The Guide to Elevator Floorcoverings: Carpet, LVT, and Rubber Flooring

When designing commercial spaces, choosing the right elevator materials is just as important as planning the lobby and surrounding common areas. In high-rise offices, hotels, multifamily buildings, hospitals, and retail environments, elevator flooring must achieve the ideal balance of design appeal, durability, safety, and long-term performance.

This guide breaks down the best materials for the elevator floor: Carpet, Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), and Rubber, and how expert installation ensures these materials perform as beautifully as they look.

Why Elevator Flooring Matters

Elevators experience:

  • Constant foot traffic
  • Heavy rolling loads (carts, luggage, deliveries)
  • Tight spaces that highlight wear quickly
  • Critical threshold height alignment and ADA compliant transitions

Because of this, your elevator flooring must be durable, slip-resistant and installed with the proper floor prep to withstand high traffic conditions, and the design needs of the building.

Carpet: Warm, Quiet, and Slip Resistant

Best for:
Hospitality, office buildings, multifamily, and properties that strive for an upscale design.

Why Choose Carpet?

  • Provides excellent design options
  • Adds warmth and comfort
  • Commercial grade fibers and patterns resist stains and crushing

Durability Factors:
Look for solution-dyed nylon or commercial-grade carpet tile specified for high-traffic zones.

Maintenance:
Regular vacuuming and scheduled deep cleaning maintain appearance and extend life.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT): Stylish, Durable, and Versatile

Best for:
Office buildings, healthcare, mixed-use, and modern elevators where design flexibility matters.

Why Choose LVT?

  • Huge range of wood, stone, and abstract design look
  • Resistant against scrapes and marks
  • Easy to maintain and simply sweep and damp mop

Performance Advantages:

  • Resistant to dents and gouges
  • Perfect for elevators requiring a sleek, contemporary look

Installation Considerations:
Correct adhesives and precise scribing are essential for a tight, seamless fit

Rubber Flooring: Slip-Resistant and Built for Performance

Best for:
Industrial, healthcare, education, and high-traffic service elevators

Why Choose Rubber?

  • Outstanding and slip resistance, even when moisture is present
  • Exceptional durability and impact resistance
  • Sound-absorbing and comfortable underfoot
  • Low maintenance and long lasting

Ideal Applications:
Freight elevators, healthcare, and elevators exposed to heavy traffic

Maintenance:
Low maintenance and long-lasting and one of the easiest surfaces to keep clean

Expert Installation: The Key to a Successful Elevator Floor

No matter which material you choose, proper installation determines performance. Elevators have unique challenges that general flooring installers often overlook.

Critical Installation Factors:

1. Subfloor Preparation

  • Leveling the elevator cab floor
  • Addressing irregular surfaces
  • Proper adhesive and underlayment’s

2. Height and Threshold Alignment

  • Ideally no transitions to prevent trip hazards
  • Accurate measurements ensure ADA compliance
  • Specifying the correct thickness to ensure flooring is level with the threshold

3. Precision Cutting and Scribing

Elevators require flawless trimming around walls, corners, and thresholds for a clean, professional finish.

Which Material Should You Choose?

Material Best For Key Benefits
Carpet Hospitality, office buildings, multifamily Warm, quiet, upscale aesthetic
LVT Most modern commercial spaces Durable, stylish, versatile
Rubber Healthcare, industrial, high-traffic areas Slip-resistant, tough, low-maintenance

Your building’s traffic patterns, design goals, and performance needs will determine the best option.

Partner With the Best in the Business

Elevator flooring isn’t a standard flooring job. It requires precision, expertise, and specialty installation techniques.

Eagle Mat Commercial Flooring delivers:

  • High quality commercial floor coverings
  • Elevator Walk-off Mats custom to fit for elevators with hard surfaces
  • Expert floor prep and leveling
  • Perfect threshold height alignment
  • Precision LVT, carpet and rubber installation
  • Long-lasting results by professional craftsman’s

Eagle Mat provides premium flooring solutions designed for all commercial sectors. Our dedication to providing quality products and exceptional service builds lasting trust with our clients. For more information visit our portfolio or contact us.