Nylon vs Triexta Carpet: Compared
Updated July 2026 · Pricing data from Floormath's flooring cost model
Nylon Cut-Pile Carpet: The gold standard for living rooms and family rooms. Nylon holds its texture for 10–15 years without crushing. Hypoallergenic, cleans well, handles heavy traffic. Mohawk, Shaw, Stainmaster all make excellent nylon carpet.
Triexta Pet-Friendly Carpet: Mohawk SmartStrand is the category leader. Made partially from corn glucose. Stain resistance is built into the fiber (not a coating that wears off). Lifetime All-Pet warranty covers accidents. Our top pick for pet households.
Head to head
| Nylon Cut-Pile Carpet | Triexta Pet-Friendly Carpet | |
|---|---|---|
| Spec | Nylon fiber · Cut pile · 35–45 oz face weight | Triexta (SmartStrand) · 40–55 oz face weight |
| Material/sf | $2.49–$6.49 | $2.99–$6.99 |
| 1,000 sf installed | $4,854–$9,724 | $5,404–$10,274 |
| Typical 1,000 sf total | $6,739 | $7,289 |
The bottom line
Nylon Cut-Pile Carpet saves about $550 on a 1,000 sq ft job at typical pricing. Whether the upgrade is worth it comes down to traffic: Mohawk SmartStrand is the category leader. Made partially from corn glucose. Stain resistance is built into the fiber (not a coating that wears off). Lifetime All-Pet warranty covers accidents. Our top pick for pet households.
See the exact price gap for your square footage
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Which is cheaper: Nylon Cut-Pile Carpet or Triexta Pet-Friendly Carpet?
Nylon Cut-Pile Carpet — by about $550 on a typical 1,000 sq ft installed project ($6,739 vs $7,289).
Is the upgrade worth it?
If the space sees heavy traffic, pets, or moisture, the pricier tier usually earns its premium in lifespan; in a low-traffic bedroom, the cheaper tier performs nearly identically.