The Best Underlayments for Vinyl Plank Flooring of 2024

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Underlayments for Vinyl Plank Flooring of 2024 and hope the blog can help you.

Prevent moisture damage, reduce noise, and provide thermal insulation with the best underlayments for vinyl plank on the market.

Vinyl plank flooring is becoming increasingly popular for its ability to recreate the look of solid wood while being inexpensive, durable, and water-resistant. Many don’t realize that the underlayment is nearly as important as the flooring itself. 

We recommended the Floorlot Laminate Flooring Underlayment as our best overall pick because of its built-in moisture barrier, thermal insulation, and sound control. However, all our selected products were thoroughly vetted for effectiveness and reliability. 

Shopping for the best underlayment for vinyl flooring online can quickly become overwhelming since there are so many options available at a wide range of prices. This article breaks down what to look for when shopping for the best underlayment for vinyl plank flooring and discusses the key considerations to keep in mind as you shop. 

Keep reading for tips on choosing the best option and explore our curated picks for some of the best vinyl plank flooring underlayment.

1. BEST OVERALL: Floorlot Laminate Flooring Underlayment
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2. RUNNER-UP: QuietWalk Plus Acoustical Flooring Underlayment
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3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Dekorman Laminate Flooring White Foam Underlayment
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4. BEST FOR SOUND INSULATION: Roberts 70-193A Super Felt Underlayment
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5. BEST ECO-FRIENDLY: Steico 3 mm ⅛-Inch Wood Fiber Flooring Underlayment
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6. BEST THERMAL TRANSMISSION: QEP Natural Cork Underlayment Roll 
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7. BEST WATERPROOF: Eco Cork Foam Waterproof Premium 10-in-1 Underlayment
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8. BEST ANTIMICROBIAL: Roberts 70-102 First Step Premium Underlayment
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9. ALSO CONSIDER: Roberts 70-025 Qep 70-029 Unison 2-in-1 Underlayment
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How We Chose the Best Underlayments for Vinyl Plank Flooring

Years of experience covering home improvement as well as extensive product research went into creating this guide. We explored more than 25 underlayment options and weighed a number of practical considerations before making our recommendations. 

• Material: The best underlayment for floors depends largely on the type of flooring used and the subfloor present. Because of that, we included ideal underlayments made from a variety of materials in order to offer options for most shoppers. Many options on the market can pair well with luxury and engineered flooring much like those in our Flooret Flooring review. 
• Thickness: Though thickness isn’t necessarily an indicator of quality when it comes to underlayments, we still opted to only include models with a minimum thickness of 2 millimeters. 
• Versatility: We prioritized recommending underlayments for flooring that offered a combination of moisture protection, thermal insulation, and sound insulation. 

Our Top Picks

Before calling a vinyl plank flooring installer, it’s time to start shopping. The following are our top picks for some of the best underlayments for vinyl plank flooring. These recommendations were selected because of their quality construction, excellent performance, and ease of installation. Each of the products listed below comes with a thoroughly vetted list of vinyl flooring pros and cons. 

Best Overall

Floorlot Laminate Flooring Underlayment

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Product Specs 

• Material: Foam
• Thickness: 3 millimeters
• Coverage: 200 square feet

Pros

• Includes a built-in moisture barrier to prevent the growth of mold and mildew 
• Provides easy installation; comes with self-sealing tape and an overlap 
• Suitable for several floor types including laminate, engineered wood, and solid wood flooring 
• Provides sound absorption and thermal insulation for added user convenience 

Cons

• Some users have reported that it is difficult to make this option lay flat; may require additional adhesive

This underlayment from Floorlot is made from polyethylene foam and includes a laminated moisture barrier that prevents the development of mold, making it especially suitable for concrete subfloors. This underlayment is a good choice for slightly uneven subfloors since it smooths out any minor imperfections. It also provides sound absorption and thermal insulation. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used as an underlayment for laminate flooring along with wood and vinyl. 

The roll measures 56 feet long by 3.58 feet wide, covering a total area of 200 square feet. Installation is a breeze because each roll comes with self-sealing tape. One important thing to note is that this underlayment won’t pair well with flexible vinyl plank flooring or rigid plank flooring that’s under 7 millimeters thick. 

Get the Floorlot underlayment for vinyl plank flooring at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Wayfair. 

Runner-Up

QuietWalk Plus Acoustical Flooring Underlayment

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Product Specs 

• Material: Recycled synthetic fiber
• Thickness: 3 millimeters
• Coverage: 100 square feet

Pros

• Excellent soundproofing ratings and moisture resistance; STC rating of 66 and an IIC rating of 71
• Greenguard Gold certified; made with eco-friendly recycled synthetic fiber for the eco-conscious consumer 
• Compatible with radiant-heat flooring systems for peak user-friendliness 

Cons

• Not compatible with vinyl plank flooring over 5 millimeters thick 

Made from recycled felt, this underlayment is ideal for sound insulation with its 3-millimeter thickness. It holds an STC rating of 66 and an IIC rating of 71, guaranteeing that it will significantly reduce noise. It’s Greenguard-Gold certified, ensuring a low quantity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the material. 

This can be used as an underlayment for laminate floor as well as engineered wood and bamboo. It’s even compatible with radiant in-floor heating systems. There are, however, some limitations with the type of flooring with which it’s compatible. This underlayment can only be used with floating floors and won’t work with flooring that needs to be glued or nailed down. It’s also only suitable for vinyl flooring that’s at least 5 millimeters thick. 

Get the QuietWalk Plus underlayment for vinyl plank flooring at Amazon or Lowe’s.

Best Bang For The Buck

Dekorman Laminate Flooring White Foam Underlayment

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Product Specs 

• Material: Foam
• Thickness: 2 millimeters
• Coverage: 300 square feet (comes in multiple sizes) 

Pros

• Provides cushioning and sound absorption; IIC rating of 68 and STC rating of 65 
• Protects against moisture, mold, and mildew with its closed-cell foam structure 
• Compatible with vinyl, bamboo, floating laminate, and engineered wood 

Cons

• Some users have reported difficulties with the adhesive strip; may take some extra glue to lay flat 

Made with self-adhesive tape and high-quality foam, this underlayment for vinyl plank flooring is perfect for those on a budget. It covers over 300 square feet of space, but it also comes in 100- to 200-square-foot options. It also has excellent cushioning and sound absorption with an IIC rating of 68 and an STC rating of 65. Since this underlay for vinyl flooring is made with a closed-cell foam construction, it also protects against moisture, mold, and mildew in vinyl, bamboo, floating laminate, and engineered wood flooring. It comes with self-adhesive tape for ease of installation. 

Get the Dekorman underlayment for vinyl plank flooring at The Home Depot.

Best for Sound Insulation

Roberts 70-193A Super Felt Underlayment

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Product Specs 

• Material: Felt
• Thickness: 3 millimeters
• Coverage: 360 square feet

Pros

• Excellent for sound insulation; comes with an IIC rating of 67 and STC rating of 66
• Compatible with all types of below-, on-, or above-ground concrete and wood subfloors
• Eco-friendly construction; made with heat-treated recycled fibers 
• Large coverage area of 360 square feet; suitable for large homes 

Cons

• High price point compared to other options on the market 

This 3-millimeter underlayment from Roberts is designed to increase comfort and absorb sound simultaneously. It features an STC rating of 66 and an IIC rating of 67, both of which indicate very effective sound insulation properties. It’s made from recycled felt fibers, making it an eco-friendly option, and features a top film vapor barrier that helps combat moisture and humidity. 

In terms of subfloor compatibility, it pairs well with any flooring types including , and because of its cushioning effect, it’s perfect for using above concrete and wood subfloors. An adhesive strip and 3-inch overlap help when linking multiple rolls during the installation process, making this underlayment easy to install in large spaces. 

Get the Roberts 70-193A underlayment for vinyl plank flooring at Amazon or The Home Depot. 

Best Eco-Friendly

Steico 3 mm ⅛-Inch Wood Fiber Flooring Underlayment

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Product Specs 

• Material: Wood fiber
• Thickness: 3 millimeters
• Coverage: 90 square feet

Pros

• Constructed with natural, eco-friendly material; made with no emissions, VOCs, or glues
• High soundproofing abilities; IIC rating of 25 and an STC rating of 62
• Comes in sheets rather than rolls for easy installation; simply tape all the sheets together 
• Made from absorbent materials and has a natural indoor microclimate regulator 

Cons

• Small coverage area compared to other options; only covers 90 square feet

This underlayment is made from an insulating wood fiber material that’s free of VOCs, making it safe for households with children and pets. The material is ultra-absorbent, making it ideal for areas that may experience moisture damage. There are no glue additives, making this an entirely natural product. 

It’s also recyclable, further reducing its environmental impact. It has a rating of -25 dB, meaning it reduces decibels by 25, providing excellent sound insulation. Its high compression strength ensures that flooring doesn’t feel bouncy and is comfortable to walk on. 

It’s important to note that this underlayment only covers 90 square feet. It’s sold in sheets rather than rolls, making it easier to lay flat. 

Get the Steico underlayment for vinyl plank flooring at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Best Thermal Transmission

QEP Natural Cork Underlayment Roll

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Product Specs 

• Material: Cork
• Thickness: 6 millimeters
• Coverage: 200 square feet

Pros

• Antimicrobial properties prevent and repel termites, insects, mold, mildew, and pests 
• Works well for thermal transmission to improve the functionality of floor heating systems
• Resists any stress cracks from subfloors to prevent bumps or uneven flooring 
• Made from eco-friendly cork material for the eco-conscious consumer

Cons

• High price point compared to other options on the market 

Cork underlayments for vinyl floors offer a number of advantages: They’re naturally hypoallergenic and offer excellent moisture and sound absorption. This type of underlayment also reduces thermal transmission, making it the ideal choice for those with radiant heated floors. Cork is a renewable resource, so underlayments made of cork are an eco-friendly choice. This particular model offers 200 square feet of coverage and works well for uneven subfloors since it’s firmer than underlayments made from other materials. 

At 6 millimeters, this underlayment is much thicker than those made from other materials, so it’s important to ensure that all flooring will remain level even with the 6 millimeter elevation. 

Get the QEP underlayment for vinyl plank flooring at Amazon or The Home Depot. 

Best Waterproof

Eco Cork Foam Waterproof Premium 10-in-1 Underlayment

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Product Specs

• Material: Polyethylene and granulated cork 
• Thickness: ⅛ inch 
• Coverage: 75 square feet (comes in different size options)

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