by Carpeting a whole house is one of those jobs where the quote can vary wildly — one fitter says £1,500, another says £4,000, and both sound confident. The truth is that carpet cost depends on four things: the carpet itself, the underlay, the fitting labour, and how much floor area you actually have. This guide breaks down what a 3-bed house typically costs in the UK, room by room, so you can budget with confidence.
How Much Does It Cost to Carpet a 3-Bed House?
As a rough guide, carpeting a typical UK 3-bed house (around 60–80m² of carpeted floor, usually bedrooms, living room, stairs, landing and hall) typically costs £1,500–£3,500 supplied and fitted. That range covers:
- Budget (£1,200–£1,800): basic polyester carpet, standard underlay, straightforward rooms. Fine for rentals or short-term fixes.
- Mid-range (£1,800–£2,800): decent stain-resistant carpet, good underlay, professional fitting including stairs. The sweet spot for most family homes.
- Premium (£2,800–£4,500+): wool or wool-blend carpet, luxury underlay, complex stairs and landings. Built to last 10–15 years.
These are hedged UK averages — London and the South East run higher, and awkward layouts cost more. For context on whole-home flooring decisions, see our complete flooring guide.
Carpet Cost Per Room
Most fitters price per square metre, but thinking room-by-room helps you budget. Typical UK room sizes and mid-range supplied-and-fitted costs:
- Master bedroom (12–14m²): typically £350–£550
- Second/third bedrooms (9–11m² each): typically £280–£450 each
- Living room (18–22m²): typically £500–£800
- Stairs and landing (8–12m² including wastage): typically £350–£600 — stairs are fiddly, so labour is higher per m²
- Hall (5–8m²): typically £150–£300
Stairs deserve a special mention: they need more carpet than their floor area suggests (wastage on cuts), take longer to fit, and wear hardest — do not economise here.
What Affects the Price?
- Carpet material: the biggest lever. Budget polyester starts around £5–£10/m² supplied; decent polypropylene/nylon blends run £12–£25/m²; wool starts around £25/m² and climbs past £50/m² for premium weaves.
- Underlay: often underestimated. Basic foam underlay adds a few pounds per m²; quality PU or rubber underlay (£5–£10/m²) transforms how carpet feels and lasts. Skimping here is a false economy.
- Fitting labour: typically £3–£7/m², more for stairs. A good fitter is worth it — badly stretched carpet wrinkles within months.
- Extras: old carpet uplift and disposal (£1–£3/m²), gripper rods and door thresholds (usually included in quotes, but check), furniture moving (£20–£50/room), and door trimming if the new carpet is thicker.
- Location: expect to pay 15–30% more in London and the commuter belt than in the North or Midlands.
Carpet vs Hard Flooring: Which for a 3-Bed?
Whole-house carpet typically costs less upfront than whole-house hard flooring (laminate or LVT fitted runs higher per m² installed), but carpet needs replacing sooner — 7–10 years for mid-range versus 15–25 for LVT. Carpet wins on warmth, noise and comfort (huge for bedrooms and stairs); hard floors win on durability and cleaning. Many UK families split the difference: carpet upstairs, hard floor downstairs. Our carpet vs hard floor in the bedroom guide digs into that specific decision.
How to Save Money Without Regretting It
- Prioritise underlay over carpet: a mid-range carpet on great underlay outlasts and out-feels a premium carpet on cheap foam.
- Do the prep yourself: uplift old carpet, move furniture and clear rooms — fitters charge for all of it.
- Carpet the stairs properly: this is the worst place to cut corners; a worn stair carpet ruins the whole job.
- Get three quotes: and make sure each itemises carpet, underlay, fitting and extras separately so you can compare like with like.
- Ask about offcuts: for small rooms, retailers sometimes sell end-of-roll pieces cheaply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much carpet do I need for a 3-bed house?
A typical UK 3-bed needs 60–80m² of carpet including 5–10% wastage. Measure each room at its widest points, add it up, then add wastage — or ask the fitter to measure, which most do free when quoting.
Is it cheaper to carpet one room at a time?
Usually not. Fitters charge a minimum call-out, so doing the whole house at once spreads the labour cost. Doing rooms separately can cost 20–30% more overall — though it is easier on cash flow.
How long does it take to carpet a 3-bed house?
Typically 1–2 days for a professional team: one day for bedrooms and living areas, plus extra time for stairs and landings. Add time if old flooring needs uplifting.
Should I replace the underlay when I replace carpet?
Yes, almost always. Old underlay is compressed, may smell, and reusing it can void the new carpet’s warranty. Budget for new underlay in every quote.
What is the cheapest way to carpet a house?
Budget polyester carpet with standard underlay, fitted in straightforward rooms, with you doing the uplift and furniture moving. Expect around £1,200–£1,800 for a 3-bed — but budget carpet in high-traffic areas will need replacing sooner.
The Bottom Line
Budget £1,500–£3,500 for a 3-bed house and spend the money where it counts: decent underlay, a proper stair carpet, and a fitter with good reviews. The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest carpet in the long run. For the wider picture — laminate, LVT, wood and more — see our complete UK flooring guide.
