Hardwood vs. Luxury Vinyl Lifetime Cost Comparator

Stack installed pricing, maintenance cycles, time horizon, and optional resale premiums to see which flooring option delivers the strongest lifetime economics for your project.

Total square footage you plan to cover with new flooring (combine all rooms in the project scope).
Turnkey hardwood installation price per square foot including labor, trim, and disposal.
Turnkey LVP installation price per square foot including underlayment or sound mat if required.
Budget for refinishing, resealing, and deep cleaning every ten years (enter $0 if you plan DIY maintenance).
Defaults to $0.00. Add replacement planks or professional cleaning systems for luxury vinyl.
Defaults to 20 years. Extend for longer hold periods or shorten for near-term flips.
Defaults to $0.00. Enter expected resale value boost attributable to hardwood relative to LVP.

Flooring prices vary by region, installer, and material grade. Validate quotes, maintenance schedules, and resale assumptions with local professionals before committing to a project.

Examples

  • Example 1 — 1,000 sq ft, $12.00 hardwood, $6.00 LVP, $3,000.00 hardwood maintenance per decade, 20-year horizon ⇒ Hardwood lifetime cost net of resale: $18,000.00 USD • Luxury vinyl lifetime cost: $6,000.00 USD • Cost difference (hardwood − LVP): $12,000.00 USD • Lower-cost option over 20 years: Luxury vinyl
  • Example 2 — 1,400 sq ft, $11.50 hardwood, $5.75 LVP, $2,800.00 hardwood maintenance, $600.00 LVP maintenance, 25-year horizon, $15,000.00 resale premium ⇒ Hardwood lifetime cost net of resale: $8,100.00 USD • Luxury vinyl lifetime cost: $9,550.00 USD • Cost difference (hardwood − LVP): -$1,450.00 USD • Lower-cost option over 25 years: Hardwood

FAQ

How do I include DIY labor savings?

Reduce the installed cost inputs to reflect sweat equity or free installation to keep the comparison apples-to-apples.

Can I account for humidity control investments?

Add the prorated cost of dehumidifiers or HVAC upgrades to the hardwood maintenance field since they protect the floor over time.

What if I plan to refinish hardwood more frequently?

Increase the hardwood maintenance budget or extend the analysis horizon to reflect the additional refinishing cycles you anticipate.

Does the calculator handle partial replacements?

Yes. Adjust the square footage or LVP maintenance input to reflect the portion of flooring you expect to replace mid-horizon.

How should I incorporate financing or HELOC interest?

Add the projected interest paid to the respective installed cost input so the comparison reflects the full carrying cost of each material choice.

Additional Information

  • Lifetime cost multiplies installed pricing by square footage and adds maintenance cycles over the analysis horizon.
  • Resale premium reduces hardwood cost when you expect to recoup value at sale.
  • Optional luxury vinyl maintenance captures plank replacement or professional cleaning budgets.
  • Cost difference shows how much more or less hardwood costs relative to LVP after all adjustments.
  • Lower-cost option identifies the financially favorable material for the chosen timeframe.
  • You can combine the output with HVAC or humidity control upgrades to build a full indoor environment ROI case.

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