Luxury Vinyl Tile vs Luxury Vinyl Plank: Choosing the Right Format

Tile Selection and Design

LVT and LVP are often used interchangeably, but the tile format and plank format serve different design purposes and have different installation considerations.

LVT (luxury vinyl tile) mimics ceramic, stone, or concrete tile in square or rectangular formats. It's appropriate for rooms where a tile appearance is desired — bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, entryways — without the cost, weight, or cold-surface characteristics of real ceramic or stone.

Surface Preparation

LVP (luxury vinyl plank) mimics hardwood in long, narrow plank formats. It's appropriate for living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and any space where the warmth and directionality of a wood floor aesthetic is desired. Plank widths ranging from 100 mm (narrow traditional) to 230 mm (wide contemporary board) provide significant design variation.

Grout line aesthetics are where LVT has a significant advantage over ceramic tile for some applications. LVT can be installed tightly without grout joints, eliminating the maintenance and staining concern of grout. For clients who want the look of large-format stone tile without grout maintenance, grout-free LVT is the appropriate choice.

Installation and Grouting

Subfloor flatness requirements are the same for both formats: maximum 3 mm variation over a 1.8-metre span for floating installations. Out-of-flat subfloors create a hollow, flexible feel underfoot and accelerate wear at high spots. Subfloor preparation to meet this specification is a critical prerequisite for either product.

Mixed format installations — combining LVP in living areas with LVT in kitchen and bath — create distinct visual zones within an open-plan layout. The two products can be matched to appear related while marking the transition between a living zone and a service zone. Matching product line families with consistent core colours creates the most cohesive result.