The short answer
Carpet is usually the lowest-priced floor to have fitted, with labour of around £5–£11 per square metre and most fitters working to a day rate of roughly £150–£300. By room, fitting an average living room often comes to about £550–£650 plus VAT including a typical carpet, while stairs and landing average around £360 for roughly 10m² of standard carpet. A single straight staircase on its own is usually about £150–£250. The main extras are underlay and gripper rods, which are normally quoted on top of the fitting, and lifting the old carpet. Your figure depends on the carpet grade, the room and how many stairs or doorways are involved.
Carpet is usually the lowest-priced of the common floors to fit, but the underlay and gripper rods are usually separate, so the bare fitting figure isn't the whole cost. Here is how it breaks down by metre and by room.
Typical UK carpet costs
- Fitting labour£5–£11 / m²
- Fitter day rate~£150–£300
- Living room (incl. carpet)~£550–£650 + VAT
- Stairs & landing~£360
- Single staircase~£150–£250
What you pay for
- Fitting labour: around £5–£11/m², the lowest-priced of the common floors, though small jobs may carry a minimum or day-rate charge.
- Underlay: normally separate — a good underlay improves comfort and carpet life and is worth not skimping on.
- Gripper rods: the toothed strips round the room edge that hold the carpet; a small but necessary added item.
- Stairs: charged on top because they are fiddly — turns and winders cost more than a straight flight.
| Job | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fitting labour | £5–£11 / m² | lowest-priced to fit |
| Average living room | ~£550–£650 + VAT | includes a typical carpet |
| Stairs & landing | ~£360 | about 10m² standard carpet |
| Single staircase | ~£150–£250 | straight flight |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: MyJobQuote and Checkatrade carpet fitting guides.
Why room and stairs change the price
A plain rectangular room is quick: the fitter rolls out, trims to the grippers and seams where needed. Stairs are slower — each tread and riser is cut and fixed individually, and any winders or turns add time, which is why a staircase is priced as its own item. Doorways, bay windows and odd shapes also mean more cutting and joining. Because of all this, small or complex jobs are often quoted at a day rate of about £150–£300 rather than purely per metre, so a tiny room can cost more per metre than a large one.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does carpet fitting cost per square metre?
Carpet fitting labour is typically around £5–£11 per square metre, the lowest-priced of the common floors. Most fitters also work to a day rate of roughly £150–£300, so small rooms may be charged at a minimum rather than purely per metre.
How much does it cost to carpet stairs and landing?
Carpeting stairs and landing averages around £360 for roughly 10m² of standard carpet. A single straight staircase on its own is usually about £150–£250, with turns and winders costing more because each step is cut and fixed individually.
Are underlay and gripper rods included in carpet fitting?
Usually not — underlay and gripper rods are normally quoted on top of the fitting labour, along with lifting the old carpet. Ask for them to be itemised so you compare quotes on the same scope.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific room and subfloor. They are guidance, not a quotation.