The short answer: our 7mm and 9mm SPC vinyl planks come in the same colours, the same wide 9" × 60" format, and both are 100% waterproof with an attached underpad. The 9mm costs $0.50/sq ft more and buys you a thicker rigid core and a slightly heavier wear layer. Which one is "better" depends entirely on the room — so here is the full comparison, with the real specifications and prices, not marketing numbers.
The comparison table (Sahara Oak, same colour in both thicknesses)
| Specification | 7mm SPC Vinyl Plank | 9mm SPC Vinyl Plank |
|---|---|---|
| Total thickness | 7mm | 9mm |
| Wear layer | 20 mil | 22 mil |
| Attached underlay | 2mm attached underpad | 2mm attached underpad |
| Plank size | 9" × 60" | 9" × 60" |
| Installation method | Click-lock floating floor — no glue, no nails | Click-lock floating floor — no glue, no nails |
| Waterproof | Yes — 100% waterproof SPC core | Yes — 100% waterproof SPC core |
| Coverage per box | 22.44 sq ft (6 planks) | 14.96 sq ft (4 planks) |
| Current price | $1.99/sq ft ($44.88/box) | $2.49/sq ft ($37.25/box) |
| Warranty | 25-year warranty | 25-year warranty |
See the products side by side: Sahara Oak 7mm · Sahara Oak 9mm · the full vinyl collection (every colour comes in both thicknesses, and the 7mm line also comes in a herringbone pattern).
What does the difference cost on a real room? For 500 sq ft of flooring, materials run about $995 in 7mm vs $1,245 in 9mm — a $250 difference. Professional installation is the same either way ($1.50–$2.00/sq ft in the GTA), because both click together the same way.
Total thickness and wear layer are not the same thing
This is the most common confusion in vinyl flooring, and it matters because a thick plank is not automatically a durable plank.
Total thickness (7mm or 9mm) is the whole sandwich: the wear layer on top, the printed design film, the rigid SPC stone-composite core, and the attached underpad underneath. On our planks the underpad accounts for 2mm of the total, so the 9mm plank carries roughly 2mm more rigid core than the 7mm. Total thickness is what you feel: a thicker core feels more solid underfoot, sounds quieter, and bridges small subfloor imperfections better.
Wear layer is only the clear protective coating on the very top, and it is measured in mil, not millimetres (20 mil ≈ 0.5mm). This thin layer is what actually takes the scratches, scuffs, and chair wheels — it decides how long the wood look underneath survives. A cheap 8mm plank with a 6 mil wear layer will look tired years before a 7mm plank with a 20 mil wear layer.
On our two lines, both numbers step up together: the 7mm carries a 20 mil wear layer, the 9mm a 22 mil wear layer. Neither is a weak point — 20 mil is already the level most people look for in a floor that has to handle kids, pets, and tenancies.
Which thickness for which space?
Basements — either works; choose on budget and subfloor
Both thicknesses are 100% waterproof with a rigid SPC core, which is exactly what a basement needs over concrete. The 7mm is the value pick and the one most basement projects leave with. Step up to the 9mm if your slab has minor unevenness (the thicker core is more forgiving) or if the basement is a finished living space where underfoot feel matters. If the slab has real dips, level it first — our Balance Pro self-leveling underlayment ($18.50 per 50 lb bag) is made for that.
Condos — 9mm, for sound and feel
Both planks have the same 2mm attached underpad, but the 9mm's thicker core adds mass, and mass is what quiets a floor down and makes it feel like real wood instead of plastic. For a condo you live in, that is worth the $0.50. One caution: many condo buildings set their own acoustic requirements for hard flooring — check your building's rules before you buy, and bring them in; we will tell you honestly whether the attached pad meets them or whether you need an approved underlay beneath.
Rental properties — 7mm, and it is not close
Rentals are a cost-per-tenancy calculation. The 7mm gives you a 20 mil wear layer (the part that actually wears out), waterproofing for spills and pet accidents, and the lowest cost per square foot — with 22.44 sq ft in every box, coverage per dollar is the best in the line. The click-lock floating installation means fast turnovers and single-plank replacement if a tenant damages one board. Buy one extra box and keep it in the unit's storage; a colour-matched repair years later is then a ten-minute job.
Main floors — 9mm, for the rooms you live on
Living rooms, kitchens, and hallways are where the floor is seen and felt all day. The 9mm's 22 mil wear layer is the heaviest in the line, the thicker core feels noticeably more solid, and the wide 9" × 60" planks read like real hardwood boards. Kitchens and bathrooms are fine with either thickness — both are fully waterproof — but if the budget stretches to one upgrade on a main floor, this is the one.
Don't forget the matching accessories
Stair nosing is thickness-specific — a 7mm nosing will not sit right on a 9mm plank — so match it to the floor you chose. Colour-matched 8 ft stair nosing is $30.00, in the same colours as the planks: Sahara Oak nosing for 7mm · Sahara Oak nosing for 9mm. More background on the material itself is on our SPC flooring guide.
Compare the samples in person
Thickness is hard to judge on a screen and easy to judge in your hand — flex both planks, feel the weight difference, and scratch a sample with a key. Samples of both thicknesses, in every colour, are at our North York store: 65 Millwick Drive, Unit 6, North York — open Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm. Call us at (647) 244-1551.
In Stratford? Our Stratford store at 649 Ontario Street is now open — samples of both thicknesses are there, with the Stratford team at (519) 272-2833. One price for everyone, cash and carry: pick your boxes up the same day.