Choosing the right engineered hardwood flooring for your home can feel like an impossible challenge. There are SO many options out there, and it can feel overwhelming trying to find the perfect floors for your home. If you’re dreaming of wood floors with the timeless beauty of solid hardwood—but want something more stable, budget-friendly, and DIY-ready—engineered hardwood might be your best choice. But, how do you know what to look for? After reading this post, you’ll know everything to need to know to choose the best engineered hardwood flooring for your home.
I recently had to choose engineered hardwood floors for our remodel, so I know exactly what it’s like to visit multiple stores, scroll through endless online images, and still feel unsure about which floor to go with. The good news is that you can at least narrow down your search with some key criteria. In this post, I’m spilling everything I know about engineered hardwood flooring. I’ll break down what makes an engineered floor high quality, what to look for when buying, and which brands are trusted by homeowners and interior designers alike.
If you’re still trying to decide what type of flooring is right for you, check out my post comparing real hardwood versus engineered hardwood versus luxury vinyl.
What Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Engineered hardwood is made from multiple layers of wood (usually high-quality plywood) with a real hardwood top layer—called a wear layer or veneer. This layered construction makes it more stable that solid hardwood, and you can install it over concrete subfloors, in basements, and in some moisture-prone areas like kitchens.
What does it mean for engineered hardwood to be more stable than solid hardwood? Basically, solid hardwood planks can expand and contract in different temperatures and humidity. This movement can lead to gaps between planks or warping.
Because engineered hardwood is constructed with a plywood core layer, with multiple layers running in different directions, it keeps the top hardwood layer from expanding and contracting as much. This added stability makes it a better choice for areas in your home with fluctuating humidity or temperature, such as basements, kitchens, or bathrooms. It’s also less likely to warp or buckle, especially in high-traffic areas.
What to Look for When Buying Engineered Hardwood
There are 3 main features you need to consider when shopping for a high-quality engineered hardwood floor.
- Wear layer thickness
- Construction of the core layer
- The durability of the finish
1. The Wear Layer (The Real Wood Part)
The wear layer is the top, visible part of your flooring. It’s also the only layer that can be sanded down and refinished. If you want a high-quality engineered hardwood floor, that you can refinish more than one time, the wear layer needs to be at least 3 mm thick. A floor with 4mm thickness is what I recommend most often, and is considered a high-quality product.
Why should I avoid a thin (<2 mm) wear layer?
Anything less than a 3 mm wear layer thickness means that you might be able to refinish it one time, or not at all. Sure, you can save a little money with a floor that has a thinner wear layer, but that floor would be considered a low-quality product, and I don’t recommend it as a whole-house option. You could probably get away with an engineered hardwood floor that has a 1-2mm wear layer in a low-traffic area, like a bedroom, but it’s unlikely to hold up over time in high-traffic areas.
Should I choose a floor with the thickest wear layer I can find?
A 4mm wear layer on engineered hardwood is generally considered a great choice, offering a nice balance of durability, longevity, and cost. However, you can find engineered hardwood floors with thicker wear layers (6mm +). In this case, thicker isn’t necessarily better. It’s true that a 6mm wear layer can be refinished more times than a 4mm wear layer, but you’ll pay more for those additional refinishing opportunities. And, will you really need to refinish your floors more than 3 or 4 times? Probably not. My advice is to go with a 4mm wear layer for the best balance of price and refinishing ability.
2. High-Quality Core Construction
The core layers matter just as much as the wear layer. Look for 5 to 9 layers of plywood—ideally with cross-directional layering for extra strength. Avoid cheap MDF or fiberboard cores, especially if you’re installing in a moisture-prone area, like a bathroom or kitchen.
3. Durable Finishes
You can buy and install engineered hardwood floors unfinished, but many options come pre-finished. The benefit of getting an unfinished floor is that you can customize your floors by staining and sealing them to your preferred color and finish. However, factory finishes tend to be superior because they can be applied more uniformly in a controlled environment. According to the flooring experts I’ve consulted with, a factory finish offers better protection against wear and tear.
Engineered hardwood floors typically have either an oil, acrylic, or aluminum oxide finish. My recommendation is to look for floors with an aluminum oxide finish. This tough, clear coating makes floors very durable and scratch-resistant and keeps them looking newer longer—especially important in high-traffic areas.
Other Factors to Consider
There are a few other factors you’ll want to consider as you look for your perfect engineered hardwood floor.
Installation Options & Accessories
Engineered flooring can be installed on top of wood subfloors and concrete subfloors. Make sure the flooring product you choose is rated for your type of subfloor, and includes installation options (glue-down, nail-down, or click-lock).
If you’ll be installing stairs to match your floors, be sure to check to see if your favorite flooring brand offers stair nosing. You may also need transition strips, thresholds, or floor vents to match your floors. Most flooring manufacturers offer matching moulding and accessories for a seamless look.
Plank Width
When choosing engineered hardwood plank width, consider your room size and the overall style you’re going for. Wider planks tend to look more modern, have fewer seams, and can create a more open feel in large rooms. On the other hand, narrower planks can make smaller rooms appear larger and are considered a timeless, classic design.
Style, Texture & Color Options
The most popular wood species include oak, hickory, maple, and walnut. Each of these woods can give you a different look. Want a modern feel? Go with wide, white oak planks in a light-medium color. For a rustic vibe, try a floor with more knots and character, like hickory. If you want a hardwood floor that will look timeless for years to come, avoid colors that are too light or too dark, choose a medium plank width, and go with something that is a neutral-toned, light to medium brown.
Best Engineered Hardwood Flooring Brands
When it comes to finding the best engineered hardwood flooring brand (or manufacturer), you’ll find many opinions. The truth is that there are many brands that offer high quality options. Here are some favorites that designers and flooring experts recommend most often:
- California Classics – I absolutely love their Mediterranean Collection. The quality and colors are top notch!
- Carlisle Wide Plank Floors – great brand for wide plank floors. A designer-favorite for their variety of collections and colors
- DuChateau – beautiful floors, but a bit overpriced for what you get, in my opinion.
- Green World Industries – another designer-favorite brand. Love their American Home Collection! Some collections have thinner wear layers.
- Hallmark Floors – Their Alta Vista Collection is very popular!
- Kahrs – one of the oldest flooring companies in the world with a wide variety of styles
- Kentwood Floors – good quality 3mm floors, great selection of Coastal colors
- Lauzon Collection – similar to Mirage (see below) in terms of quality, and also a Canadian brand
- Mirage Floors – You’ll pay a bit more but get outstanding quality and colors from this Canadian brand. I recommend the Muse Collection.
- Provenza Floors – a longstanding brand with a reputation for quality. Lots of collections to choose from.
- Revel Woods – a solid brand that caters to designers. Great customer service and a high-quality product, but not a great website for viewing collections
- RIVA Spain – gorgeous, high-quality floors with beautiful colors
- Shaw Floors – Their Castlewood Oak collection is particularly nice!
- Somerset Hardwood Flooring – great brand with a wide variety of both engineered and solid hardwood
Answering Your Flooring Questions
What is the best thickness for engineered hardwood flooring?
For most homes, aim for a 5/8″ to 3/4″ total thickness with a 3mm+ wear layer. That gives you the ability to refinish and adds longevity.
What’s the best way to buy engineered hardwood?
First, start by visiting your local wood flooring showroom, and look at all the different samples. Narrow in on the colors and styles you like best. You can order samples of your favorite flooring online, or borrow large sample boards from your local flooring showroom. The large sample boards are best for seeing the color variation and character of the flooring. Also, be sure to look up pictures of your favorite floors to see them “in the wild.”
The most important thing you need to do when choosing flooring to view the samples in YOUR home with its unique lighting conditions. You may love a floor in the showroom, but it could look very different in your living room. Start with a few of the brands listed above, and be sure to buy from reputable flooring store or dealer!
Final Thoughts
If you want beautiful real wood floors without the hassle of solid hardwood, engineered flooring is one of the best choices out there. It offers layered construction for stability, wider planks for style, and a lower cost per square foot—all with that warm, wood-grain feel underfoot.
Whether you’re covering a high-traffic area, refreshing a basement, or upgrading your main living space, this flooring combines natural beauty with lasting durability.
Thank you Melissa! I have been looking at engineered wood flooring for years as it will be my choice for a remodel of my small home in California. There are many things to consider as you know and I think you did a very good job of explaining and providing the most important information. One other thing that is important to me is the source of the wood and substrate as well as the glue or other products that go into manufacturing the product. I try to avoid any toxic VOC’s or any toxic material used to avoid the off-gassing. I am also interested in flooring that is made and sourced here in North America, which unfortunately limits the companies to choose from. In your research, I’m wondering if you came across any products that are made here in the U.S., are sustainable, and non-toxic? I believe that Mirage, Hallmark, and Mohawk have engineered flooring that is made here in the U.S. but I am going to go through your list and see if I can find some others. Thanks again for this post and all your help! Hope you are doing well, Carrie