Cheap Laminate Flooring Information
It's possible to find cheap laminate flooring, especially online, from the manufacturer, and at flooring discount stores (here you may have fewer choices in colors, but they'll often be significantly marked down over show room prices).
Even if you pay the standard price, laminate flooring is cheap compared to hardwoods, which is one of the reasons that laminate has become so popular.
The cost of laminate flooring will vary based on color, brand name, the vendor that sells it, the style, the specifications of the plank, and the quality of the construction.
I have seen some samples marketed as low as .89 cents a square foot, but don’t jump at the first low price that you see. If it's really cheap, chances are it's really low quality.
Generally you can find quality laminate flooring for under $2 per sq. foot. Some cost over $3 and others will be listed at under $1. Do a little research, consider the amount of traffic in the rooms that you are remodeling, and buy the best quality that you can afford for your needs. Generally speaking, be wary of purchasing flooring for under a $1 per sq foot. You can find laminate flooring at home improvement stores, construction outlets, and flooring outlets and online. Names you will see will include Finsa, Balta, Rustic Elegance, Old Homestead, Mannington, WilsonArt, Alloc, BJK, Pergo and Armstrong.
The first thing to catch your eye will be the sample selections but even more important will be the grades available or the AC wear rating, density of the core material, the thickness of the planks and the length of the warranty.
The longer the warranty offered the more durable the product. For “good” or builder grade material you will see a 10 year warranty offered, for “better” grade it is up graded to 15-16 years, and for the “best” grade (intended for commercial installations) 25 years. The grade determines price, durability, water resistance, warranty periods, and pattern choices.
Take note of the thickness of the product. The thicker the plank the sturdier it will be. Typical figures that you will see are 6mm, 7mm, and 8 mm. The price will be related to the thickness.
The AC wear rating is another notation that you will see on the sticker. This refers to how durable the product is and what kind of wear and tear it will take. AC1 is good for a room with moderate traffic in a residential setting, AC2 is good for the living room, AC3 should be able to handle any residential traffic and AC4 is for heavier traffic and commercial flooring.
Look for a high core density as this is the feature that reduces noise and acts as a shock absorber. Most laminate is fused to a core layer made up of high or moderate density fiberboard that provides dimensional stability.
Don't get overwhelmed by all these statistics though. Laminate flooring is naturally inexpensive compared to hardwoods, and it offers a wide variety of tones and textures and can be installed easily.
The best way to buy "cheap" is to buy directly from a warehouse, where the highest quality of laminate flooring is available at the lowest possible prices.
Further reading: The Flooring Handbook: The Complete Guide to Choosing and Installing Floors 
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