How Much Does It Cost to Carpet Stairs? [2025 Data]
The average cost to carpet stairs runs between $300 and $650, with most people paying $400. A pro will factor in the number of steps, and materials like sisal and wool can drive up costs.
The average cost to carpet stairs is $400, with a typical range of $300 to $650. This cost data is based on an average set of stairs that requires 60 square feet of carpeting. The price of more complicated stairs—like spiral staircases—will be on the higher end of the cost range. Here’s everything you need to know.
Cost to Carpet Stairs Factors
Carpeting stairs is pretty straightforward, so costs are generally broken down into two categories: materials and labor. However, there are some possible additional costs you should consider as well.
Number of Stairs
The average cost to install carpeting on stairs is $14 to $36 per step. This is $11 to $26 extra compared to the cost of carpeting floors due to the extra cutting, tack strips, and shape configuration. Most homes have between 13 to 16 steps per staircase, depending on the length of it.
Here’s a breakdown of the cost to carpet stairs by the number of steps.
| Number of Stairs | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 | $150–$400 |
| 12 | $170–$430 |
| 13 | $180–$470 |
| 14 | $200–$500 |
| 15 | $210–$540 |
| 16 | $225–$580 |
| 17 | $240–$610 |
Type of Carpet Material
The next factor to consider is the type of carpet material you’re adding to your steps. Make this decision based on your budget and the overall look and feel of the carpet material. For example, some carpet types are rougher to step on, while others are soft and cushioned. Here’s how much you can expect to pay for carpeting based on your choice of material:
| Material | Average Cost per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Cotton | $2–$7 |
| Nylon | $2–$5 |
| Polyester | $1–$3 |
| Polypropylene or olefin | $1–$3 |
| Sisal | $5–$15 |
| Wool | $4–$20 |
Cotton: A great carpet option for your stairs at $2–$7 per square foot if you want minimal volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), though light colors show stains easily with kids, pets, or direct sunlight.
Nylon: This $2–$5 per square foot material is a durable and budget-friendly option for families and pets, but it has a rougher texture and can create static electricity.
Polyester: At $1–$3 per square foot, this is the most cost-friendly choice that improves the aesthetics of your stairway and won’t fade, but it's less durable and not ideal for high-traffic areas.
Olefin: Costing $1–$3 per square foot, this durable synthetic material is stain, moisture, and UV-resistant, but it doesn't hold its shape as well and is prone to friction damage.
Sisal: This high-end sustainable option costs $5–$15 per square foot and is ideal for people with asthma and allergies, but it has a rough texture, which makes it good for high-traffic areas but possibly a little uncomfortable.
Wool: At $4–$20 per square foot, this premium eco-friendly material is soft, beautiful, and durable, but prone to fading, moisture damage, and static electricity.
High-traffic areas require flooring that can withstand frequent use, children’s shoes, scurrying paws, and dirt or stains. Installing an easy-to-clean floor that will last on stairs, hallways, or in the kitchen may be worth the long-term investment.
Type of Staircase
Different types of staircases may be more difficult to carpet, which will increase project costs. Here’s what you can expect to pay based on the type of staircase you have.
| Stairway Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Straight | $150–$650 |
| L-shaped and U-shaped | $300–$1,000 |
| Spiral | $700–$1,500 |
| Curved | $500–$1,250 |
Straight: The easiest form of stairs to carpet at $150–$650 because there aren't any turns or odd angles to contend with when cutting carpet, depending on size and material choice.
L-Shaped and U-Shaped: These slightly more complicated staircases cost $300–$1,000 to carpet because you have to install a landing where the stairs take a 90-degree or 180-degree turn.
Spiral: The most challenging staircases to carpet at $700–$1,500 because you're working on a constant curve, tightly wound around a single pole. However, adding carpet may make them safer and easier to maneuver.
Curved: These staircases cost $500–$1,250 to carpet and aren't as tight as spirals but still require higher-end pricing due to the tricky nature of cutting carpet for curves.
Additional Cost Factors to Consider
There are a few other factors that could increase the total cost of your project that are not the basic carpet and installation costs. You also likely have to take into account labor costs, disposal fees, spindles, and more.
Labor
The cost to hire a local carpet installer to add carpet to stairs is $1 to $2 per square foot, so the bulk of the project’s cost will be the carpeting materials. However, we recommend hiring a pro to complete this tricky type of installation, so don’t overlook this step of the project process. Compare three price quotes or more from local carpet installers to find the best deal for you.
Cleaning and Disposal
If you’re replacing the carpet on your staircase, you’ll need to make a plan for getting rid of the old carpet. Disposing of old carpet costs around $0.40 to $0.50 per square foot. Once you have your old carpet removed and your new carpet installed, the cost to professionally clean carpets falls between $0.20 and $0.40 per square foot.
On top of the typical costs of installing carpet on staircases, there are other factors that could add to the cost of your project. Keep these potential expenses in mind when budgeting for this project.
Removing Old Carpet or Existing Coverings
If you have to remove existing carpet on your stairs to install new carpet, carpet removal costs between $1 and $5 per square foot. On the other hand, removing laminate flooring costs $1 to $3 per square foot.
Landing Carpet Cost
If your stairs have a landing, this feature increases the surface area of your staircase, meaning you’ll pay more in square feet than stairs that don’t have a landing. Budget around $50 extra to accommodate carpeting a landing.
Spindles
If your stairs have spindles, anticipate spending anywhere from $2 to $15 more per spindle. This higher cost is due to the difficulty of navigating around spindles, which are vertical rods connecting the base of your stairway to the handrail.
Carpet Runner Installation Costs
If you don’t want to add carpet to the entirety of your stairs, a carpet runner is a great solution because it only covers the center of each stair. Stair runners cost between $0.50 and $1 extra per square foot because of the additional attention that must go into cutting the carpet to fit your stairway.
Custom Cuts
If you have uniquely-shaped stairs and need a custom cut, this feature could double, triple, or even quadruple the cost to carpet your stairs, depending on how many cuts you’ll need to complete the job. Your best bet is to choose a low-cost carpet material if you want to save on the cost of a custom cut.
Staircase Conditions
If you need to repair or refinish your staircase before starting on the installation, factor in these additional costs ahead of time. The cost to repair stairs or railings is $4.50 to $8 per square foot, while the cost to install a stair banister is $300 to $450.
Carpet Maintenance
Your stairs are high-traffic areas where your household walks daily. As a result, it’s important to keep your carpeted stairs clean. Unfortunately, carpet isn’t as easy to clean as other types of flooring, like tile or hardwood.
You may consider hiring a carpet cleaning pro to keep your carpets looking brand new. Investing in professional cleaning a few times a year can also help your carpet last longer. As mentioned above, carpet cleaning costs $0.30 per square foot on average.
Cost to DIY Install Carpet on Stairs vs. Hiring a Pro
Trying to install carpet on stairs without prior experience is not the way to go. This installation is challenging, which is why it’s best left to a professional.
Instead of doing it yourself, consider saving money by removing the existing carpet on your stairs yourself. You’ll save between $1 and $5 per square foot in removal costs and between $0.40 and $0.50 per square foot in disposal costs.
You won’t save much by DIYing this job—installing carpet on stairs only costs an additional $1 to $2 per square foot if you decide to use carpet installation services near you—but you could definitely save a lot of time.
3 Ways to Save Money While Carpeting Stairs
If you're on a limited budget, there are a few simple ways you could save money on this project.
Remove existing carpet: Cut down on labor costs by ripping out your existing carpet before the pro arrives to install the new one. This is a DIY-friendly task that shouldn’t take very long.
Choose a less expensive material: Polyester or nylon are budget-friendly choices that won’t break the bank. Choosing a less expensive carpet material will drastically lower the overall cost of this project.
Carpet a smaller area: Instead of carpeting the entire surface area of the stairs, you can carpet the top of each stair (i.e., treads) or install a runner. Since you're only carpeting half the area, this will cut your material costs in half.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
If you're looking to update your stairway by replacing your carpet, the cost to change carpet stairs to hardwood stairs is between $75 and $200 per stair if you’re installing brand-new wood flooring. If you already have usable wood underneath your carpets, expect to pay between $100 and $300 to remove the carpet. However, even with existing wood on your staircase, your overall costs will increase if you need to refinish and stain the wood.
It’s a good idea to install a rug pad under the carpet for your stairs. To make the pad fit, you’ll need to cut one section for each stair tread that’s about one inch narrower than the stair runner so that it won’t be visible once the carpet is installed on top.
In most cases, carpeting isn’t kind to the wood that it’s attached to. Most carpet installation uses adhesive or nailing strips, both of which will damage wood. Conversely, you can choose to use an adhesive designed to be removed from wood, in which case carpeting can actually protect your hardwood stairs.
If you don’t want to use carpet as a covering for your stairs, you have several alternatives. A few popular choices include hardwood, laminate, and rubber flooring.
Yes, carpeted stairs are safer because carpet helps reduce the chances of slips and falls compared to harder materials like wood, vinyl, tile, or steel staircases, which lack the friction needed for a secure tread. And, if you do happen to fall, carpeted stairs also have more cushioning in the case of an accident.
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