What will a fitter charge me to lay my carpet?
You want the labour half of the price, priced separately from the carpet.
Most UK carpet fitters charge either by the square metre or by the room, with stairs priced per tread on top. Uplift of the old floor, disposal, easing doors and awkward access are separate lines, and they are where two quotes for the same job usually diverge.
Written for: People who have already chosen a carpet and want to know what the labour will add.
The three ways fitters quote
By the square metre is the most common and the easiest to compare. By the room is quicker to quote and often works out similar on standard rooms, but it hides the effect of an awkward shape. By the day suits whole house jobs and refurbishments where nobody wants to count metres.
None of the three is a trick. The problem is comparing one against another, so ask every quote to be given the same way before you line them up.
Stairs are priced separately, and they should be
A straight flight is slow work compared with a bedroom because every tread and riser is cut, folded and fixed individually. Winders, the wedge shaped treads on a turn, take longer again because each one is a different shape.
Expect a per tread price with an uplift for winders. A thirteen tread straight run with a small landing is a comfortable half day for one fitter.
Typical UK carpet fitting labour rates
| Job | How it is usually charged | Typical UK range |
|---|---|---|
| Standard room | Per square metre | £4 to £8 per m2 |
| Straight stairs | Per tread | £10 to £20 per tread |
| Winder stairs | Per tread | £15 to £30 per tread |
| Uplift of old carpet | Per room | £15 to £35 |
| Disposal | Per load | £25 to £60 |
| Easing a door | Each | £10 to £25 |
General UK ranges for comparison. Ask for a fitting price against your own room sizes.
The extras that move the number
None of these are hidden charges when they are itemised on the quote. They only feel like hidden charges when they turn up on the day.
- Uplift and removal of the old carpet and underlay
- Disposal, which is a tip charge and is usually per load
- Moving furniture, especially wardrobes and beds
- Easing or trimming doors that no longer clear the new pile
- Gripper replacement where the old rods are rusted or split
- Screeding or ply lining where the subfloor is not flat enough
Supply and fit versus supply only
Buying the carpet and the fitting from one place means one person is responsible if the metreage is wrong. Buying supply only and using your own fitter can save money and is completely normal, particularly if you already trust a local fitter.
We do both. We work with trusted, fully vetted local fitters across Kent, and plenty of customers collect the carpet and underlay from the warehouse and fit it themselves or use their own fitter.
How to read two quotes fairly
Put them side by side and check they include the same six things: carpet, underlay, gripper, accessories, fitting and disposal. A cheaper quote with no underlay line is not cheaper, it is incomplete.
If one quote is genuinely lower on like for like, bring it to us. We will beat any legitimate quote, and we would rather see the paperwork than argue about it in the abstract.
Get the carpet, the underlay and the fitting quoted as three separate numbers
Send your room sizes or bring them in. We price against what is genuinely on the warehouse floor, and the quote is free with no obligation.
Have a look at these
Questions we get asked about this
- Do fitters charge more for stairs than for rooms?
- Yes, and it is fair. Every tread and riser is cut and fixed separately, so a flight of stairs takes far longer per square metre than an empty bedroom.
- Will the fitter take my old carpet away?
- Usually, for a charge. Uplift and disposal are separate lines because the tip charges the fitter by load, so ask for both to be on the quote before the day.
- Do I have to move the furniture myself?
- It keeps the cost down if you clear what you can. Most fitters will shift heavier items, but wardrobes and beds that stay full slow the job and can add to the labour.
- Can I buy the carpet from you and use my own fitter?
- Yes, supply only is no problem at all. Bring your room sizes and the team will work out the metreage so your fitter is not guessing.
- Why do my doors need trimming after fitting?
- A new carpet and underlay together are often thicker than what came out, so an internal door that used to clear the floor now catches. Easing the bottom edge is a small job but it should be quoted, not assumed.