Is it cheaper to buy a rug or have carpet installed?

For a single room, an area rug is usually cheaper upfront than wall-to-wall carpet. A quality 8 x 10 rug runs $400 to $1,500 in Ottawa stores; the same room in installed carpet is $500 to $800 plus the rest of the floor underneath. Use the cost calculator to compare side by side.

Where each one wins:

• Rug: cheaper, easy to swap, takes the rug with you when you move
• Wall-to-wall carpet: covers the whole floor, warmer underfoot, no slipping edges
• Custom bound rug from broadloom: middle ground – we cut and bind any size

Pick wall-to-wall when sound, warmth, and full coverage matter; pick a rug when you want flexibility.