It’s the ultimate flooring face-off
Traditional carpet, aka “broadloom” carpet, is cheaper upfront at $1 to $8 per square foot.
Carpet tiles, aka “squares” of carpet, are a little more expensive at $2.50 to $11 per square foot.
Carpet tiles are more durable and easier to install, but wall-to-wall carpet is often softer underfoot and may be easier to match with your aesthetic.
When it comes to your home, comfort is king. This is why the soft underfoot feel of carpet has kept it among the most popular flooring choices. However, carpet is anything but a one-size-fits-all flooring solution. Along with the wide variety of colors and styles to choose from, homeowners can also pick between two main types of carpet: carpet tiles or carpet that’s wall-to-wall (broadloom).
Carpet tiles, also called carpet squares, are individual tiles of carpet that manufacturers make from the scraps of big rolls of broadloom carpet. Since carpet tiles are smaller in area, they’re easier to install and replace than large stretches of broadloom. Business owners have traditionally used many different types of carpet tiles in commercial settings for a long time, but the low-cost options and ease of installation for carpet tiles are making them more and more popular in residential spaces.
The classic look and feel of carpet, plus its seamless appearance, have helped its continuing popularity. Broadloom carpet is also a bit better at hiding imperfections in the flooring below, so that’s worth considering if you don’t have a big budget to pay for subflooring replacement or repairs before installation.
Carpet tiles make placing carpet as easy as, well, placing tile—just if the tile was way softer. In addition to their ease of installation, carpet tile is also highly durable and much easier to replace in the event of a spill or other damage. However, without the additional comfort of carpet padding (which broadloom carpet requires), it can be a little firmer underfoot than its wall-to-wall counterpart.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Durable | Not as soft underfoot |
| Easy and less costly to repair | Can show seams and imperfections |
| Easy to DIY | Fewer options than broadloom carpet |
Best for:
High foot-traffic areas
Areas with perfectly level subfloor
Those who want to DIY installation
Carpet tiles are pretty similar in price to broadloom carpet at $2.50 to $11 per square foot. There are plenty of inexpensive options for people on a budget. Plus, in the event of a spill or other type of damage, you can simply peel up an individual carpet tile and replace it, which is a lot more affordable (and less of a headache) than replacing an entire room’s wall-to-wall carpet flooring.
Carpet tiles come with a ready-to-go adhesive backing, which makes installing the flooring as easy as peeling and sticking—a DIY-friendly project for many. And while the styles and designs available may be slightly less extensive than those of wall-to-wall carpet, these days, there are still plenty of options to choose from.
Carpet tile tends not to be quite as soft underfoot as wall-to-wall carpeting does. Although some padding may be on the tile, it’s not as thick as the carpet padding used with broadloom flooring. Because of this, carpet tile can also allow imperfections in the subfloor to show through more easily than with broadloom carpet, and the seams between tiles may also be visible.
Also known as broadloom or wall-to-wall carpeting, traditional carpet comes in large rolls of up to 15 feet in length that can be used to quickly cover huge stretches of floor area. Broadloom carpet comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, and because pros install padding underneath, carpet is very soft underfoot. Because of the added materials needed for installation, however, getting new carpet costs more on average than installing new carpet tiles.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Super soft underfoot | Not as easy to install |
| Can reduce ambient noise | Harder to repair (may need full replacement) |
| Hides imperfections in flooring | Requires carpet padding, increasing project costs |
Best for:
Homeowners hiring pros to install their flooring
Those who want the softest possible flooring
Bedrooms and other areas less prone to damage
When it comes to soft, warm, cozy flooring, broadloom carpet simply can’t be beat, which is why it’s been a mainstay in homes for so long. Compared to carpet tiles, broadloom carpet does a better job of hiding imperfections in the subfloor. Additionally, you won’t see any seams with a professional install, and you have more customization options available with broadloom.
Carpet does have its cons, including its less-DIYable installation process. Since it needs to be custom-cut to the room size and laid on carpet padding, it’s best to leave broadloom carpet installation to a pro.
Additionally, if your broadloom carpet is irreparably damaged—say, you splatter paint on the carpet while refreshing your wall—you may need to replace the whole room’s worth of flooring rather than just repairing one spot on the carpet, like you can with carpet tiles. Plus, you may have to pay for more padding, which can quickly increase the price of your flooring project.
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for: How do these two types of carpet stack up against each other?
Since appearance comes down to personal preference, in this category, carpet and carpet tiles are tied. While many people prefer the cleaner look of seamless broadloom carpet, for others, the tiled look may be an intentional design choice. It’s all up to you and your eye.
Because it’s the more traditional in-home flooring, broadloom or wall-to-wall carpet comes in slightly more colors and styles than carpet tiles do.
Since you can easily spot-clean them and they’re tough enough to withstand serious foot traffic, carpet tiles win in the durability category.
Standard carpet installation costs $3 to $11 per square foot, depending on the type of carpet you choose. However, you also need to add padding, which can cost up to $2 per square foot.
On the other hand, carpet tile prices start at $2.50 per square foot and can go up to $11 or more. With carpet tiles, you don’t have to spend extra on padding, and since the prices for carpet tiles and carpet are similar otherwise, carpet tiles just inch out the victory here.
Thanks to its peel-and-stick construction, carpet tiles are far easier to install than broadloom carpet. In fact, carpet tile installation is a totally achievable DIY project for many homeowners.
Carpet tile also wins when it comes to ease of repair, which means you’ll never feel your stomach sink through your feet when you accidentally spill something on it. All you need to do is peel up one tile and replace it instead of having to replace carpet in the entire room.
Still have questions about which of these two flooring choices is right for you—or ready to get started on installation? Contact your local carpet installer for more information and to get one step closer to a soft place to land.
Carpet tiles are a relatively simple DIY project that most homeowners could tackle in a weekend. However, carpet tile installation is more complicated if your subfloor is uneven or you have a complicated removal for an existing floor because of asbestos tile. IT’s best to hire a pro in these cases, but if your floor is smooth and simple, DIYing carpet tiles can be a good way to save money on your project.
Carpet tiles come with a preexisting adhesive backing, which means installing them is as simple as peeling off the paper and sticking them down where they need to go. In other words, no. You won’t need to purchase any separate glue to get your carpet squares situated. It’s already built into the carpet tile itself.
Because carpet tiles are designed to adhere to the subfloor directly, it’s usually not a good idea to install padding under them. Some carpet tiles come with padding attached to the tile if you prefer a cushier walking experience. In some cases, you can use a compact underlayment beneath your tiles, but you would likely need help from a pro to accomplish this type of installation.
Yes. When installed properly, the strong adhesive on carpet tiles keeps them in place while also allowing homeowners the flexibility to peel up an individual tile and replace it if they need to. It’s important to keep in mind that the adhesive on your carpet tiles may take some time to cure, so it’s best to leave them alone for a couple of days after you first install them.
Yes. Taking care of carpet tiles is very similar to taking care of a broadloom carpet floor. Once the glue holding them down is cured, you can vacuum carpet tiles just like other carpeted areas. They’ll stand up to plenty of foot traffic, furniture placement, and other wear and tear.
