By Tony Chalhoub, founder of CarpetAce
Short answer: Carpet tiles suit most offices and busy commercial floors: they’re easy to get into the building, waste less on large areas, and a damaged tile can be swapped instead of replacing a whole section. Broadloom carpet suits boardrooms, receptions, hospitality and executive spaces, where a softer, more seamless and luxurious finish matters most. At CarpetAce, carpet tiles cost $35–$60/m² supply plus $15/m² installation, and broadloom starts from $20.50/m², with solution-dyed nylon at $43.50/m² (mid-range) to $68.30/m² (high-end), supply only, including GST.
This decision comes up in most commercial fit-outs, and often the answer is a mix. Here’s how the two compare on look, performance and real cost.
What’s the difference?
Broadloom is wall-to-wall carpet cut from a roll. Most ranges come on a 3.66 m roll, and some are 4 m wide. Areas wider than the roll need a join and a fill piece.
Carpet tiles are modular pieces with their own backing, laid one by one. The Airlay ranges we carry come as 50 × 50 cm tiles or 25 × 100 cm planks, all in solution-dyed nylon.
Carpet tiles vs broadloom at a glance
| Carpet tiles | Broadloom carpet | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 50 × 50 cm tiles or 25 × 100 cm planks | 3.66 m roll (some ranges 4 m) |
| Offcuts | 8% allowance on the floor area | Depends on the room; more where it’s wider than the roll |
| Getting it into the building | Carried in by the box, through lifts and stairwells | Long, heavy rolls need access, or cutting to size off site |
| Look | Tile pattern; can be laid quarter turn, brick or ashlar, and planks in herringbone | Continuous finish; joins where the area is wider than the roll |
| Feel underfoot | Firmer; cushion back available on some ranges | Softer, especially over underlay |
| Damage | A stained or damaged tile can be lifted and replaced with a spare | Damage usually means replacing a larger area |
| Raised access floors | The usual choice, as panels can still be lifted | Makes lifting panels difficult |
| Supply price (inc GST) | $35–$60/m², depending on the range | From $20.50/m²; solution-dyed nylon $43.50–$68.30/m²; mid-range wool $68.30/m² |
| Installation | $15/m², adhesive included; no underlay needed | $11–$13.60/m² by carpet weight, plus underlay at $6–$10/m² |
Carpet tiles: pros and cons
Pros
- Less waste on big floors. Tiles carry an 8% offcut allowance, while broadloom is paid for by the roll.
- Easy logistics. Boxes of tiles go up in the lift. There’s no need to manoeuvre a 3.66 m roll through a lobby.
- Replaceable. Keep some spare tiles from the same order, and a stained tile at the coffee station can be lifted and replaced.
- Design flexibility. Mix colours to mark out zones and walkways, or lay planks in herringbone for a residential feel.
- Raised access floors. Tiles are the usual choice where floor panels need to be lifted for cabling.
- Staged work. An occupied office can be done area by area. We can plan the work around your trading hours.
Cons
- Higher price per m². $35–$60/m² is above entry-level broadloom, though the gap narrows once roll waste is counted.
- Firmer underfoot. Most tiles have a PVC backing. A cushion back on some ranges adds comfort, but it won’t match broadloom over underlay.
- Visible tile lines. In some designs and lighting you can see the grid. The laying pattern and colour choice make a big difference.
- Floor preparation matters. Tiles need a flat, sound floor, and every carpet tile job is subject to floor preparation, quoted at the measure.
Broadloom carpet: pros and cons
Pros
- Comfort and quiet. Broadloom over underlay is softer and absorbs sound, which suits boardrooms, consulting rooms and executive offices.
- A more luxurious finish. Wider choice of textures and fibres, including wool and patterned Axminster, often used in hotels and hospitality. See our wool carpets.
- Continuous look. Fewer visible lines across a room, especially in plain colours.
- Lower entry price. Broadloom starts from $20.50/m² supply. Browse our carpet range.
Cons
- Roll waste. Rooms wider than the roll need a join and a fill piece, so you pay for more carpet than floor.
- Joins. Large areas have joins. We do our best to keep joins out of high-traffic areas.
- Access. Rolls are long and heavy. Tight lifts and stairwells may mean cutting to size off site.
- Damage is harder to fix. A badly stained section usually means replacing a larger area. CarpetAce doesn’t patch carpet.
Which suits your space?
Choose carpet tiles for open-plan offices, corridors, education and healthcare settings, offices with raised access floors, and fit-outs that need to be staged around staff.
Choose broadloom for boardrooms, reception areas, executive offices, hotels and hospitality venues, and anywhere comfort and a refined finish come first.
Mix them: many fit-outs use tiles in work areas and broadloom in the boardroom and reception. We can quote both in one visit. Browse our carpet tiles, or read about our commercial flooring work.
What it costs: a 100 m² office
Take a 10 × 10 m open-plan office. Carpet tiles are ordered at the floor area plus 8%: 108 m². Broadloom needs three 10.1 m lengths of the 3.66 m roll (10 m plus 0.1 m for trimming), with two joins: 3 × 10.1 × 3.66 = about 110.9 m².
| Item | Carpet tiles | Broadloom, mid-range nylon | Broadloom, high-end nylon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring | 108 m² × $35–$60 = $3,780–$6,480 | 110.9 m² × $43.50 = about $4,824 | 110.9 m² × $68.30 = about $7,574 |
| Underlay | Not needed | 100 m² × $6–$10 = $600–$1,000 | 100 m² × $6–$10 = $600–$1,000 |
| Installation | 100 m² × $15 = $1,500 | 100 m² × $11–$13.60 = $1,100–$1,360 | 100 m² × $11–$13.60 = $1,100–$1,360 |
| Total (inc GST) | $5,280–$7,980 | About $6,524–$7,184 | About $9,274–$9,934 |
On a large, open floor, carpet tiles land close to mid-range broadloom on total cost, because tiles only carry the 8% offcut allowance while broadloom pays for the roll. Taking up old carpet (about $8/m²) and furniture moving ($8/m²) are extra for either. Floor preparation is quoted at the measure. See the full breakdowns on our carpet tiles prices and carpet prices pages, or use the flooring price calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do carpet tiles cost more than broadloom?
Per m² of supply, usually yes: tiles are $35–$60/m², while broadloom starts from $20.50/m². Once roll waste and underlay are counted, the totals get much closer. For the 100 m² office above, tiles come to $5,280–$7,980 and mid-range nylon broadloom to about $6,524–$7,184.
Should we order spare carpet tiles?
Yes. A few spare tiles from the same order mean a damaged tile can be lifted and replaced later with a close colour match. CarpetAce doesn’t do repairs, so tell us at the measure and we’ll include spares in the quote.
Are carpet tiles comfortable enough for a boardroom?
They’re firmer than broadloom. Some of our tile ranges come with a cushion back, which helps. If comfort and a refined feel are the priority, broadloom over underlay is the better fit for that room.
Can you work around our business hours?
Yes. We can plan the work around your trading hours and stage it area by area. Timing and access are confirmed at the measure.
Can I preview carpet tiles in our space?
Yes. We bring samples to your site, and you can preview a carpet tile in a photo of your space with See it in your room.
Book a free measure and quote
We’ll bring carpet tile and broadloom samples to your site, measure, check the floor and email a written quote within 24 hours of the measure. Book your free measure and quote or call 0425 552 816.