This is one of the most frequently asked questions that we get.

The simplest answer is that there are a lot of factors that determine the price of the rug, and some of them aren't obvious if you don't know what to look for. For example, different rugs have a wide range of quality in the wools, dyes, knot quality, and condition. Each of these may affect the rug's value, durability, ability to withstand repeated washings, and potential to appreciate over time.

For example, if we look at the two seemingly similar rugs in the question, the first rug might use high quality wool and dyes, have a fine knot count, and have a high quality finish, whereas the second rug might be made from cheap wools and dyes, be coarse, and be poorly finished. The first rug may appear more attractive in a variety of rooms and lighting conditions, and appear "higher quality". It may also wear much more slowly, last for decades, and actually appreciate in value -- long after the second rug falls apart and needs to be replaced.

There is a wide range of quality between the most and least expensive rugs. It's always good to know what tradeoffs you're making when selecting a rug, so that you can choose the qualities you find most important and most appropriate for the intended use. Visit a reputable rug dealer to find out the facts, and then make an informed decision.

For more details about this, see our blog post about this topic.