AVERAGE COST OF RESIDENTIAL CARPET

At least once a day, I hear one of our sales representatives say, “Well, that depends . . .”, and I know what the next 5 to 10 minutes are going to consist of: the salesperson trying to explain all the variables that go into determining the average cost of the carpet. It’s kind of like asking what the average price of a piece of jewelry is. It depends on whether you are talking about fashion, semi-fine, or fine jewelry—silver or gold. With carpet, it depends on whether you are talking about going by the grade, style, material, or brand.

**CARPET PRICES BY GRADE PER SQUARE FOOT**

Builder-grade carpet is purchased for new homes, apartments, and rentals. It is affordable for those on a budget. However, this type of carpet is not manufactured to last for a long time. It typically only lasts for 3 to 5 years. (average length of a tenant’s stay) For builder-grade carpet, the average price is going to run anywhere from $.50 to $1.50 per square foot. And that will be for a 25- to 45-ounce polyester carpet.

Mid-grade carpet is popular for living rooms and bedrooms. It is soft underfoot and can hold up to moderate foot traffic. Most mid-grade carpet will last between 6 and 12 years if taken care of properly. Most of this type of carpet is made from either sisal, olefin, Triextra, or nylon. The face weight of a mid-grade carpet ranges from 30 to 40 oz. and will cost you $1.50 to $6.00 per square foot.

High-quality carpets are from designer or higher-end brands. They are made to last 12 to 20 years, and the price can vary from at least $6 to $21+ per square foot. This kind of carpet will most likely be made of wool or nylon.

CARPET PRICES BY STYLE PER SQUARE FOOT

There are 6 different types of carpet styles: 1. plush, 2. shag, 3. saxony/textured, 4. cut & loop, 5. berber loop pile, and 6. cut pile. Each style is manufactured differently, either by the length of the fiber, the cut of the fiber, or the knotted loop design. The following chart will give you an approximate average price for each different style of carpet and its features.

STYLE	PRICE PER SQ. FT.	FEATURES
1.) PLUSH	$0.65-$8.00	DISPLAYS DIRT, STAINS, FOOTPRINTS, AND VACUUM MARKS MORE THAN ANY OTHER STYLE – SHORT, DENSE, LIGHTLY TWISTED FIBERS – SMOOTH UNIFORM LOOK – HAS BIGGEST COLOR LINE
2.) SHAG	$1.00-$8.00	– HIDES SEAMS, VACUUM MARKS, AND FOOTPRINTS – TIGHT TWIST WITH LONG TUFT – DENSE, SOFT, AND RESILIENT – HARDER TO CLEAN – SUBJECT TO WEAR AND MATTING
3.) SAXONY/TEXTURED	$0.60-$9.00	– HIDES VACUUM MARKS AND FOOTPRINTS -TONE ON TONE APPEARANCE – RESISTS STAINS, EASY TO CLEAN – DENSE ERECT TUFT
4.) CUT & LOOP	$1.00-$9.00	– PATTERNED/TEXTURED LOOK – HIDES DIRT, WEAR, AND FOOTPRINTS – AVERAGE DURABILITY
5.) BERBER LOOP PILE	$0.50-$8.00	– NO FOOTPRINTS OR VACUUM MARKS – TUFTS ARE LOOPED & ALIGNED IN ROWS – LARGER LOOPS WEAR QUICKER – NOT GOOD FOR INSIDE PETS
6.) CUT PILE	$0.60-$9.00	EVENLY CUT, SOFT, AND SMOOTH, AVAILABLE IN NYLON, POLYESTER, AND WOOL

**PRICE PER MATERIAL PER SQUARE FOOT**

Carpet fibers can either be organic or synthetic. Wool and sisal are organic, while nylon, polyester, olefin, and triexta are synthetic. Carpet made from organic materials will last longer than synthetic fiber carpet. The chart below gives the average price if you are comparing carpets by material.

FIBER MATERIAL	PRICE RANGE
WOOL	$3-$21+
SISAL	$1.50 to $9
NYLON	$.75-$9+
POLYESTER	$.50-$6
OLEFIN	$.70 to $5
TRIEXTA/SMARTSTRAND/SORONA	$1.50 to $7

Wool carpet ranges from $3 to $21+ and is 100% natural, hypoallergenic, repels oil, resists stains, and is flame resistant.

Sisal carpet runs from $1.50 to $9; it is eco-friendly and works very well in high-traffic areas. The feel is rough, which is not ideal for kids or playrooms.

Nylon carpet is the most durable for high traffic, and it is sold for $.75 to $9+. Not to mention, it is hypoallergenic, wears well, is easy to clean, and is good for homes with kids or pets.

Polyester carpet costs $.50 to $6. It is hypoallergenic, ideal for bedrooms, and has the largest color selection that is resistant to fading.

Olefin carpet averages between $.70 and $5. It resists water-based stains, mold, and mildew, and is resistant to color fade. Carpets made of olefin are usually indoor/outdoor carpets that are used in damp spaces.

Triexta/Smartstrand/Sorona carpet ranges from $1.50 to $7. A patented fiber from Mohawk that was developed by DuPont. In addition to being eco-friendly, sorona is known for being soft and stain-resistant. This makes it a popular material for apparel as well as carpet. Today, DuPont continues to be the sole producer of Triexta and Sorona. Mohawk Industries uses Triexta/Sorona to make the SmartStrand carpet marketed to consumers.

PRICE PER BRAND PER SQUARE FOOT

Warehouse Carpets offers all trusted name brands. Some of the most popular and best-selling brands are Shaw, Mohawk, and Engineered Floors. We also offer high-end brands like Stanton, Fibreworks, and Nourison. All the brands we offer have a large variety of different styles, colors, options, and price points. All manufacturer warranties apply when purchasing carpet from Warehouse Carpets.

CONCLUSION

The price of carpet can vary greatly depending on the grade, type, style, and brand, as you can see, and there are literally thousands of styles, grades, and quality levels which to choose. It is important to figure out the amount of traffic the carpet will endure and to let your sales representative know exactly what you are expecting out of the carpet. For example, how long you want your carpet to last, if you are willing to vacuum it every day, or if it will be able to handle an inside pet. The main thing is not to settle for a lower grade of carpet that can’t handle your unique level of foot traffic.

For help selecting the right carpet for you, contact one of our knowledgeable sales representatives at 706-517-2229 or 800-526-2229, or if you are in the North Georgia area, come see us at 3918 US-76 Chatsworth, GA 30705.