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Updated November 19, 2022

So: you’re shopping for new floors, and wondering if Lees carpet is worth buying. Well, you’ve come to the right place!

Despite Lees being a brand with serious tenure (it’s over 100 years old!) and being carried exclusively by international flooring retailer Carpet One, Lees carpet reviews are hard to come by. We’re here to fix that with a quick guide to all things Lees carpet!

First, we’ll give a quick synopsis of what you should look for in different types of carpet in general before covering everything there is to know about Lees carpet. We’ll explain what it is, who actually makes it, and finally, give you some Lees carpet pros and cons based on actual buyer reviews. 

Ready to find out if Lees carpet is one of the best carpet brands (or at least worth buying)? Let’s jump in!

Or, if you want to skip straight to our “is Lees carpet any good” judgment call, just click here!

👉 Want the tl;dr? We would not recommend Lees carpet. After putting their carpet through multiple tests and talking to consumers that had it installed, there are other brands that will perform better and save you money. Based on consumer reviews, here are the highest rated carpet brand alternatives.

First, a Quick Recap on Carpet in General

Carpet is the softest (and perhaps coziest) of all types of flooring. It’s comfortable, warm on your feet, and fairly easy to clean. Plus, there’s an ocean’s worth of different styles, designs, and colors to choose from.

The only real downsides to carpet are that it’s not especially liquid-friendly (with some exceptions) and it doesn’t have the same longevity that some types of wood flooring do.

What Is the Best Carpet Thickness?

When it comes to other types of flooring, thicker usually means better—but this isn’t necessarily the case for products like Lees carpet.

You can’t, for example, look at the thickness of carpet vs. laminate the same way (and what is laminate flooring, you ask?) 

Because while thick laminate is (usually) more durable than thin laminate, a thin carpet could be much more durable than a thick one. For both materials, it all depends on the specific product!

Most of the time though, when a company explains their carpet’s thickness, they’re referring to the carpet padding alone. 

What Is the Toughest Carpet?

There are five different variables that help determine how tough carpet is, all of which are heavily dependent on one another:

  • Carpet pile refers to the way a carpet’s fibers are attached to its backing. In a cut pile carpet, the fibers are (no surprise) cut at a certain length. In a loop pile carpet, they’re looped back into the backing. This makes loop carpets more durable (in general)—but also shorter and, often, less comfortable.
  • Carpet pile height refers to the length of each carpet fiber (i.e. what you’re actually stepping on). If it’s too long (say, longer than 7/16”), the carpet will get matted and damaged easily. But if it’s too short (perhaps less than ½”) the carpet may feel coarse.

On the other hand, longer carpet piles tend to be more comfortable, so there’s definitely a balancing act at work here.

  • Carpet pile density refers to how many fibers exist within a certain square area. Generally, the higher the number, the stronger the carpet. If the density is too high, though, the carpet may feel rough; if it’s too low, the carpet may tear easily.

Example: Lees carpet has a high density but balances it out with a comfortable pile.

  • Face-weight is how much the fibers of a carpet weigh per yard in ounces (not counting the carpet padding). Most of the time: the higher the weight, the better.
  • And perhaps most important of all, you have the material composition of the carpet. There are tons of different materials used, but most carpet sold today is either made of nylon, polyester, or something similar (like Mohawk’s Triexta).

Just remember: even the best carpet brands can’t match up with wood or other hard surfaces in terms of longevity and durability. The best hardwood floors can last for centuries if they’re properly cared for.

It’s also worth noting that fake wood flooring options like rigid core luxury vinyl flooring are also generally built to handle more rigorous use than carpet is. Don’t even get us started on how durable the best laminate flooring and best vinyl plank flooring can be!

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Is There a Type of Carpet That’s Best for High-Traffic Areas?

Yes and no. Commercial carpets are obviously meant to be able to handle high foot traffic situations, but you’ll notice that they tend to sacrifice comfort. However, products like Lees carpet are made for medium-to-heavy residential traffic.

In terms of what to look for, though, short-pile carpets with high carpet pile density and face-weight support heavy traffic. However, even these carpets may eventually break down after so many years or decades. 

Solid hardwood, EVP flooring, or products made by the best engineered wood flooring brands are probably your best bet if you want something that supports heavy foot traffic. 

What Is the Smoothest Carpet?

Carpet is generally the best flooring you can find in terms of comfort. The smoothest carpets usually have long carpet piles, which provide a lot of cushioning. Most brands, though, including Lees carpet, try to balance pile length with pile density so that the carpet doesn’t sacrifice its integrity. 

This is the biggest factor many buyers consider when debating between carpet or hardwood in a bedroom. Hardwood is more durable, but it can be hard underfoot. Similarly, this is one of the few problems with luxury vinyl tile and other hardwood substitutes too.

What Is the Most Luxurious Carpet?

What makes a carpet luxurious is fairly subjective—but most buyers associate natural materials, long pile lengths (for comfort), and opulent designs with luxury carpet. However, just as many buyers look to hardwood flooring for luxury instead (another carpet vs. hardwood debate). 

Our take: forget about what sounds luxurious and go for the styles, textures, and budget that fit your needs!

Is Carpet the Best Flooring for Dogs and Pets?

The best flooring for dogs and other pets is probably, well, not carpet. 

But that doesn’t mean you should write carpet off completely! Plenty of brands, including Lees carpet, market their products as pet resistant. And that’s true, up to a point. That said, many hardwood brands also market their floors as “the best wood flooring for dogs”, with dubious results. So really, it’s a toss up.

If you ask us, the best flooring for pets is probably a softer vinyl plank like WPC flooring or  a specialty waterproof laminate flooring (waterproof hardwood flooring is a contender as well).

So long as you pay attention to your floors’ accompanying care instructions, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about pet disasters.

Lees Carpet: What Is It?

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about Lees carpet! 

Lees makes traditional broadloom carpets (no peel-and-stick carpet squares here) and is exclusively carried by international retailer Carpet One. All Lees carpet products are made of nylon, Mohawk’s Triexta fiber, or a blend of both.

Across its catalog, Lees carpet offers over a dozen different texture styles, all of which offer between 10 and 40 color options. Most of the carpets have earthy tones, like light beiges or browns, though there are plenty of blues, reds, greens, and oranges as well. 

Lees carpet products are marketed as having fantastic stain resistance and durability, and are backed by a “no-exclusion” warranty that says the carpet will not fade, lose its texture, lose its fibers (what Carpet One calls “AbrasiveWear” protection), or get stained by pet urine under normal use for 25 years.

Lees Carpet Is a Carpet One Exclusive

Like we said above, Lees carpet is exclusively sold by Carpet One, though you may be able to find older products at discount stores. Carpet One franchises can be found all over the world, though most locations are in the U.S. 

How Much Does Lees Carpet Cost?

The exact cost varies by location and franchise (some locations charge a bit more), but most Lees carpet products range between $3 and $7 per square foot on average.

It’s Been Around Since 1846 

Incredibly, the Lees carpet name has been around since 1846—you know, when James K. Polk was the President of the United States and electricity was still about 40 years away from seeing widespread use.

Since then, the brand has bounced between a few different manufacturers and its products have continued to evolve as styles have changed and new technologies have been invented.

Lees’ ExtraLoc Technology Increases the Pile Density

Lees carpet uses its own patented ExtraLoc technology, which “has double the density of standard carpet construction” in its products. Essentially, Lees carpet weaves more material together in a tighter weave than the industry standard. This increases the tensile strength of the carpet, which in turn boosts the floor’s durability.

And Its Ultra25 4X Stain Resistant Technology Keeps Lees Carpet Clean

The biggest selling point of Lees carpet is that it’s resistant to stains thanks to its Ultra25 4X protection. 

It’s not exactly clear how this protection works, but it’s probably safe to assume that this is an additive Lees carpet uses in the production process because it’s present in both its nylon and Triexta carpets.

Who Actually Makes Lees Carpet? 

Flooring buffs might have been surprised earlier when we mentioned that many Lees carpet products are made from Triexta, which is exclusively manufactured by Mohawk Industries, one of the largest flooring companies in the world. 

So how’s that possible? Lees carpet was bought by Mohawk back in 2003 and Mohawk has since taken over manufacturing duties. 

If the name “Mohawk” sounds familiar, it’s because the company also makes some of the world’s best engineered wood flooring as well as numerous hardwood floor alternatives like RevWood. 

So Technically Speaking, Lees Carpet Is Mohawk Carpet

If you compare Lees carpet to other Mohawk carpet brands, you’ll notice that they tend to share a lot of the same qualities—even if the jargon is a little different.

You’ll see the same thing with other types of flooring, too! Mohawk laminate flooring is suspiciously similar to Pergo laminate… because Mohawk also owns Pergo! You can check out our Pergo Timbercraft and Pergo Outlast reviews if you’re curious—it’s an interesting fact! 

Anyway, Lees carpet is pretty similar to Mohawk carpet because it basically is Mohawk Carpet.

The Pros and Cons of Lees Carpet

Let’s talk about the pros and cons of Lees carpet! 

And remember: this list was made by condensing dozens of Lees carpet reviews, available online, into an easy-to-understand list—so this stuff is coming from people who actually purchased the product!

Advantages of Lees Carpet

Let’s start with the good stuff—here are the big advantages of purchasing Lees carpet.

Lees Carpet Reviews Say the Ultra25® 4X Protection Offers Great Stain Resistance and Fade Protection

The big draw of this product is its stain resistance. 

While the language is a little vague, Lees carpet reviews seem to agree that the stain protection is pretty great! 

Of course, it’s worth noting that repelling liquid stains isn’t the same as being waterproof. While Lees carpet will resist small spills and splashes, waterproof vinyl flooring (which is basically any type of PVC flooring) is still a better flooring choice for bathrooms and kitchens. 

Also of note: Ultra 25 4X protection protects Lees carpet from fading too (so it could be a dark horse contender for sunroom flooring). 

Its ExtraLoc Backing Offers “Superior Stability and Strength”

Lees carpet reviews say the carpet backing is as durable as advertised. There wasn’t a single instance where we saw someone complain that the carpet was lifting or had broken seams.

That said, we still wouldn’t recommend using Lees carpet—or any type of carpet—for more utilitarian purposes, like mudroom flooring.

It Has a 25-Year “No Exclusions” Warranty (aka the “Titanium” Series Warranty)

Okay, so the “No Exclusions” warranty that comes with Lees carpet products is a little questionable, but we’ll get to that later. The good news is that stains from any source are covered by this warranty for at least 5 years. 

Specifically, Carpet One’s warranty policy (see page 30 for Lees carpet) will cover any stain that can’t be cleaned with its recommended cleaning methods for the first 5 years (10 years for food, drinks, cat urine, or dog urine). Then the next 15–20 years are prorated (so buyers have to pay some percentage of the replacement costs).

Overall, this warranty is actually pretty decent compared to a lot of other companies’ carpet warranties. Many other carpet brands don’t cover stains, and certainly not “all stains.” 

Best of all, the warranty covers texture damage (what it calls “AbrasiveWear protection”) for 10 years. 

Disadvantages of Lees Carpet

Like any flooring, Lees carpet reviews highlight a few less-than-perfect features of the product too.

It Can Be a Little on the Pricey Side

Lees carpet costs between $3 and $7/sq. ft. on average (location is a big factor), which definitely places it on the pricier side of the spectrum. And this doesn’t include installation costs.

The weird thing is that you can find sometimes find decent carpet for as little as as $1/sq. ft.

Some Lees Carpet Reviews Note That the Carpet Begins Fraying Quickly

Before we get into these less-positive Lees carpet reviews, we want to highlight the fact that reviews of any kind are a little hard to find—which is strange because this is a fairly popular product.

Anyway, one of the recurring themes we noticed in the bad reviews was that the carpet was starting to fray within the first couple of years after installation. 

Now, it’s very possible that these buyers didn’t install it correctly—though, this seems unlikely because using anyone except Carpet One’s installers voids the warranty—but it’s worth considering.

Carpet One Doesn’t Explain How Lees Carpet Is Eco-Friendly

Carpet One labels some Lees carpet products as environmentally-friendly flooring. The problem? They don’t really explain how they’re eco-friendly. Are they low-VOC carpet? Are they made in a factory that uses sustainable manufacturing? We don’t know! 

But we do have an (admittedly shaky) theory. Remember how we said Lees carpet is made by Mohawk? Well, Mohawk’s Triexta carpet is marketed as a more sustainable alternative to nylon because it uses significantly less oil in its production, among other greener practices. 

So, perhaps Carpet One markets these Lees carpet products as eco-friendly under the same guise, but they can’t say why for an undetermined reason? It’s hard to say.

Whatever the case, if you want unquestionably eco-friendly flooring, we know some excellent options! The best bamboo flooring, sustainable wood flooring, and hemp flooring are all great choices if buying green is important to you. 

And of course, with low-VOC flooring becoming more and more important to buyers, you can now find non-toxic laminate flooring and low-VOC vinyl flooring at flooring stores everywhere.

Lees Carpet’s Warranty Does Have Some Pretty Significant Exclusions

We’re not sure why Carpet One markets Lees carpet with a “No Exclusions” warranty, because there are actually a few exceptions to it.

For example, the warranty only applies if the owner reports stains to the service center within 5 days, regularly maintains their carpet, and hires a professional carpet cleaning service once every 12 to 18 months (and keeps the receipt). 

None of these are unreasonable, but they do exist.

Also, the buyer is still responsible for at least some repair or replacement costs after a certain number of years from the purchase date. 

It’s Unclear What Lees Carpet is Actually Made Of

While Lees carpet comes in several varieties and blends, it’s unclear what material (aside from Triexta) this includes. There are multiple types of nylon—6,6 being the most robust and 6,0 being less robust. What is Lees carpet made of? It’s unclear! How does its stain resistance work? It’s unclear! Is it actually eco-friendly? It’s unclear!

There are just a lot of unknowns for such a common product.

Conclusion: Lees Carpet Reviews Say It’s an Okay Choice…But There Are Much Better Carpets for the Price

Overall, Lees carpet reviews seem to say it’s okay. The stain resistance seems to be decent, and while the warranty is a little tricky, it isn’t terrible. The major downsides here are the price and performance. At $3–$7/square foot before installation, you would expect a really high-performance carpet—or at the very least, you’d want to know exactly what you’re getting.

Alternatives to Lees Carpet

If you’re not sold on Lees, there are a number of other carpet brands we’d recommend that offer similar (or better) performance at a similar (or better) price. Here are just a few, though you can find more in our complete list of the best carpet brands.

  1. Proximity Mills—This company specializes in high-performance floors, and their carpets are no exception. Every single one is made out of 6,6 nylon, which is the most durable, stain-resistant fiber available (even better than Triexta). It sells for roughly $4.00–$8.00/square foot, so very similar to Lees. Read our Proximity Mills brand review here.
  2. SmartStrand by Mohawk—Why would you buy a 3rd-party Triexta carpet when you could get the Triexta carpet straight from the source? As we mentioned, Triexta was invented by DuPont for Mohawk’s SmartStrand. Plus, at $2.30–$5.50/square foot, it’s actually cheaper than Lees. And you can buy it just about anywhere!
  3. Newton—The Newton brand is well known for offering high-quality floors at budget prices. True to form, they offer a wide collection of type 6,6 nylon and solution dyed polyester carpets at just $2.20–$3.50/sq. ft. Solution-dyed polyester the most durable polyester material out there, and it’s exceptionally similar to Triexta—since Triexta is just another type of polyester. You can read some Newton reviews here, but spoiler: they’re better than Lees’.

Finally, we’d add one more thing to think about: if you buy Lees carpet, you have to do it at Carpet One. Which is a box store with… well, with box store-level customer service, product knowledge, and installation contractors. If you buy Proximity, Mohawk, or Newton, you can buy your carpet at a real flooring store that lives and breathes flooring. We know which one we’d choose!

Thanks for Reading!

Thanks so much for reading, and we hope this Lees carpet review piece was helpful!

If you’re ready for the next step, we’d recommend shopping at a top-rated flooring store near you. These stores employ true experts and carry the best products—especially compared to the big box retailers. Of course, if you’re still not sure about your next flooring choice, the articles below are full of great flooring ideas and information to explore!

Either way, thanks again and good luck on your flooring journey!

Laminate Articles:

Vinyl Articles:

Hardwood Articles:

Other Resources:

About The Author

Christian Southards

November 18, 2021

Christian is a freelance everything-writer, editor, and interior design nerd. When he’s not writing about flooring and remodeling, he’s either writing news for the California American Legion or working with his hands on his house. His favorite type of flooring is hardwood, but admits to having carpet in his bedroom.

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