10 Best Laminate Underlayments 2025 in the United States

The QuietWalk LV Underlayment is a solid choice for anyone looking to enhance their flooring experience with luxury vinyl, laminate, or wood floors. One of its standout features is the superior sound reduction offered by the recycled fibers, which can significantly minimize noise transfer between rooms, creating a quieter living environment. This makes it particularly beneficial for apartments or multi-story homes where noise can be a concern.

Another great aspect is its compression resistance. This underlayment effectively supports the seams of your flooring, ensuring that it won’t flatten over time even with consistent foot traffic. Additionally, it includes a moisture barrier that protects your floors from potential damage due to moisture vapor emissions, making it suitable for use over both concrete and wood subfloors.

Moreover, the product is environmentally friendly, made from recycled synthetic fibers without harmful VOCs, which is a plus for indoor air quality. It’s also compatible with in-floor radiant heating systems, allowing for even heat distribution while protecting your flooring from thermal shock.

The ROBERTS Black Jack Underlayment is designed for use under laminate and engineered wood flooring, making it a versatile option for many homeowners. With a thickness of 2.5 mm, it provides a good balance of cushioning and support. The large 600 sq. ft. roll is cost-effective compared to buying multiple smaller rolls, which is a plus for those covering large areas. This underlayment is particularly suitable for use over radiant heated floors, adding to its versatility.

One of its standout features is the sound insulation, with an IIC rating of 70 and an STC rating of 66, which means it effectively reduces noise transmission, making it a good choice for multi-story homes or apartments. Installation is made easier with the included plastic overlap and adhesive strip, although beginners might still find it a bit challenging without prior experience. Since it is made from synthetic materials, it may not be the best choice for those looking for eco-friendly options. Additionally, while it is effective at reducing sound, it might not completely eliminate noise for those needing extreme soundproofing.

In conclusion, the ROBERTS Black Jack Underlayment is a reliable and cost-effective option that provides good sound insulation and is easy to install, making it a suitable choice for most laminate and engineered wood flooring projects.

The FLOORLOT BlueStep Underlayment is designed for use with laminate, engineered wood, and solid hardwood floor systems, offering 200 square feet of coverage per roll. Its standout feature is the built-in moisture barrier that effectively protects floors from subfloor moisture, eliminating the need for additional films. This can be a significant advantage in maintaining the longevity of your flooring in moisture-prone areas.

The underlayment also offers standard sound absorption, helping to reduce noise from foot traffic and minimizing the hollow sound often associated with floating floors. This is particularly beneficial for households with active lifestyles or multi-story homes where noise management is crucial. At 3 millimeters thick, the cushioned foam not only provides thermal insulation but also smooths out minor imperfections and irregularities in the subfloor, enhancing comfort underfoot.

Installation is user-friendly, with the underlayment easy to roll out and secure using the included tape. However, it might not provide the highest level of sound insulation available on the market, making it less ideal for very noise-sensitive environments. Additionally, while it handles standard moisture well, extremely wet conditions might still require additional protection. The bright blue color might not matter once installed, but it's something to consider during the setup phase. The FLOORLOT BlueStep Underlayment is a solid choice for those looking to improve moisture protection, comfort, and noise reduction in their flooring, especially if ease of installation is a priority.