By Tony Chalhoub, founder of CarpetAce
Short answer: The three main carpet types are cut pile, loop pile and cut-and-loop. Cut pile is where you find the soft styles, plush (velour) and twist, which is why you’ll often see the three described as plush, twist and loop. The construction decides how a carpet looks and hides marks; the fibre decides how it copes with stains, sun and traffic.
Every carpet I’ve laid in more than 20 years fits one of these three constructions, whatever name is on the sample. This guide explains each one, which rooms it suits and what it costs, with links to our detailed guides on each style.
The main carpet types and styles at a glance
| Style | Type | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plush (velour) | Cut pile | Softest, smooth and formal | Shows footprints, vacuum lines and shading |
| Twist | Cut pile | Soft, hides marks, all-rounder | Thin, loosely twisted ones flatten in traffic |
| Frieze | Cut pile | Very high twist, casual, hides almost everything | Relaxed look that doesn’t suit every room |
| Level and textured loop | Loop pile | Hard-wearing, no footprints, crisp | Loops can snag; firmer underfoot |
| Berber | Loop pile | Chunky, flecked, hides dirt | Large loops and claws don’t mix |
| Cut-and-loop | Both | Pattern in a single colour, hides soiling | Pattern must be matched at joins |
Cut pile carpet: plush and twist
Most carpet is tufted: yarn is pushed through a backing in loops. In a cut pile, the tops of those loops are sheared off, so the surface is made of yarn ends. That makes cut pile the softest construction. The styles differ in how tightly the yarn is twisted and how long the pile is.
What is a plush carpet?
A plush, also called a velour, is a dense cut pile with a low twist, sheared to an even height. The result is a smooth, velvety surface with rich, even colour. It comes in wool and synthetic fibres.
What are the advantages of a plush carpet?
- Comfort. Nothing is softer underfoot, especially over a good 10mm underlay.
- A formal finish. The smooth surface suits classic and luxury interiors.
- Colour. Light falls evenly across the pile, so colours look deep and uniform.
The honest trade-off: a plush shows footprints, vacuum lines and furniture dents. It also shows shading, where areas of pile brushed different ways look lighter or darker. Shading is a normal characteristic of every plush, not a fault, but you need to be happy with it.
What areas is plush carpet ideal for?
Bedrooms, formal lounges, dining rooms and studies: rooms where comfort and looks matter more than heavy traffic. In a busy family room or hallway, a twist hides wear far better. Supertuft’s Escape Velour and the heavier Imagine, both New Zealand wool velours made in Melbourne, are good examples of the style.
What is a twist pile carpet?
A twist pile is a cut pile whose yarn is tightly twisted and heat-set, so each tuft keeps its shape and points in a slightly different direction. That texture hides footprints and dents, which makes twist the most practical cut pile for family homes, hallways and stairs. Our guide to twist pile carpet covers how to judge a sample and the twist ranges we supply.
What is a loop pile carpet?
In a loop pile, the yarn is left in uncut loops. A level loop has every loop at the same height; textured and multilevel loops vary the height to create texture or pattern; berber is a chunky loop, often flecked. Loops are harder to crush than cut tufts and don’t show footprints, which is why most office carpet is a tight level loop. The catch is snagging: claws and dragged furniture can catch a loop.
Our guide to loop pile carpet covers the types, where it works and how to choose one, and our berber carpet guide covers that style in detail.
Cut-and-loop carpet
Cut-and-loop combines cut tufts and loops in the same surface. The cut tufts look slightly darker and richer than the loops beside them, so a pattern appears even in a single colour, from a subtle texture to a bold geometric or traditional design.
- Strengths: the pattern hides soiling and footprints, and it brings character to large plain rooms.
- Watch for: loops can still snag, so the pet advice for loop pile applies. The pattern also has to be matched across every join, which can take extra carpet. Patterned carpet installation is quoted at the measure, and we do our best to keep joins out of high-traffic areas.
We can source almost any carpet range available in Australia, cut-and-loop included. If you like a patterned look but want all loops, EC Carpets’ Cotswolds and Elmsford are patterned New Zealand wool loops.
Which carpet type suits each room?
| Room | Our usual suggestion |
|---|---|
| Hallways and stairs | A dense twist or a tight loop, rated for stairs |
| Family and living rooms | Twist; a tight loop if there are no pets |
| Bedrooms | Plush or a soft twist |
| Formal lounge | Plush or a fine twist |
| Home office | A tight level loop, which copes with rolling chairs |
| Homes with cats or dogs | A cut pile twist; avoid large loops |
In open-plan homes, one carpet through the living areas, hall and stairs gives a continuous floor, and we can cut robes and small rooms from offcuts of the same carpet where they fit.
Style is half the decision: choose the fibre
Any of the three types can be made in most fibres, and the fibre decides how the carpet handles stains, sun and traffic.
- Wool: natural, resilient and rich-looking. Blot spills quickly, and expect some shedding in the first few months.
- Solution-dyed nylon: colour runs right through each fibre, so it holds up to sun and many household stains. The most resilient synthetic.
- Triexta: a member of the polyester family, often chosen for its soft feel and stain resistance. See how it compares in solution-dyed nylon vs triexta.
- Polyester: soft, with good resistance to water-based spills, but less springy than nylon, so choose a dense one for busy rooms.
- Polypropylene: very stain resistant but crushes more easily, so it’s usually made as a dense loop for rentals and lighter traffic.
Our wool vs nylon guide compares the two most popular fibres side by side.
What does each carpet type cost?
The construction doesn’t set the price; the fibre and weight do. A plush, a twist and a loop in the same fibre and weight cost much the same. Our supply prices per m², including GST:
| Carpet | Supply price per m² (inc GST) |
|---|---|
| Entry-level carpet | from $20.50 |
| Solution-dyed nylon, mid-range | $43.50 |
| Solution-dyed nylon, high-end | $68.30 |
| Wool and wool-blend, mid-range | $68.30 |
| Triexta, mid to high | about $68.30 |
| Premium wool | about $110 |
Installation of carpet we supply is $11–$13.60/m² depending on the carpet’s weight, and 10mm underlay is $6–$10/m², from Airstep, Underlay King and Airlay. Most carpet comes off a 3.66 m roll, so the amount you need is worked out room by room at the measure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most durable type of carpet?
A dense, tight loop or a tightly twisted cut pile, in a resilient fibre such as solution-dyed nylon or wool. Density matters more than pile height.
What is the softest type of carpet?
A plush (velour) cut pile. A heavier pile over a good 10mm underlay feels noticeably softer again.
Which carpet type is best for pets?
A cut pile twist. There are no loops for claws to catch, and the texture hides paw prints between vacuums. Solution-dyed nylon is the practical fibre.
Which carpet type hides dirt best?
Textured styles in mid-tone or flecked colours: a twist, a frieze, a textured loop, a flecked berber or a cut-and-loop. A plain, pale plush shows the most.
Choosing a carpet? Browse our carpet ranges, compare wool and nylon, or see what it costs in our carpet price guide. Our mobile showroom brings samples to your home, and every job is measured and quoted by people who install floors.
Book a free measure and quote
We’ll bring samples to your home, measure every room and email a written quote within 24 hours of the measure. Book your free measure and quote or call 0425 552 816.