According to flooring installers, the “best” type of flooring isn’t so clear cut. Instead, they say to consider your lifestyle.

“We as a company personally see it as an individual situation,” says Karen Wlordarcyzk, co-owner of Five Star Flooring in Grand Prairie, Texas.

“We take into consideration the age factor, because someone who’s elderly has a hard time standing on a hard surface like ceramic tile,” she says. “We also consider the cost factor, because quite often they don’t want to put down that type of money.”

Alternately, if you raise dogs that spill their water bowls or children who spill their juice, you may want to avoid flooring easily damaged by water, such as hardwood.

Lifestyle considerations aside, flooring experts usually consider porcelain tile the best kitchen flooring option.

Porcelain tile, made from thick material, resists cracking from pressure, such as when items fall onto it. Porcelain is fired longer than ceramic, making porcelain the more durable choice.

Porcelain also comes in a variety of colors to allow customers multiple options from which to choose.

Donna Reeves, designer with Brian’s Flooring & Design in Birmingham, Alabama, says homeowners can also easily maintain porcelain.

“Once it’s down and done correctly, it’s stainproof,” she says. “You can just use water and a mop and go.”

Expect to pay between $10 to $16 per square foot for porcelain tile materials and installation.

Not looking to spend quite that much? Another noteworthy option for those who want a cheaper option includes vinyl tile. Vinyl, typically the cheapest flooring option, costs on average $5 to $9 per square foot installed.

You can also replace vinyl more easily than porcelain because it doesn’t weigh much and it’s easy to find matching tile.

This article was originally published at Angie’s List.