Melamine is a plastic coating surface for engineered wood materials like MDF or plywood. The process to make melamine is similar to laminate, using paper and resin, but is a more economic alternative.

While melamine is cheaper than laminate, it does not mean it is less durable, but it will depend on what other things are added to it. Lower quality melamine will not last as long as laminate, while thermal-fused melamine could even be more durable than laminate. Melamine can be created to mimic existing textures such as the feel of wood or bamboo, which makes this an attractive budget option.