SPC vs WPC Vinyl Flooring: What's the Difference?

If you've been shopping for luxury vinyl plank flooring, you've almost certainly come across the terms SPC and WPC — and possibly felt confused about what they actually mean. Both are types of rigid core vinyl plank, and both are wildly popular for residential installations in Ontario. But they have real differences that matter for how the floor performs in your home.

What They Have in Common

Both SPC and WPC are forms of LVP (luxury vinyl plank) with a rigid core — as opposed to earlier flexible vinyl products. Both are:

• 100% waterproof throughout the plank (not just on the surface)
• Click-lock floating installation over most subfloors
• Available with a top wear layer in various thicknesses (12 mil to 30 mil)
• Available with attached underlay
• Suitable for kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and main floors

SPC — Stone Plastic Composite

SPC has a core made from limestone powder, PVC, and stabilizers. The result is an extremely dense, rigid, and heavy plank that is highly resistant to denting and is very stable under temperature changes.

SPC strengths:

• Denser and more dent-resistant than WPC
• Handles temperature extremes better — good for spaces that get hot in summer or cold in winter
• Slimmer profile (typically 4–8mm) makes it good for replacing existing flooring where door clearances are tight
• Generally less expensive than WPC

SPC weaknesses:

• Harder underfoot than WPC — less acoustic dampening without a thick underlay
• Less forgiving over uneven subfloors than WPC

SPC is the dominant choice in Ontario right now — most of the LVP we install at Advanced Flooring is SPC. It handles our climate's temperature swings especially well.

WPC — Wood Plastic Composite

WPC has a core that incorporates wood fibre or other organic material into the PVC, creating a less dense but softer and more cushioned plank.

WPC strengths:

• Softer and warmer underfoot — more comfortable for long periods of standing
• Better sound absorption — quieter underfoot, especially in multi-storey homes or condos
• More forgiving over minor subfloor imperfections

WPC weaknesses:

• Less dent-resistant than SPC — heavy furniture or appliance feet can indent WPC more easily
• Can be less stable in temperature extremes — not ideal for sunrooms, garages, or unconditioned spaces
• Generally thicker (6–12mm), which can create issues with door clearances in renovation projects
• Typically more expensive per square foot than SPC

Which Should You Choose?

For most Kitchener-Waterloo homes, SPC is the right call — especially for basements, kitchens, and main floors. Ontario's seasonal temperature fluctuations (including cold winters and warm summers) can stress WPC more than SPC over time.

WPC makes more sense if you're installing in a space where comfort underfoot is the priority — a playroom, a bedroom, or a space where people spend a lot of time standing — and temperature control is consistent. Adding a thicker IXPE underlay to SPC (some SPC products come with attached underlay) can close most of the comfort gap between the two.

What We Stock at Advanced Flooring

The majority of our LVP inventory is SPC, with attached IXPE or EVA underlay, in thicknesses from 5mm to 12mm. We carry Toucan, HOME'S PRO, Grandeur, NAF, Shaw SolidTech, COREtec, and many more. Our team can walk you through the differences based on your specific space.

Visit our Waterloo showroom at 11A-283 Northfield Dr E, call 519-279-8456, or book a free in-home estimate.