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Flooring
Carpet Installation Guide: Types, Cost & What to Know
Lumberama Editorial Team, Carpet & Flooring Installation Specialists Nov 29, 2026 7 min read
Carpet Fiber Types
Nylon: Most popular and durable. Resists wear, crushing, and staining (with treatment). Cost: $2-$7/sq ft. Best for high-traffic areas. Lifespan: 12-15 years.
Polyester (PET): Soft, vibrant colors. Good stain resistance. Less durable than nylon. Cost: $1-$4/sq ft. Best for low-traffic areas (bedrooms). Lifespan: 5-10 years.
Triexta (SmartStrand): Soft like polyester, durable like nylon. Built-in stain resistance. Cost: $2-$5/sq ft. Good all-around choice. Lifespan: 10-15 years.
Olefin (polypropylene): Moisture and mold resistant. Affordable. Fades and crushes more easily. Cost: $1-$3/sq ft. Best for basements and outdoor. Lifespan: 5-8 years.
Wool: Natural, luxurious. Excellent durability. Naturally flame-retardant. Cost: $5-$20/sq ft. High-end choice. Lifespan: 20+ years.
Carpet Styles
Cut pile: Plush/velvet: smooth, formal. Shows footprints and vacuum marks. Saxony: dense, luxurious. Popular for living rooms. Frieze: twisted yarn, casual look. Hides footprints well. Very popular.
Loop pile: Berber: loops of equal height. Durable, casual. Level loop: uniform, low-profile. Good for commercial.
Cut and loop: Combination creates patterns and texture. Hides wear well.
Carpet tile: Modular squares (usually 18x18 or 24x24 inches). Easy to replace individual tiles. Popular for basements, offices. Cost: $2-$8/sq ft.
Cost
Carpet per sq ft: Budget: $1-$3 (polyester, olefin). Mid-range: $3-$6 (nylon, triexta). Premium: $6-$12 (wool, high-end nylon).
Padding per sq ft: Standard: $0.50-$1. Premium: $1-$2. Do not skip padding. It extends carpet life, adds comfort, and improves insulation.
Installation per sq ft: Professional: $1-$3. Includes removal of old carpet, furniture moving, and installation.
Total installed per sq ft: Budget: $3-$6. Mid-range: $5-$10. Premium: $8-$15+.
Per room (12x12 = 144 sq ft): Budget: $430-$865. Mid-range: $720-$1,440. Premium: $1,150-$2,160+.
Whole house (1,000 sq ft): Budget: $3,000-$6,000. Mid-range: $5,000-$10,000. Premium: $8,000-$15,000+.
Stairs: Per step: $20-$50 (professional installed). Average staircase (13 steps): $260-$650.
Frequently Asked Questions
Total installed per sq ft: budget: $3-$6. Mid-range: $5-$10. Premium: $8-$15+. Per room (12x12): budget: $430-$865. Mid-range: $720-$1,440. Premium: $1,150-$2,160+. Whole house (1,000 sq ft): budget: $3,000-$6,000. Mid-range: $5,000-$10,000. Premium: $8,000-$15,000+. Includes carpet, padding, and installation. Stairs: $20-$50 per step. Old carpet removal: usually included or $1-$2/sq ft. Most popular: mid-range nylon or triexta at $5-$8/sq ft installed.
Best fiber: nylon (most durable, resists crushing and wear). Second: triexta/SmartStrand (soft and durable). Best style: frieze (twisted yarn hides footprints and wear). Second: textured saxony or cut-and-loop. Density matters more than fiber type. Higher density = more durable. Check face weight: 35-45 oz for moderate traffic. 45+ oz for heavy traffic. Best padding: 6-8 lb density (firmer padding reduces carpet wear). Avoid: plush/velvet styles in high traffic (shows every footprint and wear path). Low-density carpet (will mat down quickly). Budget polyester (crushes easily).
By fiber: nylon: 12-15 years. Triexta: 10-15 years. Polyester: 5-10 years. Olefin: 5-8 years. Wool: 20+ years. Factors: quality/density (higher = longer). Traffic level. Padding quality (good padding extends life 2-3 years). Maintenance (regular vacuuming and professional cleaning every 12-18 months). Signs of replacement: matting and crushing that won't recover. Stains that won't clean. Fraying or unraveling. Odor that persists after cleaning. Padding breakdown (carpet feels flat). Allergies worsening.
Carpet: pros: softer, warmer. Sound absorption. Less expensive. Comfortable underfoot. Safer for falls (kids, elderly). Cons: stains. Traps allergens. Shorter lifespan. Harder to clean. Not for kitchens or bathrooms. Hardwood: pros: durable (25-100 years). Easy to clean. Adds home value. Timeless look. Can be refinished. Hypoallergenic. Cons: more expensive. Hard underfoot. Noisy. Scratches. Cold. Recommendation: carpet for bedrooms and comfort. Hardwood for living areas and home value. Many homeowners: hardwood on the main floor and carpet upstairs in bedrooms. Trend: hardwood continues to gain market share, but carpet remains the most popular flooring by square footage installed.
Lumberama Editorial Team
Carpet & Flooring Installation Specialists
Contributor to Lumberama’s reference library. Read our editorial standards and source methodology.
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