Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Lower total cost option
Laminate
Laminate total cost (with replacements)
$8,800
Hardwood total cost (with refinishing)
$17,200
Difference
$8,400
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter square footage (sqft).
- 2Enter laminate install cost ($/sqft).
- 3Enter laminate lifespan (yrs).
- 4Enter hardwood install cost ($/sqft).
- 5Enter refinish cost ($/sqft).
- 6Enter years between refinishing.
- 7Enter comparison horizon (yrs).
- 8Read your lower total cost option on the right — it updates as you type.
- 9Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Laminate installs cheaper and needs no refinishing, but typically gets replaced rather than repaired when it wears out. Hardwood costs more upfront but can be sanded and refinished multiple times, stretching its life for decades. This tool compares total cost per square foot over a chosen horizon, including laminate replacement cycles and hardwood refinishing cycles.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Square footage: 800 sqft
- Laminate install cost: 5.5 $/sqft
- Laminate lifespan: 15 yrs
- Hardwood install cost: 11 $/sqft
- Refinish cost: 3.5 $/sqft
- Years between refinishing: 10
- Comparison horizon: 30 yrs
Results
- Lower total cost option: Laminate
- Laminate total cost (with replacements): $8,800
- Hardwood total cost (with refinishing): $17,200
- Difference: $8,400
What each field means
Inputs
- Square footage (sqft)
- The square footage used in the calculation, measured in sqft. Starts at 800 sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Laminate install cost ($/sqft)
- The laminate install cost used in the calculation, measured in $/sqft. Starts at 5.5 $/sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Laminate lifespan (yrs)
- The laminate lifespan used in the calculation, measured in yrs. Starts at 15 yrs so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–30 yrs.
- Hardwood install cost ($/sqft)
- The hardwood install cost used in the calculation, measured in $/sqft. Starts at 11 $/sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Refinish cost ($/sqft)
- The refinish cost used in the calculation, measured in $/sqft. Starts at 3.5 $/sqft so you have a working example on load.
- Years between refinishing
- The years between refinishing used in the calculation. Starts at 10 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–30.
- Comparison horizon (yrs)
- The comparison horizon used in the calculation, measured in yrs. Starts at 30 yrs so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 5–60 yrs.
Results
- Lower total cost option
- Returned as a plain value and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Laminate total cost (with replacements)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Hardwood total cost (with refinishing)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Difference
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Does hardwood add resale value laminate doesn't?
Yes, real hardwood is consistently valued higher by buyers and appraisers than laminate, which this cost-only model doesn't capture but should weigh into your decision for a long hold.
How many times can hardwood actually be refinished?
Solid hardwood at 3/4 inch thickness can typically be sanded and refinished 4-6 times over its life; engineered hardwood with a thin veneer may only tolerate 1-2 refinishes.
Is laminate ever the smarter long-term choice?
In rental properties or short ownership horizons where resale value and longevity matter less than low upfront cost and easy replacement, laminate often wins outright.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Laminate vs Hardwood Flooring Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laminate-vs-hardwood-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laminate-vs-hardwood-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laminate vs Hardwood Flooring Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Laminate vs Hardwood Flooring Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laminate-vs-hardwood-cost) (2026).