The Five Main Types Of Luxury Vinyl Flooring: LVT, LVP, Sheet, Glue Down & Loose Lay Explained
November 26, 2025
When it comes to balancing style, durability, and performance, luxury vinyl flooring continues to lead the way in modern design. We’ve seen this category evolve into one of the most versatile and waterproof solutions available for residential and light commercial spaces. Engineered for real life, today’s luxury vinyl options are designed in multiple constructions, formats, and installation types to suit everything from busy family kitchens to boutique retail environments.
In this blog, we’ll define and differentiate the five primary types: luxury vinyl tile, luxury vinyl plank flooring, vinyl sheet flooring, glue down (dryback) luxury vinyl planks, and loose lay vinyl plank flooring—so you can confidently select the right fit for your project.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT flooring)
Luxury vinyl tile is a rigid core, floating tile-format product crafted to replicate the look of natural stone with impressive realism. Built with waterproof construction and a click-lock system, it installs as a floating floor without adhesives, making it a practical solution for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and light commercial interiors. Standard formats create a classic tile appearance, while oversized formats deliver bold, contemporary scale.
MSI carries two collections of luxury vinyl tile, Trecento and XL Trecento.
Trecento features a 5 mm rigid core construction in a 12" x 24" tile format, offering the refined look of natural stone in a durable, waterproof surface. Designed with a click installation system, it forms a secure floating floor ideal for residential settings and light commercial applications. A protective CrystaLux™ Protection Layer enhances resistance to everyday wear, helping the surface maintain its appearance in high-traffic kitchens and bathrooms. With a lifetime residential warranty and a 10-year light commercial warranty, Trecento delivers dependable performance in a mid to upper-mid rigid core category.
For spaces that call for greater scale, XL Trecento offers the same 5 mm rigid core construction in an impressive 18" x 36" oversized format. The larger tile dimensions minimize grout lines and create a seamless, expansive look across open-concept living areas or commercial interiors. Waterproof and engineered with a click-lock system, it installs efficiently while delivering premium stone-inspired visuals. Backed by a lifetime residential warranty and a 10-year light commercial warranty, XL Trecento is positioned in the premium large-format LVT category for projects seeking elevated impact.
Wood Look Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP flooring)
Wood-look rigid core planks combine authentic hardwood visuals with modern engineering. These floating floors feature click-lock systems for streamlined installation and are available in a range of thicknesses and protective layers—from 6 mil to 22 mil—across popular plank sizes including 7" x 48", 9" x 48", and 9" x 60". From value-driven to premium heavy-duty options, this category offers flexibility in both design and performance for bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and light commercial spaces.
MSI carries thirteen collections of luxury vinyl plank flooring, six 7" x 48" Plank Collections, and seven larger 9" wide collections.
7" x 48" Plank Collections
Cyrus is crafted with a 5 mm thickness and a 12 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer, delivering dependable performance for residential spaces. Its realistic wood visuals pair well with a wide range of styles, making it an easy fit for living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens that need durable, low-maintenance flooring.
Cyrus 2.0™ builds on that foundation with a 20 mil protective layer designed to support active households and light commercial environments. With a 5 mm profile and enhanced surface protection, Cyrus 2.0™ helps maintain a clean, refreshed look in high-traffic interiors.
Ashton features a 4.4 mm thickness with a 6 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer, offering a practical option for everyday residential spaces. It delivers attractive wood tones and a streamlined construction that supports quick updates in bedrooms, offices, and living areas.
Ashton 2.0™ enhances durability with a 12 mil protective layer while maintaining the 4.4 mm profile. For homeowners who want added surface protection in frequently used rooms, Ashton 2.0™ offers a value-plus balance of performance and style.
Prescott elevates comfort and stability with a 6.5 mm thickness and a 20 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer. Positioned for premium comfort and performance, it’s a strong match for busy kitchens, family rooms, and open-concept layouts where a substantial feel underfoot is a priority.
Andover combines a 5 mm thickness with a 20 mil protective layer to support mid to upper-mid residential and light commercial use. Its wood visuals bring warmth to living rooms and hallways while the rigid core construction helps deliver steady, reliable performance.
9" x 48" Plank Collections
Wayne Parc Reserve features a robust 22 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer designed for heavy-duty residential living and light commercial interiors. Its wider profile creates a bold wood look that complements spacious rooms and design-forward layouts.
Wayne Parc offers a 5 mm thickness in a performance-focused category, delivering versatile wood tones and the convenience of a floating, click installation. It’s well suited for active homes that want a balanced mix of durability and elevated style.
Laurel Reserve stands out with an 8 mm thickness and a 20 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer, offering an extra level of comfort and stability. Its wide plank design helps create a cohesive, high-end look in primary living spaces and bedrooms.
Laurel delivers a 5 mm thickness with a 20 mil protective layer, balancing durability and refined wood visuals. It’s a dependable option for busy residential interiors where long-lasting performance and a welcoming aesthetic matter.
9" x 60" Large Format Plank Collections
XL Prescott pairs a 6.5 mm thickness with a 20 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer in a 9" x 60" format. The longer plank length supports a modern, expansive wood look that feels right at home in open-concept living areas and light commercial spaces.
XL Cyrus features a 5 mm thickness and a 12 mil protective layer in a large-format plank, delivering mid-range performance with enhanced visual scale. Its wide-and-long proportions help reduce visual breaks across bigger rooms for a more continuous appearance.
XL Ashton offers a 4.4 mm thickness with a 6 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer in a wide plank profile. For straightforward upgrades that still feel current, its large format brings a fresh, airy look to bedrooms, home offices, and living spaces.
Vinyl Sheet Flooring
Vinyl sheet flooring is available in large 6- or 12-foot rolls that are cut to fit the dimensions of a room, creating a continuous surface with minimal seams. Offered in both wood-look and stone-look visuals—such as slate, sandstone, and limestone—it can be installed using adhesive or loose lay methods depending on the product. This format provides a practical solution for moisture-prone spaces like bathrooms and kitchens. Because it is installed as one continuous sheet, any major damage typically requires replacing the entire section, and proper installation helps manage exposure to prolonged direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
Dryback (Glue Down) Luxury Vinyl Plank
Glue down, or dryback, construction is adhered directly to the subfloor using recommended adhesives. Typically ranging from 2 mm to 2.5 mm in thickness, these wook look vinyl plank products are designed for both residential and commercial interiors and are available in performance levels from value-driven to premium commercial-rated. This installation method can be especially useful in spaces where a low-profile floor and a secure, stable feel are desired.
MSI carries seven collections of Dryback (Glue Down) Luxury Vinyl Plank.
Glenridge features a 2 mm profile with a 12 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer, offering reliable residential and light commercial performance. Its glue down installation supports a steady, grounded feel underfoot, making it a smart choice for living rooms, hallways, and offices that want authentic wood visuals in a value-focused category.
Katavia offers a 2 mm thickness with a 6 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer and a 15-year residential warranty. As an entry-level glue down option, it provides approachable wood-inspired style for bedrooms, living areas, and home offices where a clean, easy-care surface is a priority.
Wilmont is crafted with a 2.5 mm thickness and a 20 mil CrystaLux Ultra™ Protection Layer. Backed by a lifetime residential warranty plus commercial warranties, it’s designed for demanding environments—from hospitality spaces to retail interiors—while still bringing warm, realistic wood visuals to residential projects.
Acclima features a 2 mm thickness and a 12 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer with zero acclimation positioning to help streamline installation schedules. It’s a dependable mid-range option for kitchens, entryways, and light commercial interiors that benefit from glue down stability and easy-care performance.
Nove delivers flexible glue down construction in a 9" x 48" wide plank format with CrystaLux™ protection. Its modern proportions and design-forward visuals help create an elevated wood look in living rooms, bedrooms, and boutique commercial spaces.
Nove Plus supports the same wide plank aesthetic with advanced CrystaLux™ Protection Layer performance, offering an upper mid to premium feel for spaces that want added surface resilience alongside contemporary scale.
Nove Reserve features a 22 mil CrystaLux™ Protection Layer in a flexible 9" x 48" glue down format. Designed for premium commercial-rated performance, it pairs bold scale with long-term durability in offices, retail settings, and other high-traffic interiors.
Dryback (Glue Down) Luxury Vinyl Plank
Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring
MSI’s Kallum® Loose Lay Planks Collection features a curated range of modern wood planks—from soft beiges and light blondes to deep, sophisticated browns. Each 9” x 48” vinyl plank is designed for efficient installation, allowing projects to be completed in nearly half the time of traditional luxury vinyl flooring.
Choosing the Right Luxury Vinyl Flooring
From rigid core tile and plank formats to sheet, glue down, and loose lay constructions, the five main types of luxury vinyl flooring differ in installation method, thickness, and protective layer—each influencing overall performance. Our broad assortment across floating, adhered, and loose lay formats empowers homeowners, designers, and trade professionals to tailor solutions to their exact needs. Shop the full selection of luxury vinyl flooring today to find your perfect fit.
Ready to transform your space with a high-performance flooring solution designed for beauty and resilience? Chat with us online, visit an MSI showroom to explore our full assortment in person, or shop a local MSI retailer to find high-quality luxury vinyl flooring collections offered by trusted retailers near you.
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