Bamboo Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring: Which One Is Right for Your Living Space?

You’ll be floored by all the benefits of both of these materials

Father sitting on a hardwood floor working from home
Photo: Westend61 / Westend61 / Getty Images
Father sitting on a hardwood floor working from home
Photo: Westend61 / Westend61 / Getty Images
Highlights
  • Bamboo flooring is made from a hardy, tropical grass and costs $2 to $20 per square foot for materials and labor.

  • Hardwood can come from a variety of tree species, like oak or maple, and costs $6 to $25 per square foot.

  • Hardwood lasts longer, sometimes more than a century.

  • Bamboo grows quickly, making it more sustainable and less expensive.

  • Both materials can be challenging to install, so it’s best to call a pro for help.

Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Geo Icon

Wood (or wood-like) flooring is a popular choice for high-traffic areas, like living rooms or primary bedrooms, because it offers strength and durability you might not get with laminate or carpet. But you have to choose from a variety of options, including classic hardwood and eco-friendly bamboo. Before you purchase your new floor, consider all the perks and drawbacks of bamboo flooring versus hardwood.

Bamboo Flooring vs. Hardwood: Key Differences

Bamboo versus hardwood flooring compared visually
Photos: Uladzimir Zuyeu / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, kampee patisena / Moment / Getty Images

While they both look like types of wood flooring, bamboo is actually a grassy plant that grows rapidly. This rapid growth means bamboo is considered a more sustainable material that often comes at a lower cost compared to hardwood. 

Another major difference between these two flooring types is their life spans. While both are hard and durable, bamboo tends to last years or even decades less than hardwood. One of hardwood’s other biggest perks is that it comes in such a large range of appearance options.

What Is Bamboo Flooring?​

Bamboo flooring installed in a home office
Photo: jhorrocks / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Bamboo flooring is, unsurprisingly, made from bamboo: a dense, fast-growing grass commonly found in tropical climates. Bamboo can grow up to 1.5 inches per hour, making it a sustainable and renewable resource. This hardy grass is cut at the stems and processed into planks, which is why bamboo flooring can often resemble the look of hardwood. From there, it can be carbonized for a darker color.

ProsCons
Eco-friendlyFewer visual options
Lower priceShorter life span
Strong and durableSensitive to moisture

Best for: 

  • Areas with low humidity and low risk of water spillage

  • Homes with kids and pets

  • Households prioritizing sustainable materials

Pros of Bamboo Flooring

Because bamboo is a fast-growing plant, it’s more sustainable to grow and harvest and an eco-friendly flooring option. The fast growth rate also helps lower the cost of bamboo flooring because the supply can regrow quickly.

Despite being a type of grass, bamboo is impressively strong. It’s harder than some types of hardwoods, such as oak or cherry. It has a strength similar to steel, so it can stand up well to dents, scratches, and wear and tear.

Cons of Bamboo Flooring

Although the price and durability are major perks, bamboo flooring isn’t without its drawbacks. This material doesn’t offer as many customizations or options for colors and textures compared to hardwoods, so you may find it doesn’t quite match the vision you had in mind for your living space.

Despite its durability, bamboo isn’t moisture-resistant. So, if you spill anything on a bamboo floor, you need to wipe it up quickly. This also means that bamboo flooring may not be the best option for humid rooms, like a bathroom. Keep in mind that bamboo lasts 25 years on average, while hardwood floors can last over 100 years.

What Is Hardwood Flooring?​

Hardwood flooring installed in the kitchen
Photo: tomazl / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Hardwood flooring is made from any species of hardwood trees, such as oak, maple, cherry, walnut, and beech. Hardwood trees may take 20 to 150 years to mature enough for harvest, after which a manufacturer will process them into planks for flooring. Hardwood flooring has been around since the 1600s, becoming more widespread in the late 1800s to early 1900s, and it’s a durable material that can last over 100 years with proper care.

ProsCons
Long life spanLess sustainable
Wider variety of appearancesMore expensive
Reliable grading and ratingsNot pest-resistant

Best for: 

  • Homeowners who want to achieve a specific look in a room

  • Homeowners who don’t want to replace the flooring again for many decades

  • High-traffic areas

Pros of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular floor choices for good reasons. When they’re well-maintained, hardwood floors can last for multiple generations. Because it’s been around for a long time, hardwood also has a more robust grading and rating system compared to bamboo, so you can more easily find the highest quality hardwood for your projects.

Another benefit of hardwood is that it has more choices in terms of appearance. You can find many different colors based on what type of hardwood you choose, from warm-toned cherry or red oak to cool-toned ash or white oak. There are even varying grain patterns in each wood for a truly one-of-a-kind look.

Cons of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood is a renewable material, but growing and harvesting hardwood trees is a much slower process than for bamboo. This also means hardwood flooring tends to come at a higher cost when compared to fast-growing bamboo.

Another thing to consider when shopping for flooring is that while bamboo is naturally pest-resistant, hardwood flooring can end up as a home for pests like termites, carpenter ants, or powderpost beetles.

Bamboo Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring

Large modern living room with hardwood flooring
Photo: scornejor / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Choosing between bamboo flooring versus hardwood may seem difficult since each material has its own unique benefits and weak points. Fortunately, no matter which you choose, both bamboo and hardwood are great options for upgrading your home with a durable, long-lasting material. Here’s how these two popular flooring options compare:

Options and Customizations​​: Hardwood

Hardwood comes in so many natural color and texture variations since it can be sourced from a wide variety of tree species. Not only that, but you can also opt for a range of finishes, including different stains, that change the look of your hardwood floors. No matter what room or style you’re renovating, there’s a hardwood to suit your preferences. Bamboo can be a stunning material, but it naturally comes in a lighter shade that may not work with all spaces.

Durability​​: Tie

When considering whether to buy bamboo flooring versus hardwood, make sure to check the hardness of the specific flooring product you buy. Bamboo is pretty strong, and it’s harder than some popular hardwood floors, like oak. However, there are also hardwood flooring types that are stronger than bamboo, including red walnut and Brazilian teak. No matter which flooring material you choose, you can rest assured that the floor will be pretty hardy and stand up against dents and other damage.

Price​: Bamboo

Because of how quickly it regrows, bamboo costs less than hardwood flooring. Bamboo flooring costs $2 to $20 per square foot for materials and labor, while hardwood flooring costs $6 to $25 per square foot.

Ease of Installation: Tie

Installing bamboo or hardwood flooring requires acclimating the material by letting it sit open in the room for 48 hours, inspecting and repairing or installing new subflooring, and using glue, nails, or click-and-lock planks to install the floors into place. While a savvy DIYer may be able to tackle installing bamboo or hardwood flooring, you’ll get better results by hiring a local flooring company for this home improvement project.

Maintenance​: Tie

Both hardwood and bamboo require similar levels of care. Sweeping or vacuuming the floors weekly, cleaning up spills immediately, and rubbing away scuffs as needed are important for maintaining the look of both hardwood and bamboo floors. Both materials also need refinishing from time to time when they begin looking especially worn from scratches.

Length of Life​: Hardwood

You’ve settled into your forever home, and now you’re looking to make sure it looks as good 50 years from now as it does today. If you want a material with better longevity, opt for hardwood. Hardwood lasts anywhere from 30 years to over 100 years. Although bamboo flooring has a longer life span (about 25 years) than vinyl or carpet, it doesn’t last as long as hardwood.

Sustainability​: Bamboo

Bamboo is more sustainable because it’s a fast-growing plant. Hardwood, on the other hand, can take decades to grow to maturity. While bamboo is more sustainable for its rapid growth, keep in mind that it requires more energy to manufacture bamboo into flooring compared to hardwood, so it isn’t perfect. Still, it’s a good flooring option for eco-conscious homeowners.

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
The homeowners guide to flooring services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Kitchen with terrazzo floor
Nov 14, 2024
Nov 14, 2024
Terrazzo may cost more than many other flooring options, but its longevity and high return on investment make it worthwhile.
Mother and son playing with toys on floor
Oct 22, 2024
Oct 22, 2024
The cost to rip up carpets and install laminate depends on factors like labor prices, materials, and location. Use this guide to get a detailed cost overview.
Mother and son sitting on the floor playing together
Nov 13, 2024
Nov 13, 2024
Sustainable, durable, and affordable—these are a few of the benefits of bamboo floors. Here’s a breakdown of bamboo flooring cost to consider.
A wooden staircase with matching baseboard
Oct 24, 2024
Oct 24, 2024
Outdated, dingy baseboards can make your home look drab and dull. This guide will help you choose who to hire to replace your baseboards for a refreshed look.
A dog lays on laminate floor
Nov 6, 2024
Nov 6, 2024
If you’re putting in a new floor in an old house, it’s likely you’ll need to know how to remove laminate flooring first. Here’s a primer on the step-by-step process.
Apartment interior with wooden furniture
Oct 28, 2024
Oct 28, 2024
What type of flooring is best for your home? Let's get into the differences between bamboo flooring versus laminate and learn about the pros and cons of both.
Share project details to get started.