Blog>Trade>Starting a Business>Finding the best carpet fitting tools
Last updated: 2 January 2025
Finding the best carpet fitting tools
If you’re thinking about starting your own carpet fitting business, you’ll need to buy some equipment. To help you understand exactly what tools you need for carpet fitting, we’ve complied a handy guide on the best tools for carpet fitting.
As a skilled tradesperson, you'll know that carpet fitting tools include everything from bolsters and chisels to cutting tools and measuring equipment. You may also need some PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to safeguard against injury.
Here is a handy list to give you an idea of some of the essential items you’ll need to start a carpet fitting company.
On top of that, Checkatrade members can also make great savings on their tools. We have exclusive offers and discounts available for suppliers such as Wickes, Selco and Tradepoint.
Essential carpet fitting equipment list
Whether you work in the domestic sector fitting carpets in your customers’ homes or you work with various businesses fitting new carpets in offices, school, or other public buildings, you’ll need a variety of high-quality carpet fitting equipment.
Some important carpet fitting tools include:
Sharp carpet knife or utility knife
Bolster
Chisel
Carpet scissors or shears
Door cutters
Hot melt gun
Staple gun
Hammer
This list is not exhaustive. As your carpet fitting company grows you may wish to invest in more tools and equipment.
Alongside the carpet fitting tools listed above, you’ll also need a good supply of nails, tacks, staples, and carpet adhesive to ensure that all carpets you fit are snug and secure.
Considerations for your carpet fitting business
When you’re planning to start a carpet fitting company, there are various things to consider that you may not have thought of.
When choosing the best tools for carpet fitting, you may want to think about the following points.
1. Measuring and accuracy
Taking accurate measurements of a room, hallway, or stairwell is an essential skill for any carpet fitters.
To do this you may want to invest in:
Tape measures
Rulers (steel, wooden, plastic)
Laser measuring device
Carpet fitters measuring pack
The more comprehensive your selection of measuring tools, the more prepared you’ll be in any scenario you may encounter.
How to upskill with carpet fitting training
Carpet fitting is always an in-demand trade. Trade professionals with the right carpet fitting training should find plenty of work opportunities. For example, in 2024, there were over 131,000 job searches for carpet fitting on the Checkatrade website. Fancy a slice of that interest?
2. Carpet removal and disposal
Pulling up and removing carpets is physically demanding work. You’ll want to wear the correct protective lightweight clothing to ensure that you’re comfortable during work.
During carpet removal, smaller fibres of material will get into the air. Therefore, a high-quality mask is a good idea to protect against inhalation of potentially toxic materials.
To remove and dispose of a carpet you’ll need:
Sharp utility knife
Flat pry bar
Pliers
Sharp bladed scraper
Duct tape
A van
3. Carpet fitting tools that are easy to use, store, and transport
Now that you’ve got an idea of what tools you’ll need to become a carpet fitter, you’ll want to be able to store and transport them as conveniently as possible.
For example, a transit van is a good size for a carpet fitting business. It can fit lengths of carpet and can also be fitted with an external rack that can be used for extra-large rolls of carpet.
If you intend to keep your tools in your van, then a secure locking system is essential
If you have premises where you keep rolls of carpet, you’ll have ample space to store your tools
As a carpet fitter, you may have got your business premises sorted first. Having space to measure and cut first should make the job easier when it comes to fitting.
Checkatrade members get more for their money
Our members save ££££s every year on business essentials
Equipment needed for a carpet fitting business
As mentioned above, there’s a wide variety of tools and equipment that are essential for a successful carpet fitting company.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the best tools for carpet fitting.
Cutting tools
Carpets are made from tough material. To successfully cut both carpets and underlay, you’ll need:
Stanley knife or utility knife
Razor knife
Specialist carpet cutting tool
Carpet gripper cutting tool
Heavy duty scissors
Companies such as Stanley are an excellent choice for all types of carpet cutting tools. They are of a high quality and can be used by carpet fitting professionals.
Checkatrade members can make great savings thanks to our partnerships with Selco, Tradepoint and Wickes. Not signed up yet?
Get your new carpet fitting business off the ground
Enjoy getting more job leads in your local area
Specialist carpet fitting tools
There are certain tools that are only really used for carpet fitting. These are obviously an essential part of your tool kit and include:
Tack strip cutter
Carpet knife
Power stretcher
Knee kicker
Stair tool
When carpet fitting, you’ll also need to ensure that your knees are protected.
High quality and durable knee protection is essential to protect against common knee injuries often suffered by carpet fitters.
Become a Checkatrade approved carpet fitter
When you want to maximise your chances of carpet fitting success, one of the best things you can do is to join Checkatrade.
With over 131,000 searches for carpet fitting work on our website last year*, this is a great way to win more new customers.
Did you know that Checkatrade members get exclusive access to a range of benefits and discounts alongside the consumer trust that comes with the Checkatrade tick.
As a Checkatrade approved carpet fitting company you can expect:
Discounts on equipment and materials with suppliers such as Selco and Wickes
Professional marketing assistance
More leads and more potential sales
Your own Checkatrade business profile
Membership to the UK’s leading trade database
Guarantee for jobs booked through Checkatrade (T&Cs apply)
Start the checks today to become a Checkatrade approved carpet fitter.
Get your new carpet fitting business off the ground
Enjoy getting more job leads in your local area
FAQs
How do you fit a carpet without a knee kicker?
A knee kicker is used in the final stages of carpet fitting to push the edges of the carpet into the corners of the room.
As a professional carpet fitter, you should always use a knee kicker for the best results.
If, for some reason, it’s not possible to use a knee kicker, a power stretcher can help to achieve good results when completing a carpet fitting job.
What tools do carpet fitters use?
As mentioned above, carpet fitters use a variety of specialist and standard tools. Specialist carpet fitting tools include:
Tack strip cutter
Carpet knife
Power stretcher
Knee kicker
Stair tool
Is a knee kicker the same as a carpet stretcher?
No. A knee kicker is used in smaller rooms to secure a carpet in place in the corners of a room.
Knee kickers are manual devices that require force to be used by the carpet fitter.
A carpet stretcher, on the other hand, creates more tension than a knee kicker and is commonly used in larger rooms.
It uses a lever and a pole to crate tension and force the carpet into the corners of a room.
What tools do I need to rip up carpet?
As mentioned above, some essential tools to rip up a carpet include:
Sharp utility knife
Flat pry bar
Pliers
Sharp bladed scraper
Duct tape
Dust mask
Heavy duty gloves
* Internal search data from users of the Checkatrade.com website in 2024
