Best Carpet for Stairs

There’s a reason carpet warranties rarely cover stairs. Every time you go from one floor of the house to the other, you smash your feet down on the same spot of each step. There’s no other area of the house like the stairs in this way. The close second would be hallways but even hallways your step lighter and not always in the same spot. So clearly the stairs present a carpeting problem, but what’s the solution? Let’s break down the best carpet for stairs…

There’s no “secret sauce”

Let’s cut to the chase… what carpet should you buy for your stairs? The bad news is it’s not that easy—there isn’t a perfect carpet. The good news is it’s really not too complex.

The key is to pick a durable carpet. There’s no secret for stairs. A carpet that’s durable in your bedroom will also last longer than conventional carpet on your stairs–it’s just more important to pay attention to durability on stairs. A good starting point is to check out our article on the most durable carpet you can buy.

Taper your expectations

Choosing a great carpet and a great installer will add years to your carpet, but you should still expect it to wear out more quickly than your other rooms. To avoid disappointment, consider buying extra carpet specifically to replace the carpet on the stairs mid-way through the life of your carpet. You may be able to negotiate this extra carpet for free or at a discount.

Captain’s tip: The first step wears out quickest, and no two stairs wear out the exact same rate. You can use this to your advantage when you choose what style of installation you want for your stairs. If you have your heart set on a certain style, stick with it. If you aren’t set on a particular style, consider choosing a style where the steps are carpeted individually, rather than the waterfall style where one piece of carpet goes down the entire stairway. This way you can inexpensively replace one step at a time to keep your carpet looking new.

Are there carpets with stair warranties?

There used to be no carpet with stair warranties. Today, some of the major manufacturers are putting their neck out by giving chosen carpets a stair-specific warranty. Great deal for you, or just great marketing by them?

The motivation behind these warranties is clearly to increase sales. If you buy their carpet for your stairs, you’re also going to buy it for the rest of your house. But just because the warranties purpose is to get you to buy, doesn’t mean it’s not worth it, right? After all a warranty is still a warranty?

Right. But keep in mind two things: first, you need to have an estimate of what you’re paying for the warranty. In other words, how much would you save buying an equivalent carpet without the warranty? If you’re buying the carpet for your entire house, any increase in price could easily add up to more than it would cost to buy extra carpet to replace the stairs when they look worn. The second thing to know is that we’re not a huge fan of carpet warranties because they can be deceiving. What you consider ruined carpet, may be just a “worn” looking carpet to the manufacturer, and this means you don’t get to use your warranty.

Installation amplified

Installation can make or break any carpet, but stairs this impact is amplified. If you install carpet the wrong way on stairs, it can cut its life in half. You want to make sure you’re walking with the pile, but I’d leave it to the installer: After you pick out the carpet, protect your investment by finding the best installer in your area.

Captain’s parting words!

There’s no doubt carpeting stairs can be tricky. But finding the best carpet for stairs really isn’t too difficult—just pay attention to the details. And then go beyond the details and have a plan to replace your stairs early. This can be via the warranty or leftover carpet your purchase. You can weigh your options, and with the help of this article, your stairs shouldn’t leave you disappointed.