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 QuietWalk LV underlayment is a versatile and well-made option for use with laminate, luxury vinyl, and engineered wood floors. It works with floating, glue-down, or nail-down installations, making it flexible for different flooring types including LVT, WPC, and SPC. Its thickness of about 0.06 inches (roughly 1.5 mm) provides a good balance of cushioning and support without being too bulky. Made from recycled synthetic fibers, it’s dense and compression-resistant, helping protect floor seams and maintain stability under foot traffic and furniture.

The sound insulation is a strong point, as the recycled fiber helps reduce impact noise, creating a quieter environment, which is ideal for multi-level homes or apartments. Moisture protection is another highlight; it includes a 6-mil vapor barrier plus DriWick technology that actively wicks away moisture from wood or concrete subfloors, reducing the risk of floor damage. Additionally, it is compatible with in-floor radiant heating systems, which is useful if you have or plan to install such heating.

A minor consideration is the thickness, which might be thinner than some other underlayments designed for more insulation or cushioning, but this also helps keep the floor height reasonable. While it’s priced as a quality mid-range option, those looking for maximum soundproofing might consider thicker or foam-based alternatives. This underlayment is a solid choice for anyone seeking moisture protection, sound reduction, and durability across various flooring types, especially in homes with moisture concerns or radiant heating.

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.