Is 10mm laminate thick enough, or is 12mm worth paying more for? It depends on what you want from the floor. Some of our 10mm boards are rated AC5, and the manufacturer links thickness to impact resistance and sound. Our 10mm and 12mm prices also overlap, so don't assume the thicker board costs more. Compare the actual products. You can browse them in our laminate flooring collection.
Quick answer: is a 10mm plank good enough?
It depends on what the room needs. We carry 10mm planks rated AC5, the same wear class as the 12mm Goodfellow board. The wear layer and the thickness do different jobs, so pick the board that's strongest where your room needs it.
- Surface wear: set by the AC rating and the wear layer, not by millimetres.
- Feel and sound: the manufacturer says a thicker plank can sound better underfoot.
- Impact: the manufacturer links resistance to falling objects with plank thickness.
- Price: thickness doesn't set the price. Some of our 12mm boards cost less per sq ft than some 10mm boards.
What thickness changes, and what it does not change
Swiss Krono, one of the brands we stock, explains how the number is measured: "Flooring products like Swiss Krono will state plank thickness on their packages or in their advertising by measuring the entire plank thickness — from the bottom surface that rests on the subfloor to the top of the plank." Its example: "That means it’s a 12 mm thick plank with a 2 mm thick pad attached, equaling 14 mm." The number on the box can include an attached pad, so check what it covers before you compare two boards.
Thickness won't tell you how well a surface stands up to scuffs and abrasion. As Swiss Krono puts it, "At Swiss Krono USA, we see durability provided by the aluminum-oxide wear layer that’s on top." The AC rating is the number to compare here. Our 10mm Kronotex 4796 is AC5, while the 12mm Krono K6991 Brick Oak is AC4.
Swiss Krono does link resistance to a falling object with plank thickness, and says thicker planks can also sound better.
Feel and sound underfoot: 10mm against 12mm
Swiss Krono describes the sound difference like this: "A thicker plank can provide superior acoustics. Because the plank is thicker, sound doesn’t travel as well." How much you notice it will depend on the room. When you're choosing a specific board, look at its thickness and ask which underlay the maker recommends for it.
The European laminate trade association looks at the boards, underlay and subfloor as one system. It notes that "Choosing the right underlay will extend the life of a laminate floor system and optimise its overall performance" and that "It is not uncommon for unsuitable underlays or installation errors to become a cause for complaint at a later stage." Use the underlay recommended in your board's instructions.
The 10mm and 12mm planks we stock right now
We have 58 laminate SKUs in stock: 9 true 10mm planks, 32 at 12mm, and 17 at 8mm, 11mm, 14mm and 15mm. These five show what each of the two middle thicknesses gets you for the money.
| Product | Thickness | AC rating | Plank width | Box price / coverage | Price per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kronotex 4796 | 10mm | AC5 | 9.61" | $57.92 / 19.37 sq ft | $2.99 |
| Kronotex D3570 Harbour Oak | 10mm | AC5 | 6.18" | $33.44 / 13.99 sq ft | $2.39 |
| Swiss Krono Beige M1002 | 10mm | AC5 | 7 1/2" | $42.83 / 17.22 sq ft | $2.49 |
| Krono K6991 Brick Oak | 12mm | AC4 | 7.5" | $38.07 / 15.93 sq ft | $2.39 |
| Goodfellow Canyon No.019 | 12mm | AC5 | 7-5/8" | $69.99 / 20.18 sq ft | $3.47 |
Prices from our catalogue, checked October 7, 2026.
The other 10mm boards in stock include several Kronotex and Swiss Krono decors and the AC4 Krono K8630.
Price per square foot: what each thickness costs here
Our nine 10mm planks run from $1.99 to $2.99 per sq ft. Our 32 boards at 12mm run from $1.59 to $4.54, so the cheapest 12mm board actually costs less than the cheapest 10mm one. The Sunshiny SL1052 and SL1123 are 12mm boards at $1.59 per sq ft in a 19.75 sq ft box. Our least expensive 10mm plank, the Krono K8630, is $1.99.
The most useful overlap is at $2.39 per sq ft. That buys either the Kronotex D3570, a 10mm AC5 board in a 6.18" plank, or the Krono K6991 Brick Oak, a 12mm AC4 board in a 7.5" plank. For the same money you get either two extra millimetres or one wear class higher, and that's the whole choice in a nutshell.
What 500 sq ft of boards and underlay costs
We add 5% for cuts and offcuts to every quote, so a 500 sq ft room needs 525 sq ft of boards. Boxes only come whole, so we divide 525 by each box's coverage, round up, and multiply by the box price. A click laminate floor also needs underlay. Our standard roll covers 200 sq ft for $50.00 and is sold in full rolls. The table below covers boards only. We price installation, removal, delivery and trim on a measured quote once we know the rooms, the building type and the current flooring.
| Product | Boxes for 525 sq ft | Board cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kronotex 4796 (10mm) | 28 | $1,621.76 |
| Kronotex D3570 (10mm) | 38 | $1,270.72 |
| Swiss Krono M1002 (10mm) | 31 | $1,327.73 |
| Krono K6991 (12mm) | 33 | $1,256.31 |
| Goodfellow Canyon (12mm) | 27 | $1,889.73 |
Here's the full material cost for the two $2.39 boards, including 3 rolls of underlay for 525 sq ft and 13% HST. They end up very close:
| Material line for 500 sq ft | Kronotex D3570 (10mm, AC5) | Krono K6991 (12mm, AC4) |
|---|---|---|
| Boards | $1,270.72 | $1,256.31 |
| Underlay (3 rolls) | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Subtotal | $1,420.72 | $1,406.31 |
| HST at 13% | $184.69 | $182.82 |
| Total | $1,605.41 | $1,589.13 |
Both boards list at $2.39 per sq ft, but the 12mm board comes out $16.28 cheaper. The D3570's smaller 13.99 sq ft box means buying 38 boxes, compared with 33 of the larger K6991 box. The difference comes from box size, not thickness. Higher up the range, our widest 10mm plank, the Kronotex 4796 at $2.99 per sq ft, costs $1,621.76 in boards for 500 sq ft. The 12mm Goodfellow Canyon at $3.47 per sq ft costs $1,889.73, which is $267.97 more. Either thickness can be the cheaper floor, because width, box coverage, wear class and brand all affect the price alongside thickness.
AC ratings help compare abrasion resistance
The Association of the European Producers of Laminate Flooring tells shoppers to check the box: "When buying laminate flooring, always make sure that the wear class in accordance with European standard EN 13329 and the CE marking are shown on the packaging." The manufacturer's handbook keeps it simple: "The higher the abrasion class, the greater the resistance of the panels to abrasion."
You can see this in our own stock. The Krono K8630 is a 10mm AC4 board at $1.99 per sq ft, the Kronotex D3570 is a 10mm AC5 board at $2.39, and the Krono K6991 is a 12mm AC4 board at $2.39. Look at the rating, the thickness and the price together. A thicker board doesn't automatically have better wear resistance. Our laminate wear-class guide explains each class.
For thinner boards, read our 12mm vs 8mm comparison. For thicker ones, see the Swiss Krono 14mm review. Our Kronotex wide-plank review and AC5 laminate brand guide cover those brands and ratings in more depth.
When a 10mm plank is the right call
- You want AC5: several of our 10mm boards have it, including the Kronotex 4796 at $2.99 per sq ft and the D3570 at $2.39.
- Price per square foot matters: check the box price and the box coverage. The 10mm D3570 and the 12mm K6991 both list at $2.39 per sq ft, but their box sizes and ratings are different.
- You care about impact: the manufacturer links impact resistance with plank thickness, but check the board's full specifications too.
- You're torn between decors: check the thickness and AC rating of each one on the listing or the box.
When the 12mm plank earns its price
- Sound matters in the room: ask us which underlay is recommended for that board and your subfloor.
- Your subfloor has minor dips: Swiss Krono says thicker planks span minor deviations better, and the EPLF reminds us that the underlay and subfloor are part of the whole floor system.
- Impact is a priority: the manufacturer links resistance to falling objects with plank thickness.
- Thickness isn't the deciding factor: compare the 12mm board's AC rating and price per sq ft against our 10mm options first.
If you want both 12mm and AC5, the Goodfellow Canyon No.019 is $3.47 per sq ft.
How to check thickness and wear class before you order
- Measure the whole board in millimetres, from the bottom face to the top surface. Don't go by the product name.
- Ask whether that number includes an attached pad. Swiss Krono's example is a 12 mm plank with a 2 mm pad, totalling 14 mm.
- Look for the wear class on the box before the millimetres, and compare AC numbers when two boards cost the same.
- Work out the real price per sq ft by dividing the box price by the coverage printed on the box.
- Check the plank width too. A 9.61" plank and a 6.18" plank of the same thickness look quite different in a room.
10mm vs 12mm laminate questions
Is a 10mm plank thick enough for a family living room?
It can be, as long as the rest of the specs suit you. Some of our 10mm boards are AC5, which is the same rating as the 12mm Goodfellow Canyon.
Is 12mm better than 10mm?
It's thicker, and the manufacturer says that can help with sound and impact. It doesn't automatically mean a higher wear rating or a lower price per square foot, so check those on the boards you're looking at.
What is the real difference between a 10mm and a 12mm board?
The stated thickness differs by 2 mm, but that figure can include an attached pad, so check how each maker measures. Wear rating and price vary from board to board, whatever the thickness.
Does a thicker laminate floor last longer?
Not necessarily. Swiss Krono says thickness isn't a guarantee of durability and points to the top wear layer instead. It does link thickness to impact resistance, so think about both.
Should I use a different underlay for 12mm?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your board. The EPLF says underlay is part of the whole floor system and can help even out small uneven spots in the subfloor. It also warns that the wrong underlay or a poor install can cause problems later. Ask us which underlay suits your board and subfloor.
Get a laminate quote in Toronto and the GTA
Tell us about your rooms, the building type and the floor you have now. We'll price the boards in either thickness and add installation, removal, delivery and trim to a measured quote. You can request a quote online or send your room sizes through our contact page.
Top Floorings Depot
3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M1W 3K5
www.topfloorings.com
Call: 416-499-0117
Text: 416-770-8819