“Carpet can be a great investment and really enhance a space if done right,” says Cameron Johnson, Founder & CEO of Nickson Living. The best carpets are available in an array of styles and materials, such as nylon, polyester, wool, or cotton. You can also get them in a vast selection of colors and patterns too, making it easy to truly personalize your space. However, not all carpet is created equally, and since it fills such a large surface area in your home, it’s important to evaluate which carpet is best for your needs. We’ve created a list of the best carpet from brands like Mohawk, Anderson Tuftex, Karastan, and more. Whether you prefer a fluffy, high-pile carpet for added texture in your space or an unobtrusive, low-profile carpet that can handle a ton of foot traffic, you’ll be able to shop for the best styles for your home. Here are the best carpet brands. Mohawk carpets are known for being stain-resistant and wear-resistant, making them great for high-traffic areas in your home like hallways and living rooms. Plus, if you spill, the durable fibers are easier to scrub clean than other types. In other words, pet accidents, food spills, and other mishaps on your floors don’t have to become a permanent fixture in your home. Many of Mohawk’s carpets come in the loop, cut, patterned, and soft-twist textures, so you can find a specific style that looks (and feels) best in your home. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn’t offer installation services, so you’ll need to hire a third-party professional if you don’t want to install the carpet on your own. Price at time of publish: From $2 per square foot Materials: Polyester fiber, nylon fiber, and triexta fiber | Type: Loop, pattern, texture, and twist | Durability: Wear-resistant and stain-resistant | Care: Vacuum with a rotating brush or beater bar, spot, and deep cleaning | Price Range: $2 to $15 per square foot The patented SmartStrand carpets are designed to resist stains including pet-related messes, and the manufacturer even has a lifetime warranty on its carpet to ensure pet stains don’t ruin it. There are many colors, patterns, and textures to choose from, but you can’t buy carpets directly from the company’s site. However, you can find the brand at a variety of retailers, including Rug Studio, Avalon Flooring, and more. Price at time of publish: Varies Materials: Wool, wool blend, nylon | Type: Loop, pattern, texture | Durability: Wool and wool blends are crush and static-resistant, and nylon carpets have built-in stain and soil protection | Care: Vacuuming, spot cleaning, and deep cleaning | Price Range: $3 to $9 per square foot We love that the carpet is easy to find and order online, and it can be delivered as soon as the next day, depending on where you live. The brand offers Triexta, nylon, and polyester options, and LifeProof’s carpets are stain-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about a pet accident or spill ruining your new carpet. The carpet’s spill shield technology prevents spills and debris from settling into the carpet, making it easier to scrub or vacuum out. If you’re looking for a high-quality, neutral carpet for your home, LifeProof is your best bet. However, homeowners who want a textured or patterned carpet will likely find more options from other manufacturers. Price at time of publish: From $1.79 per square foot Materials: Triexta, nylon, and polyester | Type: Stainre | Durability: Stain-resistant, Nanoloc spill shield | Care: Vacuuming twice a week, professional cleaning once a year to comply with warranty requirements | Price Range: $1.79 to $7.19 per square foot Though the company only makes nylon carpets, options at Anderson Tuftex are beautiful and durable, making it easier to find the best carpet for your style and budget. You’ll be able to shop loop, pattern, and cut pile carpets, so there are plenty of types to choose from. The brand also has a selection of carpets specifically for stairs, whether you want to go full coverage or simply add a runner down the middle. These can also be customized to your exact needs. For a more eco-friendly approach, shop Anderson Tuftex’s Anso High-Performance PET range, which is all made using recycled plastic bottles (up to 76 of them per square yard!). Price at time of publish: From $2.49 per square foot Materials: Nylon | Type: Loop, pattern, cut pile | Durability: Built-in stain protection, pet hair resistance | Care: Vacuum, spot clean | Price Range: $2.49 to $14 per square foot The company offers carpets in the loop, twist, and patterned textures. Nylon, polyester, and Anso high-performance carpets are available in a choice of three backings: ClassicBac designed for commercial spaces with a superior tuft bind strength; SoftBac, a flexible and wrinkle-free backing system; and LifeGuard, which has been designed to be easy to clean and reduce odor for pet owners. Price at time of publish: From $2.13 per square foot Materials: Nylon, polyester | Type: Pattern, loop, texture, twist | Durability: Spill-proof technology | Care: Vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush, spot clean | Price Range: $2.13 to $12.30 per square foot The PetProtect line of carpets comes with a 25-year warranty on pet stains, making it a great choice for anyone with animals in the house. The Active Family and TruSoft carpet collections are both comfortable and resilient, even in households that get a lot of foot traffic, so we recommend installing these in your hallways or living rooms. Finally, StainMaster’s Essentials line of carpets is the most budget-friendly option offered. Just keep in mind that this carpet isn’t as durable as others offered by StainMaster so you’ll need to replace it sooner, and it only comes with a 10-year warranty. Price at time of publish: From $1.89 per square foot Materials: Nylon, polyester | Type: Texture, loop, frieze, plush, pattern | Durability: Carpet cushion, spill protection, pet protect | Care: Vacuuming, spot cleaning | Price Range: $1.89 to $11 per square foot Though the company only offers nylon carpets, these are extremely well-made and of excellent quality. They have low VOCs (volatile organic compounds)—harmful chemicals often found in carpet and flooring—so you can rest assured knowing your home’s air quality isn’t being negatively impacted by installing the carpet. The carpet is also certified CRI Green Label Plus for added peace of mind, which means that the product has been rigorously tested to ensure it meets the standard for low emissions. When it comes to durability, Proximity Mills’ carpets are incredibly long-lasting, and products come with a 20-year residential warranty. Like most of the best carpet brands, you can’t buy directly from the manufacturer’s site, but you can use the find a retailer tool to see where to buy near you. Price at time of publish: From $4 per square foot Materials: Nylon | Type: Cut and loop, cut, loop | Durability: Dent-resistant, stain, and fade resistant | Care: Vacuuming, spot cleaning | Price Range: $4 to $8 per square foot With around 1,500 different carpet styles, Phenix’s selections are made of either nylon or polyester, and they can come with solid colors, patterns, low- and high-piles, and more. The polyester options are less expensive than the nylon collections, making them a great pick for anyone on a budget, but keep in mind that they aren’t as long-lasting. The brand also offers two SureSoft collections, which contain recycled plastics and have a super cozy and comfortable feel. The PetPlus selection is perfect for pet owners because it’s extra-durable, and designed to resist stains and odors from pet-related messes. A handy virtual decorator tool on the manufacturer’s website can help you choose the best carpet for your space, and there’s also a helpful installation guide if you want to put the carpet in yourself. Price at time of publish: From $1.75 per square foot Materials: Nylon, polyester | Type: Pattern, loop | Durability: Antimicrobial, stain-resistant, pet resistant | Care: Regular vacuuming, and professional steam cleaning every 12 to 18 months for warranty requirements | Price Range: $1.75 to $5 per square foot

Nylon: As one of the most popular types of carpet available, this synthetic material is an economical yet highly durable carpet option. It is resilient, has superior stain resistance, and is easy to maintain. These sometimes have a higher overall cost, and may not be as soft as some other options.Polyester: Polyester carpet is typically less expensive than other types, quite soft, and water- and stain-resistant, making it great for homes with pets or children. However, this type of carpet is generally not as durable as other options and can be prone to getting worn and matted. Olefin: This is a synthetic polypropylene type of carpet that is good for use in entryways and areas near the outdoors since it’s moisture- and mildew-resistant. However, it’s not durable enough for heavy traffic areas and is prone to matting.Wool: This carpet looks incredibly plush when installed in your home and is naturally fire-resistant. This type of carpet tends to be more expensive, but it’s quite durable for years to come, so you won’t have to install new carpet nearly as quickly as other options. For a cheaper alternative that looks and feels similar, we recommend opting for a wool-blend carpet.Cotton: Cotton carpet is extremely easy to wash. These carpet materials look great for years to come and tend to be very soft to the touch, making for a plush texture underfoot. However, they are prone to staining due to the material’s absorbent nature, so it’ll be harder to get pet messes and stains out compared to other types. Triexta: This budget-friendly carpet is durable, resilient, and long-lasting. It’s also eco-friendly as it’s made from corn sugar and not petroleum. It’s fade-resistant too, so it’ll look great for years to come.

Durability

If you’re going to take the time and money to buy the best carpet, you likely want it to last a long time. Whether you own pets, have children in the home, or want to install carpet in a high-traffic area of your house, the best carpet will be able to stand up to daily wear and tear for many years before needing a replacement. Nylon is generally known for being the most durable type of carpet for residential use. These carpets are good for use in places with heavy foot traffic, and for those with kids and pets. Some carpet manufacturers treat their nylon carpet with a protective coating, which helps it to be more stain-resistant, too. The least durable type of carpet tends to be olefin, which is a less expensive but mildew-resistant polypropylene material. While it limits the growth of mold and bacteria, it’s prone to get matted down. Similarly, high-pile carpets can be difficult to keep looking fresh and fluffy due to the long fibers that hold debris easily. We recommend using these carpet types in low-traffic areas of the home like bedrooms.

Design

Carpets are available in many different designs and colors, including solid-hued options and marbled designs to other styles with funky patterns and textures. Modern carpets can feature designs such as stripes and geometric patterns, which is a great way to add movement and visual interest to a space. More traditional carpet styles may have florals and paisley designs built into the fibers.

Care

Almost all carpets can be kept clean with routine vacuuming and once-a-year professional carpet cleaning. Keep a powerful vacuum cleaner on hand to tackle dirt, hair, and more that can get trapped in your carpet fibers, preventing the debris from negatively impacting your carpet. We also recommend using carpet spray cleaners to deal with pet messes, food spills, and other stains as they happen. Some carpets, such as nylon carpets, have a stain-proof coating, which helps prevent stains and dirt from getting absorbed into the carpet fibers and creating a permanent mark. If your carpet appears faded and looks heavily worn in certain areas, it’s probably time to buy a new carpet for your home. You’ll most likely notice wear and tear first in high-traffic areas of your home like hallways, living rooms, entryways, and more.

Density and Fiber Construction

Fiber construction refers to how the carpet is woven, and these can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a combination of the two. A cut-pile carpet has its ends sheared off. These ends can sometimes be tufted, creating a soft surface texture. A loop pile’s carpet fibers, instead of being cut to a certain length, are looped back into the carpet’s backing. This style isn’t usually as soft as a cut pile option. Cut-and-loop pile, also known as a sculptured pile, combines these two weaving methods for a more textured finish. The amount of fiber used within a cubic yard of carpet determines its pile density. Carpet with a high density is typically more durable than looser carpet types, but many dense carpets aren’t as soft. Materials such as triexta can still provide a high density—and therefore higher durability—without compromising on comfort. Another thing to think about is the pile’s height. High (or deep) pile carpet is extremely soft and cushiony, and most people prefer this carpet type in bedrooms. Those with small kids or pets, however, might want to be wary of a high pile carpet, as these can be the hardest to clean. A low pile carpet makes it easier to remove dirt and debris since the fibers are shorter and your vacuum’s brush roll has a higher chance of reaching all the hidden gunk. Most people opt for a medium pile carpet for areas such as the hallway and living room, as this option is still comfortable but not too hard to keep clean.

Your Questions, Answered

What is the best way to clean a carpet?

“Keeping your carpet clean requires a little upkeep,” Johnson says. “Regularly vacuuming the carpet to remove dust and debris is a good practice. Also, keeping a can of carpet cleaner or investing in an electronic carpet cleaner can be a good idea to remove stains and spots.” We recommend investing in a powerful vacuum to help keep your carpets in top condition, then supplementing your routine cleaning with a once-a-year professional carpet treatment. Johnson suggests renting a professional carpet cleaning machine from your local hardware store or hiring an expert to do the task for you.

How do you know how much carpet you need for your space?

“If you are installing new carpet, the first step is to measure the space,” Johnson says. Carpet is typically sold by square foot, so you will generally want to measure the length and width of the space and multiply them together to get the square footage of the room. You should also measure and account for closets or other areas that you may want to carpet and repeat the exercise. “As a general rule of thumb,” Johnson says, “you should then increase the final number by 10 percent to ensure you have enough materials—the carpet may have to be cut and otherwise manipulated to fit neatly in your space. You may have a bit of extra carpet left over, but that can come in handy for repairs down the road.”

How do you install new carpet?

Installing new carpets on your own can be a little tricky unless you are experienced at home renovations. However, it can be accomplished with a little hard work and some research. You could also ask the customer service department at your local hardware store for some installation advice. “After you measure the room, you will want to prepare the floor for installation by removing the old carpet if necessary, removing baseboards, and removing doors to the room,” Johnson says. “You will then install carpet tack strips around the perimeter of the room—this will ‘attach’ the carpet to the floor. Next, install the carpet padding, cut the carpet, lay the carpet, and stretch it. The last step is to put the room back together with baseboards, doors, etc.”

Who We Are

This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over ten years of commerce writing experience. Kat is also the commerce editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing. For this article, Kat reviewed some of the best carpets from top brands, researching factors such as each carpet’s material, durability, and price range. She also spoke to Cameron Johnson, Founder & CEO of Nickson Living.