When you’re specifying luxury vinyl plank for a commercial project, the wear layer is the single number that decides whether your floor looks new at year one or year five. Here’s how to pick it.

What the wear layer actually does

The wear layer is the transparent PVC film laminated on top of the printed film. It takes the foot traffic, the furniture legs, the rolling carts, and the dog claws. Thicker doesn’t always mean better — it means you’re paying for durability you may not need. Match it to the space.

12 mil — light multifamily and rental

12 mil is the entry point. It handles apartments, rental properties, and offices with light foot traffic. It’s the most price-sensitive tier, which makes it a good fit for multifamily owners who want a budget-friendly floor without sacrificing waterproofing.

20 mil — standard commercial and retail

20 mil is the sweet spot. It handles retail stores, restaurants, salons, and general commercial spaces with daily but moderate traffic. This is the tier most distributors stock as their main line — broadest SKU range, best reorder frequency.

28–30 mil — hospitality and high-traffic public space

28 mil and above is for hotels, hospital corridors, school hallways, and big-box retail. These spaces take 24/7 traffic, rolling dollies, and vacuum cleaners. You pay more per square foot, but the replacement cycle doubles.