Comparing Carpet Fibers
Understanding the basics of carpet fiber is key when selecting the carpet that is right for you. Review the overview of each fiber type below to choose the characteristics that are most important for your space.
Nylon Carpet Fibers
The most versatile of all fibers, nylon provides excellent durability and flexibility. It is the most commonly used carpet fiber and can be found in a wide range of both cut pile and loop pile styles. Nylon also has great color flexibility and uniformity, and many yarn systems are exceptionally soft. Though not inherently stain resistant, most Shaw Floors carpet made with nylon feature stain-resistant treatment for protection against household spills and stains.
Shaw Floors premium branded Anso® Nylon has a nearly 50 year history of innovation and quality. It offers leading-edge styling and outstanding performance and comes standard on our Caress, Color That Speaks to You and Foundations collections. Anso Nylon is also Cradle to Cradle® Silver Certified, meaning its design has been evaluated to assess its positive impact on both people and the environment.
Browse Nylon Carpet
Polyester (PET) Carpet Fibers
Polyester offers exceptional softness and color clarity and is naturally stain and fade resistant.
Shaw Floors high performance PET provides durability, lasting softness and beauty. It can also withstand extreme conditions such as harsh sunlight to protect against fading.
Browse High Performance Carpet
Polypropylene (Olefin) Carpet Fibers
Polypropylene is inherently stain and fade resistant. It is not as resilient as nylon or polyester and has limited styling. Polypropylene is normally used in loop pile construction in which there is less need for resiliency.