5mm vs 6.5mm vs 8mm: Which Plank Thickness Is Right for Your Flip?
Thicker is not always better, and cheaper is not always cheaper. How to choose between Alpine, Montclair, Harper and Citadel for your project and budget.
All of our planks are waterproof, click together the same way and come with a pad attached. The difference is in the build: how thick the core is, how thick the pad is, and how tough the top wear layer is. Here is how to choose.
How the thickness adds up
- Alpine 5mm: 4mm SPC core + 1mm pad, 22 mil wear layer, 7″ x 48″ planks.
- Montclair 6.5mm: 5mm core + 1.5mm pad, 22 mil wear layer, 7″ x 48″.
- Harper 6.5mm: 5mm core + 1.5mm pad, 22 mil wear layer, wide 9″ x 48″.
- Citadel 8mm: 6mm core + 2mm pad, 32 mil ceramic-coated wear layer, 9″ x 48″.
When 5mm is the right call
Rentals, whole-house flips on a tight budget, and jobs where a thin floor avoids trimming doors. Alpine is light to carry up stairs and fast to cut.
When to step up to 6.5mm
Upstairs rooms and condos where noise matters (Montclair), or open living spaces where wide planks make the room look bigger (Harper).
When 8mm pays for itself
Higher-end flips where buyers walk the floor and feel the difference, homes with dogs, and basements over concrete. Citadel’s thicker core also bridges small subfloor imperfections better.
What about the wear layer?
The wear layer is the clear top coat that takes the scratches. 22 mil is solid for most homes. 32 mil is for pets, kids and light commercial rooms.
Still deciding? Lay full planks of each side by side at our Cranston showroom, or order samples.
