While good looks and performance are major selling points, a key component of any laminate floor is ease of installation. Technological advances in the past few years have led to several variations of the tongue-and-groove design, enabling interlocking elements to slide into place with no fuss or mess.

These sophisticated locking systems enable the floor to be laid down and taken up again whenever necessary. This enables installers to save time so they can move quickly from one job to the next while allowing do-it-yourselfers to save money on installation. Most laminates require angle-fitting along the length of the plank and end-to-end while some brands use tongue-and-groove locking, and the ends of the planks fit or drop into place.

The number of glueless laminates and “click” flooring—where the tongue of one plank is “clicked” into the groove of another—has transformed the marketplace, each offering features to compare and benefits to weigh. Experts say the quality of the locking mechanism is critical to the durability and look of the floating laminate floor.

The following chart provides a sampling of some of the major locking systems licensed by laminate flooring suppliers, a brief description about how they work, and distinguishing features/benefits.