Clearance LVT Flooring UK: Is It Worth Buying?

If you’re looking for clearance LVT flooring in the UK, it can be a really good way to get more for your budget.

The obvious question is why it is cheaper in the first place. Is it old stock? Is there something wrong with it? Is it lower quality?

Sometimes the answer is simple. A range may be discontinued, a colour may be changing, packaging may be updated, or a retailer may just need to clear warehouse space.

That is why it is worth looking at the actual flooring specification rather than assuming clearance means poor quality.

What is clearance LVT flooring?

Clearance LVT is simply Luxury Vinyl Tile being sold at a reduced price.

There are plenty of reasons why that can happen:

• A colour or design has been discontinued
• A new collection is replacing an older one
• There is too much stock sitting in the warehouse
• The branding or packaging is changing
• Only a limited amount is left
• The retailer needs the space for incoming stock

None of those things automatically mean there is anything wrong with the product.

Why can clearance LVT be so cheap?

Flooring takes up a lot of warehouse space, especially when you are holding hundreds or thousands of square metres.

If a range is no longer going to be stocked, it can make more sense to reduce the price and clear the space rather than leave it sitting there.

That can create some very good deals for customers, especially on larger projects where every pound per square metre makes a difference.

Is clearance LVT lower quality?

Not necessarily.

Clearance tells you how the product is being sold. It does not tell you how good or bad the flooring is.

A discontinued colour can have exactly the same construction as another colour in the same range that is still being sold at full price.

This is why comparing the specification matters more than comparing the label.

6 things to check before buying clearance LVT

What wear layer should you look for?

The wear layer is the transparent protective layer above the printed design. It is one of the most useful things to compare when you are looking at different LVT products.

A thicker wear layer can offer more resistance to everyday wear, but that does not mean every room needs the thickest option available.

For more detail, read our LVT Wear Layer Explained guide.

How much extra clearance flooring should you order?

This is one of the most important things to get right with clearance flooring.

If the product is discontinued, there is a real chance you will not be able to get more later.

If your room needs 30m², ordering exactly 30m² leaves you no room for cuts, mistakes or damaged pieces.

If you are unsure how to work it out, read our How to Measure a Room for LVT Flooring guide.

Can you buy more clearance flooring later?

Maybe, but it is better not to rely on it.

A normal stocked range may be available for years. Clearance stock can disappear once the remaining quantity has sold.

Clearance stock and damaged stock are not the same thing

This is an important distinction.

Can clearance LVT be used in kitchens and bathrooms?

Potentially, yes.

The fact that a product is reduced does not change where it can be installed.

What matters is whether the individual product is suitable for the room, whether the subfloor is properly prepared and whether the correct installation method is used.

For bathrooms, always check the product specification before ordering.

Can clearance LVT work with underfloor heating?

Many glue-down LVT products are suitable for use with underfloor heating, but the individual product specification should always be checked.

Things to look at include:

• Maximum floor surface temperature
• Suitable adhesive
• Subfloor preparation
• Heating system commissioning
• Temperature changes before and after installation

You can read more in our Glue-Down LVT and Underfloor Heating guide.

Clearance LVT vs premium branded flooring

The retail price of flooring is not based only on the vinyl itself.

With larger premium brands, part of the cost can also reflect marketing, showrooms, distribution, packaging, larger collections and product development.

That does not mean premium flooring is not worth buying. It just means price alone does not tell you whether a floor is right for your home.

When is clearance LVT a good buy?

It can be a really good option when:

• You actually like the colour and design
• There is enough stock for the whole project
• You have allowed enough for wastage
• The specification suits the room
• You are comfortable with the fact that the range may not come back
• The price is genuinely competitive

When should you avoid clearance flooring?

Be cautious if:

• There is not enough stock for the full job
• You are depending on more stock arriving later
• You have not checked the specification
• You are mixing different batches without checking them
• You are only choosing it because it is cheap

If you need 50m² and there are only 48m² available, it is usually better to choose another product than hope the extra stock turns up later.

Should you order a free sample first?

Yes, especially if you are choosing the flooring online.

A floor can look quite different depending on the light in your room, your furniture and your wall colours.

A sample lets you check:

• Colour
• Wood grain or stone detail
• Texture
• Finish
• How it looks next to your furniture
• How it looks in daylight and artificial light

So, is clearance LVT worth buying?

It can be.

The main thing is to look beyond the word clearance and check what you are actually getting.

If the specification is right, you like the design and there is enough stock to finish the job properly, clearance flooring can offer very good value.

Clearance LVT Flooring FAQs