How rugs are made: construction types explained
Two rugs that look similar can be made in completely different ways. Construction affects feel, durability, shedding and price. Here is how to tell them apart.
Construction types at a glance
| Construction | How it is made | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-knotted | Each knot tied by hand onto vertical warp threads | Most durable, pattern visible on the back, highest price, very slow to make |
| Hand-tufted | Yarn punched through a canvas with a tufting gun, glued and backed with fabric | Plush, detailed designs, sheds at first, fabric backing |
| Hand-woven / handloom | Woven by hand on a loom | Textured, often wool or jute, can be flat or piled |
| Flatweave (incl. kilim, dhurrie) | Warp and weft interlaced with no pile | Thin, light, often reversible, needs underlay |
| Braided | Strands braided and stitched in rows or coils | Chunky texture, common in jute |
| Machine-made (power-loomed, Wilton) | Woven on mechanical looms | Precise patterns, consistent, low shedding, best value |
| Printed | Design printed onto a pile or flat surface | Photographic detail, often washable |
How to tell them apart
- Turn the corner over. A clear mirror of the pattern suggests knotted or woven; a canvas or fabric backing means tufted.
- Fringes on hand-knotted rugs are the ends of the warp threads; on tufted and many machine-made rugs they are sewn on.
- Each Rug Kingdom product page lists the construction from the maker's specification.
Which should you choose?
- For the best value and easy care: machine-made.
- For a plush, designer look at a mid price: hand-tufted. See handmade rugs.
- For texture and layering: hand-woven and flatweave. See flatweave rugs.
Frequently asked questions
Is hand-tufted the same as handmade?
Hand-tufted rugs are made by hand with a tufting tool, so they are handmade, but they differ from hand-knotted rugs.
Do hand-tufted rugs shed?
Yes, particularly wool ones in the first weeks.
Are machine-made rugs good quality?
Modern power-loomed rugs are precise, durable and very good value.
What is a Wilton rug?
A rug woven on a Wilton loom, a type of machine weaving that produces dense, detailed pile rugs.
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Related guides
- Rug materials explained: wool, jute, viscose, polypropylene and more
- Rug pile heights explained
- Why do rugs shed, and how long does it last?
- All rug guides
Questions about a specific rug? Every product page lists the maker's size, material, pile height and care details. Delivery is free to England, Wales and mainland Scotland: 2-5 working days for Asiatic rugs and 1-2 working days for Livabliss rugs. See delivery and returns.