Installing new carpet will not only give your home a fresh look, but it will also provide better sound control, improve interior insulation and feel soft underfoot. Can you install carpet yourself? Yes, you definitely can. If you are a competent DIYer with all the tools (or access to rentals), you can save money by installing your own wall-to-wall carpet. While carpet installation is not for everyone (hiring a professional installer is the way most homeowners go), learning to lay carpet can be a satisfying, money-saving skill.
Preparing to Install Carpet
Taking an accurate measurement of both the total square feet in the area and the perimeter will give you an idea of how much carpet to buy. Are you doing your entire home, or a single room?
Carpet is sold in rolls, often in widths of either 12 feet, 15 feet or 13 feet and 6 inches. The length will depend on how much excess carpet is left on a particular roll and can usually be cut to any size.
Additionally, if you are planning on doing any painting in the room, especially of the trim, do this before you install your new wall to wall carpet.
Finally, if there is quarter-round trim around the perimeter of the room, it will need to be carefully removed so that the edge of the carpet can easily meet the wall. If it is going to be painted along with the trim, paint it first and then remove it. Once the carpet is installed, you will want to put it back and touch up any nail holes or paint nicks.
Choosing the Right Materials for Carpet Installation
Carpet comes in many different colors, textures and levels of quality or density. Of course, carpet that has a higher density or more detailed design will probably be more expensive. But in the end, it all comes down to your budget and personal preferences. Also, your choice may differ based on which room the flooring is for.
Below, we’ve answered some basic questions about the materials you will need to before proceeding with your DIY carpet installation.
What Color Carpet do you Want?
Choosing the color is also a matter of preference, but a basic rule of thumb applies in any design scheme: contrast delivers. So, if you are not sure what color to choose, think about your wall color and go for a bit of contrast. If you will have a dark or vibrant color on the walls, then a light, neutral or subdued hue like light gray, light taupe or some shade of white will look nice on the floors.
Likewise, if your walls are all going to be white, you can use the carpet to make a bit more of a statement and go with a deeper, richer color or more detailed design.
What Level Quality of Carpet are you looking for?
Both the padding and carpet also come in different levels of quality. It is important to remember that the quality of the padding is directly related to how dense it is and not necessarily how thick it is. Moreover, it can be bought with or without a waterproof layer that will protect it from mold.
And when assessing the quality of carpet while shopping, a good trick is to fold the sample outward. If the backing is easily visible, then the carpet is lower quality and won't last as long as a high-pile option.
What Tools are Needed to Install Carpet?
Before you start your DIY carpet installation, it is important to do a tool check to make sure you have everything you will need on hand. Nothing hinders a project like having to stop and hunt for tools or materials when you’ve already set a good pace. Make sure to have these things gathered and ready when preparing to install carpet yourself:
- Carpet knife
- Utility knife
- Knee kicker
- Carpet stretcher
- Seam roller
- Seaming iron
- Staple gun
- Stair chisel
Once your area is completely prepped, you are ready to get started. Here are a few tips for DIY carpet installation.
1. Remove Old Carpet and Clean the Area
If applicable, remove the old carpet and padding from the room. Make sure that the subfloor is clean and smooth. Remove any residual glue, staples or paint. Then, sweep the floor and vacuum it.
2. Remove Doors
If there are doors that open up into the space that you’re carpeting, be sure to remove them. This includes closet doors. If the previous flooring was wall-to-wall carpeting and you’re replacing it with new carpet, then you can keep the baseboards in place. If you are changing the flooring, then you’ll want to take the baseboards off and install new ones before or after installing the new carpet.
3. Add Tackless Strips
The next step is to cut tackless strips to the proper size for installation. If you need to rent equipment, be sure to get a strip cutter. Once you have the tack strips cut, nail them to the floor one-half inch away from the area’s wall. Also, make sure that the tack points are directed toward the wall. The tack strips should be installed end-to-end.
Avoid installing tackless strips across doorways or room thresholds because the tacks are sharp. If they make their way through the carpet, you could step on them and hurt yourself. You can purchase tack strips in different heights, thickness levels and widths, so be sure to get the right ones based on the carpet that you’re installing.
4. Install the Carpet Padding
Carpet padding is important because it decreases room noise and adds insulation to the space. The product also increases the life span of your carpet. Decide the direction that you want to install your new carpet and unroll the carpet pad so that it is lying perpendicular to the carpet’s direction. Staple the padding down close to the tackless strips. You can use a staple hammer to complete this step.
When you staple the pad’s seams, be sure to alternate the staples so that you aren’t stapling them next to each other. Stretch out the padding to ensure that the sections are snuggled tightly together. Also, make sure that the tacks are exposed. You might have to cut away some of the padding to reveal them.
5. Mark the Corners to Trim
Measure the longest part of the room. Then, increase the measurement by 3 inches. If you have the exterior space, move the carpet outside to mark the back of the carpet for trimming. It will be easier to trim the excess carpet in a large space.
Roll the carpet so that the back side of it is facing out and keep rolling until you can see the marked areas. Use chalk to draw a line from one mark to the other. Trim the carpet across the back following the chalk line. After it’s trimmed, move it back inside for wall-to-wall installation.
Once the carpet is back inside, unroll it and line it up in the room as straight as you can. Trim any excess while keeping about 3 extra inches by the walls. The next step is to roll out any additional carpet that you might need for the space.
6. Get the Glue Ready
You’ll need to create seams along the areas where the carpet edges meet. Make sure that the seamed edges of the carpet sections are straight. Also, double-check each carpet edge, even if the carpet company cut it, to make sure that they’re straight.
Position a piece of seaming tape below the carpet’s seam with the sticky side facing up. Then, heat up your rented seaming iron to the proper temperature and set it on the tape for about 15 seconds to 30 seconds. Shift the iron across the tape slowly, pressing the carpet seam into the soft glue.
Once you’ve glued the separate sections together, place something heavy on the top of the seam to keep them in place until the glue is dry. Keep the seams parallel to each room’s central source of light.
7. Attach the Carpet
Pick one side of the room and connect the edge of the carpet to the strips. You’ll need a knee kicker to do this. Set the front of the kicker along the carpet approximately 3 inches from the wall. Then, hit the padded side. This will stretch the carpet along the strips. Trim any excess carpet and use a power stretcher to connect the other carpet strips. Use the knee kicker to stretch the carpet into the corners and the nooks of the walls. You’re now ready to move the furniture back in and enjoy.
Carpet Installation FAQs
1. Is free carpet installation really free from flooring companies?
When you see a flooring company offering free installation, know that they may have increased the cost of the material to pay for the labor required to install your carpet.
2. Do you need special tools for carpet installation?
Yes. If you’re planning DIY carpet installation, you will want to rent professional carpet installation tools to do the job.
3. How much carpet should I buy?
To determine the amount of carpet that you should get, measure each room’s length and width. Then, multiply the two figures to determine the square footage. If you want a carpet that features a pattern, the experts recommend purchasing 5% more of it because you’ll need to complete more cuts to make sure that the pattern matches.
4. Is it cheaper to install carpet yourself?
While this can be a money saving option, if the installation isn’t done correctly this can actually be more costly. It’s important to practice your installation techniques, in addition to ensuring that you have the right tools to set yourself up for success all while saving money.
5. How much does it cost to install carpet yourself?
Whether it’s a DIY project or you hire a professional installation company, you’ll be spending some money. According to Forbes.com, the your entire home per 200 square feet ranges from $700 to $2,000. If you’re taking care of installation yourself, then you’ll need to add on the costs of tools and other needed materials as well. With an installer, there will be professional service fees in addition to the cost of materials.
Upgrade Your Home With New Carpet
DIY carpet installation can decrease the amount of money that you’ll need to spend on new flooring. You can use the savings to upgrade the quality of your flooring or put it toward your next home upgrade.
When you’re ready to purchase your new carpet, How to Install Carpet to take advantage of promotional financing on qualifying purchases.1
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Sources 
- How to Install Carpet HomeDepot.com
- How to Install Wall-to-Wall Carpet Yourself DIYnetwork.com
- 6 Tips for Installing Carpet Yourself The Spruce