Buying flooring online is straightforward once you know the steps: measure your room, order free samples, calculate square footage with a 10% overage buffer, choose your material, and place your order with flat-rate shipping to your door. Online flooring typically costs 20–40% less than showroom pricing because there's no retail overhead — you're buying direct.
This guide covers everything you need to know before placing your first order.
Why buy flooring online?
The flooring industry has been slow to move online, which means the savings are real. Traditional flooring showrooms mark up products to cover rent, commissions, and installation crews. When you buy direct from an online flooring retailer, those costs disappear.
Here's what you can expect:
- 20–40% lower prices than big-box retailers for comparable quality
- Transparent pricing per square foot with no hidden fees
- Free sample delivery so you can see the product in your space before committing
- Flat-rate shipping that brings full pallets to your door
- No sales pressure — shop at your own pace
The main concern buyers have is not being able to see the floor before buying. That's exactly what samples solve.
Step 1: Order samples first — always
Never buy flooring online without seeing a physical sample in your home first. Photos and monitor settings vary wildly, and what looks like a warm oak online can appear cold and gray under your lighting.
Most reputable online flooring retailers offer free or low-cost samples. At Portofino Flooring, every sample is a 12-inch plank cut that ships free — large enough to see the texture, grain, and finish clearly.
When you receive your samples:
- Place them on your actual subfloor, not on top of existing flooring
- View them in both natural daylight and artificial evening lighting
- Hold them up against your cabinets, walls, and trim
- Walk on them if you can — feel the texture and hardness underfoot
- Live with them for 24–48 hours before deciding
Order 2–3 samples at a time so you can compare side by side. Most people narrow it down to one favorite within a day or two.
Step 2: Measure your room correctly
Accurate measurements are the most important step. Under-ordering means you'll run short mid-installation. Over-ordering by too much wastes money.
For rectangular rooms:
- Measure the length and width in feet
- Multiply to get square footage (length × width)
- Add 10% for waste and cuts
Example: A 12 × 15 foot living room = 180 sq ft. Add 10% = 198 sq ft. Round up to 200 sq ft.
For L-shaped or irregular rooms:
- Break the room into rectangles
- Calculate each rectangle separately
- Add them together
- Add 10% overage
Why 10% overage matters: Every installation produces off-cuts, especially around doorways, corners, and obstacles. With diagonal or herringbone patterns, use 15% overage instead of 10%. Running short on flooring mid-project is a serious problem — dye lots change, and a box ordered three weeks later may not match your installed floors exactly.
| Room type | Overage to add |
|---|---|
| Standard rectangular room | 10% |
| Room with many angles or obstacles | 12–15% |
| Diagonal or herringbone pattern | 15% |
| Staircase | Measure each step individually |
Step 3: Understand what you're buying
Online flooring comes in several core categories. Knowing the differences before you order prevents expensive mistakes.
| Flooring type | Price range | 100% waterproof? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPC vinyl | $3–5/sq ft | Yes | Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, high traffic |
| Laminate | $2–4/sq ft | Surface only | Living rooms, bedrooms, dry areas |
| Engineered hardwood | $6–10/sq ft | No (moisture-resistant) | Living rooms, bedrooms, low-moisture areas |
| WPC vinyl | $3–5/sq ft | Yes | Basements, areas needing underfoot comfort |
The most important distinction: waterproof vs moisture-resistant. SPC vinyl and WPC vinyl are 100% waterproof — water cannot penetrate the core. Laminate has a waterproof surface layer that resists spills for several hours but will swell if standing water sits for extended periods. Engineered hardwood is moisture-resistant but not waterproof — it should not go in bathrooms or basements prone to humidity.
If you're unsure which type fits your room, see our Flooring Comparison Guide.
Step 4: Check the key specs before ordering
When you're on a product page, these are the numbers that actually matter:
Wear layer thickness (for vinyl flooring) The wear layer is the protective coating on top of vinyl flooring. Thicker = more durable.
- 6–8 mil: Light residential use only
- 12 mil: Standard residential
- 20 mil: Heavy residential, recommended for families with pets or high traffic
- 28+ mil: Light commercial
Portofino's SPC vinyl uses a 20 mil wear layer across the entire collection.
AC rating (for laminate flooring) The AC rating measures laminate's resistance to abrasion, impact, staining, and burns.
- AC1–AC2: Light residential
- AC3: General residential — recommended minimum
- AC4: Heavy residential, light commercial
- AC5: Commercial
Core thickness Thicker cores are more forgiving on slightly uneven subfloors and feel more solid underfoot. For SPC and WPC vinyl, 4–6mm is standard. Laminate ranges from 8–12mm. Engineered hardwood is typically 12–14mm overall.
Certifications Look for: FloorScore (indoor air quality), Greenguard Gold (low chemical emissions), CARB2 (California Air Resources Board — formaldehyde standards). All Portofino products carry FloorScore and CARB2 certification; engineered hardwood and SPC vinyl also carry Greenguard Gold.
Step 5: Calculate your total order
Once you have your square footage with overage, convert it to boxes.
Every product page lists how many square feet each box covers. Divide your total square footage by the box coverage, and always round up — never down.
Example:
- Room: 200 sq ft needed
- Box coverage: 23.5 sq ft per box
- 200 ÷ 23.5 = 8.5 boxes → order 9 boxes
Keep at least one extra box in storage after installation. If a plank is damaged down the road, you'll want a matching replacement from the same dye lot.
Step 6: Understand shipping and delivery
Flooring is heavy. A full order for a 500 sq ft room can weigh 400–600 lbs. This is not a product that ships in a small box — it arrives on a freight pallet.
Here's what to expect with online flooring delivery:
Curbside delivery vs threshold delivery Most online flooring retailers offer curbside delivery — the freight driver brings the pallet to the end of your driveway or curb. You are responsible for moving it inside. At Portofino Flooring, shipping is $250 flat rate to any address in the contiguous United States, delivered in 3–7 business days.
Inspect your delivery before signing Always inspect every box before the driver leaves. Look for:
- Crushed or damaged corners on boxes
- Water damage or wet boxes
- Visible damage to planks through any torn packaging
If you see damage, note it on the delivery receipt and photograph it. Do not sign a clean receipt for visibly damaged goods — this protects your ability to file a claim.
Acclimation Most flooring needs to acclimate to your home's temperature and humidity before installation. Leave boxes in the room where the floor will be installed for 24–72 hours before opening and laying planks. SPC vinyl typically requires less acclimation time than hardwood or laminate due to its dimensional stability.
Step 7: Installation — DIY or professional?
Most flooring sold online is designed for DIY installation. Click-lock floating floors — including all SPC vinyl, WPC, and laminate — require no glue or nails. You click planks together and float the floor over your subfloor.
Realistic DIY assessment:
| Factor | DIY-friendly? |
|---|---|
| Click-lock SPC or laminate | Yes — beginner friendly |
| Engineered hardwood (floating) | Yes — moderate skill needed |
| Engineered hardwood (glue-down) | Professional recommended |
| Large rooms with many obstacles | More time, same process |
| Stairs | Professional recommended |
If you've never installed flooring before, SPC vinyl is the most forgiving starting point. The rigid core means minor subfloor imperfections won't telegraph through the finished floor, and mistakes are easier to fix before the floor is locked in place.
For installation guides, see:
- How to install SPC vinyl flooring
- How to install laminate flooring
- How to install engineered hardwood
Common questions about buying flooring online
Is it safe to buy flooring online without seeing it in person? Yes, as long as you order samples first. A 12-inch sample gives you a true read on color, texture, and finish under your actual lighting conditions. Every Portofino sample ships free.
What if my order arrives and the color is different than expected? This is why samples matter. If you've received samples and approved the color before ordering, the production floor will match. If something arrives genuinely different from what was shown online, a reputable retailer will work with you — Portofino has a 30-day return policy on unopened boxes.
Can I return flooring I ordered online? Most online flooring retailers accept returns on unopened boxes within a set window. Portofino accepts returns on unopened boxes within 30 days of delivery. Opened boxes generally cannot be returned because planks cannot be resold once mixed with other lots.
How do I know how much flooring I need? Measure your room in feet, multiply length × width for square footage, then add 10%. Divide by the box coverage listed on the product page and round up to the nearest whole box.
What's the difference between SPC and LVP? LVP (luxury vinyl plank) is a broad category. SPC (stone plastic composite) is a specific type of LVP with a rigid stone-polymer core. SPC is denser, more dimensionally stable, and more durable than WPC-core LVP. When someone says LVP, they may mean any vinyl plank — SPC is the performance-grade version.
Does online flooring come with a warranty? Yes. Reputable online retailers include manufacturer warranties. Portofino's SPC vinyl carries a lifetime residential warranty. Laminate and engineered hardwood warranties vary by product — check individual product pages for details.
Ready to order?
Start by ordering free samples — it costs nothing and takes the guesswork out of buying online. Once you've found your floor, use the square footage formula above to calculate your order, and you're ready to go.