How to Tell if a Rug Is Good Quality: 7 Key Signs You Can’t Ignore
Learn how to spot a high-quality rug by checking the pile, knot count, fringe, backing, smell, dye, and price. Avoid cheap imitations and invest in a rug that lasts decades.
Rug Knot Count: What It Means and Why It Matters for Quality
When you’re looking at a handmade rug, the rug knot count, the number of individual knots tied per square inch in a hand-knotted rug. Also known as knots per square inch (KPSI), it’s one of the clearest indicators of how long the rug will last and how detailed its design will be. A higher knot count doesn’t always mean a better rug—but it does mean more time, skill, and material went into making it. If you’re spending real money on a rug, knowing what that number means helps you avoid overpaying for something that looks nice but won’t hold up.
Hand-knotted rugs are made by tying thousands of individual knots around warp threads, one by one. The tighter those knots are packed, the finer the pattern, and the more durable the rug becomes. A rug with 100 knots per square inch is fine, but one with 300 or more is in a different league—it can last decades, even with heavy foot traffic. That’s why Persian and Tibetan rugs often boast knot counts over 500. These aren’t just decorations; they’re woven artifacts. The material matters too. Wool knots hold up better than cotton, and silk knots allow for ultra-fine detail but are less durable underfoot. So when you see a rug labeled "high knot count," check what it’s made of. A silk rug with 800 knots might look stunning, but it’s not ideal for your living room if you have kids or pets.
Related to knot count are other signs of quality: the backing should feel solid, the colors should be rich and even, and the edges should be tightly bound. Cheap machine-made rugs mimic patterns but have no knots at all—they’re glued or stitched, and they wear out fast. You can’t fake craftsmanship. That’s why you’ll find so many posts here about rug pricing, durability, and how to spot real handmade work. Whether you’re comparing wool rugs, looking at antique pieces, or just trying to understand why one rug costs three times more than another, the knot count is your first clue. Below, you’ll find real guides that break down what to look for, how to measure it yourself, and which rugs actually deliver value over time.