Carpet Tile Density

Skip the mathematics and make carpet easy.

Carpet tile density. You want a carpet density with a density of 2 900 for good durability and i d be cautious with anything less than 2 500 in moderate traffic rooms. Many people say that a carpet density at 3000 or higher is ideal for normal household conditions but you can discuss those details with your design consultant. Carpet rule 2. Don t stress out about checking every carpet density number of carpet samples galore.

Carpet doesn t have to be dense to be durable as long as it has a high twist level and vice versa. Density x pile height 36 face weight e g 2160 x 0 50 36 30 in this example what we know is that the pile density is 2160 and the pile height is 0 5 one half inch. To calculate carpet density it s a simple calculation of carpet face weight x 36 carpet pile height. Face weight won t tell you a lot about the durability of a carpet without knowing the density and twist as well.

According to the carpet and rug institute inc extra heavy traffic conditions such as are found in heavy commercial use require a minimum density of 5 000. Of course more is better as the higher the value the longer your carpet is likely to last in a home before it begins to noticeably break down. It s not a necessity to go through all this math when you have a local carpet company that does it for you. Don t confuse density and twist with face weight which is the amount of fiber measured in ounces per square yard as opposed to total weight which includes the weight of the carpet backing.

Pile density is the key to having a carpet retain its like new appearance longer. When buying a carpet to use in typical home environments you ll want to see a density value of at least 3 600. The term refers to the weight of the carpet s fibers only not the backing material. Pile density ratings range from 1000 to 6000 and is determined using a mathematical formula based on the pile height and the fiber face weight.

Here s a simple example. We can now use rule 2 to determine the face weight in ounces. In general the higher the carpet density numbers the better your carpet will perform under pressure. But remember that there are other factors that impact durability.

If you take the carpet face weight number in ounces and multiply that by 36 then divide that number by carpet height you ll get the density. The more densely the tufts are packed together the more durable the carpet will be. The carpet and rug institute cri recommends a density of 5 000 or higher for extra heavy traffic conditions. 36 density x face weight pile height.

It should not be confused with the carpet s total weight which is the combined weight of the pile plus the backing.