All Your Questions Answered
25 common questions about carpet pricing, installation costs, how to calculate carpet, waste allowance, padding, materials, and more — answered clearly and concisely.
Carpet costs vary widely by material and quality:
Most homeowners spend $3–$7 per square foot for a quality mid-range carpet fully installed. For a typical 12×15 ft bedroom, expect $650–$1,900.
100 sq ft of carpet (about 11.1 sq yd) with 12% waste = ~12.4 sq yd ordered:
A "good" carpet (nylon, mid-grade) costs $2–$5 per square foot for the material alone. Fully installed with quality padding and professional labor, expect $5–$10 per square foot. This is the range most satisfied homeowners report spending. Cheap carpet under $2/sq ft often needs replacing within 5–7 years; quality nylon at $3–$5/sq ft lasts 12–15 years.
Carpet is sold by the square yard in the US (1 sq yd = 9 sq ft). Price ranges per sq yd:
Add $5–$15/sq yd for padding and $12–$20/sq yd for installation labor.
500 sq ft = ~62 sq yd ordered (with 12% waste). Fully installed costs:
Old carpet removal adds $250–$750. Use our carpet cost calculator to get an exact estimate.
2,100 sq ft whole-house carpet (assuming all rooms get carpeted — in practice, kitchens and bathrooms don't) — a typical 2,100 sq ft home may have ~1,400 sq ft of carpeted area. Fully installed:
Step-by-step formula:
Example: 15×12 ft = 180 sq ft ÷ 9 = 20 sq yd × 1.12 = 22.4 sq yd × ($58 + $8 + $14) = $1,794 ÷ 180 = $9.97/sq ft
Metric formula:
Example (UK): 4×3m = 12 m² × 1.12 = 13.44 m² × (£14 carpet + £5 underlay + £4 fitting) = 13.44 × £23 = £309 + 20% VAT = £371
Carpet per square foot, fully installed (material + padding + labor):
Standard waste percentages by room type:
Our calculator automatically adds 5% extra when pattern matching is enabled.
In the United States: carpet is traditionally sold by the square yard (1 sq yd = 9 sq ft), though many retailers now quote per sq ft. In the UK, Australia, Ireland, and NZ: carpet is sold by the square metre (1 sq yd ≈ 0.836 m²). Our calculator supports both units — toggle ft/m² in the header.
Professional carpet installation labor averages $12–$20 per square yard in the US, which includes stretching, seaming, tack strips, and trimming. Complex jobs (stairs, irregular rooms, pattern matching) cost more. Total installed cost including carpet and padding: $30–$80 per square yard depending on quality.
Standard carpet installation typically includes: stretching, seaming, tack strip nailing, trimming around doors and walls, and basic transitions. Usually extra: old carpet removal ($0.50–$1.50/sq ft), furniture moving ($50–$150/room), subfloor repair ($1–$3/sq ft), stair carpet ($8–$15/step), pattern matching surcharge.
Yes — always install new padding when replacing carpet. Old padding compresses 30–50% over its lifetime, causing carpet to wear unevenly and feel flat. Reusing old padding typically voids the new carpet's warranty. Quality padding ($0.50–$1.50/sq ft) adds 5–10 years to your carpet's lifespan.
Old carpet removal costs $0.50–$1.50 per sq ft for standard tacked carpet, including disposal. Glued-down carpet costs $1.00–$3.00/sq ft due to adhesive scraping. A typical 180 sq ft bedroom removal runs $90–$270. See our carpet removal calculator for a detailed estimate.
Stair carpet costs $12–$55 per step installed (carpet + padding + labor). A standard 13-step staircase runs $160–$720 fully carpeted. A stair runner (center strip only) costs $6–$38 per step. Use our stair carpet calculator for a step-by-step estimate.
For high-traffic areas (hallways, stairs, living rooms): Nylon is the top choice — most durable synthetic fiber with excellent stain resistance. Berber loop pile is a close second — tight loops resist crushing and wear. For commercial/heavy traffic: Commercial-grade solution-dyed nylon or carpet tiles. Avoid plush/velvet in high-traffic zones — the long pile crushes quickly.
Softest carpet materials ranked: 1. Velvet Plush (deepest pile, most luxurious feel), 2. Frieze/Shag (twisted pile, very soft and forgiving), 3. Wool (naturally soft, warm underfoot), 4. Nylon cut pile (soft and durable balance), 5. Polyester (surprisingly soft for the price). For bedrooms, prioritize softness over durability.
Expected carpet lifespan by material:
Lifespan depends heavily on traffic, maintenance, and quality of padding. Annual professional cleaning extends carpet life significantly.
Wool carpet costs $5–$20/sq ft vs $2–$5/sq ft for nylon, but: it lasts 20–25 years (vs 12–15 for nylon), is naturally flame-retardant, biodegradable, excellent thermal insulator, and gains texture/character with age rather than looking worn. For low-traffic luxury rooms, wool's 25-year lifespan and superior appearance often makes it better value long-term despite higher upfront cost.
UK carpet prices per m² (carpet only, incl. VAT): Budget polypropylene £5–£12/m², mid-range twist pile nylon £10–£25/m², 80/20 wool blend £18–£40/m², pure wool Axminster £30–£100+/m². Add £4–£8/m² for underlay and £3–£6/m² for fitting. Use our UK carpet calculator for a full GBP estimate.
Australian carpet costs per m² (incl. 10% GST): Budget polypropylene A$13–$25/m², mid-range nylon/triexta A$27–$55/m², premium wool blend A$50–$110/m². Add A$7–$15/m² for underlay and A$10–$18/m² for installation. Use our Australia carpet calculator.
Canadian carpet and installation is subject to provincial tax: Alberta 5% (GST only), BC 12% (GST+PST), Ontario 13% (HST), Nova Scotia/NB/NL 15% (HST), Quebec ~15% (GST+QST). Our Canada carpet calculator auto-applies the correct rate by province.