When it comes to buying a carpet pile height is something that you need to consider greatly, so what is a good pile height for carpet?
In our experience a pile height of 1/4″ to 1/2″ is a great length for easy maintenance and day to day living, however, this can differ depending on what your want out of your carpet.
The easiest way to find out the right pile height for you is to understand exactly what carpet pile height means and the pros and cons of different heights. Let’s jump straight into it.
What Is Carpet Pile Height?
Carpet pile height is a term used to describe the length of the fibres in a carpet.
The longer the pile height, the longer the fibres. Thick wool carpets, for example, usually have a large pile height. On the other hand, carpeting around stairs usually has a much smaller pile height as it is easier to maintain and less likely to trap dirt which can be crucial in high traffic areas.
So, in practical terms, how does carpet pile height change the way a carpet behaves and feels?
Short vs Long Carpet Pile Height
The easiest way to understand the behaviour of different pile heights is to categorise between short and long heights.
Short Pile Height
Short pile heights, more specifically those less than 3/4″, are known to be much more durable. This is because the fibres are less likely to be pulled out, and the smaller size means less dust and debris can be collected within the fibres.
Short pile height carpet is used extensively in commercial properties and also in areas around the house that have large footfall, such as stairs, entryways or hallways.
Long Pile Height
Long pile height is more of a luxury option that has a softer more cushioned feel as you walk over it. Long pile carpet is considered anything around 3/4″ and above.
This does come at a price though, with most long pile height carpets being less durable. They are also more work to keep clean and tidy as the long fibres are prone to trapping dust and debris that can be hard to notice.
Cut vs Loop Carpet Pile
To make things more interesting there is also 2 types of carpet pile; cut and loop.
Cut carpet pile is when the end of the fibres are cut, which creates a soft and plushy feel. Loop carpet pile, on the other hand, is where the fibres remain uncut.
Cut carpet pile is usually less durable than loop carpet pile, but this is something that you should think about alongside the type of pile height that you want.
Choosing The Right Carpet Pile Height For You
Understanding the difference between short and long pile height is one thing, but deciding between them requires a few other things to be considered.
Budget
Carpets can cost a lot, especially if you are having multiple rooms done and that isn’t even considered the cost to remove the flooring that is currently in place. This is why it is crucial to know whether a longer – or shorter – pile height will make a difference to the price.
As a general rule of thumb the longer the pile height the more expensive the carpet.
This is only a general rule because it also depends greatly on the type of material that you choose as well.
Feel
Do you prefer a carpet to be softer and cushioned as you walk over it, or do you prefer a firmer and less cushioned feel?
How you want your carpet to feel is another key element that people forget to consider. Feeling a sample of carpet with your hand is one thing, but walking over it barefoot is an entirely different thing.
Maintenance
When it comes to choosing a carpet, you need to ask yourself how much maintenance you want to take on.
As we mentioned previously, short-pile carpets will pick up less dirt and last longer. This means they will need to be replaced less frequently, but also maintained less on a weekly basis with vacuuming and deep cleaning.
Indentations
How your carpet interacts with furniture is another thing to think about.
Longer-pile carpet is more susceptible to showing indentations and marks from furniture and they will also be much more noticeable. So, if you like the move your furniture around then a short-pile carpet might be a better choice.
What About Carpet Face Weight?
Another term you may have come across while shopping around for carpets is something called face weight, but what does this mean and how does it relate to carpet pile height?
Face weight is a term used to describe the total weight of a carpet’s fibres, not including the backing material. This ranges anywhere from 20 ounces up to 100 and is a good representation of the thickness and length of fibres that a carpet has.
Total face weight is similar to face weight but includes the weight of the backing, so this essentially is a weight of the entirety of a carpet.
You can check out our guide to how much carpets weigh here.
Face weight on its own is the more handy number to know though as it’s a direct measure of the density of the carpet pile.
Final Thoughts
Carpet pile can be quite a confusing topic, but hopefully, you have a better understanding of it from reading this article.
Let us know about your experiences with short or long-pile carpets by getting in touch here.
