Judge a rug the way a buyer does.
Knot count, GSM, pile height, backing, fibre — the specifications that decide how a rug behaves and how long it lasts.
The four specifications that matter
1. Fibre
Wool is the default for a reason: it wears, it hides soil, it lasts. Silk is a light-play accent, not a workhorse. Jute, linen, cotton and bamboo silk each have their place.
2. Construction
Hand-knotted lasts generations; hand-tufted lasts 10–20 years; handloom sits between; flatweave has no pile so wear pattern is different. Match the construction to the traffic and the intended life.
Knotted vs tufted, side by side →
3. Knot count (KPSI) — hand-knotted only
| KPSI | What it delivers |
|---|---|
| 60–100 | Solid everyday quality |
| 100–200 | Fine detail available |
| 200–300 | Very fine design, dense pile |
| 300–400+ | Collector's territory |
4. GSM (grams per square metre)
The pile-weight benchmark. Higher GSM = denser pile, better feel underfoot, longer service life. Verified on every piece we make: actual weight ÷ actual area against specification.
How to inspect a rug
- Flip a corner. Look at the back — can you see the pattern? On a hand-knotted rug you should.
- Feel the pile with the palm of your hand. Dense and springy is what you want.
- Ask for the specification. A rug from a serious maker has one.
- Look at the fringe. On hand-knotted work, the fringe is the end of the warp — part of the structure. On machine work, fringes are often sewn on decoratively.
Frequently asked
What is a good knot count for a hand-knotted rug?
100 KPSI is a solid quality rug; 200 KPSI is fine; 300+ KPSI is very fine, allowing intricate design detail. Knot count matters only for hand-knotted work — tufted, handloom and flatweave rugs are measured by GSM and pile height instead.
What is GSM and why does it matter?
GSM (grams per square metre) is the weight of pile material per square metre of rug — the most objective measure of how much material a rug contains. A higher GSM generally means denser pile, better underfoot feel and longer wear.
How do I judge a rug in a showroom?
Bend a corner and look at the back: for hand-knotted, the pattern should be visible on the reverse and the knots should look individually tied. Feel the pile: dense, springy, uniform. Ask for the specification: fibre, construction, KPSI or GSM, backing. If the seller can't answer, the rug is probably a machine goods.
Further reading on pihue.com
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