UK Carpet Prices at a Glance
Carpet remains one of the most popular flooring choices in UK homes, fitted in over 60% of bedrooms and living rooms. The cost depends on the fibre type, pile style, quality, and where you buy it. Here is a summary of UK carpet prices in 2026:
| Quality Tier | Carpet/m² | Underlay/m² | Fitting/m² | Total/m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | £5–£10 | £2–£3 | £4–£6 | £11–£19 |
| Mid-range | £10–£25 | £4–£6 | £5–£8 | £19–£39 |
| Premium | £25–£45 | £6–£10 | £6–£10 | £37–£65 |
| Luxury | £45–£60+ | £8–£10 | £8–£10 | £61–£80+ |
These prices are based on retail prices at major UK carpet shops including Carpetright, Tapi Carpets, SCS, Flooring Superstore, and independent retailers. Online retailers such as Flooring Hut and Carpet Underlay Shop may be 10–20% cheaper on material costs but usually charge separately for fitting.
Carpet Costs by Type
The fibre and construction of the carpet are the biggest factors in the price. Here is a detailed breakdown of each type commonly available in the UK:
Polypropylene Carpet (£5–£12/m²)
Polypropylene (also marketed as “Easy Clean” or “Stain-Free”) is the most affordable carpet option. It is naturally stain-resistant because the fibres do not absorb liquids, making it popular for families with children and pets. The downside is that polypropylene has a shorter lifespan than wool and can flatten in high-traffic areas.
Best for: Bedrooms, children’s rooms, rental properties, budget living rooms.
Lifespan: 5–10 years with normal wear.
Polyester and Nylon Carpet (£10–£20/m²)
Polyester carpets offer a softer feel than polypropylene at a moderate price. Nylon (polyamide) is more durable and resilient, often used in mid-range to premium ranges. Brands like Invictus and Cormar use nylon for hard-wearing ranges aimed at family homes.
Best for: Living rooms, hallways, family homes.
Lifespan: 8–15 years.
Twist Pile Carpet (£12–£30/m²)
Twist pile is the most popular carpet style in UK homes. The fibres are tightly twisted together, creating a textured surface that hides footprints and resists flattening. Available in a wide range of colours and both synthetic and wool options. Most mid-range carpet sold in the UK is twist pile.
Best for: All rooms. The UK’s most versatile carpet choice.
Lifespan: 10–20 years depending on quality.
Wool and 80/20 Blend Carpet (£25–£60/m²)
An 80/20 blend (80% wool, 20% synthetic) is considered the gold standard for UK carpet. Wool is naturally stain-resistant, flame-retardant, and incredibly durable. The 20% synthetic content adds resilience and reduces cost compared to 100% wool. Brands like Cormar, Brockway, and Adam Carpets are premium UK wool carpet manufacturers.
Best for: Living rooms, master bedrooms, formal dining rooms.
Lifespan: 15–25+ years.
Loop Pile / Berber Carpet (£8–£25/m²)
Loop pile carpet has uncut loops that create a flat, textured surface. Extremely hard-wearing and resistant to crushing, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Available in natural sisal-look styles and coloured options. Berber-style loop carpet is popular for hallways and stairs.
Best for: Hallways, stairs, rental properties, offices.
Lifespan: 10–20 years.
Saxony and Velvet Carpet (£20–£50/m²)
Saxony has longer, softer fibres that create a luxurious, plush feel. Velvet is even smoother with very short, dense fibres. Both show footprints and vacuum marks easily, so they are best for low-traffic rooms where luxury is the priority.
Best for: Master bedrooms, guest bedrooms, formal rooms.
Lifespan: 10–15 years in low-traffic areas.
Carpet Fitting Costs in the UK
Professional carpet fitting is charged per square metre and varies by region and job complexity. Here are the typical rates in 2026:
| Region | Basic Fitting/m² | Complex Fitting/m² | Stairs per Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| London & South East | £6–£10 | £10–£15 | £8–£12 |
| South West | £5–£8 | £8–£12 | £6–£10 |
| Midlands | £4–£7 | £7–£10 | £5–£8 |
| North of England | £4–£6 | £6–£9 | £5–£7 |
| Scotland | £4–£7 | £7–£10 | £5–£8 |
| Wales | £4–£6 | £6–£9 | £5–£7 |
| Northern Ireland | £4–£6 | £6–£9 | £5–£7 |
“Complex fitting” includes pattern-match carpets, rooms with multiple alcoves, and areas requiring significant furniture moving.
What Does Carpet Fitting Include?
A standard carpet fitting quote should include:
- Laying gripper rods around the perimeter
- Laying underlay (if purchased with carpet)
- Stretching and fitting the carpet
- Trimming to fit around doorframes, pipes, and radiator pipes
- Fitting door threshold bars
It typically does not include: removing old carpet or flooring, moving heavy furniture (wardrobes, beds), or repairing the subfloor. Ask about these extras when getting quotes, as they can add £50–150 to the total.
Underlay Costs
Carpet underlay is not optional — it is essential for comfort, sound insulation, and carpet longevity. Skipping underlay to save money is a false economy, as your carpet will wear out significantly faster and feel hard underfoot.
| Underlay Type | Price/m² | Thickness | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget PU foam | £2–£3 | 8mm | Bedrooms, rental properties |
| Standard PU foam | £4–£6 | 10–11mm | All rooms, most popular choice |
| Sponge rubber | £5–£8 | 8–10mm | Hallways, stairs, high traffic |
| Cloud 9 / Tredaire | £7–£10 | 11–12mm | Premium comfort, living rooms |
| Crumb rubber | £4–£7 | 8mm | Commercial, very high traffic |
For a detailed calculation, use our underlay calculator.
Stair Carpet Costs
Carpeting stairs is more complex and expensive per square metre than flat rooms due to the labour involved. Each step must be individually cut and fitted, with the carpet stretched around nosings.
Full-Width Stair Carpet
A standard UK staircase has 13 steps and is approximately 85cm wide. Full-width stair carpet covers the entire tread and riser of each step:
- Carpet needed: approximately 7–8 linear metres from the roll
- Budget carpet: £100–£180 (carpet + underlay + fitting)
- Mid-range carpet: £180–£350
- Premium carpet: £300–£600
Stair Runner
A carpet runner leaves a strip of exposed staircase on each side, creating a more traditional or contemporary look. Runners are typically 60–70cm wide on stair rods or gripper rods:
- Runner carpet + fitting: £200–£500
- Stair rods (brass/chrome): £5–£15 per rod (13 rods for a standard staircase)
- Total with rods: £265–£700
For more details, see our stair carpet guide.
Total Carpet Cost Examples
Here are fully worked examples for the most common UK room sizes, showing budget, mid-range, and premium total costs including carpet, underlay, and professional fitting:
Double Bedroom (3.0m × 3.6m = 10.8 m²)
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet (10.8 m²) | £54–£108 | £108–£270 | £270–£486 |
| Underlay | £22–£32 | £43–£65 | £65–£108 |
| Gripper rods + threshold | £20–£25 | £20–£25 | £20–£25 |
| Fitting | £43–£65 | £54–£86 | £65–£108 |
| Total | £139–£230 | £225–£446 | £420–£727 |
Living Room (4.0m × 5.0m = 20.0 m²)
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet (20.0 m²) | £100–£200 | £200–£500 | £500–£900 |
| Underlay | £40–£60 | £80–£120 | £120–£200 |
| Gripper rods + thresholds | £28–£35 | £28–£35 | £28–£35 |
| Fitting | £80–£120 | £100–£160 | £120–£200 |
| Total | £248–£415 | £408–£815 | £768–£1,335 |
Whole House Estimate (3-Bed Semi, ~65 m² carpeted)
A typical 3-bedroom semi-detached house might carpet: master bedroom (15 m²), two smaller bedrooms (11 m² each), living room (20 m²), landing and hallway (8 m²) = approximately 65 m².
| Quality | Total Estimate | Per m² |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | £750–£1,250 | £12–£19 |
| Mid-range | £1,250–£2,500 | £19–£38 |
| Premium | £2,400–£4,200 | £37–£65 |
- Buy carpet and underlay from the same retailer to qualify for package deals and free fitting
- Check end-of-line and clearance sections — 30–50% savings on the same carpet
- Consider mid-range carpet with premium underlay rather than premium carpet with budget underlay — better overall comfort and durability
- Time your purchase around sale periods: January sales, Bank Holiday weekends, and Black Friday often have the best deals
- Use our carpet calculator to get exact quantities before visiting the shop
Where to Buy Carpet in the UK
Here is a comparison of the major UK carpet retailers and what to expect from each:
Carpetright
The UK’s largest specialist carpet retailer with over 400 stores. Wide range from budget to premium, frequent free fitting offers, and a price-match guarantee. Good for mid-range purchases where the free fitting deal offsets higher material prices.
Tapi Carpets
Premium positioning with a focus on customer experience and in-home consultations. Regularly offers free fitting and next-day fitting in some areas. More expensive materials but excellent service and quality control.
SCS
Known primarily for sofas but has a growing carpet department. Competitive pricing and bundle deals when buying flooring with furniture. Good mid-range options.
B&Q and Wickes
DIY stores that sell carpet primarily for the budget-conscious and DIY market. Limited selection compared to specialist retailers, but very competitive on basic ranges. Useful for rentals and quick replacements.
Independent Carpet Shops
Local independent retailers often provide the best value, especially for premium carpet. They can source from the same manufacturers as the chains but without the corporate overhead. Fitting is usually by experienced local fitters who know the area. Worth getting a quote from a local independent alongside the chains.
Online Retailers
Flooring Hut, Online Carpets, and Carpet Underlay Shop offer lower material prices but typically charge for delivery and fitting separately. Best for people who already have a fitter arranged or are confident measuring and ordering without seeing samples in person.
Factors That Affect Carpet Cost
Fibre Type
The single biggest factor. Polypropylene is cheapest, polyester and nylon sit in the middle, and wool or wool blends command a premium. Pure 100% wool is the most expensive at £40–£80/m².
Pile Weight and Density
Heavier, denser carpet costs more but lasts longer and feels more luxurious. Pile weight is measured in ounces per square yard (oz/sq yd) or grams per square metre (g/m²). A good-quality carpet for a living room should have a pile weight of at least 40 oz/sq yd (1,350 g/m²).
Roll Width
If your room requires a 5-metre roll instead of a 4-metre roll, the cost per linear metre is higher. However, a wider roll may eliminate joins, which saves on fitting costs and looks better. Sometimes the 5-metre roll is actually cheaper overall when you account for reduced wastage.
Pattern Matching
Patterned carpets (stripes, geometrics, tartans) cost more to fit because the pattern must be aligned at joins and across the room. This also increases wastage, sometimes by 15–20%.
Location
Carpet prices vary regionally in the UK. London and the South East are typically 15–25% more expensive than the North of England, Scotland, or Wales, primarily due to higher fitting costs and shop overheads.
Old Carpet Removal
Removing old carpet and underlay typically costs £2–£4 per square metre, or some fitters will do it for free if they are fitting new carpet. Skips for disposal cost £150–£250. Check whether your fitter includes uplift and disposal in their quote.
Related Calculators & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
UK carpet prices in 2026 range from £5–10/m² for budget polypropylene, £10–25/m² for mid-range twist pile, and £25–60/m² for premium wool or 80/20 blends. Add £3–7/m² for underlay and £4–10/m² for fitting.
A typical 4m × 5m living room (20 m²) costs £248–415 for budget carpet fully fitted, £408–815 for mid-range, or £768–1,335 for premium. This includes carpet, underlay, gripper rods, and professional fitting.
Professional carpet fitting costs £4–10 per square metre in 2026. London and the South East are 20–30% more expensive. Many retailers offer free fitting with a minimum carpet spend of around £399.
Carpeting a standard 13-step staircase costs £100–180 for budget carpet, £180–350 for mid-range, or £300–600 for premium, including fitting. A stair runner with rods costs £265–700.
Online retailers are often 10–20% cheaper on material costs, but high street shops frequently offer free fitting deals that offset the price difference. Compare total costs including fitting, not just carpet prices.
You need enough underlay to cover the entire floor area. UK underlay costs £2–10 per square metre depending on type. Budget PU foam is £2–4/m², standard is £4–6/m², and premium is £7–10/m².