What Is Nylon Carpet? 4 Types of Nylon Carpet Explained!

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Taher Sabahi

Nylon carpet is the most common type of carpet nowadays. It’s indeed a synthetic material but not like polyester carpets. After all, that’s what is nylon carpet in its own best features if you ask me. “These types of carpets currently account for over 60% of synthetic carpets – pretty dominating, wouldn’t you agree?”

Nylon is known for its stain resistance and almost unfaced longevity. Why unfaced you ask? That’s because this durable carpet has a cool reputation of lasting up to 15 years with proper care. Besides compared to wool carpet you’ll find it to be a very cost-effective choice for both residential and commercial spaces.

What Is Nylon Carpet

If you look around a bit you’ll see there are 8 main characteristics of these recycled materials that set them apart from other types of carpets including wool carpets that is (more later in the content). All these characteristics are what make these carpets of high quality.

Nylon being the strong carpet fibre offers excellent stain resistance and comes in a wide variety of styles. So, it’s a durable and popular flooring option for you at the same time.

Quick view of your read

  • An introduction to nylon carpets will help you understand how it made history.
  • Learning about the main facts and composition will help you decide if it’s a good choice for you.
  • Get a better idea of the costs of nylon carpet material, which vary for each type.

What is Nylon Carpet?

Nylon carpet is a type of synthetic flooring made from a petroleum-based polymer, first developed by DuPont in the 1930s. By the 1950s, it had transformed the carpet industry due to its durability, stain resistance, and versatility.

Nylon carpeting is now a dominant choice in the flooring industry, known for its ability to withstand heavy foot traffic and maintain its appearance over time. So… no more pondering about what is nylon carpet anymore.

Did you know that “Nylon carpet with its synthetic fiber revolutionized the flooring industry in the 1950s?”

Main Characteristics of Nylon Carpet

For starters, you can say nylon carpet is an all-in-one solution for your spil and mess pron home. These carpets are really durable, making it suitable for both your homes and offices. Here’s a listed version of the main characteristics you’ll find in nylon floor coverings –

Main Characteristics of Nylon Carpet
  1. Durability
  2. Resilience
  3. Stain Resistance
  4. Hypoallergenic
  5. Color Retention
  6. Static Resistance
  7. Versatility
  8. Cost-Effectiveness

And for the record you should know it can handle heavy foot traffic without showing signs of wear, isn’t that amazing? 🤩 On top of that it’s resistant to static electricity, and I’m sure you can not deny how beneficial in dry climates this is.

“Makes perfect sense of why this is the most common carpet type in modern times, constituting 60% of sales in the USA, isn’t it?”

How Does Nylon Carpet Look Like?

Nylon carpet looks like shag, plush, or sometimes velvety. Thanks to the versatility of nylon fibers it comes in a wide range of colors, textures, and patterns. That very characteristic surely makes it a versatile option for any interior design you can think of.

How Does Nylon Carpet Look Like

Whether you want loop pile construction or, plush varieties, nylon carpets have your various aesthetic preferences covered in one word. In any case, did you know that “Nylon Fiber has the tenacity of 4 to 9 gm/den end elasticity of 20 – 40% before it reaches the breaking point?”

What is Nylon Carpet Made Of?

Nylon carpet is made of a type of synthetic fiber, which is a petroleum-based polymer. As a result when these synthetic carpet fibers are processed they achieve a silk-like texture to the touch. And that is why nylon carpet’s softness is so comfy.

What is Nylon Carpet Made Of

These fibers are gaining recent popularity for being tenaciously strong and durable. To put a cherry on top of this cake these fibers can be treated with chemical treatments for additional benefits like stain resistance and reduced static electricity too.

How is Nylon Carpet Made?

Nylon carpet is made by polymerization. Quite a heavy name to remind you of your old painful chemistry classes, isn’t that true? 😆 Don’t worry here’s a breakdown of what I mean…

In usual cases, the manufacturing process of nylon carpets includes polymerization, where monomers are chemically bonded to create very long chains of nylon fibers. These fibers are later spun into threads and tufted into the carpet backing.

How is Nylon Carpet Made

You may find some carpets using solution-dyed nylon, in which the color is added during the fiber production time. It potentially increases colorfastness and resistance to intense sunlight too.

I find the resiliency of nylon carpets to be the best pros of these types of carpets. Why you ask? Because…. these fibers can easily “bounce back” from compaction. You can revive the fibers by only using the hot water extraction cleaning method (steam cleaning).

resiliency of nylon carpets to be the best pros

History of Nylon Carpet

Just like other carpets nylon has a rich history too. This fiber type was first invented in 1935 by DuPont and much to everyone’s surprise it became widely used in the 1950’s.

Later on, this synthetic material revolutionized the carpeting industry, by being the durable and affordable alternative to natural fibers like wool. Within a short time after the introduction of 6,6 nylon, the market expanded even more. Not to mention gain yet more popularity.

Here’s a quick tour to nylon carpets history –

SLYearEvent
1.1935Invention of nylon by Wallace Carothers at DuPont
2.1950Nylon revolutionizes the carpeting industry
3.1954DuPont begins producing nylon for carpeting
4.1959Introduction of 6,6 nylon and bulked continuous filament (BCF) nylon by DuPont

In case you are wondering these pieces of information and historical events are verified by Avalon Flooring and The Spruce as well. Here’s a visual explanation for you, just is case you are in a hurry – About Nylon Carpet- Go Carpet Cleaning

Some Common Types of Nylon Carpet

If you ask me about fibers first (as it’s what the carpet is made of) there are eight types of nylon fiber, such as Nylon 6, Nylon 6,6, Nylon 4,6, Nylon 6,9, Nylon 6,10, Nylon 6,12, Nylon 11, and Nylon 12.

What Is Bef Nylon Carpet?

Bef Nylon aka Bulked Continuous Filament is known for its affordability and ease of maintenance, Bef nylon carpet is a popular choice for budget-conscious homeowners. It is known for its durability and resistance to shedding.

What Is Anso Nylon Carpet?

Anso is a brand of nylon fiber developed by Shaw Industries. This type offers enhanced stain resistance and durability, often coming with extended warranty protection. It includes Shaw’s patented R2X treatment, which provides superior resistance to stains and soil.

What Is Sd Nylon Carpet?

SD (Solution-Dyed) nylon carpet is highly resistant to fading and stains, making it ideal for areas with heavy foot traffic. In this process, the color is added to the nylon fiber during the manufacturing process, rather than being applied later.

What Is 6.6 Nylon Carpet?

6,6 Nylon Carpet is again a type of nylon carpet which is known for its superior strength, resilience, and longevity, making it a perfect nylon carpet for high-traffic areas.

What Is 6.6 Nylon Carpet

This variation is characterized by its six carbon atoms in the polymer chain. It’s more durable than 6,0 in short further improving the material’s strength and resilience both at the same time.

To make it even better it also gives off less static electricity (a common issue that may pop up on your lists of nylon carpet pros and cons).


So… now that all these are done, tell me – which one would you pick for your household?

  • Bef – The finance-friendly guest who never sheds a tear (or fiber)! 😤
  • Anso – The stain-resistant patent star who always keeps it clean. 😎
  • SD – The best friend who never loses its color, even after a wild night. 🥹
  • 6,6 – The most resilient party animal who can handle being dance floor. 💃

Average Price of Nylon Carpet

Based on many factors the price range keeps varying from time to time. While searching for average guidance I found Fixr.com where the costs are well explained. 

Here… for your better understanding I’ve listed down the price ranges of nylon carpet material – take note that the prices mentioned here are installation costs. Also, based on quality, brand, region, etc. it may vary.

SLType of Nylon CarpetPrice Range (Per sq/yd)
1.Level Loop$1 – $3
2.Berber$2 – $4
3.Cut and Loop$4 – $6
4.Saxony$5 – $7
5.Plush$5 – $8
6.Multi-Level$5 – $8
7.Velvet$5 – $8
8.Shag$8 – $10

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the advantages of nylon carpets?

Nylon carpet offers numerous advantages, including durability, stain resistance, and versatility in design. It’s also resilient to wear and tear from heavy foot traffic and can be treated to minimize static electricity.

How durable is nylon carpet?

Nylon carpet is extremely durable, often lasting up to 15 years with proper care, making it suitable for areas with heavy foot traffic.

Is nylon carpet stain-resistant?

Yes, nylon carpet is inherently stain-resistant, and many types come with additional chemical treatments to enhance this property, making it an excellent choice for homes with pets and children.

Is nylon carpet easy to clean?

Nylon carpet is relatively easy to clean and maintain. Regular vacuuming and occasional steam cleaning help keep it looking fresh and prolong its lifespan.

Last But Not The Least

Nylon carpet, with its great durability and tenacity for stain-resistant, continues to be a top choice in the flooring industry to this day. No wonder, people here and there keep searching about what is nylon carpet, right?

Whether your search is for residential or commercial use, nylon carpeting offers a wide variety of styles and long-lasting performance, making it an excellent choice for any setting you can think of.

About the author

Writen By

Taher Sabahi

Taher Sabahi is a certified flooring consultant with over 15 years of industry experience. He holds a master’s degree in Interior Design from the New York School of Interior Design. The Taher Sabahi has a deep passion for helping clients find the perfect floor coverings for their spaces.

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