To answer the question bluntly, on average you can expect peel and stick floors to last between 5 and 25 years. However, their life span ultimately comes down to how well they’re installed, how much traffic they receive, and whether they’re repeatedly exposed to water. (Note that while some products are approved for heavier water areas, you may find that the flooring lasts longer if such areas are avoided.)

Excellent installation means that the subfloor is in good shape and completely even before you apply the peel and stick planks. “In a space that is rarely used you will get a lot more life out of it than you would from a high traffic area, but even in your high traffic area you will have years of use if the flooring installed well,” Day says.