Carpet fiber guide: polyester, P.E.T., nylon, and what they cost you later

Polyester, including P.E.T. polyester made from recycled content, is soft, takes color beautifully, and resists water-based stains well because the fiber itself does not absorb much.

It is less resilient than nylon, which means traffic lanes can flatten over time. In a bedroom that barely matters. In a hallway it shows.

Solution dyed fiber has color built into the fiber rather than applied to the surface. It holds color against sun and cleaning far better, which is worth asking about for a room with big south-facing windows.

Nylon springs back. It is the resilient choice for stairs, hallways, and family rooms that take a beating, and it generally holds its texture longest under traffic.

It tends to sit at the higher end of a lineup, so it is often used where the wear is worst and polyester covers the quieter rooms.

Face weight, listed in ounces, is how much fiber sits in a square yard. More is generally denser and more durable, but a heavier polyester is not automatically better than a lighter nylon. Compare fiber first, then weight within the same fiber.

We bring the samples and the pad to you. Press your thumb in, bend the sample back to see how tightly the tufts are packed, and set it on the floor in the actual room instead of holding it up to a light.