If you have been researching luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring in the UK for more than five minutes, you will have encountered Amtico and Karndean. The two brands dominate the premium end of the market, appear in virtually every flooring retailer’s showroom, and are recommended by every installer worth their accreditation. Both make genuinely excellent floors. But they are not the same product, they are not always the same price, and they suit different homes and installation circumstances. This guide cuts through the brand marketing and gives you an honest, point-by-point comparison so you can make an informed decision.
Amtico was founded in the US in 1964 but has been UK-based since the 1990s. The company manufactures all of its LVT at its factory in Coventry, making it the only major premium LVT brand with UK production. This matters for two reasons: lead times are shorter than imported alternatives, and replacement tiles from the same batch are easier to source for repairs. Amtico sells primarily through a network of authorised retailers and approved installers. Their flagship range is Amtico Signature — a glue-down product with a 0.7 mm wear layer that is specified extensively in luxury residential and high-end commercial projects. They also offer Amtico Spacia, a click-lock range at a lower price point.
Karndean was founded in the UK in 1973 and manufactures in several locations including China and the US. Their UK headquarters is in Evesham, Worcestershire. Unlike Amtico, Karndean has built much of its market position on the breadth and creativity of its design ranges — the Van Gogh, Opus, and Da Vinci collections are widely regarded as some of the most realistic wood and stone effects available at any price point. Karndean sells exclusively through authorised retailers and fitters, and their design service (including complimentary room plans and sample requests) is particularly well-regarded.
| Factor | Amtico | Karndean |
|---|---|---|
| Wear layer (flagship) | 0.7 mm (Signature) | 0.55 mm (Van Gogh) |
| Manufacturing | Coventry, UK | Multiple (China, US) |
| Flagship fitting method | Glue-down | Glue-down |
| Click-lock range? | Yes (Spacia) | Yes (LooseLay & click) |
| Price range (flagship) | £55–£75/m² | £45–£60/m² |
| Residential warranty | 25 years | 35 years |
| UFH compatible? | Yes | Yes |
| Design breadth | Strong, refined | Exceptional variety |
Amtico Signature’s 0.7 mm wear layer is thicker than Karndean Van Gogh’s 0.55 mm. In practical terms, for a busy family home, both wear layers are more than adequate — the difference becomes meaningful in very high-traffic areas or commercial settings where a 0.7 mm layer will last meaningfully longer before showing abrasion marks. For domestic use, neither product will wear out in the way cheaper LVT does; both are engineered for decades of service. Karndean backs this with a 35-year residential warranty — longer than Amtico’s 25 years. The warranty is not just marketing: Karndean genuinely supports claims and maintains backwards compatibility in its ranges to allow replacement tiles to be sourced years after installation.
This is where many homeowners are genuinely torn. Amtico’s design language is refined, restrained, and particularly strong on contemporary stone effects — the Amtico Signature Marble and Limestone ranges are difficult to distinguish from genuine stone at normal viewing distance. The company’s heritage in specification projects (high-end apartments, boutique hotels) means its aesthetic tends toward the sophisticated rather than the accessible.
Karndean’s range is wider and more varied. The Van Gogh collection alone has dozens of wood-effect planks with highly textured surfaces, authentic-looking grain patterns, and a range of tones from pale Scandinavian blondes to dark American walnut. For UK homeowners who want the look of real timber — particularly in styles that would be impractical in actual wood — Karndean is consistently rated higher by Which? testing and by independent flooring specialists. The sheer depth of the range also means there is usually a Karndean plank that suits whatever aesthetic you are going for.
Both brands’ flagship products are glue-down LVT. This is not an accident — glue-down LVT is more dimensionally stable than click-lock, particularly over underfloor heating where temperature cycling can cause click-lock boards to expand and contract at the joints. Glue-down also allows complex laying patterns (herringbone, basketweave, custom borders) that click-lock systems cannot accommodate.
The trade-off is that glue-down LVT requires a more skilled installer and a perfectly flat, primed subfloor. Both Amtico and Karndean require installation by an approved fitter — you cannot buy their flagship ranges and fit them yourself. This is a feature, not a restriction: it ensures the product is installed correctly and the warranty remains valid.
Both brands do offer click-lock alternatives. Amtico Spacia and Karndean’s LooseLay and rigid core click ranges are available through approved retailers and can be fitted by a competent flooring installer (though still not a straightforward DIY project due to subfloor prep requirements). Prices for the click ranges start at around £35–£45/m².
For like-for-like specifications, Amtico Signature is typically £5–£15/m² more expensive than Karndean Van Gogh. Fitting costs are similar for both: £14–£22/m² for a professional approved installer, depending on region and room complexity. London and the South East are at the top of this range. The subfloor preparation — self-levelling compound, primers, adhesive — adds further cost and is usually priced separately by the installer.
For a typical 20 m² open-plan kitchen-diner, total installed costs (including materials, fitting, and subfloor prep) are:
These are estimates — always get quotes from approved installers for your specific project.
Both Amtico and Karndean are compatible with underfloor heating, subject to the usual LVT constraints: maximum floor surface temperature of 27°C, system must be commissioned correctly before the floor is laid, and the subfloor must be moisture-tested and primed appropriately. Amtico’s Coventry manufacturing base may give it a marginal edge in dimensional stability for UFH applications — UK-manufactured products are specifically designed for the temperature and humidity ranges typical of UK homes. Our guide to underfloor heating compatible flooring covers the technical requirements in full before you commit to either brand.
For most homeowners, the decision comes down to two factors: the specific design you fall in love with, and which brand has an approved installer in your area who gives you confidence. Both products are genuinely excellent and will outlast most other flooring you could choose at a similar price point.
Choose Amtico Signature if: you want UK-manufactured with the thickest wear layer available, you love the stone and slate design ranges, or you are specifying a project where the 0.7 mm wear layer matters (very high traffic, commercial use).
Choose Karndean Van Gogh if: you want the widest selection of wood-effect designs, you prefer the 35-year warranty commitment, or you find a specific plank in the Karndean range that Amtico simply does not match.
In either case, visit a showroom before buying — both brands provide free samples on request, and no amount of photography online prepares you for how the surface texture and sheen level look and feel in your specific room. Find your nearest Amtico retailer or Karndean retailer using their official store locators. If you want to understand the full LVT market before narrowing to these two brands, read our best LVT flooring UK guide for a wider comparison.
Prices quoted are approximate retail and fitting figures as of September 2026. Always obtain itemised quotes from approved installers and request product data sheets before purchasing.
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