What are the normal UK carpet widths ?

WLM21

What standard widths do carpets come in please.

Are they all metric now, maybe 3m, 4m etc or are they still based on old imperial widths.

One nearby carpet retailer prices all carpets per square yard, which seems strange to me. I was leaning metric at school and that was too many years ago to remember.

I know shops will always offer a free measurement service, but I want to have some idea of cost when I first go looking, so will take my own measurements. I'll be using good old metres.

Thankyou

PS 2nd question .. Which underlay is better, rubber or foam?

AlexMac

same as string.... but as any local supplier I've dealt with has a variety od sizes of rolls up 5m wide, just take the measurements in and let them worry about fit & wastage; they measure in Sq Yds because of an historic affection for the Empire- or maybe 'cos they think the Meter is a dodgy Napoleonic innovation...? A bit like the way that many Spanish and Italian estate agencies still quoted house prices in Pesetas and Lire for 15 or more years after the Euro cos they thought their punters couldn't cope with New Money!

And I like that rubber/paper mix- but I'm sure its all good- only that cheap old 1970's and 80's foam back turned to dust

phill99

Bizarrely, carpet fitters still appear to be using imperial and will normally price in square yards.


As much as anything, this is to do with the historical size of the looms which they are made on. Most are still 12' wide, hence 12' being the standard width of most domestic carpets. However, it is possible to get larger widths. You would need to speak to your local suppliers

Marktheshark

Most are metric, some Canadian carpets are still in Feet.
The sq yards pricing is to make it look cheaper as its just about 20% less area in a SQ yard than a square Metre.
Hence they make their carpets look 20% cheaper than the shop pricing in the measurements they make carpets in these days.

CrazyRed

Carpet, for the most part is 4m or 5m - the slightly more 'bespoke' carpets, such as Axminster, would be 12' (3.66m).

Vinyl is available in 2m, 3m, 4m and 5m widths.