Carpet binding, whipping or taping: which edge to choose, and what affects the cost

We're Wiltshire Rugs, and we finish carpet edges by hand in both tape and whipping. Based in Melksham, working with customers across the UK.

Binding, taping and whipping: what the words mean

"Carpet edging" covers any way of sealing a cut edge so it doesn't fray. Within that there are two stitched finishes, and several names for the first one.

• Binding or taping. Both mean a tape stitched round the edge. We use cotton and herringbone tapes most, and also have suede and leather. It's the look people mean by a rug or stair runner with a border.
• Whipping. Yarn wrapped tightly over the cut edge, matched to the carpet or in a contrast colour. We whip in British wool, and in outdoor yarn for doormats and garden rugs.

If you're reading an American guide, you'll see serging where we'd say whipping. Dictionary.com lists that sense of "serge" (overcasting the edges of a fabric or rug, usually by machine, to stop fraying) as an American word.

Tape, whipping or DIY tape, side by side

Flooring Clarity says tape generally lasts longer in high-traffic areas, and that serging (whipping) guards against fraying but may stand up less well to heavy foot traffic and vacuuming. Engineer Fix calls a stitched edge highly resistant to abrasion and wear, and says DIY methods suit small or low-traffic projects.

Which edge should you choose?

Start with how much you want the edge to show. A tape border is a design decision: a bold contrast makes it a feature, and a neutral close to the carpet keeps it quiet. Tape is very much in fashion on staircases at the moment, from bright contrasts to patterned tapes, and it suits stair runners especially well. If you want the carpet to be the star, go for whipping. It's also our choice for anything going outside, because outdoor yarn stands up to the weather.

Colours look different on a screen and in your own light. We keep hundreds of tapes in stock and we'll send samples, so you can hold them against your carpet at home before you choose. You can also see finished pieces in both edges in our gallery.

When DIY tape is fine, and when to have it stitched

DIY binding tape is real and it has its place. You can buy iron-on tape, which bonds with the heat of a household iron, and self-adhesive tape that you press onto the back of the carpet. Engineer Fix describes adhesive tape as the most accessible and cost-effective DIY way to finish an edge.

We'd say DIY is fine for a small offcut under a desk, or a stop-gap mat you'll replace in a year. A stitched edge is worth it on stairs and in hallways, and on any rug in a room you use every day, where feet and the vacuum work at the edge constantly. It's also the better choice for a carpet you care about, like a treasured old rug or an expensive offcut.

What affects the cost of carpet binding and whipping

We don't publish a price list, because no two pieces are the same. These are the things that move the price.

• The length of edge. Binding is usually priced by the linear metre of edge (ServiceTasker carpet fitting cost guide, August 2025). A long, narrow runner has far more edge than a square rug of the same area, so measure round the outside, not across it.
• The finish. Tape or whipping, and which tape.
• Cutting. A piece cut down to a new size or shape, such as a circle or a cut-out, is more work than an edge on a piece that's already the right size.
• An old edge to take off. If you're re-edging an old rug, the worn binding comes off before the new edge goes on.
• The carpet. You don't have to buy carpet from us. Bring your own offcut, or we can help you choose something new.

For a quote from us, tell us roughly how big the piece is and which edge you have in mind. Photos of the carpet, or of the space it's going into, help a lot.

Getting your carpet bound or whipped

Every edge is cut and finished by hand in our Melksham workshop. Local customers in Bath, Trowbridge, Westbury, Chippenham and West Wiltshire can drop carpet off. If you're further away, call Eleanor and she'll talk you through getting your carpet to us and back. Everything we bind and whip, from rugs made from offcuts to stair runners and doormats, is on our carpet binding and whipping page.

Updated 2 November 2026.