The 5 Best Flooring Companies in America

Choosing a flooring company is a little like choosing shoes for your house. Pick well, and everything feels polished, comfortable, and ready for guests. Pick badly, and suddenly every step reminds you of a decision you wish you could uninstall. The best flooring companies in America do more than sell planks, tiles, carpet rolls, or luxury vinyl samples that look suspiciously similar under store lighting. They help homeowners match lifestyle, budget, durability, installation quality, warranty coverage, and design goals without turning the project into a full-time job.

This guide ranks five standout flooring companies based on product range, service model, national reach, installation options, customer convenience, reputation, and practical value. Some are massive home improvement retailers. Some are flooring specialists. One brings samples to your living room, which is ideal if your car is already full of soccer gear, grocery bags, and one mystery item you keep forgetting to remove.

The best choice depends on your project. A rental refresh, a forever-home hardwood upgrade, a pet-proof luxury vinyl installation, and a bathroom tile renovation all need different strengths. Below, we break down the companies that consistently stand out for American homeowners.

How We Chose the Best Flooring Companies

To create a useful ranking, this article considered several real-world factors: flooring selection, installation support, availability, pricing transparency, warranty structure, design help, customer experience, and suitability for different project types. A company with 2,000 stores may be great for access, but a specialist with design consultants may be better for homeowners who want guidance. A bargain floor is not a bargain if the installer leaves gaps big enough to lose a pretzel in.

The best flooring companies also make the buying process easier. Flooring projects usually include measurement, subfloor checks, removal of old materials, transition strips, trim, delivery scheduling, furniture moving, and cleanup. In other words, the floor is only one character in a surprisingly crowded home-improvement sitcom.

1. The Home Depot: Best Overall National Flooring Retailer

Why The Home Depot Stands Out

The Home Depot is one of the strongest flooring companies in America because it combines huge product availability with broad installation support. Homeowners can shop carpet, hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, vinyl plank, tile, stone-look flooring, gym flooring, garage flooring, and installation supplies in one place. For people who want a familiar national retailer with online tools, local stores, and professional installation options, The Home Depot is hard to ignore.

The biggest advantage is convenience. You can browse flooring online, compare prices, order samples, visit a store, schedule measurements, and arrange installation. That matters because flooring projects often become more complicated after someone says, “This should be simple.” Famous last words, right next to “I watched one video, so I can tile the shower myself.”

Best For

The Home Depot is best for homeowners who want a one-stop flooring solution, strong product variety, national access, and the ability to coordinate materials and installation through a major retailer. It is especially useful for carpet installation, vinyl plank flooring, laminate flooring, tile projects, and budget-to-midrange hardwood options.

Pros

• Large selection of flooring materials and price points.
• Professional installation services available for many flooring types.
• Good choice for homeowners who want online shopping plus local store support.
• Strong access to supplies, tools, underlayment, trim, adhesives, and transition pieces.

Cons

• Installation experience can vary by location and contractor.
• Special orders may have longer timelines.
• Premium design guidance may not feel as personal as a boutique flooring showroom.

Bottom line: The Home Depot is the safest all-around pick for many homeowners because it offers selection, scale, and convenience. It may not feel fancy, but it gets the job done with the confidence of a pickup truck that has seen things.

2. Lowe’s: Best for Value, DIY-Friendly Shopping, and Installation Support

Why Lowe’s Makes the List

Lowe’s is another major player among the best flooring companies in America. Like The Home Depot, it offers a wide range of flooring products, including carpet, hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl plank, tile, sheet vinyl, and installation materials. Lowe’s appeals to homeowners who want strong retail access, competitive pricing, frequent promotions, and helpful project resources.

One of Lowe’s strengths is its homeowner-friendly shopping experience. The company offers flooring samples, visualizer tools, in-home measurements, and installation services. For DIY shoppers, Lowe’s also provides plenty of installation supplies and project guidance. For everyone else, there is professional installationalso known as “the option that prevents a Saturday project from becoming a Thanksgiving story.”

Best For

Lowe’s is best for budget-conscious homeowners, DIYers who need materials and guidance, and shoppers who want to compare flooring options in-store before committing. It is especially strong for laminate flooring, vinyl plank flooring, carpet, tile, and practical family-friendly surfaces.

Pros

• Large national footprint and accessible stores.
• Good mix of budget, midrange, and premium flooring options.
• Installation services available for multiple flooring categories.
• Useful for DIY shoppers who need tools, supplies, and project advice.

Cons

• Installation quality depends on local service partners.
• Project pricing can change after measurement or subfloor evaluation.
• High-end custom flooring shoppers may want a specialty dealer.

Bottom line: Lowe’s is a reliable choice for homeowners who want value, access, and flexibility. It is particularly good for people who want to compare materials in person and keep the project under one retail roof.

3. Floor & Decor: Best for Tile, Stone, and Hard-Surface Flooring

Why Floor & Decor Stands Out

Floor & Decor is a specialty flooring retailer focused heavily on hard-surface flooring. If your dream involves porcelain tile, natural stone, waterproof vinyl, engineered wood, laminate, decorative wall tile, or enough grout choices to make your brain briefly leave the room, Floor & Decor is a top contender.

The company is especially popular with designers, contractors, remodelers, and ambitious DIYers. Its warehouse-style stores usually offer large in-stock selections, which is a major advantage when you need enough tile for a kitchen, bathroom, entryway, or whole-house flooring project. In-stock inventory can reduce delays, and delays are the natural enemy of every renovation schedule.

Best For

Floor & Decor is best for hard-surface flooring projects, especially tile, stone, luxury vinyl, laminate, and engineered wood. It is also a strong choice for homeowners working with contractors because the product selection is broad and project materials are easy to source in volume.

Pros

• Excellent selection of tile, stone, vinyl, laminate, and wood-look flooring.
• Strong option for bathroom, kitchen, mudroom, and high-traffic flooring projects.
• Appeals to both professionals and serious DIY homeowners.
• Large inventory helps with matching materials and buying project quantities.

Cons

• Not as carpet-focused as other companies.
• Installation is not the central service model in the same way as shop-at-home flooring companies.
• The huge selection can feel overwhelming without a clear design plan.

Bottom line: Floor & Decor is one of the best flooring companies for homeowners who care about hard-surface selection. If tile is the star of your renovation, this company deserves a serious look.

4. Floor Coverings International: Best In-Home Design Experience

Why Floor Coverings International Stands Out

Floor Coverings International takes a more personalized approach. Instead of asking you to wander through aisles under fluorescent lights trying to remember whether your sofa is “warm beige” or “oatmeal with emotional baggage,” the company brings flooring samples to your home. That matters because flooring looks different under your actual lighting, next to your actual cabinets, and beside the dog who will absolutely be testing its scratch resistance.

The company operates through locally owned businesses, offering in-home consultations, design guidance, product selection, installation coordination, and follow-up. This model works well for homeowners who want more help choosing the right material and less guesswork about how a sample will look once installed.

Best For

Floor Coverings International is best for homeowners who want personalized flooring advice, in-home sample viewing, and a guided project experience. It is a strong choice for busy families, design-conscious homeowners, and people who feel overwhelmed by big-box flooring aisles.

Pros

• Convenient in-home consultation model.
• Design associates help match flooring to lifestyle and decor.
• Good for carpet, hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl, tile, and specialty flooring.
• Local ownership can create a more personal service experience.

Cons

• Experience may vary by local franchise.
• Pricing may not be as instantly visible as retail shelf pricing.
• Availability depends on local market coverage.

Bottom line: Floor Coverings International is ideal if you want flooring guidance at home and prefer a more curated process. It is less “grab a cart” and more “let’s make your room look intentional.”

5. Empire Today: Best for Fast Shop-at-Home Flooring Installation

Why Empire Today Makes the Ranking

Empire Today is one of the most recognized names in residential flooring, especially for homeowners who want a quick, shop-at-home installation process. The company is known for in-home estimates, sample selection at your house, all-inclusive project quotes, financing options, and installation services for carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and tile.

Empire Today is particularly appealing when speed and convenience matter. For many homeowners, the ability to schedule a consultation, see samples at home, receive a quote, and arrange installation without visiting multiple stores is a major benefit. The company is also familiar to many Americans thanks to decades of advertising. If you can hear the jingle in your head right now, congratulations: your brain has installed it permanently.

Best For

Empire Today is best for homeowners who want a fast, convenient flooring process and prefer in-home shopping. It is especially useful for carpet replacement, vinyl plank upgrades, rental property refreshes, and projects where the homeowner wants installation handled from start to finish.

Pros

• Convenient shop-at-home service model.
• Professional installation offered across major flooring categories.
• Good for homeowners who want fast project scheduling.
• All-inclusive quotes can simplify decision-making.

Cons

• Pricing is typically provided after an in-home consultation.
• Selection is curated rather than unlimited.
• Customer experience can vary depending on market and installation crew.

Bottom line: Empire Today is a strong pick for convenience and speed. It is not the place to browse every flooring product on Earth, but it is one of the better options when you want the process handled quickly and professionally.

Quick Comparison of the 5 Best Flooring Companies

How to Choose the Right Flooring Company

Match the Company to the Project

If you are replacing carpet in three bedrooms, Empire Today, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot may be convenient. If you are remodeling a bathroom with porcelain tile, Floor & Decor may offer the best selection. If you want someone to help you compare colors inside your home, Floor Coverings International may save you from buying a floor that looked gorgeous in the showroom and oddly orange in your hallway.

Ask About Installation Details

Before signing, ask what is included in the quote. Does the company remove old flooring? Move furniture? Handle stairs? Replace underlayment? Fix subfloor problems? Haul away debris? Install trim and transitions? Many flooring complaints begin with a misunderstanding about what “included” actually includes. In home improvement, vague language is where budgets go to do yoga.

Compare Material Quality, Not Just Price

For carpet, compare fiber type, face weight, density, padding, and stain resistance. For vinyl plank, compare total thickness, wear layer, core type, waterproof claims, and locking system. For hardwood and engineered wood, compare species, veneer thickness, finish durability, and refinishing potential. For tile, check slip rating, porcelain versus ceramic construction, grout requirements, and installation complexity.

Read the Warranty Carefully

A flooring warranty can sound impressive until you read the exclusions. Many warranties require proper maintenance, approved cleaning products, correct humidity levels, and professional installation. Some cover material defects but not labor. Others cover installation labor but not damage from moisture, pets, moving furniture, or “creative” cleaning experiments involving vinegar, steam, and blind optimism.

Best Flooring Types for American Homes

Luxury vinyl plank remains one of the most popular choices because it is durable, water-resistant, attractive, and generally more affordable than hardwood. It works well in kitchens, basements, rental properties, and busy family homes.

Engineered hardwood is ideal for homeowners who want real wood beauty with more dimensional stability than solid hardwood. It can be a smart choice for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and open-concept spaces.

Carpet still wins in bedrooms, stairs, and cozy family spaces. It is soft, warm, and forgiving when someone drops a phone at 2 a.m. while pretending they were not scrolling.

Tile is excellent for bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, mudrooms, and high-moisture areas. Porcelain tile is especially durable, though installation requires skill and patience.

Laminate offers a budget-friendly wood-look option and has improved dramatically in recent years. It is best for dry areas and homeowners who want style without hardwood pricing.

Real-World Experiences and Practical Lessons from Flooring Projects

After reviewing flooring companies and common homeowner experiences, one lesson becomes obvious: the best flooring project is won before installation day. The most successful homeowners take measurements seriously, ask detailed questions, compare samples in natural and artificial light, and think about how the floor will live after the installers leave. A showroom sample may look perfect at noon under bright lights, but your home has shadows, furniture, pets, kids, spilled coffee, and that one chair everyone drags instead of lifting.

One common experience is sample shock. Homeowners often choose a plank in a store, bring it home, and discover it changes color next to their cabinets. A gray vinyl plank can suddenly look blue. A warm oak can look yellow. A beige carpet can look like it has made a personal commitment to sadness. This is why in-home consultations from companies like Floor Coverings International and Empire Today can be valuable. Seeing samples in the actual room reduces expensive surprises.

Another practical lesson is that subfloors matter more than people expect. A beautiful new floor installed over an uneven, damp, or damaged subfloor can fail early. Luxury vinyl may separate. Tile may crack. Hardwood may cup. Carpet may develop lumps. The top layer gets the applause, but the subfloor is doing the quiet work underneath, like the stage crew of a Broadway show.

Homeowners also learn quickly that “waterproof” does not mean “invincible.” Waterproof vinyl can handle spills, but water can still sneak around edges, under baseboards, or into subfloor seams. Tile is water-resistant, but grout needs maintenance. Hardwood may survive a few drips but will not appreciate a dishwasher leak. Choosing the right flooring means thinking honestly about the room’s risks.

Pets are another big factor. Dogs with energetic paws, cats with dramatic zoomies, and water bowls placed by tiny interior designers can change the best flooring choice. Luxury vinyl plank and tile are often smart for pet owners. If choosing carpet, stain resistance and quality padding become essential. If choosing hardwood, a harder species and durable finish help, but no floor is completely scratch-proof unless your pet is a goldfish.

Installation day also brings lessons. Clear communication matters. Homeowners should confirm arrival windows, furniture-moving expectations, removal procedures, disposal fees, trim handling, door clearance, and whether someone needs to be home. It is also wise to inspect the work before making final payment. Look for gaps, damaged planks, loose transitions, uneven cuts, and cleanup issues. A polite but careful walkthrough can prevent weeks of emails later.

Finally, the best flooring company is not always the cheapest. A slightly higher quote may include better padding, more careful installation, stronger warranties, furniture moving, old-floor removal, or faster service. The right company should explain trade-offs clearly. Great flooring is not just about what you walk on; it is about how confidently you can live on it for the next decade.

Conclusion

The 5 best flooring companies in America each serve a different kind of homeowner. The Home Depot is the best overall national flooring retailer thanks to its scale, selection, and installation options. Lowe’s is excellent for value-focused shoppers and DIY-friendly project planning. Floor & Decor is the strongest choice for tile, stone, and hard-surface flooring. Floor Coverings International delivers a personalized in-home design experience. Empire Today is ideal for homeowners who want fast, convenient shop-at-home installation.

The smartest approach is to get at least two estimates, compare product specifications, read warranty details, and ask exactly what installation includes. Flooring is a major investment, and the company you choose matters almost as much as the material itself. Choose carefully, and your home gets a fresh foundation. Choose too quickly, and your floor may become the most expensive thing you complain about at dinner parties.

Note: This article was created from current public company information, reputable U.S. home-improvement resources, verified customer review summaries, and practical flooring-buying guidance. It is written for web publication without raw source links or unnecessary citation placeholders.