SPC (stone plastic composite) rigid core planks in the current China export catalogue run from 3.5 mm to 8 mm total thickness with a 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm wear layer, 1220×184 mm being the dominant click-system plank size [S3][S5][S6].
Price bands reported on manufacturer listings sit at US$1.00–2.00 per square metre for the 4.5–8 mm click vinyl range, FOB China, with 500 m² MOQ typical [S3]. The selection question is therefore not whether SPC is "good" but which combination of thickness, wear layer, locking geometry, and backing fits the traffic class.
For a deeper primer on rigid core construction, see the SPC flooring encyclopedia entry; the broader flooring context is in industrial flooring.
Total Thickness Bands and What Each Millimetre Buys
Cosyhome lists 3.5 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm, 5 mm, 5.5 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm as its standard SPC extrusion runs, all sharing the same limestone-PVC core recipe [S6]. The 3.5 mm skus are aimed at overlay/renovation work where build-up over an existing hard surface is capped; 4–5 mm is the residential sweet spot; 6 mm and above is engineered for light commercial and high-traffic retail [S6].
For 4.5–8 mm click planks, Made-in-China's manufacturer listings converge on US$1.00–2.00/m² at 500 m² MOQ, FOB Qingdao [S3]. Witop and Cosyhome both publish 3.5 mm as a separate, lower-cost extrusion line used mainly for budget residential and rental stock [S1][S6].
Wear Layer: The 0.3 / 0.5 / 0.7 mm Decision
The wear layer — a transparent PVC film on top of the printed film — is the single biggest determinant of service life, and 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.7 mm are the three thicknesses that appear on every Chinese OEM line card [S3][S5][S6]. Xtrancore's wholesale product menu groups its SPC waterproof flooring under a separate "commercial" tier with the 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm wear layers specified for contract work [S4].
Homden's "Palm Tree" and "Plano" SKUs are positioned as simple-luxury residential lines, and the visual systems on those planks typically pair with a 0.3 mm or 0.5 mm wear layer rather than 0.7 mm [S2]. For commercial corridors and retail, the 0.5 mm minimum is the de facto industry line; below that, expect accelerated gloss loss in 12–18 months under foot traffic above 500 crossings/day [S4][S6].
Plank and Tile Formats: 1220×184 mm vs 935×150 mm
The two click-system plank dimensions dominating China export runs are 1220×184 mm (long-plank, 7–9 planks/m² depending on pack-out) and 935×150 mm (shorter, narrower format favoured for herringbone layouts) [S3][S5][S6]. Cosyhome and Chongnuo both run dedicated herringbone SKUs at the 935×150 mm geometry because the shorter length makes the 90° rotational install easier for the click profile [S6][S7].
Xtrancore's wholesale format covers the same plank geometry plus a 600×600 mm tile-cut SPC for stone-look visual files, again at 4–5 mm total thickness with a 0.3–0.5 mm wear layer [S4]. Made-in-China's vendor listings show that the 1220×184 mm plank and 600×600 mm tile-cut are the two formats that consistently clear US$1.50/m² at volume [S3].
Core Composition, Density and Click Profile
Despite the brand line names — "SPC", "rigid core", "stone plastic composite" — all the planks on the China manufacturer menus use the same basic recipe: CaCO₃ (limestone) filler, PVC resin, stabiliser, and a thin glass-fibre reinforcement layer between two core sheets [S5][S6]. SPC Flooring China and Cosyhome both publish typical core densities of 1950–2050 kg/m³, which is what gives SPC its dimensional stability over LVT and WPC [S5][S6].
The click profile most commonly specified on the China export lines is a 4-sided drop-lock or angle-angle system, with a 1.0–1.5 mm micro-bevel as standard on the long edges [S6][S7]. Witop and Homden list their drop-lock geometry as compatible with floating install over 1.5–2 mm IXPE or EVA underlay, and as not rated for direct glue-down unless the back of the plank is scored for adhesive [S1][S2].
Certifications and Documentation Buyers Should Request
FloorScore Indoor Air Quality certification appears on most China export SPC SKUs and is the baseline for North American residential supply [S3]. Cosyhome and Xtrancore both publish FloorScore-compliant datasheets on request, alongside CE marking and, for some skus, DIBt approval for European building-class compliance [S4][S6].
For commercial projects, ask the OEM for the abrasion test result (EN 660-2 group T volume loss), the dimensional stability test (EN 434, ≤0.25% is the spec band), and the Castor Chair test pass (EN 425) — these are the three numbers that decide whether a 0.5 mm wear-layer plank is fit for office use [S3][S4][S6]. FloorScore only certifies emissions, not wear performance; do not confuse the two [S3].
Sourcing Reality: MOQ, Packing, and Lead Time
The Made-in-China aggregator lists 20 GP (general purpose container) as the typical MOQ for first orders, with payment terms of L/C, T/T, D/P, Western Union, and PayPal on the table [S3]. A 20 GP holds roughly 1,000–1,200 m² of 4–5 mm SPC at standard export pack-out, which is the working number to use when comparing 500 m² vs 1,000 m² MOQs quoted by different factories [S3].
A reasonable next node is to lock the wear-layer spec and click profile first, then ask each shortlisted OEM for the EN 660-2 / EN 434 / EN 425 triplet before pricing the 20 GP run.
For component-level specifications, see linear guide.