Stair carpet and stair runners in Dubai
Stair carpet in Dubai, fitted two ways: full stair carpet over every tread and riser, or a stair runner down the middle with the marble, stone or wood showing either side. We measure your staircase at a free visit with samples, take up any old carpet and supply the underlay, then our own fitters lay the new carpet.
Between 2 and 30 stairs.
How do I book a stair carpet fitting in Dubai?
Book the visit with the form on this page: the number of stairs, set at the top of the page, is all it needs. We agree a time, come to you anywhere in Dubai with samples of full stair carpet and runners, and measure the stairs while we are there. The fitting day is agreed with you once you have your quote.
Helpful to mention, not needed to book
- The number of stairs: count each step up, including the last one at the top.
- The shape: straight, turning, open on one side, or curved.
- Whether there is a landing at the top, and roughly how big it is.
- What is on the stairs now: marble, granite, tile, wood, bare concrete or old carpet.
- Full stair carpet, a runner, or not sure yet.
A measuring visit on a staircase
Full stair carpet or a stair runner: which suits your stairs?
Full stair carpet covers every tread and riser from edge to edge, so the stairs read as one carpeted floor; it suits marble or tile that feels slippery, cold or loud. A stair runner is a narrower strip down the middle, for stone or wood worth keeping on show either side. We fit both, and bring samples of each to the visit to try on the stairs before you choose.
Front view · an example 100 cm stair
For illustration: your stairs are measured at the visit.
A 75 cm runner on a 100 cm stair leaves 12.5 cm of the stair showing on each side.
| Full stair carpetEvery tread and riser, edge to edge | Stair runnerA strip down the middle | |
|---|---|---|
| Underfoot | Soft and quiet across the whole width of every step. | Soft where you walk, with hard edges either side. |
| Width | The full width of the stair, edge to edge. | Narrower than the stair, with an even margin either side. |
| Carpet used | The most carpet: every tread and riser, in full. | Less carpet, since it covers only the middle of each step. |
| Suits | Slippery marble or tile; stairs children or older people use. | Marble, stone or wood worth showing; feature staircases. |
How a carpeted staircase can look
A runner on a marble staircase Full carpet on a villa staircase A runner on a wooden staircase A landing carpeted to match Carried on into the upstairs hall
Which carpet is best for stairs?
A stair takes some of the hardest wear in the house, most of it on the nosing, the front edge of each step. A dense, low pile wears best there. A deep, soft pile flattens on the nosing first and feels unsteady underfoot.
Loop pile, where the yarn is left in small uncut loops, is hard-wearing but has two catches on a stair. A pet's claw or a heel can snag a loop and pull a run of them, and bent over a sharp nosing, the rows of loops can part and show the backing, which fitters call grinning. With dogs or cats, choose a dense cut pile, where the loops are cut into upright tufts. Carpet tiles are made for flat floors and their stiff backing will not wrap a nosing, so a stair at home takes full carpet or a runner; commercial stairs sometimes take tiles on the treads with a separate metal nosing.
A dense, low pile, close up
Which carpet fibre wears best on stairs?
The fibre, with how dense and tightly twisted the pile is, decides how a stair carpet springs back on the nosings and how it takes spills. On a busy stair, nylon or a wool blend with some nylon wears best; polypropylene and polyester cost less but crush sooner. A general guide to the fibres, not a list of what we stock:
Nylon: the toughest synthetic
The most resilient synthetic fibre. It springs back after footfall, so the nosings of a busy family stair keep their look longest. It usually costs more than polypropylene or polyester.
Polypropylene: colourfast, lower cost
One of the most common carpet fibres. Its colour runs right through, so it shrugs off water-based spills and bleach, holds its colour in sunlight and usually costs less. It attracts oily soil, though, so busy nosings can grey, and it crushes easily, so on a stair choose a low, dense pile.
Polyester: soft and bright
Soft, rich in colour and good with water-based stains, and usually one of the cheaper fibres. It is less springy than nylon, so it suits a stair that sees lighter use.
Wool: natural and springy
A natural fibre that springs back well and is warm and quiet underfoot. It is usually among the dearer fibres, and while spills bead on it at first, it takes up some food and drink stains more readily than most synthetics and cannot take bleach. A wool blend with some nylon is a common choice for stairs.
Sisal: a tight natural weave
A plant fibre woven tight and flat that wears very well on a stair, as full carpet or a sisal stair runner. It is firm underfoot, can feel slippery in socks if the weave is smooth, and marks with water. More on sisal and jute carpet.
What width should a stair runner be?
As a rule of thumb, a runner leaves 10 to 15 cm of stair showing on each side, so a stair about 1 m wide takes a runner of roughly 70 to 80 cm. Try widths on the front-view drawing at the top of this section.
A carpet runner cut from a roll needs its long edges bound with tape or whipped with yarn so they do not fray. A runner woven to width comes with finished edges, often a border.
A runner width taped on the bottom step
How is a staircase measured for carpet?
Each stair is measured on its own, because small differences between steps add up over a flight: the depth of the tread, the height of the riser, the nosing and the width, then the landing. Those sizes show how much carpet the staircase takes and where any joins would fall. To book, the number of stairs is enough.
Section · your staircase
Detail A · two stairs
- Tread
The flat part you step on, measured stair by stair. In the drawing, 28 cm deep.
- Riser
The upright face between treads. Full stair carpet covers it, and a runner covers it down the middle only.
- Nosing
The front edge of the tread, where the carpet turns over and wears first.
- Underlay
A firm, thin layer on each tread, supplied with your new carpet. A thick, soft one lets the carpet roll on the nosing.
- Landing
Where the stairs arrive: a landing, or the upper floor. A landing is measured like a small room and usually carpeted to match, and the same carpet can carry on into the upstairs hall as wall-to-wall carpet.
How much carpet do I need for my stairs?
Your 14 stairs take about 6.4 m of carpet from the floor to the top of the stairs, counting every riser, nosing and tread. On a stair 1 m wide, full stair carpet covers about 6.4 m², and a 75 cm runner about three-quarters of that. A landing, if you have one, is measured and priced on its own.
These are guide figures from the drawing above. Your stairs are measured at the visit, and the quote is worked out from those sizes; a fitter usually allows a little extra for trimming.
Cut from the roll, a little extra to trim
Straight, turning, open-sided or curved stairs?
A straight flight is the simplest to carpet. Winders, half-landings, open sides and curved steps all take more cutting, and open-riser stairs have only the treads to cover. Pick a shape below to see how it is carpeted.
A straight flight
Every step is the same shape, so full carpet or a runner runs in one line from the bottom step to the landing, with the least cutting and the least carpet wasted.
Turning with winders
Winders are the tapered steps where a staircase turns a corner. Each one is cut to its own tapered shape, which wastes more carpet than a straight flight. A runner takes extra work at the turn to stay centred.
Turning at a half-landing
The stair stops at a flat landing partway up, often where it turns. With full stair carpet the half-landing is usually carpeted to match. With a runner, the runner can turn across it, or the landing can take a fitted carpet of its own.
An open-sided stair
One side of the stair has no wall, only a balustrade. Full stair carpet needs its open edge finished neatly along every step. A runner leaves that edge bare, so it is often the simpler choice.
Curved, spiral and bullnose steps
A bullnose is a bottom step with a rounded end. With no straight edge to follow, these steps are usually carpeted one tread at a time, each nosing wrapped and each riser covered separately, a method called cap and band. Ask at the visit whether your curved stair can be carpeted, and how.
How is stair carpet fixed to the stairs?
Full stair carpet is most often stretched over gripper: thin wooden strips set with angled pins where each tread meets its riser, which hold the carpet tight into every step. Runners are held the same way or stapled, and some are glued down. Stair rods across the back of each tread are mostly decorative today. Which fixing suits depends on the stair and the carpet.
A general guide to how stairs are commonly carpeted, not a list of the fixings we use.
Gripper: pinned and stretched tight
Strips set with angled pins grip the carpet at the back of each tread, and it is stretched tight over the nosing. The strips are nailed into wood or concrete, or glued or screwed on stone and tile. It suits full carpet and runners on most stairs, and leaves small holes or glue where the strips sat.
Staples or tacks: into each step
The carpet is stapled or tacked into the angle of each step and under the nosing. It suits runners on wooden stairs, and weaves that hardly stretch, such as sisal. When the carpet comes up, it leaves small pin holes in the wood.
Glue-down: bonded to the step
Adhesive bonds the carpet to each tread and riser, usually with no separate underlay. It suits concrete or tiled stairs, busy commercial stairs and curved steps. The adhesive has to be cleaned off when the carpet comes up, and on porous marble or stone it can stain and need professional cleaning.
Stair rods: a finishing detail
A metal rod runs across the back of each tread, held in a bracket either side of a runner. Rods are a finishing detail over another fixing, not the hold itself. Each step takes two brackets, each screwed in: two to four small holes.
Will fitting mark my marble, granite or tiled stairs?
Almost every fixing leaves a trace when the carpet comes up: small holes from nails, screws, staples or rod brackets, or adhesive to clean off. Marble, granite and porcelain cannot take a nail, so fixings on them are glued or drilled, and a hole in a grout joint is easier to repair than one in the face of a tile.
Ask at the visit how your stairs would be fixed and what that would leave behind. If you rent, check with your landlord first.
Gripper glued, not nailed, on stone
Waterfall or Hollywood: what is the difference?
A waterfall fit takes the carpet over the nosing and lets it drop straight to the back of the next tread. A Hollywood fit, also called upholstered, wraps it tight under each nosing and down the riser, following the shape of every step. Waterfall is quicker and suits thicker carpet. Hollywood looks more tailored and suits thinner carpet and runners.
Carpet wrapped tight under a stair nosing
How much does stair carpet cost in Dubai?
The price of stair carpet in Dubai depends on the carpet you choose, whether it is full carpet or a runner, how many stairs there are, the shape of the staircase and whether the landing is carpeted too. The free measuring visit gives the exact figure for your stairs; you can also ask on WhatsApp. Your quote shows what it covers: the carpet, any carpeted landing, the underlay, the fitting and the removal of any old carpet.
| Item | Charged | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet or runner | For your stairs, as measured | At the visit |
| Landing | Per m² | At the visit |
| Underlay and fitting | For every step, with the carpet | At the visit |
| Taking up the old carpet | Only if your stairs have old carpet | At the visit |
| Measuring visit and samples | Anywhere in Dubai | Free |
Samples tried on a stair at the visit
Is a stair runner cheaper than full stair carpet?
Not always. A runner uses less carpet, roughly three-quarters of the width on a typical stair. But a runner cut from a roll needs its edges bound or whipped, it has to run dead centre down every step, which takes longer on a turning stair, and runners are often chosen in a patterned or bordered carpet that costs more. Ask for both on your quote to compare.
A runner, its long edges bound
Why does it cost more to carpet stairs than a room?
A room is laid flat in one or a few large pieces. On a staircase the carpet is shaped and fixed by hand over every tread, nosing and riser, and winders and curved steps are cut piece by piece, which wastes carpet. A stair also needs a denser carpet to take the wear. Ask at the visit what each part of your staircase adds to the price.
Every tread, riser and nosing to cover
What happens on fitting day?
Our own fitters come on the day we agree with you, and the work is never handed to a subcontractor. If the stairs are carpeted already, the fitters take up and take away the old carpet first. Then the underlay goes down on each tread and over its nosing, and the new carpet or runner is fitted and pulled tight over every nosing.
On the day
- Any old carpet taken up and taken away
- Underlay laid over each tread and nosing
- Full stair carpet or a runner fitted, and the landing if it is carpeted
The finished staircase, seen from the hall
Stair carpet fitted, step by step
01Any old carpet lifted and taken away 02Underlay laid over each tread and nosing 03Carpet fitted to each step 04Carpet firm over every nosing
How long does stair carpet last?
As a general guide, fitted carpet lasts somewhere between 5 and 15 years, and a staircase sits towards the short end, because every foot lands on the same nosings. A dense pile in a resilient fibre, a firm underlay and a tight fit push it towards the long end.
How do I keep stair carpet clean with Dubai's dust and sand?
Vacuum the stairs once or twice a week, nosings first, where the wear and the tracked-in dust and sand collect. Use the vacuum's hand tool rather than its rotating brush, which can fuzz a loop pile. Blot spills at once rather than rubbing, and never leave a lifted runner edge loose, because it can catch a foot.
Loop pile, close up: where sand settles
Stair carpet questions, answered
Anything else, ask on WhatsApp or at the free visit.
Book a free visitHow much does it cost to carpet 14 stairs in Dubai?
Fourteen stairs of a common size, with 28 cm treads and 17.5 cm risers, take about 6.4 m of carpet from the floor to the top step: about 6.4 m² of full stair carpet on a stair 1 m wide, and less for a runner. Deeper treads or taller risers take more, and a carpeted landing adds to it. The free measuring visit gives you the exact price for your stairs.
Is stair carpet slippery?
Not usually. Carpet grips better than bare marble, tile or polished wood, which is why many families carpet their stairs for children and older people, though a smooth sisal weave can feel slippery in socks. What matters is a firm fit, tight over each nosing, and a low, dense pile that doesn't roll underfoot. A runner needs holding at every step so it cannot creep, and the bare stair either side stays as slippery as before.
Can you fit sisal carpet on stairs?
Sisal and jute carpet is one of our lines, and as a general rule a tight sisal weave wears well on a stair. It hardly stretches, so it needs care at each nosing, where a sharp edge can open the weave, and a smooth weave can feel slippery in socks. Ask about sisal for your stairs at the visit, and try a sample on the steps before you choose.
Do you carpet the landing too?
Yes. The landing is measured at the same visit and priced per square metre, like any fitted floor. With full stair carpet it is usually carpeted to match. With a runner, the landing can take a fitted carpet or carry the runner across it. A loose rug at the top of a stair can slide, so a rug made to the landing's size needs a non-slip underlay and should sit well back from the top step.
Do you take up the old stair carpet?
Yes. If your stairs are carpeted already, we lift and remove the old carpet on fitting day, before the new underlay and carpet go down. A runner laid over old carpet tends to creep and can slip, so the old carpet is best taken up first.
How long does it take to carpet a staircase?
It depends on the stairs. The number of steps, any turn or half-landing, a carpeted landing and old carpet to lift all add to the time. Ask how long your stairs will take when you get your quote, once they are measured at the free visit.
What is the carpet on a staircase called?
Full stair carpet, also called fitted stair carpet or simply stair carpet, covers every step edge to edge. A stair runner is a narrower strip down the middle, with the stair showing at the sides. Separate carpet pads on each step are sold as carpet stair treads. We fit full stair carpet and stair runners.
Can I carpet just the stairs, and do you fit outside Dubai?
Yes to the first: you can book the visit for your stairs alone. Stair carpet and stair runners are measured and fitted in Dubai only. Elsewhere in the UAE we can't fit a runner, but we make rugs and hallway runners in any size and deliver them anywhere in the UAE. A loose runner is for a hallway, never for stairs.