White oak and hickory are some of the most scratch-resistant hardwoods, which is why they are popular in flooring. You can also look for a hardwood floor with an impact-resistant protective finish.

Laminate wood flooring is pressed composite wood overlaid with an image of various types of wood based to create a unique, yet familiar visual effect. This makes it a very cost-effective alternative to real hardwood. Laminate floor planks and laminate floor tiles give the look of stone or ceramic tiles.

The hardest wood used for flooring is Ipe, also known as Lapacho, but it is very rare and expensive. The hardest wood commonly used for flooring is Hickory, which has a rating of 1820 on the Janka wood hardness chart.

For example, Brazilian Walnut owns a Janka rating of 3684. That makes it an exceptionally durable material for hardwood flooring. Brazilian Cherry is another durable exotic species with a 2350 rating. Among domestic hardwood species, hickory tops the charts with an 1820 rating.