Are you wondering which country makes the best rugs in the world?
We are not talking of quantity here. Some of these countries produce fewer rugs compared to other countries specializing in mass production and exportation of rugs.
Therefore, “best rugs” refers to quality, which means we shall be exploring the countries which make high-quality rugs such as the oriental rugs.
Note that these are not the only countries that produce rugs because almost every country in the world makes rugs in one way or another.
Instead, these are countries that export the best quality and most durable rugs in the market today.
There are many examples of country rugs found on Amazon like the examples below;
Contents
Which Country Makes The Best Rugs In The World?
#1- IRAN
Iran was initially known as Persia, which means this country is known for the production of the famous Persian rugs. Below are some features of rugs produced in Iran:
High quality: Persian rugs come top of all rugs in terms of quality.
Durable: They are the most durable rugs passed from one generation to the next.
Natural materials: Most Persian rugs are made from silk, wool, and other highly durable natural materials. This makes them the best rugs for allergic people or the best rugs for baby nursery rooms.
Ancient & historical: The art of rug making can be traced back to Iran, which means they have some of the oldest rug designs some even from 300 years ago.
Highly expensive: Persian rugs are handmade, which means it can take months or years to make one rug depending on the size. Additionally, they are made from natural raw materials that are expensive and scarce. These two factors and many others make Persian rugs more highly priced than other rugs.
#2- TURKEY
Turkey is known for its famous Turkish rugs.
Both countries specialize in making high-quality and durable oriental rugs, which are very expensive.
However, Persian rugs and Turkish rugs have several differences, such as the knotting technique used.
Persian rugs use a single knot finishing while Turkish rugs use double knotting, as shown in the image below.
#3- PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s rugs are lower in quality when compared to Turkish and Persian rugs, but they are very high in quality when compared to other types of rugs.
Similar to Turkish and Persian rugs, most rugs produced in Pakistan are hand-knotted, which means they are not machine-made, a quality that makes them unique.
Low Costs: Pakistan’s rugs are made for the average customer who is looking for reasonably affordable rugs. That means that they are made from more affordable materials.
Design: While Persian and Turkish rugs convey a traditional tone in their design, most of Pakistan’s rugs carry an advanced Western design.
Mass production: Iran and Turkey are not necessarily large exporters or producers of rugs, but Pakistan is the second-best exporter of rugs in the world.
#4- INDIA
Indian rugs are similar to Pakistan rugs because they are designed for ordinary customers.
This means they produce rugs in a wide range from cheap to highly expensive ones, unlike Turkey and Iran, which only produce costly oriental rugs.
The only difference between Indian and Pakistan rugs is the output. India produces more rugs than Pakistan.
India specializes in both machine and handmade rugs. A Persian rug takes six months to be made while the same rug will be completed in one day in India due to the use of machines.
India has a large population of over one billion people, which could be the reason why they have a wide variety of rug designs inspired by the many cultures, historical beliefs, travel encounters, and religions of that vast population.
Machine and handmade rugs have many differences, as explained in that article, which will help you to distinguish the two to avoid being conned.
#5- AFGHANI
This is a country known for its livestock farming, especially animals with wool.
That same wool is used to make some of the best rugs and carpets, which are high quality and durable because they are made from sustainable natural raw materials.
On the flip side, Afghani rugs are not very popular due to political instability, which limits the country from specializing in mass production and exporting to other countries without restrictions.
All the same, these rugs are known for their high quality, so if you get one, you can be sure about the quality.
What are the best rugs made of?
The best rugs are those made from natural fibers/materials, such as wool, silk, and cotton.
Most of these rugs are handmade, which makes them durable and high quality.
They also do not use synthetic products, which can easily release harmful toxins causing pollutants into the air leading to allergies, especially for pets and kids.
On the other hand, Natural fiber rugs are often highly expensive.
If you cannot afford one, some synthetic fiber rugs or machine-made rugs that use these three materials are more recommended: Nylon, Olefin, and Polyester.
If you want extra tips about other best rugs, read the blog posts below;
What should I look for when buying Country rugs?
Price: Shop for something within your budget.
Size: You do not want to choose a too-small rug that will look like your dishcloth fell on the floor or even a too big one that oversteps on everything.
Home décor: Go for something which compliments your existing home décor. For example, in a neutral home style, you can pick a multi-colored rug.
Cleaning and care: For example, you do not want to pick a bright color rug for a high foot traffic surface because it will get dirty too fast, and the more you clean it, the faster it will age out or wear down.
Use/location: Is it a kitchen, living room, dining, entryway, or nursery room rug? Pick the choice which matches the use better.
The rug: Rugs come in different types depending on the material used and the type of weave. Make sure you are educated on how to identify those differences before you shop for the rug.
How can you tell if a Country rug is of good quality?
Below are some of the factors you can use to determine the quality of a rug:
Knots: These are the number of weaves used per square inch. The higher the knots count means, the softer the final rug will be, which will make it higher in quality and price.
Pile: This measures the depth of the fibers in a rug. Low pile rugs are stiffer while high pile rugs are soft. Low pile rugs do not wear down quickly in the long run as compared to the high pile. Low pile rugs are also easy to clean and manage.
Line count: This depicts the total number of stitches per square inch. The higher the number, the more the quality.
Needle count: This is the number of loops or fibers in a rug, which means the higher the number, the more quality and durable a rug is.
Your info on Turkey and Iran is accurate but not on Pakistan and India. Both India and Pakistan make very high quality rugs and carpets also, and they’re also traditional and ethnic designs. Because of the larger volume of rugs produce in these two countries, there are indeed lower quantities as well, but the higher quality ones and keeping in mind the PPVP (price per value proposition) from both high quality rugs, there are also lower quality ones made. Please update your information. My family is from Turkey and Pakistan and we used to make rugs for generations.
Thank you for the addition and corrections, Ali.
I will make necessary changes.