Carpet advertising is designed to make comparison hard. One shop quotes per square metre, another per square yard, a third bundles fitting in and a fourth offers interest free credit. None of that is dishonest in itself, but it makes two quotes very difficult to line up unless you know how the pricing works. This guide explains the units, what free fitting normally covers, and how to judge a finance offer, so you can compare like with like before anyone measures your floor. Prices here are guidance only, based on the sort of work we quote across South East London and Kent.
Square metre or square yard: the conversion that matters
One square yard is about 0.836 square metres, so a square yard price looks roughly twenty per cent cheaper than the same carpet priced per square metre. Always convert before you compare. Multiply a square yard price by 1.196 to get the equivalent per square metre.
Carpet is also sold from four metre and five metre wide rolls, and you pay for the width the room forces you to use. A room 4.2 metres wide needs a five metre roll, and the offcut is still on your bill. A careful measure can genuinely save money here.
What the carpet itself tends to cost
As broad 2026 guidance for carpet only, before underlay and fitting: budget polypropylene sits at the bottom of the range, a good quality polypropylene or synthetic twist in the lower middle, wool blend twist in the upper middle, and heavy wool, patterned and premium ranges at the top.
Underlay is an additional cost per square metre and should never be treated as an optional extra, because it does much of the work in how the carpet feels and how long it holds its appearance.
- Budget polypropylene: rentals, spare rooms, short term lets.
- Quality synthetic twist: family bedrooms and lounges, easy to clean.
- Wool blend twist: stairs, landings and hallways, best long term value.
- Premium wool and patterned: statement rooms and staircases.
What free fitting usually includes, and what it does not
Free fitting is a real offer, not a trick, but it is normally limited to laying the new carpet. The items that are usually charged separately are the underlay, new gripper rod, door bars, uplift and disposal of the old carpet, moving furniture, and any subfloor work.
That is why a free fitting quote and a paid fitting quote can end up at the same total. Ask for a written breakdown either way, and check specifically for underlay grade, gripper, door bars and uplift. Those four lines explain almost every difference between two carpet quotes.
- Ask: is underlay included, and what grade?
- Ask: is new gripper rod included or is old gripper being reused?
- Ask: how many door bars, and what type at each doorway?
- Ask: is uplift and tip disposal of the old floor included?
- Ask: are stairs priced per step, and how many steps have been counted?
How flooring finance and interest free credit work
Interest free credit on flooring is normally provided by a third party lender rather than the retailer. You are entering a regulated credit agreement, subject to status and a credit check, and the retailer earns a commission or absorbs a subsidy that is priced into the goods.
Read three things before signing: the total amount payable, the length of the term, and what happens if a payment is missed or the balance is not clear at the end of a promotional period. A genuine zero per cent deal over a fixed term with no fees is straightforward. A deferred interest deal can become expensive if the balance is not cleared in time.
Judging whether a deal is genuinely good value
Work out the finished total for the whole job, including underlay, gripper, bars, uplift and stairs, and compare that single number between quotes. Bundled offers only look attractive when they are compared against an unbundled quote at the same specification.
Also compare the carpet, not just the price. A quote naming the exact range, weight and fibre can be checked. A quote that says only heavy domestic twist cannot.
How we price it
We quote per square metre for the carpet, per square metre for underlay, per step for stairs, and separately for gripper, door bars and uplift, so you can see exactly what each part costs and remove anything you do not want.
We do not run interest free credit and we do not advertise free fitting, because both are ultimately paid for somewhere in the price. Instead we keep the breakdown visible and the quote fixed once the survey is done. If you would rather spread the cost, we are happy for you to use your own arrangement.
Want this priced for your own rooms?
We measure, check the subfloor and give you an itemised written quote - free, with no obligation, across South East London and Kent.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a square yard price to square metres?
Multiply the square yard price by about 1.196. A carpet at 20 pounds per square yard is roughly 24 pounds per square metre.
Is free fitting worth having?
It can be, provided you check what is excluded. Underlay, gripper, door bars and uplift are the usual exclusions, and together they can outweigh the fitting saving.
Do you offer 0% finance?
No. We keep the quote itemised and fixed instead, so there is nothing built into the price to fund a credit offer. You are welcome to use your own payment arrangement.
How much should I budget for a three bedroom house?
It depends heavily on carpet choice and stair count, so we give a written figure after a free measure. The itemised breakdown lets you adjust the specification room by room.