Cost to replace a bedroom carpet replacement in a short-term rental
$400–$1200 typical range. 7-year lifespan under STR conditions.
What you actually pay to replace a bedroom carpet
Honest installed range: $400-1,200 per bedroom (120-180 sq ft). That’s roughly $3-8/sq ft installed: $1.50-4/sq ft for carpet, $0.50-1/sq ft for pad, $1-3/sq ft for tear-out + install.
A king bedroom (180 sq ft): $700-1,200. A double-bedroom (130 sq ft): $400-750.
Most STR operators land on Mohawk SmartStrand or Shaw Tuftex stain-resistant nylon ($4-6/sq ft installed) — the cheapest carpet that survives 5+ years of STR use.
Should you even have carpet in an STR
Hard question. Carpet in bedrooms is still the comfort default — bare floors in bedrooms read as “rental-grade.” But carpet in STR is the highest-failure floor covering, with the shortest replacement cycle, and the worst stain-recovery rate.
Keep carpet in bedrooms if: market expectation is bedroom carpet (suburban, family-market, cabin), property has soundproofing requirements (upstairs unit in condo), or aesthetic match to the listing.
Skip carpet for LVP if: urban / professional market, pet-friendly listing, kid-friendly listing (food/drink spills), or high-turnover property.
A reasonable hybrid: LVP throughout + a large area rug in the bedroom. Replaceable, photographs well, lower maintenance.
Carpet failure modes in STR
Residential carpet lasts 10-15 yr. STR carpet lasts 4-7 yr.
The failure pattern: traffic paths matted at month 12, edge wear at doorways by month 24, persistent stains (red wine, coffee, blood) by year 3, full pile collapse in high-traffic areas by year 4-5.
The single biggest extender: a carpet pad rated 8 lb/density or higher. Cheap 5-lb pads collapse and the carpet wears 2x faster.
Stain-resistant fiber matters
Mohawk SmartStrand (triexta): stain-resistant by molecular structure, not coating. Bleach-safe cleaning. The STR default.
Shaw R2X-treated nylon: good stain resistance from topical treatment. Treatment wears off over 5-7 yr.
Polyester / PET: cheapest, stain-resistant but flattens quickly. Adequate for back-bedroom in low-ADR unit.
Wool: premium but stain-prone, and most stain-removal chemicals damage wool. Skip for STR.
What to actually buy
Default pick: Mohawk SmartStrand Forever Clean (~$3.50/sq ft material, $5-6/sq ft installed). Bleach-safe, lifetime stain warranty (real, honored), wide color range.
Budget pick: Shaw Anso Caress nylon (~$2.50/sq ft material, $4/sq ft installed). Adequate stain resistance, 5-6 yr STR life.
Premium pick: Mohawk SmartStrand Silk Reserve (~$5/sq ft material, $7-8/sq ft installed). Plush + stain-resistant + soft. Reads as hotel-quality.
Avoid: any “bargain carpet” remnant under $2/sq ft installed. Polyester pile, cheap pad, wears out in 18 months of STR.
Pad rating matters as much as carpet
The pad is what makes carpet feel “good.” A premium carpet on a cheap pad feels cheap.
- 6 lb density: budget, lasts 3-4 yr STR. Skip.
- 8 lb density: STR default. $0.75-1/sq ft.
- 10 lb density: premium, makes any carpet feel hotel-grade. $1-1.50/sq ft.
Get 8-lb minimum; pay the $0.50/sq ft delta over cheap pad.
Installation realities
Pro install only. DIY carpet stretching with a knee-kicker results in wrinkles within 6 months. Pros use power stretchers and tackless strip installations.
Timeline: tear-out + install = 1 day for a single bedroom, 2-3 days for whole property. Plan around bookings.
Lifespan math
| Carpet type | Residential life | STR life |
|---|---|---|
| Builder-grade polyester | 5-8 yr | 2-4 yr |
| Mid-tier nylon (Shaw Anso) | 10-12 yr | 5-7 yr |
| SmartStrand / Forever Clean | 15-20 yr | 7-10 yr |
| Premium wool | 15-25 yr | Not recommended for STR |
Maintenance + signs to replace
- Vacuum daily (or per-turn) in traffic paths
- Professional steam clean annually
- Spot-treat stains within 24 hours; SmartStrand bleach-cleans
- Replace when: traffic paths permanently matted, edge fraying at doorways, stains that pro cleaning won’t lift, pile depth < 50% of original
Related tools
FAQ
How much does it cost to replace a bedroom carpet replacement in a rental?
Typical range $400–$1200 depending on brand and quality tier.
How long does a bedroom carpet replacement last in a short-term rental?
~7 years under high-turnover use; expect the lower end if you host more than 200 guest-nights a year.
Which brands hold up best in STR conditions?
Operators we trust use Mohawk SmartStrand, Shaw.
Last verified 2026-05-08.