Your Complete Guide to Different Types of Carpet

Are you as in love with carpets as we are but don’t know the first thing about the different types of carpets? We get it! There are so many different types of carpets.

Everyone loves the cozy, comfortable softness of plush fabric under their bare feet. But if you’ve ever considered installing this type of flooring in your home, you may have been overwhelmed by all the options.

Like a deer frozen in headlights, you may be tempted to just point to the first color you like and then run out of the store.

In this article, we’re going to explain:

• All the elements of a carpet so that you understand what all the different terms mean
• Everything you should consider when looking into carpet types—fiber, pile, backing, and grade
• How to choose the types of carpet that will work best for your lifestyle
• What to look for when comparing different carpet products
• Some pros and cons of each carpet type

What are The Defining characteristics of Carpets?

In order to understand the defining characteristics of carpet, we need to start from the top. There are four main elements to every carpet. Together, these determine your carpet’s appearance and how it will perform. They are:

1. Fiber
2. Pile
3. Grade
4. Backing

When you choose a product, you need to evaluate each of these elements to understand how varying types of carpet will feel and hold up in your home. 

Let’s take a closer look at what each of those things actually means.

What are Carpet Fibers?

Carpet fiber refers to the material your carpet is made of. 

There are both natural and synthetic fiber options.

The most common types of carpet fibers include nylon, polyester, olefin, wool, and triexta. Each of these offers unique benefits in terms of durability, stain resistance, and softness. We will explore each in detail below.

Different types of carpets have fibers of varying thickness. This is achieved by spinning individual strands of yarn fiber together with others. Each strand is called a ply, and the more of them there are, the thicker each individual fiber of your carpet will be.

For example, in a 3-ply carpet, each fiber of your carpet would be made of 3 yarn strands, spun together, and secured to the backing.

What is a Carpet Pile?

Carpet pile refers to the way each fiber is arranged on your carpet. This has perhaps the largest impact on how different types of carpets perform in terms of durability and stain resistance. 

Loop pile carpets are made of fibers that are arranged in (you guessed it) loops—meaning they’re attached to the backing twice. Berber carpet (a type of low, durable carpet) is made of thick, looped fibers, and it’s what’s known as a “low-pile” carpet. 

Types of carpets with shorter, denser piles are generally going to be better for high-traffic areas of the home since they’re less likely to compress or be torn out. However, longer piles are much softer.

What is Carpet Grade?

Carpet grade describes the quality of a carpet. Many factors determine a carpet’s grade: fiber, face weight, and construction. The grade influences how long a carpet lasts.

You might be wondering: what exactly is face weight? It’s just a term that refers to the amount of yarn that makes up a given pile.  Think of it as a thread count on sheets. The higher the face weight, the better the carpet.

There isn’t one standard system to indicate different types of carpet grades; it’s more of a self-labeling system. That being said, the highest quality isn’t always necessary or even desired. Residential rental spaces and businesses frequently use lower-grade types of carpeting because they know those rugs will take a massive beating every day. In addition, lower-grade carpets will cost less to replace.

What is Carpet Backing?

Carpet backing is literally the back of the carpet.

There are two parts to every carpet backing: 

1. The primary backing, where the fibers attach.
2. The secondary backing creates a barrier between the floor and the carpet padding. 

There are many types of carpet backing, and like the front side, they, too, can be made from synthetic or natural materials.

Types of Carpet Fibers

Ok! Now that we’ve explained the four elements of a carpet let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details of each—starting with different types of carpet fibers.

Let’s put it this way: your carpet fiber options are practically endless. It’s tempting to feel overwhelmed, but it helps if you know how each fiber feels and reacts to wear and tear and stains.

Also, does durability matter to you? The fiber you choose will play a significant role in how long your carpet lasts. And some fibers make for more environmentally friendly flooring options than others, of course.

Nylon

Nylon is one of the most common synthetic fiber choices for carpets. In fact, while we wouldn’t go so far as to say that most types of carpet these days are made of nylon… there are certainly a fair few.

Why? It’s affordable, attractive, and astonishingly durable. From high-end carpets to budget options, you’re going to find a lot of nylon products around.

Nylon is resistant to mold and mildew, so if you’re looking for the best flooring for basements, this is an excellent fiber to consider. It’s also exceptionally stain-resistant and doesn’t fade.

Nylon tends to create a lot of static, but you can have the carpet treated before installation to eliminate that irritation. 

It’s good to know that not all nylon is the same. Nylon 6,6, for example, is much more stain-resistant than nylon 6,0, but it’s also harder to clean. Trade-offs!

Polyester

Polyester is very similar to nylon, though it is a bit cheaper. Like nylon, it’s moisture and stain-resistant and has good wearability. In addition, polyester is surprisingly soft when in thick pile form.

Polyester carpets will give you a lot of value for your money, but they are not quite as resilient as nylon. It won’t bounce back from wear and tear as easily as nylon does.

On the other hand, lots of polyester (like PET) can be made from recycled materials!

Wool

Wool is one of the best choices you can make for your home carpeting. It is a high-quality natural fiber that’s long-lasting and quite strong. It doesn’t get dirty quickly and is relatively stain-resistant if you clean it often. It also feels fantastic.

The downside, though, is that wool is not an easy type of carpet to maintain. In addition, the colors can fade, so you wouldn’t want to install them in a room that gets a good deal of direct natural light. It also costs around twice what synthetic fiber carpets can cost.

Triexta

Triexta is a synthetic fiber that’s new-ish to the world of carpets. It’s 37% constructed from (wait for it…) corn! This makes triexta an excellent sustainable, renewable carpet fiber.

Triexta is very similar to nylon or polyester in that it’s durable, mess-resistant, easy to maintain, and very soft. The main drawback is that vacuuming may be challenging because the fibers are very fine. 

Triexta carpets have three times the number of fibers as other carpets, making them super dense. That can make it challenging to push a vacuum cleaner through them.

Olefin (Polypropylene)

This synthetic carpet fiber is mainly made from plastic, making it a super water-resistant option for areas prone to moisture. It’s also solution-dyed, so it won’t fade in direct sunlight.

Olefin isn’t as resilient as nylon is; it’s also sensitive to friction, so dragging furniture across this carpet won’t treat it well. Finally, certain carpet types made with olefin might have a slightly waxy feeling to the touch.

Sisal

Sisal is another type of natural fiber derived from the Sisal cactus plant! Pretty cool, eh? As you might guess, it’s a bit of a rough material—but it makes for a super strong type of carpet fiber.

Sisal also makes excellent outdoor materials since they are durable and easy to maintain. That’s why so many people use carpet types like sisal for their patios!

While there are plenty of sisal carpets available, this material is most commonly used in area rugs.

Types of Carpet Piles

As we already mentioned, different types of carpet fibers can be attached to the carpet backing in many different ways—creating different types of carpet piles! 

The different cuts, heights, and textures you can achieve with different types of carpet piles all suit various needs.

For example, rooms with high traffic levels will need a different pile than rooms designed for comfort that see little traffic. Here’s a crash course on different types of carpet piles.

The 3 Main Types of Carpet Piles

Ok, so before we go any further, we need to explain something. The phrase “carpet pile” has numerous different meanings. To try and keep everything as clear as possible, we’re going to start with the three main types of carpet piles before explaining other elements of carpet piles you should know about.

Cut Pile

This type of carpet pile involves cutting the yarn at a specific height and twisting it into tufts. It results in a deliciously soft carpet. 

There are different styles within cut pile carpets, which are all unique from each other. Just remember: cut pile carpets can vary in length. There are high-cut pile carpets, low-cut pile carpets, you name it. These carpet types often boast a luxurious, formal look.

Here are some of the most notable cut-pile carpets:

• Plush Carpet: A short, evenly cut pile makes this type of carpet super smooth. It’s also known as velour carpet. 
• Saxony Carpet: Has longer fibers than plush, and each tuft is a bit more twisted. Also very comfortable.
• Frieze Carpet: These cut pile carpets have a big twist to each tuft, giving it a dense texture. Perhaps the most well-known style of frieze carpet is shag carpet, which has extremely long, thick fibers. Long live the 1970s!

Loop Pile

The opposite of cut pile, loop pile carpets connect each fiber to the backing twice (thus forming fiber loops rather than tufts). 

As with cut pile carpets, loop pile carpets can come in many different heights and textures.

Whereas cut pile carpets generally boast a more luxurious look, loop pile carpets are often a bit more understated. That said, they’re generally more durable and might not call for as much maintenance.

Here are some of the most notable loop pile carpets:

• Berber Carpet: A very dense, low type of loop carpet in which the fibers are uncut rather than individually looped. It’s a stalwart of non-residential areas as well as very high-traffic homes. The short fibers are looped very tightly, making these carpets resistant to damage and stains.
• High-low Loop Carpet: Also called multi-level loops, these carpets use loops of varying heights to create specific patterns or textures.

As you might imagine, you won’t find many high-pile loop carpets—because if the loops were too high, things would get caught in them constantly! That’s why deep-pile carpets are always cut piles.

Cut-and-Loop Pile

These types of carpets are made from a combination of both cut and looped fibers. 

The use of both cut and loop yarns creates a design on the carpet because you can notice the differences in texture. It’s a very trendy and contemporary look, although it has been around for decades. Patterned carpets are often cut and looped.

Carpet Pile Height

Now that we understand the different types of carpet piles let’s talk about carpet pile height. 

The important thing to remember here is that different types of carpet piles can come from different heights! That means you can find low-cut pile carpets, medium-loop pile carpets, high-cut-and-loop pile carpets, you name it.

The “low” here refers to the length of the fibers. Carpet types with low piles have very short fibers—which often means they’re easier to maintain when in loop form (making them a good choice for families with kids and pets).

As we mentioned before, Berber is a type of low-pile loop carpet, whereas plush is a type of low-cut pile carpet.

As you might imagine, medium pile carpets are a good middle ground between durability and comfort. 

High-pile carpets, known as deep pile carpets, have the longest fibers of the bunch. Shag carpet is a prime example of a deep, cut pile carpet.It depends entirely on the material, but often, deep pile carpets are great for kids and pets since they don’t show very much wear—they’re just really hard to clean.

Types of Carpet Grades

Carpet grades are beneficial in determining how you should use different types of carpets. They predict the quality, durability, and lifespan of different types of carpet, which is helpful when you are making your decision. 

As we mentioned before, there is no standard system for grading carpets. Rather, carpet grade is a (slightly subjective) rating involving a number of factors: face weight, the number of plays in each fiber, the fiber material itself, etc.

Low-Grade Carpet

You’ll often find low-grade carpets in rental properties. They aren’t designed to last very long, perhaps three to five years. However, they’re lightweight and very inexpensive. 

Medium-Grade Carpet

This type of carpet can last longer, at about six to twelve years. It’s a bit heavier and costs up to twice what a low-grade carpet runs. 

High-Grade Carpet

These are the longest-lasting types of carpets, at around twelve to twenty years. High-grade carpets are very heavy and are made from good, quality fibers, like wool. They can cost three times the amount of a medium-grade carpet.

Types of Carpet Backing

Do not confuse carpet backing with carpet padding; they’re two completely different things!

Carpet backing refers to the material that makes up the base of your carpet. As we mentioned above, most carpets have two backings:

1. The primary backing, where the fibers attach.
2. The secondary backing creates a barrier between the floor and the carpet padding. 

While backing is not the most important feature in most carpet types (in terms of performance), you do have several options that you should know about. 

Polyurethane

This is one of the most common construction materials for carpet backing. It’s very affordable and also super strong. Polyurethane also does well with moisture. However, it’s a very rough material and may damage surrounding baseboards. That’s because it’s made from a resin that’s applied to the carpet back and hardens into a rubber-like feel.

Soft Plastic Backing

If you are looking for a material that’s very gentle on your floors, consider soft plastic backing. It’s made out of woven plastic. Surprisingly, though, it doesn’t do well with moisture, so avoid humid areas with these types of carpet backings.

Jute Backing

Jute is a natural fiber woven from the jute plant. It’s one of the most durable fibers, but unfortunately, it’s not always readily available. Because jute is a natural material, it’s an excellent choice if you’re concerned about chemicals used in carpets.

Choosing the Best Types of Carpet for Your Needs

Alright! Now that we know all about different types of carpets (and how they perform) let’s discuss choosing one that’s suitable for your needs.

Just remember: assess your needs as realistically as possible because carpeting is an investment. You don’t want to have any regrets down the road!

Consider How You Use the Space

Is your carpet going in a family room or in a rarely-used sitting room? Consider the activities and traffic patterns your home sees, and take ease of cleaning into consideration.

For example, if you have kids that play in your living room, you’re going to want a carpet that’s both durable and easy to clean. If you have a shoes-off house and no pets, maybe cleaning isn’t as important—so a higher-pile carpet would work for you.

Comfort Vs. Practicality

Trade-offs between comfort and practicality in carpets involve balancing softness with durability. Plush, high-pile carpets offer greater comfort but are harder to clean and wear out faster. Conversely, low-pile or loop carpets are more durable and easier to maintain but may lack a luxurious feel.

Consider Different Types of Carpet Patterns (and Colors!)

What are you looking for from your carpet? If you want to show off your furniture, textured carpet makes a nice choice. It also conceals dirt well so that you can go longer between cleanings. 

Or do you want to open up your space more? Play with light colors to trick the eye. On the other hand, dark colors are excellent for hiding spills and other dirt.

Picking your carpet color can feel stressful because there are so many options. Bring home some carpet samples of colors you have in mind. This is a perfect way to test how each shade will look in the natural light of your room, as well as next to your furniture and walls.

Fun fact: you can also buy peel-and-stick carpet tiles for a more temporary solution or to try out some different textures. And if you don’t know how to install carpet tiles, they’re a super easy DIY project!

What are the Best Types of Carpet for Each Room in The House?

Obviously, this comes down to your specific needs and tastes. However, the best flooring for each room doesn’t usually vary that much—so here are a couple of quick tips.

• Living rooms generally see a lot of traffic, so they require types of carpet that won’t show wear and tear as easily. For that, we’d recommend a low-pile loop carpet like Berber. Synthetic fibers are the easiest for cleaning up accidents and are also quite durable.
• Master bedrooms, on the other hand, often require something cozy and soft. Medium or deep-cut pile carpets (like Saxony) are wonderful for a luxurious bedroom. Consider a soft fabric, like wool or nylon. 
• Kids’ bedrooms are a different story. You’ll likely want something synthetic with shorter or medium piles to combine comfort with ease of maintenance.

Making final decision

As we’ve explored, the world of carpets is vast and varied. From fibers to piles, grades to backings, each element contributes to creating different types of carpets that perform uniquely in various settings.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to carpeting. What works beautifully in a cozy bedroom might not hold up in a busy living room. By familiarizing yourself with the different types of carpets and their properties, you’re empowering yourself to make an informed decision that balances comfort, durability, and style.

For instance, if superior comfort is your top priority, you might opt for a high-grade, deep-cut pile carpet made from soft wool fibers with a jute backing. This combination would create a luxuriously plush feel underfoot, perfect for a master bedroom or low-traffic formal living area.

On the flip side, if you’re looking for extreme durability, consider a medium-grade, low-loop pile carpet made from nylon fibers with polyurethane backing. This tough-as-nails combo would stand up to heavy foot traffic, resist stains, and be a breeze to clean – ideal for busy family rooms or high-traffic hallways.