If you have been thinking about upgrading your floors but you are not sure where to start, you are in the right place.
Our Barefoot Flooring team put together this guide to the best laminate flooring brands for 2026 because we know how overwhelming it can be to sort through all the options on your own.
From installation to design consultations, our full range of flooring services is built to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible. We are a family-owned flooring store that has been serving the Greater St. Charles area since 2007.
If you need hands-on guidance, stop by our showroom at 6215 Ronald Reagan Dr in Lake St. Louis or give us a call at (636) 339-4987 to chat with one of our flooring specialists.
Laminate flooring has been a go-to choice for homeowners across the Greater St. Charles area for years, and for good reason. It gives you the look of real hardwood, stone, or tile at a much lower price point, and the technology behind today's best laminate floors has improved dramatically.
So what exactly is laminate flooring? It is a multi-layer synthetic product that is designed to look and feel like natural materials. Each plank is built with four layers that work together:
Homeowners in communities like Dardenne Prairie, St. Peters, and Cottleville keep choosing laminate because it checks so many boxes. It is affordable, durable, and comes in hundreds of styles.
Many of today's best laminate flooring brands also offer waterproof options, which is a game-changer for kitchens, basements, and bathrooms. And if you are handy, most laminate products use simple click-lock installation systems that make DIY projects very manageable.
For those who prefer professional help, our flooring installation team handles laminate projects throughout the Greater St. Charles area every week.
Before we dive into individual brand reviews, it helps to understand the features that separate good laminate from great laminate. Here is what to keep in mind while you shop.
The AC (Abrasion Class) rating tells you how well a laminate floor can handle foot traffic and wear. For most homes in the St. Charles County area, AC3 or AC4 is the sweet spot. AC3 handles normal residential traffic just fine, while AC4 offers extra durability for busy households with kids, pets, or heavy foot traffic. AC5 is designed for commercial spaces, so unless you are flooring an office or retail space, you probably do not need it.
This is where laminate flooring has made its biggest leap forward in recent years. Traditional laminate was not a great fit for moisture-prone rooms. But today, brands like Pergo and Mohawk offer waterproof laminate that can handle spills, pet accidents, and even standing water for extended periods. If you are considering laminate for your kitchen or bathroom, waterproof technology is a must.
You can explore more room-specific options in our guide to the best kitchen flooring choices.
The core of your laminate plank matters more than most people realize. High-density fiberboard (HDF) cores are denser, more stable, and more resistant to moisture than standard medium-density fiberboard (MDF) cores. For homes in the Greater St. Charles area, where we deal with humid summers and cold, dry winters, HDF is the better investment. The extra density helps the floor handle seasonal temperature and humidity swings without warping or buckling.
Most of today's top laminate brands use a click-lock floating floor system, which means planks snap together without glue or nails. This makes installation faster, cleaner, and easier to reverse if you want to change things up down the road.
If you are planning to tackle installation yourself, check out our tips on common mistakes when laying laminate flooring before you get started.
Today's best rated laminate flooring brands offer an incredible range of looks. Wide planks, hand-scraped textures, whitewashed oak, rich walnut, even stone and tile visuals are all available. Whether your home leans traditional, farmhouse, or modern, there is a laminate design that fits your style. And with so many new construction homes going up in Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and St. Peters, we are seeing more and more homeowners choose laminate for its flexibility and design range.
Mohawk has been a leader in the flooring industry for decades, and their RevWood collection is one of the best brand laminate flooring lines available today. RevWood comes in three tiers: the standard RevWood line for everyday spaces, RevWood Select with enhanced durability, and RevWood Plus with full waterproof protection.
What sets Mohawk apart is their Hydroseal technology, which creates a tight seal around every edge and joint to prevent moisture from seeping through. Combined with an AC4 durability rating, RevWood Plus can handle everything from pet accidents to kitchen spills without swelling or warping.
Mohawk is also the first company to earn Platinum Level LF-02 Sustainability Certification from the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA), which means their manufacturing processes meet the highest environmental standards in the industry.
If you are looking for the best brand of laminate flooring that balances performance, style, and sustainability, Mohawk RevWood is hard to beat.
Price range: $2.00 to $7.00 per square foot (materials only)
Pergo is the brand that started it all. They invented laminate flooring back in the 1970s, and they have been pushing the technology forward ever since. Their WetProtect system is one of the most comprehensive waterproof solutions on the market, offering a lifetime surface and subfloor warranty against moisture damage.
Pergo's TimberCraft and Outlast+ collections feature some of the most realistic wood visuals you will find in any laminate product. The embossing and texture work is exceptional, with planks that genuinely feel like natural wood underfoot. Most Pergo products carry AC4 or AC5 ratings, making them some of the most durable laminate floors available.
If you are asking yourself "what brand is the best waterproof laminate flooring?", Pergo is the answer for most homeowners.
Their products are especially well suited for Missouri basements, kitchens, and bathrooms where moisture protection is non-negotiable.
Price range: $3.00 to $8.00 per square foot (materials only)
Quick-Step has built a strong reputation among homeowners who want to handle installation themselves. Their patented Uniclic locking system is one of the easiest click-lock systems on the market. Planks connect smoothly with minimal effort, and they can be disconnected and reused if you make a mistake or need to move the flooring later.
Quick-Step also offers solid water resistance through their HydroSeal treatment, and their design library covers everything from classic oak to modern gray tones.
For the many new homeowners moving into developments across St. Peters, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville, Quick-Step is a popular choice for getting great-looking laminate installed quickly and affordably.
Price range: $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot (materials only)
If sustainability matters to you, Mannington deserves a close look. They manufacture their products right here in the United States, with approximately 70% of their materials coming from recycled sources. Their SpillShield Plus technology provides reliable water resistance, and all Mannington laminate products carry an AC4 durability rating.
Mannington also stands out for the sheer variety of styles they offer. From rustic farmhouse looks to sleek contemporary designs, their collections are some of the broadest in the industry. Their warranties are among the most comprehensive available, which gives extra peace of mind for long-term homeowners.
Price range: $3.00 to $6.00 per square foot (materials only)
Shaw is the second-largest flooring company in the world, and their laminate products consistently perform well in residential and commercial flooring settings.
Their H2O Plus waterproof technology features a sealed core that can handle surface water for up to 24 hours, making it one of the most reliable waterproof laminate options on the market.
Shaw offers over 200 flooring styles and colors in their laminate lineup, so you will not run out of choices. Their products are backed by solid warranties and are widely available through specialty flooring stores like ours. For active families in the Greater St. Charles area with kids, pets, and plenty of foot traffic, Shaw laminate is a reliable, long-lasting option.
Price range: $2.50 to $6.00 per square foot (materials only)
Not every brand is the best fit for every situation. Here is a quick guide to help you narrow things down based on what matters most to you.
For busy family homes: Pergo and Shaw are your strongest options. Their high AC ratings and advanced waterproof systems can handle the daily demands of active households with kids and pets.
For budget-friendly projects: Mohawk's standard RevWood line delivers solid performance at a lower price point. Quick-Step's entry-level collections are also a great value for bedrooms and low-traffic areas.
For kitchens and bathrooms: Pergo's WetProtect and Mohawk's RevWood Plus are the top choices for rooms where water exposure is a concern. Both brands back their waterproof claims with specific moisture damage warranties.
For DIY enthusiasts: Quick-Step's Uniclic system is the easiest to work with, but Mohawk RevWood also offers user-friendly click-lock installation.
For environmentally conscious homeowners: Mannington leads the pack with recycled materials and U.S.-based manufacturing. Mohawk's NALFA Platinum sustainability certification is also worth noting.
For basements: Waterproof laminate from Pergo or Mohawk RevWood Plus is ideal for below-grade spaces in St. Charles County homes. Missouri basements can be tricky with moisture, so waterproof protection is essential. For more tips, read our guide on the best basement flooring options.
One of the biggest advantages of laminate flooring is how easy it is to maintain. A quick sweep or vacuum a few times a week will keep debris from scratching the surface. For deeper cleaning, a damp (not wet) mop with a laminate-safe cleaner does the trick. Avoid using excessive water, steam mops, or abrasive cleaners, as these can damage the protective wear layer over time.
For a more detailed cleaning routine, check out our complete guide to cleaning laminate flooring. It covers everything from everyday care to handling tougher stains and spills.
Here are a few additional tips that help laminate floors last longer in Missouri homes:
According to Consumer Reports, the best laminates can resist scratching and discoloration from sunlight better than most wood products, making them a smart long-term investment when properly maintained.
In the Greater St. Charles area, laminate flooring typically costs between $2.00 and $8.00 per square foot for materials, with professional installation adding another $1.00 to $3.00 per square foot. Your total project cost will depend on the brand you choose, the size of the space, and any subfloor preparation needed. At Barefoot Flooring, we offer free estimates so you know exactly what to expect.
We carry top-rated laminate flooring brands including Mohawk, Pergo, Karastan, and more.
We also offer products from Aladdin Commercial, Godfrey Hirst, MSI, and American Olean across our full flooring product lineup.
Our team can help you compare brands side by side in our Lake St. Louis showroom so you can find the perfect match for your home and budget.
Waterproof laminate from brands like Pergo and Mohawk RevWood Plus protects against surface water and spills, often for 24 hours or more.
However, standing water left for extended periods can still find its way into seams.
For rooms with heavy moisture exposure, like basements, waterproof laminate is a solid choice. You can learn more in our guide to the best basement flooring.
Quality laminate flooring from top brands typically lasts 15 to 30 years with proper care, depending on the AC rating and how much traffic it sees. Hardwood can last longer with refinishing, but laminate holds its own in terms of durability and costs significantly less upfront.
For a deeper comparison, check out our article on engineered hardwood vs. hardwood to explore both options.
Every brand we reviewed above has real strengths, and the "best" choice depends entirely on your home, your family, and how you use your space.
Here is what we recommend as your next steps:
At Barefoot Flooring, we carry all of the best laminate flooring brands covered in this guide, along with top options in vinyl, carpet, hardwood, and tile.
We are a family-owned flooring store that has been serving the Greater St. Charles area since 2007, and we are here to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.
Visit us at 6215 Ronald Reagan Dr in Lake St. Louis, MO, browse our products online, or call (636) 339-4987 to schedule a free estimate. We also offer financing options to help make your flooring project fit comfortably within your budget. We look forward to helping you find the perfect laminate floor for your home.
Barefoot Flooring helps homeowners from O'Fallon, Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, St. Charles, Weldon Spring, Wentzville and beyond choose the mist suitable flooring that last.
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