Laminate is common on furniture boards, flooring, printed paper, and packaging—acting like a “protective film” or “decorative skin”. The main difference between laminate types comes down to what surface they’re applied to and how they’re made.
3 common types of laminate materials
Laminate materials improve appearance, durability, and resistance to moisture, scratches, and stains. Their properties vary greatly, determining where they can be used and how long they last.
Film laminate
Thin plastic films such as PVC or PET are applied to a base surface and can be vacuum-formed to match shapes. They offer plenty of color and texture options.
- Furniture surfaces – Ideal for cabinet doors, wall panels, and other decorative faces, with finishes ranging from high gloss to wood grain. However, they’re not suitable for high-heat areas or spots with heavy wear.
- Decorative flooring layers – Used where rich textures and visual appeal matter more than durability. Scratch and moisture resistance is lower compared to plastic laminates.
In packaging, ultra-thin BOPP or PET films—often 12–30 μm, about as thin as kitchen wrap—are laminated over paper to protect the print layer from water, stains, and abrasion, while adding gloss or texture. Common in food packaging, business cards, and brochures.
Plastic laminate
Made by impregnating layers of decorative paper and kraft paper with resin, then pressing under high heat and pressure to form a hard, durable surface.
- Kitchens & wet areas – Used for countertops, cabinet faces, bathroom vanities, and wall panels. Resistant to heat, moisture, and daily wear.
- High-traffic & commercial spaces – Found on commercial flooring, counters, and lab worktops—impact-resistant and easy to clean.
Paper laminate
Printed decorative paper coated with resin. It’s affordable and visually appealing, but has limited scratch and moisture resistance.
- Budget-friendly home use – Common on low-cost furniture such as wardrobe panels or display shelves. Not recommended for kitchen counters or near stoves.
- Temporary or low-budget projects – Decorative paper laminate flooring is often used in rental units or short-term renovations. Looks similar to engineered laminate flooring but lasts only 2–5 years and swells easily if exposed to water.
3 common laminating methods for boards & furniture
Laminate is mainly used for board surfaces in furniture and interior applications, including countertops, cabinets, wall panels, and flooring.
Common substrates include particle board, MDF (medium-density fiberboard), and contreplaqué. The surface layer is typically 0.05–1.5 mm thick—much thicker than film lamination used in packaging and printing—offering abrasion, scratch, heat, and moisture resistance, along with decorative appeal.
High-Pressure Laminate (HPL)
Produced under high heat and pressure, HPL has a dense surface with excellent impact, heat, and moisture resistance—ideal for high-use areas such as kitchen countertops, commercial flooring, and laboratory worktops.
Requires professional cutting and pressing equipment, making it unsuitable for DIY.
Low-Pressure Laminate (LPL)
The decorative surface is bonded directly to particle board, MDF, or plywood using heat-press or adhesive methods. Compared to HPL, it’s made with lower pressure and temperature, resulting in lower cost but slightly reduced durability—still more than sufficient for most home and mobilier de bureau.
- Common surface materials include melamine-impregnated paper (producing melamine boards), PVC film, and wood veneer.
- Pros: Cost-effective, wide choice of colors and patterns, can be cut with hand tools—good for DIY shelves, small cabinets, and desktops.
- Cons: Average heat and moisture resistance—not recommended for kitchen countertops or high-humidity areas.
Postforming laminate
The laminate is heated and shaped to wrap around curved edges after initial lamination, creating a seamless look. Often used for round-edge countertops, cabinet door edging, and curved decorative panels.
- Pros: Sleek appearance, easy to clean, suitable for high-end custom furniture.
- Cons: Requires heating and specialized equipment, so it’s not DIY-friendly.
Furniture laminate surface finishes
Common laminate surface finishes include high gloss, matte, wood grain, stone grain, fabric texture, and metallic effects. These can be applied to boards, furniture, and flooring for different design needs.
Pour flooring, popular laminate surface styles include:
- Embossed wood grain – Adds texture and slip resistance.
- Hand-scraped – Mimics the look and feel of handcrafted solid wood with a natural touch.
- High-gloss wood grain – Bright, reflective surface for a strong visual impact.
These finishes not only enhance the visual appeal but can also improve scratch resistance and slip resistance to some extent.
Laminate for packaging & printing
Laminate is widely used on the surface of packaging boxes, bags, and paper products to extend their lifespan and enhance the overall look and feel.
2 common types by process
Thermal lamination
Uses pre-coated adhesive film applied under high heat, creating strong adhesion and a smooth finish. Common for book covers, brochures, and business cards.
Cold lamination
Applies adhesive to the paper before adding the film, then bonds it under pressure. Suitable for high-volume production or packaging that requires specialty films.
4 common types by finish
- Gloss laminate – High shine that makes colors pop. Often seen on cosmetic boxes, food packaging, and promotional brochures.
- Matte laminate – Low-reflection, premium look with a soft elegance.
- Soft-touch laminate – Velvet-like surface with a luxurious feel and muted matte appearance.
- Holographic laminate: Adds a striking rainbow sheen that makes packaging more eye-catching.
These finishes can be combined with foil stamping, embossing, or other printing techniques to create richer visual and tactile effects.
Avant de conclure
Hope this guide has helped you understand laminate used in furniture, panels, packaging, and the most common types.
If you’re planning to source laminated furniture, interior panels, or product packaging from China to build your brand, feel free to tendre la main.
We’re a leading China sourcing company with 10+ years of experience, trusted by over 4,000 clients worldwide. Whether for personal projects or business orders, we can handle your sourcing from start to finish—and our quotes are always free.
