Short answer: most carpets last somewhere between 5 and 15 years. A good quality carpet that is well looked after can last 20 years or more, while a cheap carpet on a busy staircase may look tired within a few years. The fibre, the density, the underlay and the room it is in make the biggest difference.
There is no single answer, because a carpet in a spare bedroom and the same carpet on the stairs of a family home live very different lives. Calendar UK put the average lifespan of a carpet at 5 to 15 years, rising to 20 years or more for a high quality carpet with proper care (Calendar UK).
What decides how long a carpet lasts
- Where it is fitted. Stairs, halls and landings wear fastest because every footstep lands in the same place. Bedrooms last longest.
- Fibre. Wool and nylon are the most resilient fibres and bounce back from footfall. Polypropylene and polyester resist stains well but flatten sooner in heavy traffic.
- Density and pile. A short, dense pile lasts longer than a long, loose one. Deep saxonies are lovely in bedrooms but flatten quickly on stairs.
- Underlay. Good underlay absorbs the impact of each footstep. Laying a new carpet on old, flattened underlay shortens its life.
- Care. Regular vacuuming removes grit that cuts the fibres, and quick action on spills stops stains setting.
Signs your carpet needs replacing
- Bald or flattened patches on stair nosings and in doorways that do not recover
- Ripples or loose areas that keep coming back after restretching
- Stains and smells that professional cleaning cannot shift
- Thin, crumbling underlay you can feel through the carpet
- Fraying edges, seams opening or loops pulled by pets
How to make a new carpet last longer
- Spend more on the stairs and hall, where wear is highest, and save on spare rooms.
- Always fit new underlay with a new carpet.
- Vacuum high traffic areas a few times a week, and use door mats.
- Move furniture slightly from time to time so the same spots are not crushed.
- Deal with spills straight away by blotting, not rubbing.
Read our guides to the best carpet for stairs and what a new carpet costs, or come and feel the difference between fibres in the showroom.