The question "what is my rug worth?" doesn't have a simple answer — but it does have a structured one. Rug value depends on a hierarchy of factors: origin, age, construction quality, dye type, condition, and current market demand. This guide walks through each factor and gives you real price ranges based on what rugs are actually selling for in the current market.
Quick answer: A handmade antique Persian rug in good condition typically sells for £500–£15,000+. A decorative machine-made rug of similar size sells for £50–£300. The difference is in the construction, the dyes, and the age.
Average Rug Values by Origin (2025)
The chart below shows typical price ranges for room-size (approximately 6×9ft / 1.8×2.7m) handmade rugs from each major tradition. These are secondary market (resale) values for pieces in good to excellent condition.
How Age Affects Rug Value
Age is one of the most powerful value drivers in the rug market — but only when combined with quality construction and natural dyes. A cheaply made 100-year-old rug with synthetic dyes can be worth less than a premium 40-year-old piece with beautiful vegetable colours.
The Five Factors That Set Your Rug's Price
1. Handmade vs Machine-Made
This is the single biggest value divide in the rug market. A machine-made rug — regardless of how attractive it looks — has virtually no collector value. The same pattern in a handmade piece from the same period can be worth 20–100× more.
How to check: Turn the rug over. On a genuine hand-knotted piece, you see individual knots and the design in reverse, with slight imperfections. Machine-made rugs have a flat, uniform backing, often with a canvas or latex layer.
2. Origin City or Tribal Group
Where a rug comes from is a primary value driver. Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qom rugs from recognised workshops command premiums. Tribal pieces from named groups (Qashqai, Tekke Turkmen, Kazak) are also highly collected. Generic "Persian" or "Oriental" with no identifiable origin are worth less.
3. Age and Period
The rug market uses specific age categories:
- Antique: 100+ years old — premium collector category
- Semi-antique: 60–100 years — strong market, good values
- Vintage: 30–60 years — solid mid-market appeal
- Decorative: Under 30 years — primarily design-led value
4. Natural vs Synthetic Dyes
Natural dyes (from plants, minerals, and insects) develop a beautiful depth and mellowness with age called "patina." Synthetic aniline dyes (introduced in the 1870s) can fade harshly and discordantly, reducing value. A rug with genuine vegetable-dyed colours is worth significantly more than one with synthetic dyes, even at the same age.
5. Condition
For decorative or vintage rugs, condition is critical. For true antique pieces, condition matters far less — some degree of wear is expected and accepted. The hierarchy matters: a 120-year-old Kazak with 30% pile loss is still worth far more than a perfect machine-made reproduction.
Quick Price Reference Table
| Rug Type | Age | Typical Range | Top End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isfahan (Persian) | Pre-1950 | £2,000–£12,000 | £50,000+ |
| Tabriz (Persian) | Pre-1960 | £1,500–£10,000 | £40,000+ |
| Qom Silk (Persian) | Any | £3,000–£20,000 | £100,000+ |
| Heriz (Persian) | Pre-1940 | £800–£6,000 | £20,000+ |
| Kazak (Caucasian) | 19th century | £1,500–£8,000 | £30,000+ |
| Oushak (Turkish) | Pre-1930 | £1,000–£8,000 | £25,000+ |
| Hereke Silk (Turkish) | Any | £2,000–£15,000 | £80,000+ |
| Chinese Art Deco | 1920s–40s | £600–£5,000 | £15,000+ |
| Beni Ourain (Moroccan) | Vintage+ | £300–£2,500 | £8,000+ |
| Turkmen Tribal | 19th century | £500–£5,000 | £20,000+ |
| Village Kilim | Pre-1920 | £200–£2,000 | £8,000+ |
| Machine-made (any) | Any | £20–£300 | £500 |
What Doesn't Affect Value (Common Misconceptions)
- Labels saying "100% pure wool" or "hand made" — marketing terms; always verify from the back
- The original purchase price — market values fluctuate independently of what was paid
- Being "Persian" in style — machine-made rugs with Persian-style patterns have minimal value
- Size alone — a very large machine-made rug is not necessarily worth more than a small handmade piece
- Minor wear on antique pieces — often expected and not penalised by serious buyers
The quickest way to find out is to submit three photographs. Our specialists will identify the origin, assess the construction, and give you a genuine purchase offer — free, within 48 hours, with no obligation to sell.
Get a Free Valuation →How to Get the Best Price for Your Rug
- Don't clean it first — professional cleaning before sale can strip value. Let the buyer assess in natural condition.
- Document what you know — receipts, photographs of where it was bought, family history. Provenance adds value.
- Take excellent photographs — natural light, flat on the floor, including the back. Good photos get better offers.
- Get multiple opinions — don't accept the first offer without checking. A specialist buyer will always beat a house clearance firm.
- Know your rug's category — is it antique (100+ years), semi-antique, vintage, or decorative? Each has a different buyer pool.
Next Steps
If you're ready to find out exactly what your rug is worth, the fastest route is a free photo-based valuation from our team. We respond within 48 hours with a genuine purchase offer and a full explanation of how we arrived at the figure.
Or if you'd like to keep reading, our guide to identifying genuine antique rugs will help you understand what you have before you reach out.