basement living rooms, dens, and even finished laundry rooms.

Its waterproof nature, attractive appearance, slip-resistant finish, and inherent tile heat resistance make it an excellent option. However, it’s worth noting that the installation process can be challenging compared to other types of flooring.

Why You Should Get It:

• Waterproof.
• Slip, scratch, dent, and stain-resistant.

5. Best Carpet: Trendy Threads II by Home Decorators Collection

Price: $3.64 per square foot or $32.76 per square yard.

Carpets are an excellent option for livable basements, providing a warm and comforting texture underfoot. Home Decorators Collection’s carpet is 2023’s best choice due to its warmth and durability.

While many carpets deteriorate in a moist basement environment, Trendy Threads II is made from a synthetic material designed to withstand foot traffic and resist stains and soiling, ensuring long-term comforting basement floors. Additionally, the 0.8-inch pile height provides ample cushioning, an amazing feature for playrooms.

Despite its damp resistance, it’s not water-resistant, so don’t use it if your basement floods. Its other major drawback is the high price.

Why You Should Get It:

• Highly durable.
• Comforting underfoot.
• Great for playrooms.

6. Best Engineered Wood: Oak Harvest Engineered Click Hardwood Flooring by Heritage Mill

Price: $3.79 per foot or $75.80 per case. Each case covers 20 square feet of floor space.

We recommend Oak Harvest Engineered Click Hardwood Flooring for DIY enthusiasts seeking a click-style engineered wood floor. It’s ⅜ inches thick and 4¼ inches wide, emulating real wood floors with random lengths.

The veneer layer, made from prefinished oak, is 2 millimeters thick and coated with aluminum oxide for enhanced durability. The installation is a lay-and-click floating design, but you can also glue it.

On the cons side, it’s not waterproof and requires a layer of padding or underlayment below, making it less-than-ideal for damp or flood basements.

It is available in red oak, tan, natural, and oak.

Why You Should Get It:

• Highly durable.
• Easy and versatile to install.

7. Best Cork: Truly Green Engineered Cork Planks by APC Cork

Price: $6.94 per square foot.

This cork flooring emphasizes comfort as much as it does sustainability. It’s not only comfortable to stand on but also the result of sustainable harvesting methods and is formaldehyde-free. Its easy installation, comfort, and durability make it the perfect choice for cork flooring in your basement.

On the downside, cork is not considered waterproof, instead often called water-resistant. This limits application to basements that don’t get flooded. But if yours doesn’t, and you’re considering cork, this is it.

Why You Should Get It:

• Water-resistant
• Durable.
• Comforting underfoot.
• Easy to install.

8. Best Rubber: Extra Thick Puzzle Exercise Mat by ProsourceFit

Price: $3.64 per square foot or $32.76 per square yard

If you’re looking for a home gym, a play area, or fancy some more rubber in your basement, ProsourceFit’s Extra Thick Puzzle Exercise Mat is for you. With a thickness of one inch, these tiles offer both comfort and durability, capable of withstanding heavy weights and high foot traffic.

The textured surface enhances your grip on the floor and prevents slipping, while the water-resistant material ensures easy cleaning. Tiles are available in blue and gray and come in various sizes.

These tiles are built to last for years, and even if they do wear out, you can replace them with new ones.

Why You Should Get It:

• Great for home gyms and play areas.
• Shock and traffic-resistant.
• Slip-resistant.
• Easy cleaning, installation, and replacement.

8. Best Epoxy Resin: The Artist’s Resin by Naked Fusion

Price: $72.95 per gallon.

The Artist’s Resin is a durable epoxy resin designed for creating various art pieces such as resin art, resin jewelry, river tables, and geode paintings. Additionally, it is suitable for sealing countertops, tables, coasters, and cutting boards. You can also use it on your basement floor for excellent results.

It is non-toxic, low odor, and VOC-free, ensuring a safe working environment without inhaling toxic fumes. The resin is self-leveling to a degree, simplifying the process of leveling uneven surfaces. It’s also UV-resistant, BPA-free, and food-safe.

Why You Should Get It:

• Usable for many applications besides flooring.
• VOC-free.
• Self-leveling.

9. Best Peel-and-Stick Vinyl Planks: Medina Peel & Stick Floor Tiles by FloorPops

Price: $1.11 per square foot.

This peel-and-stick alternative offers a bold gray-and-white pattern that can revamp any flooring project. These tiles are convenient to install as they are peel-and-stick made from solid, durable vinyl. Each tile measures 12 inches by 12 inches and has a thickness of 0.06 inches.

The repeating pattern across tiles creates an attention-grabbing design that works great on modern, recent, or mid-century styles. They are water-resistant and washable, making them suitable for high-moisture areas like unfinished basements.

Despite their high quality, some need help making curved cuts.

Why You Should Get It:

• Visually-appealing pattern.
• Easy installation.
• Water-resistant.
• Easy to clean and wash.

How to Choose the Best Flooring for a Basement?

While many excellent flooring options exist for basements, the two main factors should always be water resistance and durability. Basements tend to be damp or even flooded in areas with moist soil while also facing structural stresses that may lead to cracks where water can infiltrate.

The other non-optional factor is durability. As with every investment you make in your home, spending time and resources on a material that won’t stand the test of time is a waste. Invest only in durable, high-quality materials.

In addition to durability and water resistance, your basement’s unique needs may require you to consider features such as:

• Heat resistance. Tiles are very heat-resistant, making them great for storing heating appliances in basements.
• Waterproofness. A waterproof material ensures that water damage will never be a problem in your basement.
• Washability. Being easy to wash with water and soap makes maintenance easy.
• Comfort. Certain materials are cold and hard underfoot, while others are warm and comforting. Carpets, for example, are very comforting, while epoxy can be harsh on your bare feet.
• Shock resistance. This is only a factor if you move around stored items or plan to build a home gym in your basement.
• Slip resistance. Some materials have an excellent grip, while others get slippery if you spill liquids. Consider this factor when choosing your floor.

FAQs

What type of flooring is best for a basement?

Many floors work well with basements depending on your needs and preferences. Above all, the material you choose should be durable and water-resistant, given basements’ tendency to accumulate and retain moisture from various sources.

What is the best basement floor over concrete?

You can overlay many flooring options on top of concrete, like epoxy, carpets, stains, foam or rubber, laminate, and luxury vinyl planks. Your basement’s “best floor” depends on its conditions and needs. Foam tiles are comforting and great for play areas for children, but they soak up moisture in damp basements. Balance the pros and cons of each material to find the perfect one for your needs.

What is the best mold-resistant basement flooring?

Multiple types of basement flooring are mold and mildew-resistant, including tiles, cork, and vinyl. In addition to these flooring options, remember that mold and mildew grow in damp places with lots of organic debris to feed on, so even if you have a more mold and mildew-vulnerable flooring material in your basement, you can prevent growth by minimizing humidity and removing debris often.

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