Is LVT better than carpet?

Neither is better overall. LVT is better in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and homes with pets because it is waterproof and wipes clean. Carpet is better in bedrooms, on stairs and in lounges because it is warmer, quieter and cheaper to fit.

Is LVT more expensive than carpet?

Yes. Carpet supplied and fitted is typically £15–£35 per square metre, LVT typically £85–£100 per square metre, because the material costs more and the sub-floor needs proper preparation.

Can you have carpet and LVT in the same house?

Very commonly, yes. Most of the homes we fit have LVT downstairs and carpet upstairs, joined with a matching threshold bar at the bottom of the stairs.

Carpet vs LVT: which is better for your room?

This is the question we get asked on nearly every measure. Both are good floors; they just suit different rooms. Here is how we advise customers in Northampton and across Northamptonshire, based on what actually lasts in real homes.

The short answer

Carpet for bedrooms, stairs, landings and lounges you want to feel warm and quiet. LVT for kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, hallways and anywhere with pets, muddy boots or spills.

Plenty of the houses we fit end up with both: LVT downstairs where the traffic and the water is, carpet upstairs where comfort matters more.

Cost compared

Carpet supplied and fitted is usually £15–£35 per square metre with underlay, grippers, door bars and removal of the old floor included. LVT supplied and fitted is usually £85–£100 per square metre, because the material costs more and the sub-floor has to be flat and clean before a single plank goes down.

So LVT costs more up front. Over ten or fifteen years it often evens out, because a good LVT floor still looks new after a decade of family life, whereas carpet in a busy hallway can be tired in five years.

Warmth, noise and comfort

Carpet wins here and it is not close. It is warm underfoot, it softens footsteps and it stops sound bouncing around a room — which is why bedrooms and stairs almost always stay carpeted.

LVT is harder and cooler, though it works very well over underfloor heating and you can soften a room with rugs.

Cleaning, pets and spills

LVT wipes clean, does not hold pet hair and shrugs off spilled drinks, wet paws and dropped dinner. If you have a dog, a toddler, or a back door that opens onto a muddy garden, LVT in that part of the house will save you a lot of grief.

Modern stain-resistant carpets cope better than people expect, but nothing beats a waterproof floor next to a washing machine or a shower.

Where each one is the wrong choice

A few rules we stick to:

Do not put carpet in a bathroom, utility room or anywhere that regularly gets wet.
Do not fit LVT on stairs unless there is a very good reason — it is slippery, expensive to cut and rarely looks right.
Do not fit either over a damp or badly uneven sub-floor without sorting the sub-floor first; it will show through within months.

How we decide on a measure

When we come out we look at the sub-floor, ask who lives in the house and what the room is used for, then quote for the option we would fit in our own home. If carpet is the sensible answer we will say so, even though LVT is the bigger job.

Quick answers

Is LVT better than carpet?: Neither is better overall. LVT is better in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and homes with pets because it is waterproof and wipes clean. Carpet is better in bedrooms, on stairs and in lounges because it is warmer, quieter and cheaper to fit.
Is LVT more expensive than carpet?: Yes. Carpet supplied and fitted is typically £15–£35 per square metre, LVT typically £85–£100 per square metre, because the material costs more and the sub-floor needs proper preparation.
Can you have carpet and LVT in the same house?: Very commonly, yes. Most of the homes we fit have LVT downstairs and carpet upstairs, joined with a matching threshold bar at the bottom of the stairs.

Want a straight answer for your own room? Call 07342 203294 or see our flooring prices and areas we cover.