Patch a hole or burn in carpet
To patch a hole or burn in carpet, you cut out the damaged spot and replace it with a matching piece taken from a closet or leftover scrap. A light scorch on the tips of the fibers can often just be trimmed. For anything deeper, a carpet patch tool or a sharp utility knife, double-sided carpet tape and a little seam adhesive make a repair that's hard to spot once the pile is brushed together. Match the pile direction and the patch disappears.
How carpet patches blend in
Most home carpet is cut pile or loop pile tufted into a backing, with the fibers all leaning in one direction, called the pile direction or nap. A patch only blends in if it comes from the same carpet and is set with its pile running the same way as the carpet around it.
Burns melt synthetic fibers into hard, dark tips, and stains, pet damage and dragged furniture can pull or wear out a spot. A small round or square plug cut from a hidden area, like the back of a closet, is usually the best match because it has aged with the rest of the floor.
What damages carpet
Irons, candles and embers melt fibers.
Dyes and bleach change the color.
Chewing and scratching pull loops.
Furniture and traffic wear spots thin.
| You see | What it needs | Start at |
|---|---|---|
| Only the tips are singed | Trim | Step 2 |
| Melted to the backing | Patch | Step 3 |
| Hole or pulled loops | Patch | Step 3 |
| Stain that won't come out | Patch | Step 3 |
Let's fix it
- Check how deep it goesSpread the fibers and look at the damage. If only the tips are singed or stained and the backing is fine, you may be able to trim it. If the fibers are melted down to the backing, there's a hole, or the stain won't come out, the spot needs a patch.
- Trim a light surface burnFor a light scorch, snip just the darkened tips with small sharp scissors, a few fibers at a time. Brush the surrounding pile over the spot. If it still shows, move on to a patch.
- Find matching carpetUse leftover carpet from the installation if you have it. If not, cut a piece from the back of a closet, under a built-in or behind furniture that never moves. Check the pile direction on the donor piece by running your hand over it; it feels smoother going with the nap.
- Cut out the damaged spotCenter a carpet patch tool over the damage and twist it to cut through the carpet to the pad. Or cut a square with a utility knife and straightedge, parting the fibers first and cutting only the backing, not the pile around it. Lift out the damaged piece.
- Cut the patchUse the same tool, or the piece you removed as a template, to cut a matching patch from the donor carpet. Keep track of which way its pile runs, and part the fibers before cutting so the edges stay full.
- Put in the tapeCut a piece of double-sided carpet tape or an adhesive patch disc a little larger than the hole. Slide it under the opening so it spans the edges of the surrounding carpet, sticky side up, and press the edges of the carpet down onto it.
- Set the patchLine up the patch with its pile running the same way as the carpet around it, and press it onto the tape. Work the fibers so none are trapped under the edges.
- Seal the edgesRun a thin bead of carpet seam adhesive along the cut edges of the backing, not the fibers, to keep them from fraying or unraveling. Keep adhesive off the pile.
- Blend it and weight itBrush or comb the pile so the patch blends with the carpet around it. Set a heavy book on it for a few hours while the adhesive sets. Fill the hole in the closet with a scrap or a piece of different carpet, since it won't be seen.
Watch it done
- The patch is flush with the carpet
- Pile runs the same way
- No fraying edges
Edges fraying? Add a little more seam adhesive to the backing.
If it's lifting or rippled
If the carpet is lifting at the wall, we have a guide for fixing carpet coming up at the edge.
If it has ripples, see the guide for carpet ripples and wrinkles.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A carpet repair pro typically charges $100–$250 to patch a spot, more for stairs, patterns or large areas.
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Carpet patch questions
Can you patch a burn in carpet?
Yes. Trim a light scorch, or cut out the spot and set a matching patch from a hidden area.
Where do I get carpet for a patch?
Leftover carpet, or a piece from the back of a closet or under furniture that never moves.
Will a carpet patch show?
It blends well when the pile runs the same way and the edges are cut cleanly.
What holds a carpet patch in place?
Double-sided carpet tape or an adhesive disc underneath, with seam adhesive on the cut edges.
How do I fix a carpet burn mark?
A light scorch on the fiber tips can often just be trimmed. Deeper burns need the spot cut out and replaced with a matching piece.