How to buy Carpet

Describes how to buy carpet using carpet specifications including face weight, density, stitches per inch, twists per inch, pile height and durability rating.

Important Carpet Characteristics

Density of the Carpet
Pile Height of the Carpet
Twists per inch of the Carpet
Stitches per inch of the Carpet
Durability Retention Rating of the Carpet
Face Weight of the carpet

Below I have compiled a summary of the carpet specifications of each plush carpet on this site. Take the time to study the summary in order to see the differences between all 10 carpets.


Lets compare two carpets in the same price range.
(See Plush Carpet Summary below)

Carpet Features	Prospero	Salsa
Density (Higher is better)	2463	1178
Pile Height in inches (Not Significant)	.380	.440
Twists per inch (Higher is better)	4.0	3.0
Stitches per inch (Higher is better)	9.0	7.33
Face Weight (Higher is better)	26.0	24.5
Durability Rating (Higher is better)	2.50	1.50

As you may be able to see, the Prospero has the Salsa beat in all categories except pile height, which I believe to be the least important of all the carpet specifications.

Conversely, I believe that the Durability Rating or Performance Appearance Retention (P.A.R.) is the most important because this rating is based on industry standards to show how the carpet retains its original appearance based on a predetermined traffic amount.

As a matter of opinion, I recommend the following:

(Based on Scale of: 1-5)

Durability Rating below 2.50		Light Traffic
Durability Rating below 3.5 above 2.50		Medium Traffic
Durability Rating above 3.5		High Traffic

Plush Carpet Summary
Prices below are based on the year 2000 price sheet.
See current carpet prices.

Specification Definitions

Carpet Fiber:

In general Nylon is considered stronger than Polyester.
However, Polyester is naturally stain and fade resistant and offers exceptional softness and color clarity and if a polyester carpet is denser than the nylon it will outwear a less dense nylon.

Fiber Face Weight:

The higher the ounces per square yard the better the carpet. Higher Ounces is better.

Pile Density:

Density indicates how tightly the fibers are stitched together into the carpet backing. Higher density effects the look of the carpet, plus long term durability, provides more comfort underfoot, and improves resistance to crushing/matting. Higher Density is better.

Stitches per Inch:

The more stitches per inch makes the carpet more resilient and is what makes the carpet Density. The more stitches the denser the carpet.
Higher Stitches are better.

Pile Height:

Pile Height does not add to carpet wear or crush less unless the pile has high Density. It will add to the softness of a carpet. A carpet with a high pile height and low Density will Crush and Mat more than a shorter but denser carpet.

Twists per Inch:

The higher the number of twists per inch makes the carpet more resistant to crushing and matting.
Higher twist is better.

Durability Rating (P.A.R)

This is also called the Performance Appearance Retention Rating. The carpets have been walk tested to determine the most accurate assessment of its expected durability and appearance retention. The carpet has been rated according to an industry scale.
The higher the rating the better the expected performance.