What is the difference between SPC and WPC vinyl flooring?

Both are rigid-core luxury vinyl with the same waterproof PVC wear layer and printed decor film on top. The difference is the core underneath. SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) uses powdered limestone and PVC compressed into a dense, unfoamed core, which makes it harder, more dent-resistant and thinner. WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) uses wood flour and PVC with a foaming agent, so the core contains air pockets, making it thicker, warmer and softer underfoot and better at bridging minor subfloor imperfections.

Is SPC or WPC thicker?

WPC is thicker. Across the ranges we stock, SPC runs roughly 4 to 6.5 mm total build and WPC runs 7 to 15 mm. For example, Harbinger Acoustic Click SPC is 5.5 mm while Harbinger Signature WPC is 7.5 mm, COREtec Tile reaches 12 mm and COREtec Grande reaches 15 mm. The extra WPC thickness comes almost entirely from the foamed core and a thicker attached pad.

Which dents more easily, SPC or WPC?

WPC dents more easily under concentrated point loads. The air pockets that make the foamed core comfortable also make it compressible, so refrigerator feet, piano legs, narrow chair legs and heavy appliance castors can leave impressions. SPC has no foaming in the core and resists indentation far better. With WPC, use wide furniture coasters and felt pads under heavy point loads.

Is WPC quieter than SPC?

Not automatically, and the assumption is worth checking. Sound performance is driven mainly by the attached acoustic pad, not the core. In our own catalogue, Harbinger Acoustic Click SPC at 5.5 mm with a 1 mm cork pad rates IIC 72 and STC 70, while Harbinger Signature WPC at 7.5 mm with a 1.5 mm cork pad rates IIC 73 and STC 68. The WPC is marginally better on impact sound and actually lower on airborne sound. Read the IIC and STC numbers on the specific product rather than assuming the core type decides it.

Can SPC and WPC be used over radiant floor heating?

Most ranges in both categories are approved over radiant heat when installed to the manufacturer guideline, typically with the floor surface temperature capped around 27 degrees C. Dense SPC transmits heat slightly more efficiently than a foamed WPC core because air pockets insulate. Always check the individual product page - radiant approval is listed per range, not per category.

How much do SPC and WPC cost installed in Canada?

At YaleTown Floor, SPC material runs $2 to $5 per sq ft and WPC material runs $4 to $8 per sq ft - WPC costs more because the thicker foamed core and heavier attached pad cost more to make and ship. Click-lock floating installation in our market is $2.50 per sq ft, which puts SPC at roughly $4.50 to $7.50 per sq ft installed and WPC at roughly $6.50 to $10.50 per sq ft installed. Subfloor levelling, moisture mitigation and demolition are quoted separately and are usually what moves the total.

What wear layer thickness do I need?

The wear layer is independent of the core, so compare it separately. For normal residential use 0.3 mm (12 mil) is the practical minimum. For busy family homes with pets, 0.5 mm (20 mil) is the sweet spot and is what most of the ranges we stock carry. For commercial traffic look for 0.55 mm (22 mil) or more - COREtec Tile, for instance, carries 0.76 mm (30 mil).

Is SPC or WPC better for a basement?

Both are 100% waterproof and both work below grade. SPC is more dimensionally stable through temperature swings, which suits an unheated or intermittently heated basement. WPC feels warmer underfoot on a cold slab and bridges minor slab imperfections better. If the basement is finished, heated and reasonably flat, WPC is usually the more comfortable choice; if it is cool, seasonal or the slab is in good condition, SPC is the safer one.

SPC vs. WPC Vinyl Flooring in Canada (2026 Buyer's Guide)

Q: Is SPC or WPC better?

Neither is better overall - they trade off against each other. Choose SPC where dent resistance and a low build height matter: kitchens, entries, rental units, offices, rooms with heavy furniture, and doorways where you cannot raise the floor. Choose WPC where comfort matters: bedrooms, living rooms, basements over slightly uneven slabs, and second-floor rooms in condos. If the subfloor is imperfect, WPC hides more; if the room takes point loads, SPC survives better.

Q: Which is better over an uneven subfloor?

WPC. The thicker, slightly compressible core and thicker attached pad bridge minor undulations that a thin dense SPC plank would telegraph or, worse, rock over. Neither product substitutes for proper subfloor preparation - both call for a flat subfloor, generally within 3 mm over 3 m - but WPC is more forgiving of a slab that is close rather than perfect.

By Max, manager of YaleTown Floor · Updated July 26, 2026 · 14 min read

SPC and WPC are the two halves of the rigid-core vinyl category, and the marketing around them is unusually unhelpful. Both are 100% waterproof. Both click together. Both use the same kind of printed decor film and PVC wear layer on top. The only thing that actually differs is the core underneath — and that one difference changes how the floor feels, how it handles a fridge leg, how it sits at a doorway and how it copes with a slab that isn't quite flat. This guide compares them on the specs that decide the choice, using real numbers from the SPC and WPC ranges we stock.

Cross-section diagram comparing a 5.5 mm SPC dense stone-polymer core with an 8 mm WPC foamed wood-polymer core, and how each behaves under a concentrated point load

The whole comparison in one picture — a dense unfoamed SPC core in a thinner build, against a foamed WPC core that is thicker, softer and more forgiving but compresses under a point load.

What SPC and WPC Actually Are

Both acronyms describe a core material, nothing else.

SPC — Stone Plastic Composite. Powdered limestone (calcium carbonate) blended with PVC and stabilisers, then extruded and compressed without a foaming agent. The result is a dense, heavy, extremely rigid board. Typical total build across our range is 4 to 6.5 mm.

WPC — Wood Plastic Composite. Wood flour blended with PVC and a foaming agent, so the extruded core sets with air pockets distributed through it. The result is a lighter, thicker, slightly compressible board. Typical total build across our range is 7 to 15 mm.

Above the core, the two are effectively identical: a printed decor film for the visual, and a clear PVC wear layer on top that determines scratch and abrasion resistance. Below the core, both usually carry a bonded acoustic pad — cork or IXPE foam.

The Core Is the Only Real Difference

This matters because most of the claims you will read online attribute things to the core that the core does not control.

Waterproofing is not a differentiator. Both cores are inorganic or fully encapsulated in PVC. Neither swells. Every product in both of our collections is rated 100% waterproof.
Scratch resistance is not a differentiator. That is the wear layer's job, and wear layers are specified independently of the core.
The visual is not a differentiator. The decor film and embossing are the same technology on both.
What the core does control: density and therefore dent resistance, build height, warmth and firmness underfoot, dimensional stability through temperature swings, and how much subfloor unevenness the plank can bridge.

Head-to-Head Spec Comparison

Drawn from the ranges we actually stock, not from generic industry averages.

	SPC	WPC
Core material	Limestone + PVC, unfoamed	Wood flour + PVC, foamed
Typical total build	4 – 6.5 mm	7 – 15 mm
Density / weight	High — heavier per box	Lower — lighter per box
Dent resistance (point load)	Stronger	Weaker — use coasters
Underfoot feel	Firm, cooler	Softer, warmer
Subfloor tolerance	Telegraphs more	Bridges minor undulation
Dimensional stability	Excellent through temp swings	Very good
Build height at doors	Lower — easier transitions	Higher — may need undercutting
Waterproof	100%	100%
Material cost / sq ft	$2 – $5	$4 – $8
Installed / sq ft	$4.50 – $7.50	$6.50 – $10.50
In our range	Browse SPC	Browse WPC

The Cleanest Comparison: One Brand, Two Cores

Cross-brand comparisons are noisy — different wear layers, different pads, different warranties. Harbinger Floors happens to make both an SPC and a WPC line with the same surface technology, the same cork pad concept and the same warranty structure, which isolates the core almost perfectly.

Spec	Harbinger Acoustic Click SPC	Harbinger Signature Acoustic Click WPC
Total thickness	5.5 mm	7.5 mm
Wear layer	0.55 mm (22 mil)	0.55 mm (22 mil)
Attached pad	1 mm natural cork	1.5 mm natural cork
IIC (impact sound)	72	73
STC (airborne sound)	70	68
Format	9" × 59.5" plank	16" × 32" tile
Coverage / box	22.31 sq ft	21.29 sq ft
Warranty	Lifetime res. / 20 yr comm.	Lifetime res. / 20 yr comm.

Two things stand out. First, the wear layer and warranty are identical — the core is not buying you durability at the surface. Second, the sound numbers do not line up with the folklore: the WPC is one point better on impact sound and two points worse on airborne sound. Which brings us to the most commonly misstated part of this comparison.

When SPC Is the Right Call

SPC is the default recommendation for most Canadian projects, and the reasons are practical rather than romantic.

Biyork Hydrogen 6 — Firewood. A 6 mm SPC plank with a 0.5 mm wear layer and angle-angle click, 7" × 60", 23.25 sq ft per box.

Choose SPC when

The room takes point loads. Kitchens with an island and stools, rooms with a piano or a heavy sideboard, laundry rooms with a washer and dryer, and anywhere a fridge gets rolled in and out.
Build height is constrained. Overlay renovations where the new floor has to meet an existing tile threshold, or doorways you would rather not undercut. A 4–5.5 mm SPC often fits where a 10–12 mm WPC does not.
The space swings in temperature. Three-season rooms, seasonal cabins, sunrooms with big south-facing glass, and unheated basements. The dense core is the more dimensionally stable of the two.
It is a rental or a flip. Better dent resistance, lower material cost, and tenants do not put felt pads under furniture.
Budget is the constraint. SPC material typically lands $2–$3 per sq ft below a comparable WPC — on 1,000 sq ft that is a $2,000–$3,000 swing before labour.

Browse all SPC floors →

When WPC Is the Right Call

WPC costs more and dents more easily, so it has to earn its place — and in the right room it comfortably does.

Twelve Oaks Sure Wood Plus — Timberwalk. 8 mm WPC with a 1.5 mm cork pad, Välinge 5G locking, IIC 72 / STC 71.

Choose WPC when

People stand or walk barefoot on it. Bedrooms, living rooms, media rooms, nurseries. The foamed core has genuine give and reads warmer to bare feet than dense SPC on the same slab.
The subfloor is close but not perfect. A thicker, slightly compressible plank with a 1.5–3 mm pad bridges minor undulation that a 4 mm SPC would telegraph.
You want a longer plank or a wider format. Twelve Oaks Sure Wood runs a Välinge 5G lock rated for 80 ft of linear installation without a transition moulding — useful in open-plan spaces.
It is a condo with acoustic bylaws. Most WPC ships with a thicker attached pad, which usually clears an IIC 50+ strata requirement out of the box — but confirm the number on the specific product.

Browse all WPC floors →

Every SPC and WPC Range We Stock

If you are trying to place a specific product on one side of the line, this is the full list.

SPC range	Brand	Build
Acoustic Click SPC	Harbinger	5.5 mm
Hydrogen 6	Biyork	6 mm
Vagabond ESPC and other SPC lines	Montserrat Floors	4 – 6.5 mm
SPC ranges	Triforest	4 – 6 mm
AquaFix Grand Cru Series / Evolved / Chevron	Unifloor	6 – 8 mm
SPC ranges	Twelve Oaks, Richmond, Floortek, Cascade, Home's Pro, Inhaus, Taiga	4 – 6.5 mm

WPC range	Brand	Build
Originals Classics	COREtec	8 mm
Originals Premium (incl. Grande)	COREtec	7.5 – 15 mm
COREtec Tile	COREtec	12 mm
Signature Acoustic Click	Harbinger	7.5 mm
Acoustic Click WPC	Harbinger	7.5 mm
Domaine / Romulus / Opus	Montserrat Floors	8 – 9.5 mm
Sure Wood Plus / Chevron / Origin	Twelve Oaks	7 – 8 mm
Synergy Plank / Long Plank / Premium / Premium XL	Richmond	8 mm
Supreme X	Grandeur Flooring	10 mm
Duranova	Monterey Floor	10 mm
Oasis WPC	Cascade	8 mm
Weston	Timeless Floor	7 mm

The Sound Question — IIC vs STC

“WPC is quieter” is the single most repeated claim in this comparison, and it is only half right.

There are two ratings and they measure different things. IIC (Impact Insulation Class) measures how much footstep and impact noise transmits to the room below — this is what strata and condo bylaws specify. STC (Sound Transmission Class) measures airborne sound, like voices and television.

Both are driven far more by the attached acoustic pad than by the core. Look at the numbers in our own catalogue:

Harbinger Acoustic Click SPC, 1 mm cork — IIC 72 / STC 70
Harbinger Signature WPC, 1.5 mm cork — IIC 73 / STC 68
Twelve Oaks Sure Wood WPC, 1.5 mm cork — IIC 72 / STC 71
Cascade Oasis WPC, 1.5 mm pad — IIC 73 / STC 71
Richmond Synergy Premium WPC, 1.5 mm cork — IIC 62 / STC 63

Note the last one: a WPC with a cork pad rating well below an SPC with a thinner one. The spread across cores is a couple of points either way, and an SPC with a good pad matches or beats many WPCs. If your building has an acoustic requirement, specify to the published IIC number on the product, not to the core type.

Subfloor Tolerance and Build Height

These are the two practical constraints that most often decide the answer on site.

Flatness. Both products call for a flat subfloor — generally within about 3 mm over a 3 m span. Neither is a substitute for levelling compound. But when a slab is close, the thicker WPC plank with its thicker pad rides over minor undulation, whereas a 4 mm SPC will either telegraph the high spot or rock over it, which eventually stresses the click joint.

Build height. This is where WPC loses jobs. A 12 mm COREtec Tile — or a 15 mm COREtec Grande — is a very different proposition at a doorway than a 4 mm SPC. Measure the threshold to your adjoining tile, the gap under every interior door, and the rise at the top of any staircase before you commit to a thick WPC.

Wear Layer — The Spec That Is Not About the Core

Do not read total thickness as a proxy for durability. A 12 mm WPC with a 0.3 mm wear layer will scratch faster than a 4 mm SPC with a 0.55 mm wear layer. The wear layer is the only number that governs surface abrasion.

Wear layer	Suitable for
0.3 mm (12 mil)	Light residential, bedrooms, rentals on a budget
0.5 mm (20 mil)	Busy family homes with pets — the sweet spot, and what most of our range carries
0.55 mm (22 mil)	Heavy residential and light commercial
0.76 mm (30 mil)	Commercial traffic — e.g. COREtec Tile

Radiant Heat, Cold Slabs and Dimensional Stability

Most ranges in both categories are approved over hydronic radiant heating when installed to the manufacturer guideline, typically with surface temperature capped near 27 °C. Two nuances worth knowing:

SPC transmits heat marginally better. Air pockets insulate, so a dense unfoamed core moves heat from the slab to the room slightly more efficiently than a foamed one.
WPC feels warmer without heating. The same insulating effect means that on an unheated cold slab, WPC reads warmer to bare feet. These two points are not contradictory — they are the same physics viewed from either side.

For seasonal or intermittently heated spaces, SPC's dimensional stability through wide temperature swings is the safer bet. Either way, check radiant approval on the individual product page — it is listed per range.

What SPC and WPC Cost in Canada (2026)

Our actual pricing, not industry guesswork. Click-lock floating installation in the Lower Mainland market runs $2.50 per sq ft, so the installed figure is simply the material plus that.

	Material / sq ft	Click-lock install	Installed / sq ft
SPC	$2 – $5	$2.50	$4.50 – $7.50
WPC	$4 – $8	$2.50	$6.50 – $10.50

For a 1,000 sq ft main floor, budget roughly $4,500–$7,500 for SPC and $6,500–$10,500 for WPC, supplied and installed.

What is not in those numbers: demolition and disposal of the existing floor, subfloor levelling compound, moisture mitigation where readings demand it, and baseboards or shoe moulding. On a typical renovation those items — not the choice between SPC and WPC — are what actually move the total, which is why we quote them line by line rather than rolling them into a per-square-foot rate.

Room-by-Room Recommendation

Room	Pick	Why
Kitchen	SPC	Island stools, dropped pans, appliances rolled in and out
Bedroom	WPC	Barefoot comfort, warmth, low point-load risk
Living / media room	WPC	Softer underfoot, better impact sound to the room below
Entry / mudroom	SPC	Grit, salt, wet boots and concentrated traffic
Basement (heated, flat slab)	WPC	Warmer on concrete, bridges minor slab variation
Basement (cool or seasonal)	SPC	Better dimensional stability through temperature swings
Rental / flip	SPC	Dent resistance and $2–$3 per sq ft lower material cost
Overlay reno with tight thresholds	SPC	4–5.5 mm build often fits where 10–12 mm cannot
Condo with acoustic bylaw	Either	Specify to the published IIC number, not the core type

Pros and Cons

SPC — pros

Best dent resistance in the category. The dense unfoamed core barely deflects under a point load.
Low build height. 4–6.5 mm solves doorway and threshold problems WPC cannot.
Most dimensionally stable. The right answer for temperature-swinging spaces.
Lower cost. $2–$5 per sq ft material against $4–$8 for WPC.

SPC — cons

Firm and cooler underfoot. Noticeable barefoot on a cold slab.
Telegraphs the subfloor. Thin and rigid means high spots show and low spots can cause rocking.
Heavier to handle. Denser boxes on a walk-up.

WPC — pros

Warmer and softer underfoot. The genuine comfort advantage, and the main reason to pay more.
More forgiving over an imperfect subfloor. Thicker plank plus thicker pad bridges minor undulation.
Thicker attached pads as standard. Usually clears strata IIC requirements without a separate underlay.
Lighter to carry and cut. A real advantage on a DIY install.

WPC — cons

Dents under concentrated loads. Fridge feet, piano legs and narrow chair legs need wide coasters.
Taller build height. 10–15 mm at the top of the range creates transition and door-clearance work.
Costs more. $4–$8 per sq ft material — roughly double SPC at the entry point.
Slightly less efficient over radiant heat. Air pockets insulate.

Full-Service vs. Supply-Only — What We Offer

At YaleTown Floor we work two ways — pick the one that fits your project:

Supply Canada-wide. Order any floor from our SPC or WPC collections and we ship to your door anywhere in Canada. Free samples on every floor — order one of each core and stand on them barefoot before you decide.

Full-service renovation in the Lower Mainland. In Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley we handle the whole scope: free in-home measure, moisture testing, demolition, subfloor levelling, installation at $2.50 per sq ft for click-lock, transitions and baseboards — one team, one warranty. Get a fixed-price quote at yaletownfloor.com/pages/consultation-installation.

Why Trust YaleTown Floor on Rigid-Core Vinyl?

We stock the full rigid-core range across Harbinger, COREtec, Montserrat, Twelve Oaks, Biyork, Triforest, Richmond, Cascade, Grandeur, Monterey, Unifloor and Timeless — and we install rigid-core vinyl across the Lower Mainland, which means we see which cores come back with complaints and which do not. Every product page carries the manufacturer's specification, installation guide and warranty as downloads, and free samples ship Canada-wide. Tell us the room, the subfloor and the threshold heights, and we will tell you which core is right before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SPC and WPC?

The core. SPC uses limestone and PVC compressed without foaming — dense, hard, thin. WPC uses wood flour and PVC with a foaming agent — lighter, thicker, softer. Everything above the core (decor film, wear layer) and the waterproof rating are the same.

Is SPC or WPC better?

Neither. SPC for dent resistance and low build height; WPC for comfort and subfloor forgiveness. Kitchens, entries and rentals lean SPC; bedrooms, living rooms and heated basements lean WPC.

Which is thicker?

WPC. Our SPC range runs 4–6.5 mm, WPC 7–15 mm. Harbinger's own lines illustrate it: 5.5 mm SPC vs 7.5 mm WPC.

Which dents more easily?

WPC. The air pockets that make it comfortable also make it compressible. Use wide furniture coasters under refrigerators, pianos and narrow chair legs.

Is WPC actually quieter?

Only marginally on impact sound, and not necessarily on airborne sound. In our catalogue Harbinger SPC rates IIC 72 / STC 70 while Harbinger WPC rates IIC 73 / STC 68 — and Richmond Synergy WPC rates IIC 62 / STC 63. The attached pad drives these numbers, not the core. Specify to the published IIC on the product.

Can both go over radiant heat?

Most ranges in both categories are approved to the manufacturer guideline, usually capped near 27 °C surface temperature. SPC transmits heat slightly better; WPC feels warmer on an unheated slab. Check the individual product page.

Which is better over an uneven subfloor?

WPC — the thicker plank and pad bridge minor undulation. Neither replaces proper levelling; both want flatness within roughly 3 mm over 3 m.

What do SPC and WPC cost?

SPC: $2–$5 per sq ft material, $4.50–$7.50 installed. WPC: $4–$8 per sq ft material, $6.50–$10.50 installed. Click-lock floating installation is $2.50 per sq ft in our market. Levelling, moisture mitigation and demolition are quoted separately.

What wear layer should I buy?

0.5 mm (20 mil) for a busy family home, 0.3 mm (12 mil) minimum for light residential, 0.55 mm+ for commercial. The wear layer is independent of the core — compare it separately.

Which is better for a basement?

Both are waterproof. Heated and flat → WPC for warmth. Cool, seasonal, or a slab in good condition → SPC for stability.

Get a Real Quote in 24 Hours

Still undecided? Order a free sample of each — an SPC and a WPC — and stand on both barefoot in the actual room. It settles the question in about ten seconds. Send us your square footage, subfloor type and threshold heights and we'll come back same-day with a spec and a quote.

Shop SPC →Shop WPC →Request a quote →

About the author

Max manages YaleTown Floor, a Canadian flooring retailer and full-service renovation team headquartered in Burnaby, BC. He works directly with Harbinger, COREtec, Twelve Oaks, Biyork, Montserrat, Cascade and other rigid-core vinyl manufacturers to supply homeowners, contractors and designers across Canada. Questions on this guide? Reach the team via our consultation page.