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Cost breakdown shown above. Excludes professional fitting.
Complete Guide to Carpet in the UK
How Carpet Is Sold in the UK
Unlike laminate and vinyl which come in packs, carpet in the UK is sold from rolls by the linear metre. When you order carpet from a shop such as Carpetright, Tapi Carpets, or a local independent retailer, the fitter will cut a length from the roll to cover your room. The critical dimension is the roll width — if your room is wider than the roll, multiple strips are needed, creating joins that must be carefully aligned.
Standard UK carpet roll widths are 4 metres and 5 metres. A 4-metre roll covers most bedrooms without joins (UK bedrooms average 3–4 metres wide). Living rooms and open-plan areas may require a 5-metre roll or two strips of 4-metre carpet joined together. The direction of the carpet pile must be consistent across all strips, and any pattern must align at the join, so wider rooms inevitably produce more wastage.
Carpet Types and Their Characteristics
The UK carpet market offers several construction types, each suited to different areas of the home:
- Twist pile: The most popular type in UK homes. Short, tightly twisted fibres that resist flattening and hide footprints. Excellent all-rounder for living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. Available in wool, polypropylene, and blended fibres. £10–40/m².
- Loop pile (Berber): Fibres form uncut loops, creating a textured, hard-wearing surface. Popular for hallways, stairs, and rental properties. Resists crushing but can snag on pet claws. £8–30/m².
- Saxony: Longer, softer fibres that create a luxurious feel. Shows footprints and vacuum marks easily, so best suited to bedrooms and formal rooms. £15–45/m².
- Velvet: Very short, dense fibres with a smooth, uniform appearance. Premium feel but shows marks. Bedrooms and low-traffic areas only. £20–50/m².
- Wool/80-20: A blend of 80% wool and 20% synthetic fibre. The gold standard for UK carpet quality. Naturally stain-resistant, durable, and warm underfoot. Higher cost but excellent longevity. £25–60/m².
Tog Ratings and Insulation
In the UK, carpet and underlay contribute significantly to a room’s thermal insulation. The combined “tog rating” of carpet plus underlay measures this insulating effect. A higher tog rating means better insulation, which can reduce heating bills — particularly important given UK energy costs in 2026.
For most rooms, aim for a combined carpet-plus-underlay tog of 2.5–3.5. This provides noticeable warmth underfoot and reduces heat loss through the floor. However, if you have underfloor heating (UFH), the combined tog must not exceed 2.5, as excessive insulation prevents the heat from reaching the room. Always check with your UFH manufacturer for specific guidance.
Underlay for Carpet
Carpet underlay is essential for comfort, sound insulation, carpet lifespan, and thermal performance. Without underlay, carpet wears out faster, feels hard underfoot, and provides poor insulation. UK underlay types include:
- PU (polyurethane) foam: Most popular in UK homes. Good all-rounder. 8–12mm thickness. £3–7/m².
- Sponge rubber: Dense and durable. Excellent for hallways and high-traffic areas. 8–10mm. £5–10/m².
- Crumb rubber: Made from recycled tyres. Very firm and hard-wearing. Popular in commercial settings. £4–8/m².
- Felt: Traditional option. Good insulation but less resilient than foam or rubber. Suitable for bedrooms. £2–5/m².
For a detailed calculation, use our underlay calculator.
Gripper Rods and Fitting
Gripper rods (also called tack strips) are thin wooden strips with angled pins that secure the carpet around the perimeter of the room. They are nailed or glued to the subfloor approximately 10mm from the skirting board, and the carpet is stretched over the pins and tucked into the gap. You need enough gripper rod to cover the full perimeter of the room, minus doorway openings where threshold bars are used instead.
Professional carpet fitting in the UK typically costs £4–10 per square metre. Many retailers (Carpetright, Tapi, Flooring Superstore) include free fitting with purchase, especially during promotional periods. Always ask about fitting offers — it can save £100–300 on a typical room.
UK Carpet Cost Breakdown (2026)
| Quality | Carpet/m² | Underlay/m² | Fitting/m² | Total/m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | £6–£12 | £2–£3 | £4–£6 | £12–£21 |
| Mid-range | £14–£25 | £4–£6 | £5–£8 | £23–£39 |
| Premium | £28–£50 | £6–£10 | £6–£10 | £40–£70 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
In the UK, carpet rolls come in standard widths of 4 metres and 5 metres. A 4m roll is suitable for most bedrooms, while a 5m roll can cover larger living rooms without joins. Some budget ranges are only available in 4m widths.
Professional carpet fitting costs £4–10 per square metre in 2026. London and the South East are typically 20–30% more expensive. Many retailers offer free fitting with a minimum spend, so always ask about deals.
For living rooms and bedrooms, choose underlay with a tog rating of 2.5–3.5. For hallways and stairs, use firmer underlay with a lower tog (1.0–2.0). With underfloor heating, the combined carpet plus underlay tog must not exceed 2.5.
You need enough underlay to cover the entire floor area plus 5–10% for overlap at joins and wastage. Underlay rolls are typically 15m × 1.37m (about 15 m² per roll). Unlike carpet, underlay can be laid in strips without worrying about pattern matching.
Yes, gripper rods are needed around the perimeter for a stretched-fit installation. You need enough to cover the full room perimeter minus doorways. They cost approximately £1.50 per metre and are included in most professional fitting quotes.