Key Takeaways
| Patch Size | Cost Range | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Small (6″ or less) | $100–$150 | 1–2 hours |
| Medium (6″–12″) | $150–$250 | 2–3 hours |
| Large (12″+) | $250–$350 | 3–4 hours |
| Multiple patches | $300–$600 | Half day |
| Donor carpet included | Add $0–$50 | Depends on closet access |
| No donor carpet available | Add $100–$200 | Requires purchasing remnant |
What Carpet Patching Actually Costs
A small burn mark or cigarette hole costs $100 to $150 to patch. The installer cuts out a circle or square around the damage, pulls a matching piece from a closet, and seams it in. This takes an hour or two.
Medium patches—six to twelve inches across—run $150 to $250. These usually involve bleach stains, pet damage, or larger burns. The patch is big enough that seaming requires precision to avoid visible edges.
Large patches over twelve inches cost $250 to $350. At this size, you’re replacing a section of carpet big enough to notice. The seams become harder to hide.
Multiple patches in different rooms cost $300 to $600. If you have three burn marks in three different rooms, expect to pay for each one, though some installers discount multiple patches done in one visit.
If you don’t have donor carpet—leftover pieces from the original installation or carpet from a closet—add $100 to $200. The installer has to source a remnant that matches your carpet. This is difficult with discontinued styles.
Patching combined with carpet stretching or other repairs typically costs $300 to $500 total.
When Patching Works and When It Doesn’t
Patching works for isolated damage: burns, bleach stains, small tears, pet chewing, isolated urine spots. If the surrounding carpet is in good shape, a patch blends in.
The patch needs donor carpet from the same dye lot. Carpet color varies between production runs. A piece from your closet will match. A remnant from a carpet store probably won’t.
If the damaged area is in a high-traffic zone—hallway, living room center—the patch will show. New carpet has fluffier pile. The patch will look brighter and fresher until the surrounding carpet catches up. This takes months or years.
Patching doesn’t work if the entire carpet is worn, stained, or faded. A fresh patch in a tired carpet looks like exactly what it is.
If the damage is widespread—pet urine in multiple spots, water damage across half a room—you need carpet replacement, not patching.
Padding damage under the carpet often goes unnoticed until the patch is done. If the padding is soaked with urine or melted from a burn, the installer has to replace that too. This adds cost.
How the Patching Process Works
The installer starts by cutting out the damaged section. They use a carpet knife and a straightedge to cut a square or rectangle. Circles are harder to seam and almost never used.
The cut goes through the carpet but not the padding. If the padding is damaged, they cut that separately.
Next, they find donor carpet. Closets are the best source. The installer cuts a piece from under the closet shelf or along the back wall where it won’t be seen.
The donor piece needs to match the pile direction of the surrounding carpet. If the pile runs north-south, the patch has to run north-south. Otherwise, the patch reflects light differently and stands out.
They trim the donor piece to the exact size of the hole. The edges must align perfectly. Even a millimeter gap shows.
New padding goes in if needed. Then the patch drops into place. The installer uses seam tape or carpet adhesive to bond the edges. Some use both.
A seam roller presses the edges flat. The installer trims any loose fibers and brushes the pile to blend the seam.
For burns that haven’t damaged the backing—just the surface fibers—the installer may use a different technique. They cut matching fibers from the donor carpet and glue them into the burned area. This works for small surface burns only.
Burns vs Bleach Stains vs Pet Damage
Burns destroy the carpet fibers. The damage is usually small and localized—cigarette burns, curling iron marks, dropped matches. These patch easily if caught early.
Bleach stains don’t damage the structure, just the color. The fibers are still intact. You can’t dye carpet back to its original color reliably, so patching is the only fix.
Pet damage varies. Chewing and scratching create holes and tears. These patch well if the backing isn’t shredded.
Pet urine is trickier. The urine soaks through to the padding and sometimes the subfloor. If you patch just the carpet, the smell remains. The installer has to remove the damaged padding, seal the subfloor with an enzyme cleaner or primer, install new padding, then patch the carpet. This adds time and cost.
For extensive pet damage, see our guide on carpet repair options.
Finding Donor Carpet for the Patch
The best source is your closet. Most installers leave extra carpet in bedroom closets during installation. Check under shelves and along back walls.
If you don’t have closet carpet, check the basement or garage. Some installers tuck remnants behind furnaces or water heaters.
Attics sometimes have leftover pieces, though heat and dust can fade or damage them.
If you have no donor carpet, the installer can try to source a remnant from a carpet store. This works if your carpet is a current style. If it’s more than five years old, the style may be discontinued.
Carpet stores keep discontinued remnants for a few years, then discard them. If you’re lucky, they’ll have a piece that matches.
If no remnant exists, you have two options: patch with a close-but-not-perfect match, or replace the entire room. A close match looks off in direct sunlight but acceptable in low light.
Some installers keep a library of remnants from past jobs. If your carpet is a common builder-grade style, they might have a match.
Visible vs Invisible Patches
No patch is truly invisible. Even perfect seams show in certain light. The goal is to make the patch inconspicuous, not invisible.
Patches in low-traffic areas—under furniture, along walls, in corners—are easier to hide. Patches in the middle of a room stand out.
The size matters. Small patches blend better. Large patches draw the eye.
Carpet with heavy patterns or textures hides patches better. Solid-colored carpet shows every flaw.
Loop-pile carpet is harder to patch than cut-pile. The loops have to align perfectly or the seam is obvious.
Berber carpet is the worst. The loop structure and color variation make seams nearly impossible to hide. Patching Berber almost always shows.
If the damaged area is in a highly visible spot, consider rearranging furniture to cover the patch. A rug also works.
Patching vs Replacing the Room
If you have one small patch and the rest of the carpet is fine, patching makes sense. You’ll spend $150 instead of $1,500.
If you need four or five patches in one room, replacement is probably smarter. You’re spending $500 to $800 on patches in carpet that’s clearly failing.
If the carpet is more than ten years old, patching is a short-term fix. The rest of the carpet will fail soon. You’ll wish you’d replaced it.
If you’re selling the house, a visible patch looks cheap to buyers. They’ll assume the carpet is damaged elsewhere and ask for a price reduction. In that case, replace the room or the whole house.
If you’re staying in the house and the carpet is otherwise good, patch it and move on.
Use the carpet cost calculator to compare patching versus room replacement costs.
Preventing Future Damage
Move furniture carefully. Dragging heavy pieces tears carpet. Lift or use furniture sliders.
Clean spills immediately. Bleach, acetone, and other chemicals destroy carpet dye. Blot—don’t rub—and use plain water first.
Keep pets’ nails trimmed. Long nails snag and tear carpet fibers.
Use area rugs in high-traffic zones. Hallways, entryways, and in front of sinks benefit from rugs that can be washed or replaced.
Don’t iron or use heated styling tools near carpet. Dropped curling irons and flat irons cause burns that require patching.
If you smoke indoors, use deep ashtrays and don’t set cigarettes on the edge. Most burn patches come from cigarettes tipping out of ashtrays.
For basements, control moisture. Wet carpet attracts mold and causes padding to rot. A dehumidifier prevents most issues. Learn more about basement carpet care.
FAQ
How much does it cost to patch a small burn in carpet? $100 to $150 for a burn smaller than six inches. The installer cuts out the burn and seams in a donor piece from a closet.
Can you patch carpet without donor carpet? Maybe. If the installer can find a matching remnant, yes. If the carpet is discontinued and no remnant exists, no. Patching requires matching carpet.
How long does a carpet patch last? Indefinitely if done correctly. The seams should hold as long as the surrounding carpet lasts.
Will the patch be noticeable? Probably, especially in direct sunlight. The patch will look newer and brighter until the surrounding carpet wears to match. This can take months or years.
Can you patch Berber carpet? Technically yes, but the results are rarely good. Berber’s loop structure makes seams very visible. Expect to see the patch.
What size damage is too big to patch? Anything over twelve inches becomes difficult to hide. At eighteen inches or more, replacing the room makes more sense.
Can pet urine damage be patched? Yes, if the urine is localized. The installer has to replace the padding under the patch and seal the subfloor. If the urine has spread, replacement is better.
How long does carpet patching take? One to two hours for a small patch. Larger patches or multiple patches take longer.
Can you patch carpet seams? No. Seam failures require re-seaming, not patching. See our guide on carpet seam repair.
Do installers guarantee patch work? Most guarantee the seams will hold for one year. They don’t guarantee the patch will be invisible. Color matching depends on the donor carpet.