How much does it cost to repair carpet?

Reviewed by Adam Graham remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Carpeting makes an attractive and comfortable floor covering for many rooms in your home. While most of them are designed to last for years, they are sometimes damaged through accidents or improper installation. Thankfully, in many cases, they are easily repaired, restoring their appearance and condition quickly and easily. Many different issues affect them and the size of the area varies, which impacts the total project price.

The national average price of carpet repair ranges from $150 to $300, with most people spending about $200 to fix a large burn mark by stretching the material and using the excess to make the patch. At the low end, you could spend as little as $100 on repairing a small tear. At the high end, some people spend as much as $2,000 on cleaning and deodorizing the surface, restretching and replacing the pad, and sealing the floors after serious water damage.

Cost to Repair Carpet

Carpet Repair Price by Material

The average price to fix by material ranges from $1 to $3 per sq.ft., depending on several factors. Different materials have different prices. Also, different types of damage can occur based on the material. The fixing process and replacement prices are impacted by the material because each has its own installation and restoration considerations. In the table below, you’ll see a list of the most common materials and the average price to fix them.

Carpet Repair Cost by Type of Problem

It will be priced between $100 and $2,000 to fix your surface based on the type of problem that is present. They can be damaged in a variety of ways. The type and extent of the damage dictate your base restoration expenses. Many professionals charge a minimum fee of around $100 just to come to your home. In some instances, it is not more expensive to get a few tasks done at one time than to get a single job because each job after the first is charged at a lower rate:

Repair Torn Carpet

You will spend $100 to $250 on fixing tears, depending on the size and severity of the tear and how difficult it is to reach. To fix the torn material, the professional has a few options based on how badly it is torn. Torn or ripped materials with two sides touching one another and no missing sections can be glued or tacked down to create a new seam. However, to fix a ripped material with a missing section, you need to make a patch. This is taken from a spare piece of material, a closet, an inconspicuous area, or the material is stretched, and the excess is used to fix it.

Fix Loose Carpet

If your material is loose or buckling, it is priced between $100 and $300 for a single room, with an additional $45 to $65 per additional room. This is a trip hazard and looks unattractive, so it should be fixed as quickly as possible. They come loose with a lot of wear and, in some cases, improper installation. Fixing buckling involves stretching the material, removing the excess, and tacking it back down. Sometimes during this process, you may also fix other issues like squeaks or replacing the padding.

Fix Carpet Dents

It is priced between $100 and $300 to fix dents, depending on what is causing the dent and the appropriate solution. In the case of furniture dents, sometimes a little steam can be used to bring out shallow dents or those that haven’t been there for some time. If the dents are more severe, the surface and/or padding may need to be patched or replaced. When you leave it to the professionals, revitalizing and removing dents will generally be simple.

Repair Carpet Snags

It is priced an average of $100 to $400 to fix snags. The process varies depending on how severe the snag is and how much of the surface has become detached from the backing. In the case of a single small snag, a simple solution to push the fibers back into the backing could be inexpensive. If the snag is larger, more serious work could be required, including a patch or another solution that requires more time and effort.

Carpet Burn Repair

Expect most burns to fall between $125 and $250 to fix. The only way to fix a burned surface is to cut the burned area away and patch it. This has a range of expenses based on the burn size and where you get the item from. For example, the iron burn price is higher than a cigarette burn cost. And, a solution made from a remnant costs less than a solution carried out if you need to stretch the material first.

Bleached or Sun-Damaged Carpet Repair

Expect prices of $125 to $600 for bleached or sun-damaged based restoration, depending on how large the area is that needs to be fixed or replaced. If your surface is discolored in places, whether through sun damage, a spill, or bleaching, you may have this fixed with a few methods. If the area is small and you have matching material to patch it with, a patch is the most economical method. However, if you have a bigger damage area or multiple small areas, you may want your surface dyed. Dying is a good solution for bleached material or restoring areas with sun damage because it restores color to a large section.

Carpet Water Damage Repair

Water damage has a huge price range, averaging $450 to $2,000, depending on the severity and extent of the damage. If you have had a flood or some other type of water damage to your material, several things may be done to fix it. This depends on the type of water (clean, gray, or black), and the extent of the damage. You may need cleaning, pad replacement, deodorizing, or stretching. And in many cases, you often need a combination of different services to restore your surface.

Pet Damage Carpet Repair

Fixing and restoring pet damage is priced $500 to $2,000, depending on what needs to be done. Pets do a lot of damage to these surfaces. They cause rips and tears, dig up sections, cause the nap to fray, and urinate on the material, leaving difficult-to-remove odors. With so many issues, there is often a range of solutions needed to restore your carpeting, along with many associated expenses. Your surface may need cleaning and deodorizing, patching, stretching, pad replacement, or subfloor sealing to restore its original appearance.

Carpet Restoration Cost by Method

The average price of restoration by method ranges between $75 and $600. Different methods have a range of prices for each restoration type. Sometimes, this is impacted by the type, with Berber costing more to fix than other types. At other times, it is impacted by the room or size being fixed, or more likely the restoration process itself. For example, stretching is a physical job, but it’s generally much more affordable than dyeing, which can take time and attention to detail. In the table and sections below, you’ll see the prices you can expect based on the restoration method used.

Carpet Cleaning Services

If your material is stained, cleaning is the solution to the problem. You can expect to spend about $75 to $300. This varies depending on the size of the space being cleaned and how bad the dirt or cleanup will be. For more severe stains, you could pay a premium to have additional stain treatments applied. Most cleaners charge by the room or job, but some charge by the square foot.

Carpet Stretching

The average price of stretching is $100 to $300. There’s generally a minimum starting price of $100 for this task, no matter the size of the room. However, when you do multiple rooms, you can usually get additional rooms for just $45 to $65 each. Again, this is regardless of size and includes some furniture moving. If your surface is loose or buckling or needs a section for a small job, it may be stretched. This is the process of physically pulling or stretching the material more tightly across the floor, cutting away the excess, and tacking it down. Stretching helps a area look newer. If damage was showing on the edges, stretching even helps eliminate it.

Carpet Patching

Because of the range of options, patching is priced range from $125 to $250. If stretching is involved, it is priced up to $300. Patching prices are based on the size of the job and where you get the patch from. Ideally, if you have leftover material, this is used to make the patch because it is a good match to the existing surface. Otherwise, they may take a section from a closet or other inconspicuous area. If this is not possible, the material is sometimes stretched, and the excess material is cut and used for the job. If none of these options are possible, then the job is done from the closest match the professional has available.

Carpet Dyeing

Depending on the size of the area, it is priced $125 to $600 to have your material dyed. If your material has been faded or bleached in areas, then dyeing may help restore its color. Dyeing the surface is not the best solution for changing the color everywhere, but it helps match a faded section to the rest of the surface. This is usually a quick procedure and gives very good results. However, matching colors can sometimes be difficult, so a professional may suggest testing a small, hidden area first.

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Labor Cost to Repair Carpet

The cost per hour to fix carpet is between $60 to $80. It takes between two to three hours to repair 10 sq.ft., which makes the labor cost of the average $150 to $300, approximately $120 to $240. The additional $30 to $60 makes up the material prices. The price of labor could vary significantly depending on the type of job needed. For example, a simple tear that’s easily accessible could have a much lower labor cost than a major fix and stretching job that includes replacing a section of the material.

Installation experts generally handle repairs, as do some general handymen. If your material was purchased from a retailer or brand with a guarantee or warranty, contact them about repairs or restoration that you need because some of it may be covered. Fixing it involves preparing the area and removing any damage (as necessary) and then performing the necessary fix, such as patching or stretching the material.

The size and complexity affect the price and other project variables. Larger tears or damaged areas will obviously be more expensive to fix or replace. More complicated problems or damage that is difficult to access will also incur a higher price. If multiple cuts need to be made, for example, you’ll pay more than you would for a simple remnant patch with no cutting required. The condition of the padding impacts the price if it is determined that it needs to be replaced. You may also incur an additional labor price for cleaning before or after patching. The availability of materials or the need to place a special order also impact the price.

Berber Carpet Repair Cost

Berber carpet repair is typically slightly expensive more than other types, ranging from $200 to $350, depending on several factors. Berber has a different nap than other carpeting, making it more challenging to patch and fix tears or seams. For this reason, it usually is priced around 20% more to fix a Berber item than the same repair made on another style. This may also be affected by the type of fix needed that needs to be done, with more complex solutions having a higher price.

Carpet Cleaning and Stretching Cost

The price of cleaning and stretching together is around $175 to $600 but is higher if the area is severely stained or needs deodorizing. If your material is in good shape but dirty and beginning to buckle, having it cleaned and stretched extends its lifespan considerably, making it look much younger. Cleaning may also be required in the case of other solutions, but often this combination is used to breathe new life into an old surface for a fraction of the price of replacement.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Carpet Padding Replacement

If the padding is damaged and needs replacing, expect to spend around $0.75 to $2 per sq.ft. on materials and $70 per hour in labor. This varies depending on the type of padding, how much of it needs to be replaced, and the complexity of the replacement process. There are several instances where it will be advised to replace padding along with restoration. This is usually priced by the square foot, like many repair costs, but may be priced by the job or room in some cases, as well. Although it is possible to patch padding by cutting it to size, it’s best to replace the entire piece for total protection of the subfloor and fewer cracks where things could seep through.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Difficult-to-reach areas. If the damaged area is in a difficult-to-reach area, such as under heavy furniture or in a tight corner, it takes longer to fix. It also raises the price of the total fix by roughly 10% to 20% on average.
• Furniture moving prices. In many cases, there is no charge to move furniture before repairing the item, but some companies charge a fee. Find out upfront whether you are expected to remove the furniture yourself or if it is included in the job.
• Discounts. You often receive discounts by repairing multiple areas at once, and in some cases, you may also get a discount for moving your furniture.
• Clean water flooding. If you had a flood of clean water, it might be possible to dry it out by moving out your furniture and avoiding foot traffic. Otherwise, you may require more substantial help to restore the item. In some instances, it may need to be replaced.
• Tips for estimates. It is best to get at least three estimates whenever you need this done. This ensures that you get a fair price and choose the most qualified person for the job. Be sure to ask questions to help make a confident decision. When getting estimates, provide as many specifics as possible to ensure accurate pricing.