Best Carpet for Pets in 2024: 7 Pet-Friendly Carpet Options

If you want to find the best carpet for pets that is non-toxic, stain-resistant, and easy to clean, you’re in the right place.

To get started, learn what you need to look for in carpet, including stain resistance, durability, and healthiness. Then check out a roundup of our seven best pet-friendly carpet options!

1. Best Overall: Anderson Tuftex Faux Paw Carpet
2. Best for High Traffic: Air.o Changing Times I Carpet with Pad
3. Most Affordable: Anderson Tuftex Del Morro Carpet
4. Most Stylish: Shaw Charmed Hues Waterproof Carpet
5. Best Stain Resistance: Weave Carpet Tiles
6. Most Eco-Friendly: Air.o Gentle Breeze Carpet with Pad
7. Most DIY-Friendly: In a Snap Carpet Tile with Pad

How to Choose the Best Carpet for Pets

To help you get started in your search, learn more about the important factors you should consider, including durability, stain resistance, carpet fiber material, and VOCs.

Durability

With lots and paws and claws running around, a durable, high-traffic carpet is going to be a lifesaver for your home.

Pile height:  For the most durability, we recommend a low pile. The pile is the height of the carpet fibers, and the higher the pile, the longer the fibers.

Looped fibers: You should also strongly consider Berber or looped carpet fibers. Because the fibers are looped, and no loose cut ends are exposed, the carpet won’t flatten or get matted as easily.

Face weight: The face weight of carpet refers to the weight of one square yard of carpet. The more densely packed the fibers, the higher the face weight.

Stain Resistance

Accidents happen! These days, you can buy stain-resistant carpet for pets to protect your floor from the inevitable spills and accidents. Stainmaster carpet is an industry standard for stain resistance. These carpets offer the ultimate stain and soil resistance. 

Material

Carpets can be made from a few different fiber materials, and they each have their advantages and drawbacks.

Nylon: Nylon is highly durable, making it perfect for pets. This fiber is typically treated with a stain-blocking technology that helps it stay beautiful even after spills and messes. 

Polyester: Polyester is made from recycled materials like plastic water bottles. It’s almost as durable as nylon, and it’s also cheaper! Polyester carpet has the largest range of color options, and it’s extremely fade- and stain-resistant.

Olefin/Polypropylene: Olefin, also known as polypropylene, is naturally stain-resistant and fade-resistant because the fibers are dyed as they’re being created. This results in color throughout the fiber, and not just on the surface. One downside of olefin is that it attracts and absorbs oil, which can leave it looking dingy.

Low VOCs

VOCs are also known as volatile organic compounds, are found in paints, cleaning supplies, furniture, and even flooring, and can cause potential adverse health effects. The good news is that you can shop specifically for healthy, low-VOC carpet that is certified and tested for indoor air quality to protect you and your pet. 

Related Content >> A Guide to Non-Toxic Flooring

Best Pet-Proof Carpet Options

Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Here are our top picks. 

Overall Best Carpet for Pets

Anderson Tuftex Faux Paw Carpet

This is a carpet designed with your furry friends in mind. With PetProtect fibers that can handle any stains or accidents, this carpet will look fresh and new for longer. Plus, it comes in a range of colors to match any decor.

This pet-proof carpet boasts lifetime warranties for stain and soil resistance. You’ll also enjoy a 20-year texture retention warranty. That’s a lot of years of fun and play with your pet!

Important Features:

• 100% SuperiaSD® Nylon
• Face Weight: 25.0 ounces
• Softbac Platinum Backing
• Cut-loop pattern
• Made in the USA
• Features STAINMASTER® PetProtect® treatment

Shop Anderson Tuftex Faux Paw Carpet

Best High Traffic Carpet for Pets

Air.o Changing Times I Carpet with Pad

This is an innovative new product that features attached padding, combining two products in one. Stain-resistant, soil-resistant, and pet urine-resistant, this carpet is designed to lay flat for life. It’s made from polyester fibers that can handle heavy residential traffic and the wear and tear that comes with it. It won’t buckle, wrinkle, or delaminate.

Like all Air.o products, this carpet is free of VOCs, latex, and odor. This Air.o Fresh Start carpet offers a lifetime stain and soil warranty.

Important Features:

• Won’t absorb moisture
• Installs in half the time
• USA made
• Stain-resistant, soil-resistant, and resistant to pet accidents

Shop Air.o Changing Times I Carpet with Pad

Related Content >> Pet-Friendly Flooring Guide

Best Affordable Carpet for Pets

Anderson Tuftex Del Morro Carpet

This is a carpet designed for busy houses on a budget! Made from durable nylon fiber, Del Morro carpet is treated with R2X stain-resistant treatment, so it can handle the spills and accidents of everyday life. The cut pile fibers give a softer feel, and they’re twisted for a more casual, modern look.

This carpet comes with a 20-year texture retention warranty, as well as limited lifetime warranties for stain resistance and soil resistance.

Important Features:

• 100% Continuous Filament Nylon
• Face Weight: 25.0 ounces
• Classicbac Backing
• Cut pile texture style
• R2X stain treatment
• Made in the USA

Shop Anderson Tuftex Del Morro Carpet

Best Stylish Carpet for Pets

Shaw Charmed Hues Waterproof Carpet

With 10 stunning neutral colors to choose from and a plush texture, you can’t go wrong with Shaw Charmed Hues Waterproof Carpet. It’s the perfect flooring to transform your bedroom, living room, or basement. Made with 100% high-performance PET fibers and a LifeGuard® Spill-Proof Backing™, you don’t have to worry about your furry friends ripping or soiling your new floors.

Plus, you’re protected with a Worry-Free™ warranty, so you can feel confident in your choice for years to come. 

Important Features:

• Soft and plush texture
• Fade, stain, and wear resistant
• LifeGuard® Spill-Proof Backing™
• Made for medium traffic
• USA made

Shop Charmed Hues Waterproof Carpet

Related Content >> The Ultimate Carpet Buying Guide

Best Stain-Resistant Carpet for Pets

Weave Carpet Tiles

Weave Carpet Tiles are the perfect alternative to standard carpet in your home. Made of 100% Eco-fi PET fiber you’ll receive all the benefits of durability, stain-, fray- and wrinkle resistance, and a peel-and-stick backing. With a releasable adhesive you won’t have to worry about any residue upon removal!

With their darker carpet shade range, you can worry less about paw prints leaving a mark on an everyday basis. Feel free to install them indoors or outdoors!

Important Features

• Stain, soil, and wear resistant
• Made in the USA
• 5-year warranty
• Great for indoor/outdoor
• Leaves no residue behind
• Class 1 Fire Rating

Shop Weave Carpet Tiles

Related Content >> Commercial Carpet Buying Guide

Best Eco-Friendly Carpet for Pets

Air.o Gentle Breeze Carpet with Pad

If sustainable and healthy flooring is important to you, you’ll love Gentle Breeze carpet. It’s 100% recyclable and hypoallergenic. It provides better airflow and it doesn’t cling to dust and dirt as much as standard carpet. Even better, it’s free of latex, odor, and harmful VOCs. 

Air.o carpet is made using polyester fibers, making it inherently stain-resistant, which is why it has a lifetime stain and soil warranty. To top it all off, this is a DIY-friendly broadloom carpet. It comes with padding attached, saving weekend warriors time and money. 

Important Features:

• Won’t absorb moisture
• Free of latex, odors, and VOCs
• Installs in 1/2 the time
• Lays flat and stays flat
• Stain-resistant, soil-resistant, and resistant to pet accidents

Shop Air.o Gentle Breeze Carpet

Best DIY-Friendly Carpet for Pets

In a Snap Carpet Tile with Pad

Doing a flooring installation yourself isn’t the easiest task. That’s why DIY carpet tiles are incredible for their lightweight design. We love our In a Snap Carpet Tiles With Pad for their peel-and-stick backing and added padding for additional comfort and insulation. You can finish up project sooner and start getting your room ready for action. With a limited-lifetime stain warranty and 10-year soil warranty, you know these tiles can handle all of life’s little messes with great ease. 

Important Features:

• Fade, bleach, and stain-resistant
• 24 oz face weight
• Seamless appearance
• DIY carpet installation
• Carpet pad attached
• Releasable, replaceable, and recyclable tile

Shop In a Snap Carpet Tiles

Related Content >> Best Carpet Tile Guide

Pet-Friendly Carpet FAQ

What is the best carpet cleaner solution for pets?

The best carpet cleaning solution is a sanitizer and deodorizer that will disinfect your carpet. You want something that can remove stains, neutralize pet odors, and disinfect the area. The carpet cleaner should also be non-toxic to ensure the safety of your pet. 

If you don’t want a store-bought solution and instead want a homemade carpet cleaning solution for pets, here is a good recipe for that:

• 1 cup of warm water
• 1/8 tsp dish soap (without bleach, oils, or moisturizers)
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp baking soda. 

What is the best carpet pad for pets?

A carpet pad with a vapor barrier is the best carpet padding for pets. The vapor barrier will protect the pad and subfloor and prevent the pad from absorbing moisture. It’s also important to look for a low-VOC carpet pad to protect you and your pet from any potential adverse health effects.

What color carpet is best for pets?

It’s a good idea to choose multicolor carpet or patterned carpet when you have pets. Color variations and patterns do a better job of hiding dirt and pet hair compared to solid colors. Additionally, darker neutral colors are a better choice than light-colored carpets.

What type of carpet is best for dog hair?

A low-pile carpet is the best choice for dog hair because the fibers are short, so they don’t trap and hide dog hair and pet dander. Loop fiber carpets like Berber carpet are also recommended because the dog hair can’t easily embed into the carpet when the fibers are looped and densely woven.

How long do carpets for pets last?

Carpets last 10-15 years on average without pets. With pets, this lifespan could be shorter if you don’t have a carpet with protective features like stain resistance. If you have a durable carpet and you take care of it with the proper maintenance, you can expect it to last for more than a decade. Many warranties for pet-friendly carpet last as long as 20 years. 

Conclusion

Now you know what to look for in a pet-friendly carpet. It’s finally time to update your home with some plush carpet for your four-legged family member, and you can shop with confidence. Order some free samples from us today!

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