Invictus vs Karndean (2026): An Honest UK Retailer’s Tier-by-Tier Comparison

Invictus and Karndean are both premium-tier residential luxury vinyl tile brands available in the UK in 2026, both operate the approved-retailer model where customers request a price rather than checking out online, and both deliver tiered specification structures that let you match wear-layer durability to project requirements. They are the natural cross-shop in the UK premium LVT market. This comparison is written by a UK retailer that supplies both brands, with no reason to favour one over the other.

This guide covers the four-by-four tier-by-tier comparison, where each brand wins, common buyer questions and how to decide between them for your project. To browse and request a price, the Invictus category page and Karndean category page list every plank and herringbone design we stock. For brand-specific detail, see our Invictus LVT flooring review and Karndean flooring review.

The Short Answer

Choose Karndean if brand authority and the deepest premium-tier residential design library matter most. Karndean is the most-recognised premium LVT brand in the UK and the safer choice when the floor specification needs to read well to other stakeholders (estate agents, design-led specifiers, family members who already know the Karndean name).

Choose Invictus if tier-by-tier specification flexibility matters most and you are willing to specify the lesser-known brand. Invictus typically delivers comparable wear-layer specification at each tier at lower price than the Karndean equivalent, with the Scratchmaster surface technology adding a credible durability claim and Belgian engineering credentials providing a different-from-the-competition positioning angle.

Both brands operate the approved-retailer model where customers request a price rather than browsing per-square-metre figures, and both deliver genuinely premium-tier residential LVT construction quality.

How the Brands Are Structured

Both brands carry four core tiers in Grosvenor’s range, with Invictus’s structure mapping cleanly onto Karndean’s:

Entry tier (0.30mm wear layer, residential): Invictus Primus matches Karndean Knight Tile. Both are glue-down residential LVT for typical family-home installations where 0.30mm wear-layer specification is sufficient.

Mid tier glue-down (0.55mm wear layer): Invictus Maximus matches Karndean Van Gogh. The most-specified residential tier in both brands, with commercial-grade wear-layer specification for busier homes and lighter commercial use.

Mid tier click (0.55mm wear layer, rigid-core SPC): Invictus Maximus Click matches Karndean Van Gogh Rigid Core. Both deliver the same wear-layer specification as the glue-down equivalent in a click-installation format. Karndean also offers Knight Tile Rigid Core at 0.3mm for entry-tier click – Invictus does not currently match that at Grosvenor.

Premium tier (0.70mm wear layer, commercial-grade): Invictus Ultimus matches Karndean Art Select. The heaviest-duty residential and light-commercial tier in both brands, suited to high-traffic homes, busy hallways, pet households and any installation where 25+ year service life is the priority.

The tier-by-tier matching means cross-shop decisions can be made specification-for-specification rather than brand-for-brand. The question becomes: at the wear-layer specification you need, which brand delivers better value?

Tier-by-Tier Comparison

Entry tier: Invictus Primus vs Karndean Knight Tile

Both 0.30mm wear-layer glue-down residential LVT. Both fully waterproof, both R10 slip-rated, both bevelled-edge with embossed surface treatments.

Knight Tile is the UK’s most-specified residential LVT and Karndean’s flagship entry tier – 50+ designs, the strongest residential brand authority in UK LVT, K-Guard+ surface treatment. Primus offers comparable specification with Invictus’s Scratchmaster surface and Belgian engineering, typically at lower price. For entry-tier residential LVT where brand authority matters, Knight Tile. For entry-tier residential LVT where price-per-specification matters and brand recognition is less important, Primus.

Mid tier glue-down: Invictus Maximus vs Karndean Van Gogh

Both 0.55mm wear-layer glue-down residential LVT – commercial-grade specification for busier homes. Van Gogh has the wider design library and the stronger consumer brand authority. Maximus has comparable specification at lower price, the Scratchmaster surface technology and Belgian engineering positioning.

Van Gogh and Maximus are the most-specified tiers in both brands – the “whole-home installation” specification where 20-25 year residential service life is the target. For Karndean buyers, Van Gogh is the natural mid-tier specification. For value-led cross-shoppers, Maximus delivers the same wear-layer at a lower per-square-metre price point.

Mid tier click: Invictus Maximus Click vs Karndean Van Gogh Rigid Core

Both rigid-core SPC click formats at 0.55mm wear layer. Both install over existing solid floors without lifting, both work well in upstairs rooms, both deliver the same wear-layer specification as the glue-down equivalents.

Van Gogh Rigid Core has the wider design library and the stronger consumer brand authority. Maximus Click has comparable specification at typically lower price, the Scratchmaster surface and Belgian engineering. For retrofits where Karndean brand authority matters, Van Gogh Rigid Core. For retrofits where price-per-specification matters, Maximus Click. For broader click LVT category context, see our click LVT flooring UK buyer’s guide.

Premium tier: Invictus Ultimus vs Karndean Art Select

Both 0.70mm commercial-grade wear-layer glue-down LVT – the heaviest-duty residential and light-commercial specification. Art Select is Karndean’s premium-tier flagship with the largest plank formats and the strongest design styling in the Karndean range. Ultimus delivers comparable wear-layer specification with Invictus’s Scratchmaster surface and Belgian engineering at typically lower price.

For premium residential projects where Karndean’s design-styling depth and brand authority matter, Art Select. For premium residential projects where 0.70mm wear-layer durability is the priority and you are willing to specify the engineering-led alternative, Ultimus.

Where Karndean Has the Edge

Brand authority. Karndean is the most-recognised premium LVT brand in the UK. Most consumers know the name. For projects where the floor specification needs to read well to other stakeholders, Karndean wins.

Design library depth. Karndean’s range across Knight Tile, Knight Tile Rigid Core, Van Gogh, Van Gogh Rigid Core, Art Select and Palio Essenza covers significantly more designs than Invictus’s four-range structure. For buyers who want exhaustive design choice, Karndean wins.

Entry-tier click option. Karndean offers Knight Tile Rigid Core at 0.3mm wear layer for entry-tier click installation. Invictus does not currently match that specification – Invictus click starts at 0.55mm wear-layer (Maximus Click).

Established UK distribution. Karndean has decades of established UK distribution. The fitter community, design-specification network and trade familiarity all favour Karndean.

Stone-effect and parquet design depth. Karndean Art Select carries dedicated parquet formats and stone-effect options across the range. Invictus’s Grosvenor range is wood-effect plank and herringbone only.

Where Invictus Has the Edge

Price-per-specification. At each comparable tier, Invictus typically delivers lower per-square-metre pricing than the Karndean equivalent. For value-led cross-shoppers in the premium tier, this matters.

Scratchmaster surface technology positioning. Invictus’s signature surface treatment claim is specifically positioned as a scratch and stain resistance buying-decision driver. Karndean’s K-Guard+ delivers comparable performance but the explicit brand positioning around Scratchmaster gives Invictus a clearer marketing story.

Belgian engineering credentials. Invictus’s Belgian production heritage gives a different-from-the-competition positioning angle compared to Karndean (manufactured in South Korea and Vietnam).

Tier specification clarity. Invictus’s four-tier range structure is cleaner to navigate than Karndean’s six-collection range. For buyers who want a straightforward tier comparison without sub-collection complexity, Invictus is easier to specify.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Karndean if: brand authority matters (resale framing, family member preference, established consumer recognition); design library depth matters (exhaustive colour and texture choice); you want stone-effect or dedicated parquet design options; Knight Tile Rigid Core entry-tier click is the right specification for your retrofit.

Choose Invictus if: price-per-specification matters (you want the same wear-layer durability at lower price); you want the Scratchmaster surface technology positioning; you prefer Belgian engineering credentials; you want a cleaner tier-by-tier structure without sub-collection navigation; you want a brand alternative to the two best-known UK premium LVT names.

Choose either: for genuine premium-tier residential LVT construction quality, both brands deliver. The decision sits in brand-authority vs price-per-specification, with the design library breadth as the secondary tiebreaker.

Common Buyer Questions

Is Invictus better than Karndean? Not better or worse – different. Invictus typically delivers comparable specification at lower price with Belgian engineering and Scratchmaster surface positioning. Karndean delivers stronger brand authority and a deeper design library. The right choice depends on whether brand or price-per-specification matters more for your project.

Which is more expensive, Invictus or Karndean? Karndean typically lists higher than Invictus at each comparable tier. The exact gap varies by specific product and design – browse both category pages to compare current pricing.

Is Karndean Knight Tile better than Invictus Primus? Comparable specification at entry tier (both 0.30mm wear-layer glue-down). Knight Tile wins on design library depth and consumer brand authority. Primus wins on price-per-specification. For typical residential entry-tier projects, either works well.

Is Karndean Art Select better than Invictus Ultimus? Comparable specification at premium tier (both 0.70mm wear-layer glue-down). Art Select wins on design styling depth (the largest plank formats, dedicated parquet ranges, Karndean’s strongest design library). Ultimus wins on price-per-specification and the Scratchmaster surface positioning.

Which has better click LVT options, Invictus or Karndean? Karndean offers both Knight Tile Rigid Core (0.3mm entry-tier click) and Van Gogh Rigid Core (0.55mm mid-tier click). Invictus offers Maximus Click (0.55mm mid-tier click) only. For broader click LVT category context including both brands plus the wider UK click market, see our click LVT flooring UK buyer’s guide.

Do both Invictus and Karndean offer herringbone? Yes. Karndean herringbone is available in Van Gogh and Art Select tiers. Invictus herringbone (parquet) is available across the Maximus, Maximus Click and Ultimus tiers. For Invictus herringbone specifically, see our Invictus herringbone flooring guide. For Karndean herringbone, see the Van Gogh and Art Select category pages.

How do I buy Invictus or Karndean flooring? Both brands operate the approved-retailer model. Request a price through our enquiry form with the range, design and square metreage. For local supply and fit across Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire, see our where to buy Invictus in Altrincham page.

See Both Brands Side by Side

The cleanest way to decide between Invictus and Karndean is to see both brands at full scale, in the same lighting, on the same display boards. Our Altrincham flooring showroom displays Invictus alongside Karndean Knight Tile, Van Gogh, Art Select and Palio Essenza so you can compare colour, texture, format and quality directly. The showroom is open 24 hours a day via smart-lock access – request a one-time entry code through the smart showroom security code request page and visit at whatever time suits you.

For project pricing on either brand, contact us via the enquiry form or WhatsApp with the range you are interested in and the square metreage. For supply and fit across Altrincham, Manchester and Cheshire, both brands are available through our local fitting service.

Related Reading

For the wider Invictus verdict, see our Invictus LVT flooring review. For the wider Karndean verdict, see our Karndean flooring review. For Invictus herringbone, see our Invictus herringbone flooring guide. For the click LVT category context, see our click LVT flooring UK buyer’s guide. For local supply, see our where to buy Invictus in Altrincham page. For cross-brand LVT context, see our best LVT flooring in the UK 2026 guide.