How Much to Carpet a Room?
Let's start by looking at the average cost to carpet a room or house in the UK. The easiest way is to look at the latest carpet prices per square metre.
Getting a new carpet installed is a simple and affordable way to quickly improve the look and feel of your home.
The average carpet fitting cost is between £6-£60 per square metre. Prices vary significantly depending on the type and quality of the carpet that you're looking at getting installed.
A mid-range carpet costs around £16.50 per square metre to get professionally installed in the UK. This makes the cost to carpet an average-sized bedroom of 15m² around £248.
If you're looking to get a more accurate carpet fitting price, we can help connect you with local carpet fitters.
If you're aiming to minimise costs as much as possible, budget carpets are typically available for around £6 per square metre. But if you're looking to use high-quality materials, then luxury-level carpets cost about £60 per square metre on average to get installed.
These prices include carpet prices and installation costs, but don't include the cost of adding underlay. Typical underlay prices are around £10 per square metre in 2024, but the exact cost will depend on the type of underlay you choose.
But what else can affect the cost of carpeting a room?
The total cost to carpet a room is impacted by the size of the room, the awkwardness of the room (i.e., is it a strange shape?), and the location of your property in the UK. Any additional work that you want to do at the same time will also increase the cost of carpet fitting.
Installed Carpet Prices
These average prices are reflected in the tables below and indicate the average carpet fitting prices for different jobs in various-sized rooms:
Carpet Fitting Cost for Small Room (7m²)
| Job Description | Budget Carpet | Mid-Range Carpet | Luxury Carpet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underlay Only | £70 | £70 | £70 |
| Carpet Only | £42 | £116 | £420 |
| Underlay and Carpet | £112 | £176 | £490 |
Carpet Fitting Cost for Medium Room (15m²)
| Job Description | Budget Carpet | Mid-Range Carpet | Luxury Carpet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underlay Only | £150 | £150 | £150 |
| Carpet Only | £90 | £248 | £900 |
| Underlay and Carpet | £260 | £398 | £1,050 |
Carpet Fitting Cost for Large Room (25m²)
| Job Description | Budget Carpet | Mid-Range Carpet | Luxury Carpet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underlay Only | £250 | £250 | £250 |
| Carpet Only | £150 | £413 | £1,500 |
| Underlay and Carpet | £400 | £663 | £1,750 |
Carpet Prices in the UK
The overall carpet fitting cost is significantly dependent on the type of carpet that you want to get installed and the desired quality.
The two tables below contrast how average underlay and carpet prices in the UK vary depending on the type of material that you choose to get.
Carpet Cost Per M²
This table contrasts how carpet prices in the UK vary depending on the type of material that you choose to get installed.
| Carpet Type | Carpet Cost Per M² |
|---|---|
| Berber | £5–£30 |
| Saxony | £8–£20 |
| Shag | £20–£30 |
| Frieze | £20–£30 |
| Level Loop | £5–£30 |
| Woven | £50–£70 |
As this table shows, carpet prices are between £5-£70 per m².
Saxony carpets are the most popular choice amongst homeowners in the UK. This is a type of twist pile carpet that's affordable, but has a luxurious feel and is quite durable. Saxony carpet prices are between £8-£20 per m².
Underlay Cost Per M²
The table shown below shows how underlay prices in the UK are dependent on the type of underlay that you choose to get installed.
| Underlay Type | Underlay Cost Per M² |
|---|---|
| PU Foam | £4-£8 |
| Sponge Rubber | £3-£11 |
| Crumb Rubber | £6-£10 |
| Felt | £2-£7 |
| Combination | £7-£9 |
Underlay prices per square metre don't vary as dramatically as the cost of carpet, and your choice won't significantly impact the carpet fitting prices that you're quoted.
As this table shows, underlay prices are between £2-£11 per m².
However, the most popular type of underlay used by homeowners in the UK is PU (polyurethane) foam. PU foam underlay costs between £4-£8 per per m².
Additional Carpet Fitting Costs
You may need to consider several additional costs when installing a new carpet in your home. Below is a list of some additional costs that you may wish to consider for this type of work:
| Job Description | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Adjusting Doors | £10-£15 per door |
| Underfloor Heating | £1,000-£1,500 |
| Plastering | £300-£900 |
| Painting a Room | £200-£500 |
How Much are Carpet Fitters?
If you already have all of the supplies for your new carpet fitting job, then you may be curious as to what you can expect to pay for the labour costs alone. This section will go over the costs you can expect to pay for labour when having your new carpet installed.
The cost for labour will depend on various factors, including the size of the room, the difficulty of the job, and your location in the UK.
The average price you can expect to pay for labour is around £50-£70 for a small room, £70-£90 for a medium-sized room, and £80-£150 for a large room.
Those based in London can expect to pay around £20-£50 more for the overall cost of carpet fitting labour than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.
How Long Does It Take to Fit Carpet?
The time it takes to get a new carpet installed in your home mainly depends on the size of the room that the carpet is being fitted.
The table below shows timescales that you can expect for different-sized rooms:
| Size | Time |
|---|---|
| Carpet fitting in a small room (7m²) | 1 — 2 hours |
| Carpet fitting in a medium room (15m²) | 2 — 4 hours |
| Carpet fitting in a large room (25m²) | 3 — 5 hours |
| Carpet fitting on a staircase | 4 — 6 hours |
Keep in mind: Carpet installations might take longer than this if the room has an irregular shape (i.e., isn't square or rectangular), as the carpet fitter will need to spend more time measuring and cutting.
How Much to Carpet Stairs?
Looking to give your stairs a makeover with some new carpet?
Let's take a look at what you can expect to shell out for this job.
The average cost to carpet stairs is between £100 – £700 in the UK. However, the prices you're quoted to carpet stairs will depend on the type of carpet you want to install, the carpet fitter's hourly rate, the size of your stairs, and whether you want to install a carpet underlay or not.
In the table below, we've taken a closer look at how much carpeting stairs costs vary depending on the quality of materials used:
| Type | Budget Cost | Average Cost | Premium Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staircase Underlay | £50 | £75 | £100 |
| Staircase Carpet Only | £100 | £300 | £600 |
| Staircase Underlay and Carpet | £150 | £375 | £700 |
The cost to carpet stairs is higher than you might expect, as it can be more challenging and time-consuming job than fitting a carpet in a flat area.
The carpet stair prices shown above are also based on a straight staircase, which is the simplest for a tradesperson to deal with.
If you have a curved or floating staircase, then you should expect the carpet fitting costs you're quoted to be higher than this — as the added complexity means that they'll have to spend longer on the job.
Types of Carpet
There are many different types of carpet to choose from, and this choice is often the most difficult part when you decide to have a new carpet installed.
To help you make the right choice, we have created a list below of the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of carpets.
Berber Carpet Cost
Berber is a loop style of carpet. The loops in Berber carpeting aren't cut at all, so their loops stay intact. This type of carpet is very durable and so makes a great choice of carpet for high-traffic areas such as the hallway or your living room.
However, one of the downsides of Berber carpeting is that it may become damaged by things like pet nails — which may get caught in the loops and snag them. Berber carpeting tends to cost around £7-£100 per square metre on average.
Pros:
- Durable
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Can be considered outdated
- Limited colours available
- Not as soft as other options
- Difficult to repair
Saxony Carpet Cost
Saxony carpeting is a soft cut pile type of carpet with an even surface. It's quite an elegant style of carpet that is typically woven densely — but still feels comfortable under the feet. It also goes well in most rooms.
One of the main disadvantages of saxony carpeting is that it tends to show vacuum and footprint marks.
The average price per square metre for saxony carpeting is around £8-£20.
Pros:
- Luxury feel
- Durable
- Classic style
Cons:
- Can show footprints and vacuum marks
- Not the best quality
- Not as soft as other options
Shag Carpet Cost
Shag carpeting is very thick, bulky, and has a much deeper pile than other carpet types. This makes it incredibly comfortable to walk on. The yarn is twisted to give a signature curly look. It is easy to hide the seams on shag carpeting, so it's perfect for larger rooms such as the living room.
A downside of shag carpeting is that stains and dust can sink into the fibres making it very difficult to clean. The long strands on shag carpeting can also make it difficult for people who use wheelchairs or strollers.
The average cost of shag carpeting is around £20-£30 per square metre.
Frieze Carpet Cost
Frieze is a style of cut pile carpeting. It is very similar to shag carpeting, but the strands are thinner and have a lower pile. The yarn is twisted to give it a curly look. Frieze carpeting is soft and durable, and it is easy to hide seams, which makes it perfect for larger rooms.
One of the downsides of frieze carpeting is that it can be difficult to clean. Stains also have a tendency to sink into the backing.
On average, frieze carpets cost around £20-£30 per square metre.
Level Loop Carpet Cost
Level loop carpeting includes loops that are all the same height. This means that the carpet has an even and level surface. This style of carpet is thin and can most often be found in commercial buildings or offices. However, it can also make a good low-maintenance carpet for the home.
This type of carpeting is very durable and good for high-traffic areas. It's also great for people who own pets as their claws are less likely to become caught in the fibres.
The average cost of level loop carpeting is around £5-£48 per square metre.
Pros:
- Cheaper than other luxury carpets
- Durable
- Better stain resistance than other carpets
- The pile has bounce back properties
Cons:
- It isn't as soft underfoot
- Can be easily damaged by pets
Woven Carpet Cost
Woven carpets take much longer to manufacture than other types of carpets and so come with a higher price point. The pile of the carpet is woven into the backing and cut to length, which creates a soft, velvety tuft.
Woven carpets feel very comfortable and luxurious and look great in most rooms. Due to their higher price point and the time it takes to manufacture, woven carpets are much less common than other carpet styles.
On average, it is around £40-£80 per square metre for a woven carpet.
Pros:
- The pile has bounce back properties
- Extremely durable
- Stain resistant
Cons:
- Can prove to be expensive
- Not as soft as other options
Benefits of Carpets
While other types of flooring are becoming more common to see in the UK, carpets are still an incredibly popular choice of flooring for homeowners.
And there are some good reasons for that.
In the sections below, we've highlighted the main benefits of having carpet installed in your home.
Appearance
There are so many different styles and colours of carpet available. You'll easily find the right one to suit your taste and go with the aesthetic of the room it's going in. You can easily create the look you want in your home with the right carpet.
Insulation
Carpets contribute to the insulation of your home, and this makes them a great energy-saving option. Carpets are also very cosy, and so can give off the psychological feeling of being warm. This can be especially helpful in the winter months.
Softness
Most types of carpet are usually very soft, which makes them incredibly cosy. This can help to make your space feel homelier. Carpets can also be much easier on the feet than hard floors.
Safety
Hard floors can sometimes be a safety hazard as you are much more prone to slips and falls on a hard floor than a carpet. Since carpets tend to be soft and bouncy, if you were to fall on one, you are much less likely to become badly injured than if you were to fall on a hard floor.
Acoustics
Studies have found that carpeted floors tend to absorb sounds from within the room. Carpets with extra padding can even further enhance this.
Health
Carpets are known to trap allergens, dust, and other contaminants, which hard floors simply can't do. This means that allergens and dirt are held in place until they can be properly cleaned away or removed.
Easy to Maintain
Carpets are easy to maintain. Weekly vacuuming tends to be the trick to keeping your carpet in its best condition. Carpets tend to be much easier to maintain than hard floors.
Carpet Removal Cost
You may wish to remove your carpet if you are looking to have new flooring installed in a room. While this can be done as a DIY job, you may feel more comfortable hiring professionals to do the work for you.
If that is the case, you can hire a professional carpet fitter to come and remove your carpet. Carpet removal costs around £1-£4 per square metre on average.
Some companies will charge per carpet that's removed, rather than per square metre. In these cases, you can expect to pay around £15-£20 per carpet that's removed.
FAQs
Q: How do you measure stairs for carpet?
A: To measure stairs for a carpet installation, you will need to note down the number of stairs. Then, take the measurements of the tread and riser, and the measurement of the stair widths.
These are the measurements that you should give to your carpet supplier so that you can ensure you get the right amount of carpet for the size of your stairs.
Q: How long does carpet last for?
A: On average, carpets tend to last between 5-10 years. This will mainly depend on the amount of foot traffic in the area and the quality of the carpet.
Q: Should I paint or wallpaper my walls before having a new carpet installed?
A: Yes, it is recommended that you take care of any decorating before your new carpet is installed. This means that if there are any accidental spillages, it won't go onto the new carpet.
Q: Is it worth fitting my own carpet?
A: If you have a little experience with fitting carpets, then you may be able to save on some of the cost of carpet fitting by doing the installation yourself.
However, if you're not confident in your abilities, then we would recommend hiring a professional to fit your carpet instead. They'll have the tools, knowledge, and experience needed to complete the job quickly.
Q: How often do I need to clean my carpet?
A: You should thoroughly vacuum clean your carpet at least once per week. In higher traffic areas you may prefer to give a light vacuum every couple of days. Carpets should also be steam cleaned occasionally (every 12-18 months).
You could also consider getting your carpets professionally cleaned. Carpet cleaning prices are between £20-£50 per room, or about £120-£400 for the average-sized home.
Sources
- https://housetipster.com/housetips/1786/carpet-styles-pros-cons
- https://theflooringgirl.com/blog/what-is-a-saxony-carpet
- https://www.carpet1st.co.uk/choosing-your-carpet/types-of-carpet/woven
- https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/10-Benefits-of-Carpet--17047
- https://floorsanding.co.uk/carpets-vs-wood-floors/
- https://www.brentcarpets.co.uk/news/when-should-i-replace-my-carpet
- https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/carpet-underlay.htm
- https://www.homestratosphere.com/carpet-types/
