06/14/2026
🤔 What’s the difference between 5mm and 22 mil?
Most homeowners don’t know—and honestly, most “professionals” don’t either.
The tricky part is that they’re measuring TWO completely different things.
✅ MM (Millimeters) = Thickness of the floor
1 mm = 0.0394 inch
5 mm=0.197 in
A 5mm floor is thicker than a 4mm floor.
The thickness affects:
�• How solid the floor feels�• How well it handles minor subfloor imperfections�• Overall rigidity
✅ MIL (Wear Layer) = Thickness of the protective coating on top
1 mil=0.001 inch
22 mil=0.022 inch
A 22 mil wear layer has almost nothing to do with the overall thickness of the plank.
The wear layer affects:�• Scratch resistance�• Scuff resistance�• Long-term durability�• How well the floor handles pets and heavy traffic
You can think of it like tires on a truck:
The tire size is like the MM thickness.�The tread depth is like the MIL wear layer.
One doesn’t replace the other—you need both.
🏠 The flooring we currently recommend most often is a 5mm SPC vinyl plank with a 22 mil wear layer.
Why?
Because it offers a good balance of:�✔ Durability�✔ Waterproof performance�✔ Scratch resistance�✔ AFFORDABILITY�✔ Long-term value
When comparing flooring, don’t just ask how thick it is.
Ask:�“What is the wear layer?”
That answer will tell you far more about how the floor will perform years from now.
Have questions about flooring? Drop them below and we’ll answer them honestly.