New carpet is one of those jobs where the price on the sample rarely matches the final bill. Once you add underlay, fitting and taking up the old carpet, the total can creep up quickly.
So, how much does it cost to carpet a room in the UK? In 2026, most homeowners pay between £300 and £450 to carpet an average-sized bedroom, including the carpet, underlay and professional fitting. A larger living room usually comes in at £600 to £950, and a staircase and landing at around £300 to £450.
Your own price will depend on the size and shape of the room, the carpet you choose and what needs to be done to the floor first. A cheap carpet in a small bedroom will cost far less than a thick wool carpet in a big living room. Below, we break down every cost so you can set a realistic budget before you speak to a fitter.
Average Cost to Carpet a Room in the UK
The quickest way to estimate your new carpet cost is to start with the size of the room. The figures below are for a mid-range carpet, supplied and fitted, including underlay, gripper rods and a door bar.
| Room | Typical size | Average cost (supplied and fitted) |
|---|---|---|
| Hallway | 6m² | £150 – £250 |
| Small bedroom or nursery | 10 – 12m² | £300 – £450 |
| 12ft x 12ft room | 13.4m² | £400 – £540 |
| Double bedroom | 15 – 20m² | £500 – £750 |
| Living room | 20 – 25m² | £600 – £950 |
| Stairs and landing (straight flight) | approx. 10m² | £300 – £450 |
| Whole 3-bedroom house | 60 – 80m² | £1,500 – £3,000 |
If you choose a budget carpet, you can knock roughly 40% off these prices. A premium wool carpet, on the other hand, can easily double them.
How much does it cost to carpet a bedroom?
Bedrooms are usually the simplest rooms to carpet, as they tend to be square or rectangular with few obstacles. The average cost to carpet a bedroom is around £300 to £450 for a standard single or box room and £500 to £750 for a larger double or main bedroom. Because bedrooms see less foot traffic, many homeowners choose a soft, deep Saxony here and save the harder-wearing carpets for busier areas.
How much does it cost to carpet a 12×12 room?
A 12ft x 12ft room works out at around 13.4m². With a budget carpet, you could have it supplied and fitted for about £270. For a mid-range carpet, expect to pay between £400 and £540, and more if you choose wool.
How much does it cost to carpet stairs?
Stairs take more time and skill to fit than a flat room, so the labour cost is higher. Carpeting a straight staircase and landing usually costs £300 to £450 with a mid-range carpet. Winders, half landings and open-sided staircases will push the price up, as each step needs cutting and fitting individually. Choosing the right carpet matters here too, so take a look at our guide to the best carpet for stairs before you buy.
How much does it cost to carpet a house?
To carpet a whole 3-bedroom house, including the bedrooms, stairs, landing and living room, most UK homeowners pay between £1,500 and £3,000. Larger 4-bedroom homes can cost £3,000 or more. If you are carpeting several rooms at once, it is worth asking your fitter for a multi-room price, as you will often save on call-out charges and offcuts.
Carpet Cost per m² in the UK
Most carpet retailers and fitters price carpet by the square metre, so this is the number that matters most when you are comparing quotes. As a rule of thumb, the average cost of carpet per square metre in the UK, including underlay and fitting, falls into three broad bands:
- Budget carpet: £18 to £25 per m². Usually polypropylene with a felt or foam backing.
- Mid-range carpet: £30 to £40 per m². Better quality polypropylene, or nylon twists and saxonies.
- Premium carpet: £50 to £80+ per m². Pure wool and wool-rich blends.
Carpet cost by material
The fibre your carpet is made from has the biggest single effect on the price. Here is what you can expect to pay per m², supplied and fitted:
| Carpet material | Supplied and fitted (per m²) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | £17 – £64 | Budget rooms, rentals, homes with children |
| Polyester | £24 – £64 | Bedrooms, where softness matters most |
| Nylon | £24 – £64 | Hallways, stairs and busy family rooms |
| Wool | £29 – £74 | Living rooms and main bedrooms |
| Sisal | £54 – £64 | A natural, textured look in low-traffic areas |
Polypropylene is popular because it is affordable and highly stain resistant, but it can flatten in busy areas over time. Nylon is more resilient and springs back well, which makes it a good all-rounder. Wool is the most expensive option, but it is naturally hard-wearing, warm and flame retardant, and it tends to look good for many years.
The construction of the carpet matters too. A simple twist pile will cost less than a woven Wilton or Axminster, which can reach £100 or more per m² fitted. If you are unsure what you are paying for, our guide on how to tell if it’s a good quality carpet explains what to look for in pile density, weight and backing.
If you have pets, it is also worth thinking beyond the price tag. Loop pile carpets can snag on claws, so read our tips on how to stop a cat from scratching carpet and our guide to pet-friendly flooring before you choose.
Carpet Fitting Costs in the UK
If you are buying your carpet separately, you will need to budget for fitting on top. Carpet fitting costs in the UK usually work out at £4 to £10 per m², with £6 per m² being fairly typical. Many fitters also have a minimum charge of around £60 to £80, so even a very small room will rarely cost less than that.
| Fitting job | Typical labour cost |
|---|---|
| Fitting per m² (flat rooms) | £4 – £10 |
| Standard bedroom (10 – 15m²) | £60 – £100 |
| Stairs and landing (straight flight) | £75 – £160 |
| Stairs, per step | £12 – £20 |
| Carpet fitter day rate | £150 – £250 |
| Minimum call-out charge | £60 – £80 |
A professional carpet fitter can usually lay a standard bedroom in two to four hours. Stairs and landings take longer, often around half a day.
The Hidden Extras: Underlay, Grippers and Uplift
The price per m² on a carpet sample is rarely the whole story. These are the extras that most often catch people out when they get their final carpet replacement cost.
- Underlay: £3 to £10 per m². A good underlay makes even an affordable carpet feel softer, warmer and quieter, and it helps the carpet last longer. It is not the place to cut corners.
- Gripper rods and door bars: around £10 to £15 per room. Individual door bars cost about £5 to £10 each. If your carpet meets a wooden floor, see our guide to carpet to hardwood transitions.
- Uplift and disposal of old carpet: £20 to £50 per room, or roughly £1.50 to £3 per m².
- Trimming doors: £20 to £50 per door, if a thicker carpet and underlay stops your doors from closing.
- Moving furniture: often included, but some fitters charge £50 to £100 for heavy items.
- Floor repairs: anywhere from £100 to £400 or more if the subfloor needs levelling or loose boards need fixing. If your floorboards squeak, now is the perfect time to sort them, so read our expert guide to creaky floors.
Always ask whether a quote includes these extras. Two quotes that look very different at first glance can turn out to be similar once underlay and uplift are added in.
What Affects the Cost of Carpeting a Room?
Two rooms of exactly the same size can cost very different amounts to carpet. These are the main factors that will shape your quote.
Room shape and wastage
The carpet usually comes in 4m or 5m wide rolls. If your room is 4.2m wide, you may need to buy a 5m width and lose the rest as offcuts, or have a seam. Awkward shapes, bay windows, alcoves and chimney breasts all add to the wastage and the fitting time.
Stairs and landings
Stairs are one of the most labour-intensive jobs for a carpet fitter. Each step has to be cut, stretched and secured individually, so the cost to carpet stairs is higher per m² than a flat room.
Subfloor condition
The carpet needs a clean, level and dry base. Uneven concrete, damaged floorboards or old adhesive will all need sorting before the new carpet goes down, and that adds to the bill.
Pattern matching
Patterned and striped carpets need careful alignment at the seams and on the stairs. That means more wastage and more of the fitter’s time.
Where you live
Labour rates vary across the country. Based on a 12m² bedroom with a mid-range carpet, supplied and fitted, typical prices look like this:
| Region | Average cost |
|---|---|
| London | £490 |
| South East | £450 |
| East of England | £440 |
| North West | £430 |
| Scotland | £420 |
| Midlands | £420 |
| South West | £410 |
| Wales | £390 |
| North East | £370 |
| Yorkshire | £370 |
London prices are around 17% above the UK average, while the North East and Yorkshire are about 11% below.
How to Work Out Your Carpet Budget
You do not need a carpet cost calculator to get a rough idea of your budget. Follow these simple steps:
- Measure the room. Measure the length and width at the widest points, including into door frames and bay windows. Multiply the two to get the area in square metres.
- Add wastage. Add around 10% to allow for offcuts, awkward corners and pattern matching.
- Multiply by your price per m². Use the carpet price plus underlay, or a supplied-and-fitted rate if your retailer offers one.
- Add the extras. Include uplift of the old carpet, door bars and any floor preparation.
For example, a 4m x 3.5m bedroom is 14m². Add 10% and you have about 15.4m². At a mid-range rate of £35 per m² fitted, that comes to roughly £540, plus around £35 for uplift and disposal of the old carpet. That gives you a realistic budget of about £575.
If you measure in feet, simply multiply the length by the width and divide by 10.76 to convert square feet into square metres. Your fitter will always re-measure before cutting, so treat your own figure as a guide rather than a final order.
Should You Fit Carpet Yourself?
Fitting carpet yourself can save you £60 to £100 on a standard bedroom, and more across a whole house. You will need a few specialist tools, such as a knee kicker, a carpet stretcher and a good-quality knife, along with plenty of patience.
For a simple square room, a confident DIYer can get a good result. Our step-by-step guide on how to install carpet yourself walks you through the whole process.
However, stairs, large rooms that need seaming and expensive wool carpets are best left to a professional. A poorly stretched carpet can ripple and wear unevenly, and a mistake with an expensive roll can wipe out any savings. For a fuller comparison, read our guide to DIY flooring vs professional installation.
How to Save Money on New Carpet
New carpet does not have to break the bank. Here are a few ways to keep the cost down without compromising on quality:
- Match the carpet to the room. Spend more on hard-wearing carpet where it counts, such as the stairs and hallway, and choose a softer, more affordable option for spare bedrooms. Our guide to which flooring is best for each room can help you decide.
- Ask about remnants and roll ends. For small rooms, a roll end can be a fraction of the full price.
- Never skimp on underlay. A decent underlay under a mid-range carpet will often feel better and last longer than a premium carpet on a thin underlay.
- Take up the old carpet yourself. If you are comfortable doing it, removing your old carpet and gripper rods can save you up to £50 per room.
- Do several rooms at once. Fitters are often happy to offer a better rate for a bigger job.
- Look after it. A carpet that is cleaned regularly will last years longer. Keep our guides on how to remove carpet stains, get wax out of carpet and get rid of carpet beetles to hand.
Is Carpet the Right Choice for Every Room?
Carpet is warm, soft and quiet underfoot, which makes it ideal for bedrooms, living rooms and stairs. It is less practical in kitchens, bathrooms and very busy entrances. If you are weighing up your options, take a look at our best flooring for hallways and living room flooring ideas, or compare carpet with luxury vinyl flooring. It is also worth reading about the most regretted flooring choices so you can avoid them, and how your choice could affect your home’s resale value.
Carpet Fitting Cost: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a carpet fitter cost per m²?
Most UK carpet fitters charge between £4 and £10 per m² for a flat room, with £6 per m² being typical. Expect a minimum charge of around £60 to £80.
How much does it cost to carpet a living room?
A typical 20 to 25m² living room costs between £600 and £950 to carpet with a mid-range carpet, supplied and fitted with underlay. A premium wool carpet could cost £1,500 or more.
Is it cheaper to buy carpet with fitting included?
Often, yes. Many retailers offer supplied-and-fitted prices that work out cheaper than buying the carpet and hiring a fitter separately. Just check that underlay, grippers and uplift are included.
How long does it take to fit a carpet?
A standard bedroom usually takes two to four hours. Stairs and a landing take around half a day, and a whole house may take one to two days.
How often should carpet be replaced?
A good-quality carpet should last 10 to 15 years with the right care. Budget carpets in busy areas may need replacing after 5 to 7 years.
Final Thoughts on Carpet Cost
So, how much does it cost to carpet a room in the UK? For most homeowners, a mid-range carpet in a standard bedroom will cost around £300 to £450, supplied and fitted. Stairs, larger rooms and premium wool carpets will cost more, while budget carpets and a little DIY can bring the price down.
The best way to keep your budget on track is to measure carefully, choose the right carpet for each room and always check what is included in your quote. If you are still deciding, our guide to choosing the perfect flooring for your home is a great place to start.