Buying new carpet may seem simple until you start comparing materials, padding, installation costs, warranties, and dozens of colors that somehow all look beige after twenty minutes in a flooring store.
Timing your purchase can make the process easier and potentially help you find a better deal.
The best time to buy carpets is generally late December through mid-January or during May and June. These lower-demand periods may give retailers more reason to offer discounts or promotions.
However, the cheapest carpet price does not always mean the cheapest flooring project. You also need to consider padding, measurements, installation, and available inventory.
This guide explains the best time to buy carpet, which months may be less attractive, and how to get better value at almost any time of the year.
Quick Answer: When Is the Best Time to Buy Carpet?
The best carpet-buying periods are generally:
- Late December to mid-January: Best overall buying window
- May and June: Good for lower-demand carpet shopping
- Major holiday sales: Worth checking for retailer promotions
- Clearance periods: Ideal for flexible buyers
- Before an urgent renovation: Gives you more time to compare quotes
According to Angi’s guide to the best time to buy carpet, late December through mid-January and late spring through early summer are favorable shopping periods.
Still, no single month guarantees the lowest price at every flooring store.
The smart strategy is to compare the total installed cost, not just the advertised carpet price.
Carpet Buying Calendar at a Glance
Time of Year | Buying Opportunity | Best For |
Late December to Mid-January | Excellent | Overall value and slower-season shopping |
February to April | Mixed | Comparing seasonal promotions |
May to June | Excellent | Lower-demand shopping and new styles |
July to August | Mixed | Holiday promotions |
September to November | Shop carefully | Planned renovation projects |
Black Friday | Promotion dependent | Retailer-specific offers |
Year-End | Very good | Clearance and inventory deals |
Why Carpet Prices Change Throughout the Year
Carpet prices do not follow one universal discount calendar.
Retail demand, new product introductions, inventory levels, and installation promotions can all affect the deals available to shoppers.
Retail Demand Can Affect Carpet Promotions
When fewer homeowners are shopping for carpet, flooring companies may have more reason to attract buyers.
This is why slower shopping periods can be useful.
Instead of rushing into a purchase, you may have more time to compare:
- Carpet fibers
- Pile styles
- Carpet padding
- Warranties
- Installation quotes
Before choosing a product, review the Carpet and Rug Institute’s carpet selection guide.
It recommends considering how the room will be used, whether it receives heavy foot traffic, its connection to outdoor areas, and its exposure to direct sunlight.
In other words, buy carpet for your actual home, not for the beautifully lit showroom where apparently nobody owns children, pets, or shoes.
New Styles Can Create Clearance Opportunities
New flooring collections can lead retailers to make space for different products.
This may create opportunities to find:
- Discontinued carpet
- Overstock
- End-of-roll inventory
- Clearance styles
- Carpet remnants
A discontinued carpet is not automatically a low-quality carpet. Sometimes a manufacturer or retailer is simply changing its product selection.
The downside is limited availability.
Before buying clearance carpet for several rooms, confirm that the retailer has enough material to complete the entire project.
Installation Costs Affect the Real Price
Never compare carpet deals using the material price alone.
The Home Depot carpet cost guide divides a carpet project into three important cost areas:
- Carpet
- Padding
- Installation
Lowe’s also provides a flooring project cost estimator for homeowners planning flooring and installation projects.
Suppose Store A offers carpet for $1.99 per square foot.
Store B charges $2.49 per square foot but has a better installation promotion.
Store B may produce a lower final project cost.
Always compare the complete installed price.
Late December to Mid-January: Best Overall Time to Buy Carpet
For many homeowners, late December through mid-January is the best time to buy carpet.
After the holidays, demand for major home improvement projects may slow.
Many homeowners have already completed their pre-holiday renovations. Others are temporarily more interested in recovering from holiday spending than selecting carpet fibers.
This can make the post-holiday period worth checking for carpet deals.
Why the Post-Holiday Period Can Be a Smart Buying Window
During this period, look for:
- Year-end flooring promotions
- Clearance carpet
- Previous collections
- Discontinued colors
- Installation offers
- Carpet remnants
Do not immediately buy a product because the price label says “clearance.”
Request a complete quote.
Compare similar carpet quality and padding between at least two or three sellers when possible.
Who Should Buy Carpet During This Period?
The late December to mid-January period may be ideal for homeowners who:
- Planned their flooring project early
- Can wait until after the holidays
- Need carpet for several rooms
- Have flexible installation dates
- Want time to compare flooring retailers
Large projects can benefit significantly from careful price comparison because even a modest cost difference per square foot can add up across several rooms.
May and June: Another Good Time to Buy Carpet
May and June are also worth considering when searching for the best month to buy carpet.
Late spring and early summer can provide another lower-demand shopping opportunity.
Why Late Spring Can Be a Good Buying Period
During spring and early summer, homeowners often spend money on other projects, including:
- Landscaping
- Deck improvements
- Exterior painting
- Air conditioning
- Summer travel
Indoor carpet may face more competition for the home improvement budget.
Check flooring stores for promotions and inventory offers during this period.
Compare New Carpet Styles With Clearance Inventory
Do not automatically choose the newest carpet collection.
First, think about the room.
The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends evaluating traffic levels and room use when selecting carpet.
For example, a soft plush carpet may be comfortable in a bedroom but may not be the most practical choice for a heavily used hallway.
Compare carpet based on:
- Room traffic
- Children and pets
- Cleaning needs
- Stain resistance
- Comfort
- Sun exposure
The right carpet purchased at a reasonable price is better than the cheapest carpet purchased twice.
Are Holiday Carpet Sales Worth Waiting For?
Holiday promotions can help you save money, but you should not assume every holiday sale is the cheapest time to buy carpet.
Treat holiday weekends as opportunities to compare deals.
Presidents Day and Memorial Day
Home improvement and flooring retailers may advertise seasonal promotions around major holiday weekends.
Before buying, ask:
- Which carpet styles qualify?
- Is carpet padding included?
- Is installation discounted?
- Is there a minimum purchase amount?
- Does the offer cover stairs?
- Is old carpet removal included?
Read the terms of the promotion before calculating your savings.
Fourth of July and Labor Day
Summer holiday sales may also produce flooring promotions.
Compare local carpet stores with larger home improvement retailers.
You can check current Home Depot carpet installation services and Lowe’s carpet installation services when comparing national retailer offers.
Local independent flooring stores may have different products and installation packages.
Black Friday and Year-End Carpet Sales
Black Friday is known for discounts, but it is not automatically the best time to purchase carpet.
Yes, apparently televisions, air fryers, mattresses, and flooring are all competing for the same sacred shopping weekend.
Check Black Friday prices, but compare them with year-end and January offers.
A post-holiday deal may provide better overall value for your specific carpet project.
When Is the Worst Time to Buy Carpet?
There is no universally terrible month to buy carpet.
However, some situations can make it harder to find a good deal.
When Demand Is High
Higher customer demand can reduce the pressure on retailers to offer aggressive discounts.
If you are shopping during a busy renovation period, get several quotes before making a decision.
Compare:
- Carpet price
- Padding
- Installation
- Removal fees
- Additional services
Before the Holiday Home Improvement Rush
Many homeowners want flooring projects completed before holiday gatherings.
Waiting too long can limit your options.
You may face:
- Longer installation schedules
- Limited inventory
- Less time to compare quotes
- Pressure to select in-stock carpet
Start planning your flooring project before you desperately need it completed.
When You Need Immediate Installation
The worst time to buy carpet may simply be when you need installation immediately.
Urgency makes it harder to:
- Compare retailers
- Order carpet samples
- Find clearance products
- Schedule measurements
- Wait for special orders
Fast installation may be convenient, but convenience and lowest price are not necessarily best friends.
The Cheapest Time to Buy Carpet Is Not Always the Best Time
Imagine finding a heavily discounted carpet in January.
The price is excellent.
Then you discover the store has 500 square feet remaining and your house needs 900 square feet.
Your impressive carpet deal has now become a very attractive problem.
The best time to buy carpets is when price, inventory, product suitability, and installation timing work together.
Calculate Carpet, Padding, and Installation Together
Request a written estimate showing:
- Carpet materials
- Carpet padding
- Professional measurements
- Installation
- Old flooring removal
- Furniture moving
- Stair charges
- Floor preparation
Use the Lowe’s carpet measurement calculator to create an initial project estimate.
However, retailer and professional measurements may still be needed before ordering installed carpet.
Never compare a carpet-only price from one retailer with a full installation quote from another.
Compare equivalent costs.
Watch for Carpet Remnants
Carpet remnants can be a smart option for small projects.
Consider remnants for:
- Bedrooms
- Home offices
- Closets
- Small basements
- Single-room projects
Measure the room before shopping.
For whole-house carpet replacement, remnants may be less practical because finding enough matching material can be difficult.
Choose the Right Carpet Padding
Carpet padding is easy to ignore because nobody visits your home and compliments the invisible foam underneath the flooring.
It still matters.
The Carpet and Rug Institute’s guide to choosing carpet for your home recommends checking the carpet manufacturer’s padding requirements for thickness and density.
Before choosing the cheapest padding option, make sure it is appropriate for the selected carpet.
Best Time to Buy Carpet by Project Type
Whole-House Carpet Replacement
Best time: Late December to mid-January or May and June.
Whole-house projects involve more material, so comparing the installed price is especially important.
Get several quotes and confirm inventory before placing an order.
Bedroom Carpet
Best time: Clearance periods or when suitable remnants are available.
A bedroom requires less material than an entire house.
This makes clearance carpet and remnants more practical.
Rental Property Carpet
Best time: When durable carpet is available at a competitive installed price.
Focus on:
- Durability
- Cleaning needs
- Traffic levels
- Replacement cost
Do not select rental carpet based only on appearance.
Carpet Before Selling a Home
Best time: Several weeks before your planned listing date.
Start early enough to:
- Compare carpet styles
- Order samples
- Schedule measurements
- Get installation quotes
- Complete installation
A fantastic carpet sale is surprisingly useless when the flooring arrives after your real estate photos have already been taken.
How to Get a Better Carpet Deal in Any Month
You do not always need to wait until January or May.
Use these carpet-buying strategies throughout the year:
- Get two or three complete installation quotes.
- Ask about clearance and discontinued carpet.
- Check remnants for small rooms.
- Compare similar carpet quality.
- Ask what installation includes.
- Calculate the total project cost.
- Measure your rooms early.
- Avoid waiting until carpet replacement becomes urgent.
- Check warranty requirements.
- Choose carpet based on room traffic.
For more information about selecting and maintaining carpet, visit the Carpet and Rug Institute.
FAQs About the Best Time to Buy Carpets
What is the best month to buy carpet?
January is one of the best months to consider, particularly from late December through mid-January. May and June can also be good periods for carpet shopping.
Is carpet cheaper in winter?
Late December through mid-January may provide better carpet-buying opportunities because of lower demand. Actual prices still vary by retailer and carpet type.
Is Black Friday the best time to buy carpet?
Not necessarily. Black Friday may offer flooring promotions, but late December, January, May, and June are also worth considering.
Should I buy carpet during a holiday sale?
Holiday sales are worth checking. Compare the total installed price, including carpet, padding, and installation, before purchasing.
How can I estimate how much carpet I need?
You can start with a carpet measurement calculator. A professional measurement may still be required for an accurate installation quote.
What is the cheapest way to buy carpet for one room?
Check carpet remnants, discontinued colors, and clearance inventory. These options can work particularly well for bedrooms or small rooms.
Putting It All Together
The best time to buy carpets is generally late December through mid-January or during May and June.
These periods may offer a better combination of lower demand and retailer promotions.
However, do not make your decision based only on the calendar.
Compare:
- Carpet cost
- Padding
- Installation
- Available inventory
- Room requirements
- Project timing
Use reliable resources such as the Carpet and Rug Institute to select the right carpet and compare complete flooring estimates before buying.
A calendar can help you decide when to shop.
The total installed quote tells you whether you actually found a good deal.
