The Best Engineered Wood Flooring, Tested by Experts
Nothing beats the warmth and beauty of hardwood flooring—except maybe the hassle of maintaining all that natural charm. Moisture can take a serious toll on wood planks, while many species are susceptible to fading, staining, and scratches.
That’s the beauty of engineered wood flooring. Because it’s made with a veneer of real wood bonded to layers of structural plywood, it’s far more stable than natural hardwood, and it can also withstand higher levels of moisture, making it suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and even damp basements.
Engineered wood flooring is one of the flooring materials that our experts in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab test throughout the year—including as part of our annual Good Housekeeping Home Reno Awards, where our evaluations include installations by contractors and home builders from around the country.
Based on the latest inputs, here are the top engineered wood flooring products for your next project.
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WHY WE LOVE IT: Densified hardwood is one of the latest innovations in engineered wood flooring that our experts say will have a big, positive impact on the market. It’s subjected to intense heat during the manufacturing process, rather than chemicals or additives. The result is a durable, waterproof flooring material that also scores points for sustainability.
PERFORMANCE: The Timber Legends took home a 2026 Home Reno Award on the strength of its exceptional performance and beauty. As part of the evaluation, Boston-based contractor and outside awards judge Marc Savatsky installed the product on an entire building project across multiple room settings. Besides being “super durable and scratch resistant,” as he called it, the flooring creates an eye-catching surface, and there are six rich species options—pine, ash, walnut, cherry, maple, and red maple. Our design experts agree. “This wood flooring looks stunning,” said our associate lifestyle editor. “I love the realistic wood grains and knots!”
TESTER NOTES: “I love this category of flooring,” said Savatsky, predicting, “Densified hardwood is poised to take off in the next five years.” His only caution is that, due to its unique fabrication process, the flooring doesn’t look as durable as engineered flooring of the past. “There is some degree of buyer education still required,” he said.
Pros
- Excellent value
- Supported by the Home Depot’s delivery and installation services
Cons
- Thin veneer means a shorter lifespan
WHY WE LOVE IT: With a cost of around $5 per square foot, this Malibu Wide Plank is on the lower end of the spectrum for engineered wood flooring. Since the brand is sold at the Home Depot, it’s also convenient to purchase for pickup or delivery, and the retailer’s in-home installation service is helpful if you need help in that department.
PERFORMANCE: The Malibu engineered wood flooring has a Janka hardness rating of 1360, which is about equivalent to a white oak solid flooring. Based on that, our experts say it should hold up well to moderate foot traffic. Its 2mm veneer is thinner than most, so while you might be able to give the floors a fresh coat of stain, sanding them down and refinishing them is unlikely. That could limit the lifespan of the floor to under 20 years.
TESTER NOTES: In addition to the reduced lifespan, testers note the limited color options of the Malibu product line. “Whereas you might have ten species to choose from with a premium engineered wood flooring, with the Malibu there are just three,” explains Alec Scherma, test engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
Features at a Glance
| Plank width | 5″ or 7″ |
| Plank thickness | 1/2″ |
| Plank length | 15″ – 75″ |
| Veneer thickness | 2mm |
| Number of species | 3 |
| Installation type | Glue, nail, or float |
WHY WE LOVE IT: Though engineered wood flooring as a category has become much better looking over the last decade, our experts say BelleLuxe Waterproof Wood from Karastan resembles solid wood flooring better than any product that’s passed through the Lab. The brand credits the 64 layers of textured detail that go into every plank, as well as the 1,000-plus color variations.
PERFORMANCE: BelleLuxe’s elevated design caught our eye first, but the engineered flooring also impressed our experts during extensive Lab tests. Despite its soft finish, the flooring was impervious to scratches, dents, and stains. The Waterproof Wood also lived up to its name in our tough water resistance tests, in which we pour two cups of water on an assembled floor, let the puddle sit for one hour, then check for signs of seepage. That water resistance, along with the fact that it’s meant to be glued down, makes it an ideal pick for basement installations.
TESTER NOTES: “The flooring feels incredibly smooth,” said our associate lifestyle editor. “Both the wood grain pattern and color look very beautiful and exude a timeless aesthetic.” You’ll pay a premium for that beauty, but if it’s in the budget, our experts say the BelleLuxe is worth the splurge.
Features at a Glance
| Plank width | 8.5″ |
| Plank thickness | 9/16″ |
| Plank legth | 86″ |
| Veneer thickness | 3mm |
| Number of species | 3 |
| Installation type | Glue |
Pros
- Can be refinished multiple times for an exceptionally long lifespan
- Expansive color selection
Cons
- Veneer thickness varies from one model to the next
WHY WE LOVE IT: Through decades of flooring tests, our experts have known Lumber Liquidators as a go-to retailer for quality products at competitive prices. Its Bellawood engineered wood flooring is another example of that balancing act. The overall value of the mid-priced product goes up even more when you consider its potential longevity.
PERFORMANCE: The 6mm veneer on the Bellawood flooring is up there with the thickest reviewed by our experts. The hefty veneer not only makes for durable flooring, but it also means it can be sanded and finished at least twice, and maybe even a third time, so the floors could last for half a century, especially in low-traffic parts of the home.
TESTER NOTES: The Bellawood line includes more than a dozen colors and species, including white and red oak, maple, and hickory. “Be aware that the veneer thickness on many models dips down to 7/16”, which means less refinishing over time,” says Scherma.
Features at a Glance
| Plank width | 10.25″ |
| Plank thickness | 3/4″ |
| Plank length | 50″ |
| Veneer thickness | 6mm |
| Number of species | 3 |
| Installation Type | Nail or Glue |
How we test engineered wood flooring
Our engineers and product experts in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab stay on top of the marketplace to identify the flooring materials you’re most likely to find at home centers, independent showrooms, and online. We also regularly attend trade shows and industry events, including Surfaces, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), and the International Builders Show, to keep up with all the latest trends and innovations.
When it comes to hands-on testing, we focus on brands with a proven track record for performance and reliability. In the Lab, we run stain tests to determine how well a material resists mustard, wine, and other stubborn agents. We also run abrasion tests to make sure materials can withstand scratches and drop tests to measure their resistance to dings and dents. To measure water resistance, our experts dropped 250 milliliters of water on each vinyl floor sample and let it sit for one hour. The best models showed no signs of seepage, thanks to their water-tight joints.
Our engineers also review technical data from the manufacturers related to performance, safety, and sustainability. Finally, we use the flooring materials for actual installations to see how they perform under real-world conditions.
What to look for when shopping for engineered wood flooring
As with most flooring categories, engineered wood flooring comes in good, better, and best tiers. Here’s how to parse them:
✔️ Veneer layer. Also referred to as the wear coat, this is the thin layer of real wood that forms the surface of the flooring. Good models have veneers that are 1 to 2mm thick, better are 2 to 3mm, and best are above 3mm. The thicker the veneer, the more times you’ll be able to sand and refinish the floors.
✔️ Number of species. This comes down to design choice. The more species, the more colors and grain patterns you’ll have to work with. Lower quality flooring might only come in a couple of species, while top-of-the-line products could have 10 or more.
✔️ Installation. There are three main methods: glue, nail, and float. The glue-down method, which is typically done on concrete floors, is secure but time-consuming and therefore more expensive. Nail is fast and cost-effective but requires a wooden subfloor. Floating systems click and lock together over any subfloor; it’s DIY-friendly and therefore the cheapest option.
Where’s the best place to buy engineered wood flooring?
Because vinyl plank flooring is a mass-market product, it’s easy to find, and you won’t have to deal with long lead times, unless you choose a specialty item. Some of the most popular retailers include:
✔️ The Home Depot: With some 2,300 locations nationwide, the biggest home center carries a wide range of engineered wood flooring. The Home Depot also offers installation service, and a certified technician will even come take in-home measurements, so you don’t have to worry about getting the order wrong.
✔️ Lowe’s: The country’s second biggest home center is another safe bet for engineered flooring. Its service offerings are also robust, including in-home flooring measurements, design consults, professional installation, and free shipping on flooring samples.
✔️ Lumber Liquidators: Founded in 1994, this retailer has more than 200 locations across most states, plus an excellent website that makes it easy to find the right flooring and receive up to four free samples.
✔️ Floor & Décor: Floor & Décor sells the most flooring of all retailers, so you’re guaranteed to find a wide selection of engineered wood floors at all price points. The site has an extensive library of virtual how-to clinics for those looking to save by installing their flooring themselves.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including flooring for every room in the house. As the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, Dan DiClerico brings more than 25 years of experience to the Institute, reviewing thousands of products for Good Housekeeping and previously for This Old House and Consumer Reports. He has also helped install and restore many floors over the years—most recently, the wood floors at his own home in Brooklyn, NY.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
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