Carpet Fitting Cost & Capet Prices – Tips & Advice

Carpet is insulating, comfortable and comes in a range of colours and designs. Find out more about carpet fitting cost and carpet prices.

Benefits of carpet

• Comfort – carpet is warming and feels nice underfoot, bringing a cosy feel to your home. This makes it ideal for relaxing areas like the bedroom and living room and especially comfortable for kids and pets.
• Energy efficiency – installing carpet is a great way to add extra insulation to your home, the fibres trap heat, saving you money on your fuel bills and helping the environment.
• Sound proofing – a layer of carpet can reduce noise in your home, not only does it mask footsteps, it also absorbs sound in rooms and between floors.
• Safety – “People with kids like carpet, it’s very safe for babies to crawl on,” says Craig. As well as providing a softer landing if you trip, carpet is non-slip so it can help to prevent a fall in the first place.
• Variety – there are a range of colours, materials and textures of carpet available, meaning there is something to suit any property.

How Much Does Carpet Cost?

Carpet prices can range anywhere between £10 to £40 per square meter. For low to medium quality ranges expect to pay around £10 -£20 per m2 for luxury high-quality carpet ranges estimate to pay from £25 to £40 per square meter.

Choose The Right Kind Of Carpet For Your Home

Carpets are back in vogue and with a mind-boggling amount of styles and colours available to suit all costs, there is sure to be something perfect for your home. Whether you are replacing old, tired, coffee-stained carpets or you are sprucing up your home and looking for cutting edge design, there will be a style and type of carpet that’s just the ticket.

Carpet Materials/Textures

Natural carpet materials: People are moving towards a more natural way of life and once they’ve had natural flooring they don’t go back. It’s easier to maintain and doesn’t retain smells like synthetic carpet would. Natural carpet materials may cost around five or ten percent more than synthetics but are kind to the environment, hard wearing and attractive.

Synthetic carpet materials: Most carpets are made of manmade materials such as nylon, polyester or olefin. Of these materials nylon looks and feels nicer but is more expensive while polyester is a cheap alternative and olefin a stain resistant option. Since these types of carpets are manmade they are not as good for the environment, although the underlays of most carpets are now normally made of eco-friendly materials.

Synthetic carpets usually come with built-in stain protection and are woven or tufted – most commonly tufted. Different variations of carpet texture are available such as twist, velvet, loop or shag piles, depending on your preference. The texture of your carpet can really add to your home decor. Pattern and texture can bring character to a room and draw the eye to a particular area.

Different types of pile are often combined together to create various textures and designs. Below is a list of some of the most popular options.

Different Types Of Carpets

There are three main types of carpets; loop pile, cut pile and naturals. We will describe each of these and then discuss how different piles can be combined to create a multitude of textures. Loop pile is made with individual strands of yarn that are pulled through the carpet backing twice in order to make a little loop. Cut pile is the same as loop pile, except the loop is cut, so that the yarn is in tufts. Then there are the naturals which basically don’t contain any synthetic material, but are made in lots of different ways.

Man-made carpets prices

Twist pile carpet : Made from tightly coiled tufts which create a slightly textured feel. As this is one of the most popular styles it is available in manmade materials as well as wool, so you could pick whichever suits your needs and cost requirements. Generally speaking, this type of carpet has a low pile height, so therefore will not suffer from flattening.

Cost: £10 and £35 (all costs mentioned are per square metre)

Velvet pile carpet: Cut several times to give it a lovely plush, velvety sheen, this type of carpet is very luxurious. Performance wise, due to its short pile, it is similar to twist piles. The only difference is that the tufts are not twisted too tightly.

Cost: £25 – £45

Loop pile carpet: This is the simplest type of  carpet, which is super durable and great for busy households with a high level of foot traffic. Due to its popularity it is available in every colour and pattern under the sun.

Cost: £25 – £40

Saxony: sensuous and perfect for the bedroom, saxony carpets are made by tightly twisting fibers and then pressing heat onto them to straighten them out. The effect is similar to velvet piles, just not as smooth. It is worth noting that due to this type of carpets deep pile, imprints are more noticeable.

Cost: £25 – £40

Patterned carpet: patterned carpets are available in just about every colour and pattern imaginable, so it isn’t hard to understand why their versatility makes them so popular. They usually have a velvet surface and because of the way they are made, are quite hard-wearing.

Cost: £10 – £40

Shag carpet: Get Austin Powers and the swinging 60s out of your head, because the shag carpet is back with a vengeance! The retro look certainly has its place and with longer tuft and thick yarn it certain makes a very cozy carpet choice. If a whole carpet is a bit much for your taste you could always opt for a nice comfy rug instead.

Cost: £30 – £60

Natural Carpets Prices

Sisal carpet: this is a great choice for those after a natural carpet, and unlike most natural materials, it can be dyed so is available in lots of styles and colours. It is made from twisted yarn that feels a bit like sturdy woven grass, it makes a very stiff surface and for that reason it is great in high traffic areas such as your hallway.

Cost: £20 – £40

Seagrass carpet: Grown in China, this hardy flooring is very thick and solid making it hard to dye, so for that reason it is usually sold only in natural shades. However it would make a great cheap and durable addition to an area of your home that endures high traffic.

Cost: £10 – £17

Coir carpet: Another natural type of carpet with very strong fibres and a rich textured appearance, it again, would be ideal for hallways with high traffic. It is also a very cost-effective carpet option.

Cost: £5 – £20

Jute carpet: if you want a natural carpet but don’t want to compromise on comfort, this could be the right choice for you. Jute is far softer than all other natural floorings, meaning that it is also a lot less durable.

Cost: £14 – £22

When buying carpet don’t forget to inquire about the warranty, which will range from between five and thirty years. It is also worth noting that to qualify for warranty you may be required to fit new carpet padding when the new carpet is fitted.

Carpet Prices Best On Budget

Low Budget Carpet

Nowadays the cheaper range carpets often look and feel as luxurious as the more expensive range.  The start price for these is usually around £8 per square meter although you can often get cheaper offers if you are prepared to shop around.  If you need something that is good looking, suitable for general domestic use that won’t break the bank then a cheap carpet will fit the bill.

Mid Range Budgets

Mid range carpets are made from better materials and because of this they not only look better but feel better too.  You will also find that they have a much longer life than their cheaper cousin. The usual cost for this type of carpet is around  £15-£20 per square metre. The other plus to these types of carpets is that they often come with a manufacturer’s warranty and again, if you are prepared to shop around, you should be able to reduce your cost.

Luxury Carpet Budgets

If you are looking for the top quality luxury carpet you can expect to pay around £30-£45 per square metre. Once you get into this price range it is safe to assume that budget is not the biggest consideration so it is worth looking for other qualities in the carpet.  The higher grade materials that they use in this carpets mean they are hard-wearing, long lasting and they give the maximum warmth and comfort. These luxurious carpets are really worth spending the extra pounds.

How Much Do Carpet Fitters Charge?

Installing a carpet is not an easy job unless you feel confident and have the necessary skills to handle such as job yourself. However, carpet can still be ruined if incorrectly installed, so it may be best to hire a professional carpet fitter. Carpet fitters charge on average 50-80 per hours depending on your location.

How Long Does Carpet Fitting Take?

Laying a new carpet usually takes between 2-3 hours for a professional carpet fitter, provided that you have removed all your possessions such as beds/sofas before they arrive. The  carpet fitter will need to  rip up and dispose the original carpet and in order to that the room needs to be empty. If you do not take the time to do it yourself, the work will take more time and therefore the cost increases.

How Much Does It Cost To Fit A Carpet?

The figures provided below included only the labour fees, which means that the cost of the carpet and materials are not included in the example carpet fitting prices we provide. The carpet fitter will only lift the old flooring, install new underlay, carpet and grippers etc.

The carpet fitting cost varies depending on:

• Whether you the carpet installer will dispose the old carpet or not.
• If you choose to have new underlay and carpet grippers installed.
• The cost of the carpet that you will choose.
• You location in the UK.

Carpet Fitting Cost

The cost of fitting the carpet is another expense to factor in when budgeting and this always various depending on the amount of work involved.  Depending on the size of your room, if it is a standard shape and how much furniture will need to be removed, you can expect to pay anywhere within the region of £4-£6 per square metre.  This can vary if you decide to go with a local carpet installer where costs range between £3-£4 per square meter. It is always worth comparing prices between local and national carpet fitting providers.   

Below are some estimated carpet fitting prices for a mid-range carpet:

Carpet to staircase fitting – The average cost to fit carpet to stairs comes around to £75.00 for a single staircase. However, if there are many turns and the carpet needs to change direction, then the carpet fitting cost might increase slightly.

Door easing – If the new carpet is thicker the old one then the door needs to be slightly trimmed to avoid rubbing on the carpet. This job usually costs £10-15 per door.

Lifting of old flooring – if you do not choose to raise the old flooring yourself, then your installer will have to do it for you. This will cost you between £1 and £2 per square metre, excluding the cost of disposal which comes to another £15-£20 per room.

Floor screeding cost – To make sure that you floor is level you might need floor screeding before the carpet fitter start laying the new carpet. The cost of floor screeding comes to approximately £10 per square meter.

Ply boarding – This is necessary when your underfloor needs to be supported by new ply boards. Installing ply boards costs around £13 per square metre.

Room clearance – If money is not an issue and you do not wish to do any job at all, then you can have the installer remove all your possessions and furniture from the room for  £20 – £30 extra.

Carpet Lifting

Removing the old carpet need not be a problem but will obviously incur an extra charge.  Most carpet fitters will charge a minimum fee to remove carpet, usually in the region between £25 and £50.  They also charge per square meter, and again, it is worth doing some investigating around the cost. The average is between £0.50 and £1 per square meter for carpet disposal and underlay.

Waste Disposal Fee

Waste disposal is often an additional charge if you ask the carpet installation company to remove your old carpets.  At present businesses pay fairly high fees for waste disposal, particularly for non-recyclable items. It is important to be aware that business fees can be around £80 per tonne (excluding VAT) and there is often a minimum charge. On top of this there are also costs involved in taking the waste to the yard in terms of fuel, time, etc.  If you can, consider the option to dispose of the carpet yourself – it is free to domestic customers at your local council tip. Some councils do doorstep collections for large items (for a fee) so this may be an option worth investigating.

How much does it cost to carpet a house?

The total cost to carpet a house depends on the size of the house, the price range of your carpet and the type of carpet you have chosen. In addition to this, other costs like waste disposal and fittings will also need to be factored in.  On average it would cost around £1,800 – £2,200 to carpet a standard 3 bedroom house.  

All the following factors will influence the total cost to carpet a house:

Type of Carpet

• Carpet fibre type:  Carpets come in many different colours, patterns and styles.  You will also come across different types of fibres – Nylon, Polyester, Wool and Olefin are the most common.   
• Carpet Construction: The quality of the construction has a direct impact on the life and appearance of a carpet as well as affecting the price.  Obviously the better made carpets last longer but also cost more. Most residential carpet (over 90%) is made as ‘tufted’ carpet, the quantity/density and twist of the tufts directly affect the look, feel and price of carpet.  
• Stain Resistant Carpet: One of the biggest considerations when buying a carpet is the area you intend to place it.  Is this a room you use a lot? If you have children or pets for example, you might want to choose a stain resistant carpet.  These days stain resistance is more common so it won’t affect your choice in terms of carpet style and colour.
• Carpet Textures: There is a texture and style for every room of the house so again, consider how the area is used before choosing because some textures are more suitable than other.  It can be confusing looking at terms like cut pile, cut-loop, loop, and so on but a carpet seller should be able to advise you on which would be best for your needs.
• Dye Methods: The 2 main methods for dying carpet are solution dyed and continuous dyed.  Both methods will give a great colour.

Price of carpets

• There is a carpet to suit any budget and the price range varies between £10 – £45 per square meter. Depending on your personal budget you can pick something suitable at an affordable price.

Carpet Fitting Cost

• Size of each room:  Larger rooms require more labour so the cost of fitting will increase depending on room size.
• Old carpet removal: Removing the old carpet adds to costs.  If you arrange to dispose of the old one yourself you can save between  £0.50 and £1.00 per square meter.
• Room clearance: This is another area where you can make potential savings. Removing the furniture, lifting and removing the old carpets all help to reduce the costs if you do this yourself.   
• Additional fees: Make sure you are clear about what is included in the quote to avoid additional fees.  Specifically ask about things like underlay and the gripping rods and fittings they use when installing the carpet.   
• Location:  Where you live will have a direct bearing on cost.  Regional variations are normal but if you live in London expect to be paying top rates for carpet installation and waste disposal.

Waste disposal

• By arranging to either dispose of your old carpet yourself or contacting your council to arrange a large item collection you could be able to save money in this area.

Short DIY Carpet fitting guide

Learning how to fit a carpet is not particularly different, especially for a keen DIY-er. However if you want to ensure a perfectly fit carpet with minimal fuss you should considering hiring carpet installers to do the job for you. Whilst this will cost more than doing the job yourself, it will ensure a professional finish with little upset caused to your house.

If you want to learn how to lay carpet then this guide should teach you the basics and leave you with knowledge required for fitting a carpet neatly.