How to Price Carpet Fitting in the UK
Carpet fitting looks simple from the outside but it's a skilled trade with real margin potential — if you price it correctly. From measuring awkward rooms to quoting feature staircases, this guide covers everything you need to build a profitable fitting business.
Carpet fitting as a trade
Carpet fitting has a relatively low barrier to entry compared to other trades, but doing it well — tight seams, clean cuts around architraves, perfectly fitted stairs — takes real skill and experience. Supply-and-fit is significantly more profitable than labour-only work because it lets you earn a margin on the carpet and underlay as well as the fitting. Demand is strong from lettings agents who need properties refurbished between tenancies, housebuilders who specify carpet throughout new developments, and domestic customers upgrading their homes. Stair work commands premium rates and is often avoided by less experienced fitters — which is exactly why it's worth getting good at.
How to measure and calculate material quantities
Always add 10% wastage to the room area when calculating how much carpet to order — more for rooms with bay windows, alcoves or awkward angles. For stairs, measure the width of the stair, multiply by the combined depth of tread and riser, then multiply by the number of stairs plus any landings. Carpet is typically supplied in 4m or 5m widths, so work out the most efficient cut direction to minimise off-cuts before you quote. Always visit the property before quoting — photos don't reveal bay windows, step-downs into rooms, or double doors that add significant time and material to a job.
Labour pricing for carpet fitting
Charge per room or per m² depending on what makes more sense for the job. A standard single bedroom takes one to two hours to fit including laying underlay and gripper, so a per-room price of £80–150 is typical depending on size and whether furniture needs moving. Stairs are priced separately: straight stairs with 13 treads and a landing run £80–200 for labour, while winder stairs or feature staircases take considerably longer and justify £150–300+ labour. Underlay fitting can be included in your per-room price or charged separately at £3–5/m² — itemising it gives you more flexibility to offer competitive headline prices while maintaining margin.
Underlay, gripper and accessories
Always quote underlay, gripper rod and accessories as separate line items on your quote — they're a genuine margin opportunity and customers expect to see them listed. An 11mm PU foam underlay runs £4–7/m² and is the standard recommendation for domestic work; 8mm rubber underlay at £3–5/m² is a solid budget option. Gripper rod costs £1–2 per linear metre and every room perimeter needs it. Door bars and joining strips run £5–15 each depending on style and width — quote these individually so the customer understands the cost rather than being surprised by extras on the day. Your trade account margin on these accessories is often better than on the carpet itself.
Supply and fit vs labour only
Supply-and-fit is more profitable per job and gives you more control over the finish — you know exactly what carpet is going down and can stand behind the quality. Aim for 25–40% margin on the carpet material itself, which requires good trade account terms. Negotiate hard with your suppliers — Carpet Right Trade, Victoria Carpets and Cormar all offer trade accounts and the pricing varies significantly. Labour-only work is simpler to price and quote but generates less revenue per job and creates risk if the customer-supplied carpet is poor quality or the wrong quantity. Build your business around supply-and-fit and use labour-only selectively for accounts that generate volume or referrals.
Building a carpet fitting business
Referrals from furniture retailers and interior designers are among the highest-quality leads a carpet fitter can get — customers who've just bought a sofa are actively looking for flooring. Lettings agent accounts provide reliable volume, typically at lower margin, but the consistency makes them worth having as a pipeline-filler. Housebuilder contracts offer the highest volume but require competitive pricing and reliable scheduling — missing a completion date on a new build has serious consequences. Use Trade2Base to manage quoting, scheduling and review automation so your admin burden stays low as your volume grows. Automated review requests after every job build your Google rating faster than any other marketing activity.
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