Guide to RV Flooring Types

When it comes to RV flooring, your choice is the foundation for the rest of your interior design decisions. If it’s time to update your RV flooring, we’ve removed the guesswork by breaking down the most popular RV flooring options. Renovating your RV can be fun! Remember to enjoy the process and take plenty of pictures along the way. Everyone loves a good before-and-after.

If you don’t know where to begin, consult with the Camping World Renovation & Collision team to get the ideas rolling.

Key Takeaways

• RV flooring construction: Most RVs use plywood decking over wood or aluminum framing, finished with vinyl or linoleum for water resistance; toy haulers often feature diamond-plated or rubberized flooring, while some brands like Keystone offer advanced, lightweight alternatives like HyperDeck™.
• Flooring replacement options: Popular choices include carpet (cozy but high-maintenance), hardwood (stylish but heavy), laminate (durable and water-resistant, but slippery), and vinyl (lightweight, affordable, and water-resistant, though less durable).
• Installation tips: Replacing RV flooring involves removing old materials, prepping the subfloor, and installing new flooring—potentially a DIY project, but professional help is recommended for complex renovations.

How Are Most RV Floors Made?

The vast majority of entry-level RVs feature similar flooring construction. The floor is framed using wood or aluminum studs before plywood decking is laid on top. The most common thickness for RV plywood decking is ⅝”, but this can vary by manufacturer. The decking is then finished with a single layer of vinyl or linoleum. Because this layer is laid before any interior cabinetry or sidewalls are installed, it creates a seamless floor that’s more resistant to water damage. 

You’ll also commonly find diamond-plated or rubberized RV flooring in toy hauler garages and in many pass through storage compartments. This is typically also laid on top of plywood decking and often includes frame-welded or bolted tie-downs for securing motorized vehicles or other recreation equipment. 

Of course, there are exceptions, such as Keystone’s HyperDeck™ flooring. Their process uses an underneath protective film for resistance to road damage and a fiberglass-reinforced base layer that’s lighter than wood. Instead of traditional plywood decking, they use a strong, denser foam core and a water-resistant, fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene under the one-layer laminate finish.

Options for an RV Flooring Replacement

Because most RVs have a plywood flooring base, owners can replace the original flooring with several options, like vinyl, carpet, or linoleum. Let’s explore some of the best RV flooring options.

Carpet

RV carpet is one of the most classic and accessible flooring options for RVers. Often used in slide-outs and bedrooms, carpet can instantly make a space feel cozier. RV carpet rugs are a great addition to your flooring for added insulation and a softer feel underfoot. 

Advantages:

• Variety. Carpet is available in many colors and styles, allowing you to customize your RV.
• Insulation. If you and your family like to camp in colder climates, the carpet provides a soft, warm barrier between your feet and the hard floor underneath. 
• Traction and security. Carpet also has more traction than other popular options, a perk for older pets and people.
• Cost and Installation. The most significant advantage of choosing an RV carpet is cost. The range depends on the quality (fiber type and thickness), so you can find an option within your budget. Plus, installation is relatively cheap and easy.

Disadvantages:

• More maintenance. Unfortunately, carpet is the most difficult to clean compared to the other options. With camping comes mud, dirt, sand, and more, which can stain and age the carpet much quicker than one would like. Vacuuming will become a daily task, requiring a minimum of effort to keep the carpet looking clean. Though we have some helpful tips for keeping your RV clean, carpet cleaning may feel like a lot of maintenance. 
• Not water-resistant. Carpet also tends to be more susceptible to water damage than other types of RV flooring.

Hardwood

RV hardwood flooring is common in any flooring conversation, including for your RV. But just because hardwood is popular doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice. It’s worth mentioning that what’s best for a house isn’t always true with an RV.

Advantages:

• Easy to clean. Wood flooring is easy to clean, especially on those long days when you bring the camp inside on the bottoms of your shoes. 
• Non-absorbent. It doesn’t absorb odors or stains easily, plus it’s easy on bare feet.

Disadvantages:

• Weight. While flooring weight matters less in a house, hardwood floors in an RV can add upwards of 200 pounds per 100 square feet to your cargo weight, affecting gas mileage and towing ability. 
• Durability. Hardwoods can warp in humid climates and scratch easily under pets and kids.

Laminate

While laminate planks are a type of vinyl flooring, they’re a step up from the original design found in most starter RVs. It’s the perfect marriage of vinyl flooring and hardwood flooring in that you get the look and feel of hardwood but with the benefits of vinyl.

Advantages:

• Insulation options. Floating RV laminate flooring planks don’t have to stick directly to the subfloor. By laying down insulation beforehand, you can get the added comfort of carpet without sacrificing plank flooring design. The insulation also helps keep the floor warmer in colder climates. 
• Durable and water-resistant. Easy to clean and durable, laminate is a solid choice if you like the look of hardwoods but want something with more rugged water resistance.

Disadvantages:

• Warping. Laminate flooring isn’t perfect and still has the potential to warp over time. 
• Harder installation. Since this flooring comes in planks, installation can be more complicated, especially in small, tight corners or curved areas. 
• Slippery. Traction is an issue as laminate planks can be slippery, especially for small kids or anyone wearing socks.
• Design repeat. The production of laminate planks can cause a pattern repeat, which means installation must be careful not to lay twin planks in close proximity.

Vinyl

Because of its superb water-resistant qualities, RV vinyl plank flooring is easily the most popular choice for RV flooring. However, don’t let that sway or deter your decision. Vinyl has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Water resistant and easy to clean. It’s the obvious choice for spaces potentially exposed to water. The surface is super smooth, making cleaning a breeze, whether it’s water or dirt tracked in. In houses, it’s used strictly in entryways, kitchens, bathrooms, and other heavily used areas. However, when it comes to RVs, use vinyl flooring throughout for a cohesive feel.
• Lightweight, budget-friendly, and easy to install. With its multitude of colors, patterns, and prints, it offers the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to giving your RV a new look.

Disadvantages:

• Durability. Unfortunately, the biggest drawback of vinyl flooring is longevity. It’s just not the most durable flooring option for your RV lifestyle. Since it’s glued directly to the subfloor below, it can warp as the RV travels and moves about over time. Vinyl tiles tend to be thinner than the other flooring options, resulting in imperfections.
• Harder to clean once damaged. Once it shows imperfections—nails in the subfloor or a gap between the sections—cleaning becomes increasingly more difficult.
• Less padding and insulation. Another disadvantage to installing vinyl directly on the subfloor is a lack of padding or insulation. Vinyl stick tiles, especially, are harder and less comfortable to walk on, and their slippery nature can be a challenge for those who aren’t used to them.

Repairing or Upgrading Your RV Flooring?

Any RV flooring repair or upgrade requires three basic steps: 

1. Removing the old flooring
2. Cleaning and prepping 
3. Installing the replacement RV flooring 

It can be a fun DIY RV renovation project to overhaul your camper’s interior decor. However, avoid damage to cabinetry, sidewalls, and furniture. You may need to remove or disassemble certain pieces of RV furniture before installing flooring. You may also consider hiring an RV technician if the job is beyond your capabilities. 

For other RV renovation tips and ideas, enjoy these additional resources:

• RV Furniture Replacement Ideas
• RV Countertop Types
• RV Faucet Renovations
• RV Door Upgrades

Do you have any experience removing and replacing RV flooring? What tips or advice can you share with your fellow readers?