Why a hand-knotted rug costs what it costs

A hand-knotted rug costs more than a machine-made one, and it should. One is made in hours by a machine. The other is made in weeks by people. Here is how we price our rugs, and what you are paying for.

We price by area

Every design has one rate per square meter, whatever size you choose. A bigger rug simply uses more wool and spends more time on the loom.

• From $160 per m², which is about $15 per square foot.
• Minimum $250 per rug, for the smallest sizes.
• Some designs have a higher rate. Each rug page shows the exact price for every size.

Because the price follows the area, a custom size costs exactly what its measurements say. You don't pay for a bigger standard size than you need.

What goes into the price

Weeks of handwork

This is most of it. Every tuft of pile is a knot, tied and cut by hand. Depending on its size, a rug spends four to eight weeks on the loom, often with two or three women knotting side by side.

Natural wool

Our rugs are knotted from washed, natural sheep's wool, dyed for the colored designs. A thick pile uses a lot of it.

A loom set up for your rug

Nothing comes off a shelf. When you order, a loom is prepared for your rug in the size you chose. That is what makes custom sizes possible.

Finishing and photos

When the last row is knotted, the rug is cut from the loom, washed and finished by hand. Then we photograph it and email you the photos before it ships.

Shipping and duties

Every rug ships worldwide by DHL Express, free. We also pay the import duties and taxes in advance, so there is nothing to pay when it arrives. Both are already in the price.

A rug for decades, not seasons

A machine-made rug is cheaper on day one. But synthetic pile flattens and wears, and a worn machine-made rug usually ends up thrown away. A hand-knotted wool rug, looked after, lasts for decades, and wool springs back where synthetics stay crushed.

Spread over twenty years, an 8 × 10 ft rug at $1,190 comes to about $60 a year, or a little over a dollar a week.

You are not paying for a pattern. You are paying for weeks of someone's skill, knot by knot.

How to get the most rug for your budget

• Measure first. Our size guide helps you find the smallest size that still works in your room.
• Go custom. If your room falls between two standard sizes, a custom size can cost less than the next size up.
• Compare designs. Rates differ from one design to another, so the same size can cost less in a different design.
• Think runner. In a long, narrow room, a runner can do the job of a much larger rug.