SPC vs LVT vs WPC vs Laminate — a Distributor’s Comparison

If you supply resilient flooring, four product types cover almost every enquiry that lands on your desk: SPC, LVT, WPC and laminate. They look alike in a photograph, but their cores behave very differently once installed — and specifying the wrong one is where warranty claims, callbacks and lost repeat business come from. This guide breaks the differences down the way a distributor needs to see them: by core, by performance, by project fit, and by what to check before you place a factory order.

The decisive difference is the core

Every one of these floors shares a similar surface build — a UV-cured top coat, a transparent wear layer, and a printed décor film. What separates them is the core underneath, and that single layer decides waterproofing, dimensional stability, comfort and price.

Side-by-side comparison

Figures are typical category ranges; confirm exact specifications against the product datasheet.

SPC vs LVT: rigid core vs flexible core

This is the decision most projects come down to. SPC’s rigid stone-plastic core holds its shape across temperature and humidity swings, tolerates a slightly less-than-perfect subfloor, and installs as a floating click floor. LVT’s flexible PVC core is warmer and quieter underfoot and carries the deepest surface texture — but a flexible board telegraphs subfloor imperfections, so glue-down LVT in particular demands a well-prepared, flat base. For large commercial spans and heavy rolling loads, glue-down (dryback) LVT gives a permanent full-adhesion bond with no floating movement. See our dryback LVT hub and click LVT hub for each system.

SPC vs WPC: density vs cushioning

Both are rigid-core floating floors, but they optimise for opposite things. WPC’s foamed wood-plastic core is the softest and quietest option — excellent for a low-traffic bedroom — but that same foamed structure is less dense than SPC and dents more easily under point loads and heavy furniture. SPC’s solid mineral core trades a little underfoot softness for far higher indentation resistance and dimensional stability, which is why it dominates commercial and high-traffic specifications. Why the limestone-to-PVC ratio matters is covered in our SPC core science guide.

SPC vs Laminate: the water line

Laminate’s HDF wood-fibre core gives it a warm feel and a low upfront price, and modern laminate prints are genuinely realistic. But the wood core is the catch: laminate is moisture-sensitive, and its 24-hour swelling behaviour is the number to watch. In any kitchen, bathroom, ground-floor or humid environment, that wood core is a liability where SPC’s mineral core simply is not. For distributors, the decision is rarely just price per square metre — it’s lifetime cost. Laminate wins the upfront line item; SPC wins on replacement frequency, warranty exposure and downtime in demanding environments.

Sourcing economics: thickness decides your landed cost

Here is a factor most comparison guides ignore, and it matters more to a distributor’s margin than the headline price per square metre: how much floor fits in a container. Because thickness and density determine container yield, the sourcing maths differs sharply by product. These are our own factory loading figures for a standard 20ft container:

The practical takeaway: match the product to the project, then let container yield inform which specification gives your customer the best landed cost. Our thickness comparison breaks the trade-offs down further.

Choosing by project type

• Wet areas (kitchen, bathroom, ground floor): SPC or waterproof-core LVT. Not laminate.
• Heavy commercial, large open spans: dryback LVT or SPC.
• Underfloor heating, direct sun, big temperature swing: SPC, for its ≤0.10% stability.
• Comfort-first, low-traffic residential: WPC, or LVT with an IXPE underlay.
• Dry, budget-driven residential: laminate or entry LVT.

What a distributor should evaluate before ordering

Regardless of category, five specifications separate a floor that performs from one that generates claims:

• Wear layer — the single biggest driver of commercial lifecycle. 0.3 mm for residential, 0.5–0.55 mm for commercial, 0.7 mm for heavy-duty. See our wear-layer guide.
• Core formulation — for SPC, the limestone-to-PVC balance sets rigidity and resistance to brittleness. Ask for it.
• Utilisation class — specify by EN ISO 10582 / EN 685 class (e.g. 33/42), not by adjectives. See our utilisation class explainer.
• Dimensional stability — ≤0.10% (EN ISO 23999) is what prevents seam gaps and edge lift, and what protects you from warranty claims on large projects.
• Certifications for your market — CE / EN 14041, Bfl-s1 fire class, FloorScore, GREENGUARD Gold, CARB 2. The right documents clear customs and project sign-off; missing ones stall a shipment.

Where Ecoflors fits

Ecoflors manufactures SPC and LVT — the two categories that cover the widest span of commercial and residential projects — factory-direct from Changzhou and Jiaxing, China. That means rigid-core SPC across 4–8 mm, and LVT in dryback, click and loose-lay systems. MOQ 800 m² per SKU, HS 3918.10, FOB Ningbo / Shanghai. We don’t manufacture WPC or laminate — for the demanding, waterproof, dimensionally-stable projects our distributors supply, SPC and LVT are the right tools.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between SPC and LVT flooring?
SPC has a rigid stone-plastic core; LVT has a flexible PVC core. SPC is more dimensionally stable for commercial, wet and underfloor-heating areas, while LVT is warmer underfoot and — as glue-down dryback — ideal for large commercial spans.

Is SPC or laminate better for a kitchen or bathroom?
SPC. Its mineral core is waterproof, whereas laminate’s HDF wood-fibre core is moisture-sensitive and not waterproof, so it can swell in wet areas.

What is the difference between SPC and WPC?
Both are rigid-core floating floors. WPC’s foamed wood-plastic core is softer and quieter but dents more easily; SPC’s dense mineral core resists indentation and is more dimensionally stable — the better choice for commercial and high-traffic use.

How much LVT fits in a shipping container?
A 20ft container holds roughly 5,000 m² of 2.5 mm dryback LVT, versus about 2,500 m² of 5 mm SPC or 5 mm loose lay LVT. The thinner, denser dryback profile roughly doubles container yield, which lowers delivered cost per square metre.

Which should a distributor stock?
It depends on your markets: SPC for commercial, wet and temperature-swing projects; LVT (dryback and click) for design-led residential and large commercial spans. Evaluate wear layer, EN utilisation class, dimensional stability and certifications before placing a factory order.