Removing new carpet yourself is an excellent way to save on the overall cost of a flooring upgrade project.
Tip
Personal protective equipment is important for ongoing safety.
Want more home reno project tips and inspiration?
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Cut the Carpet Into Manageable Strips
Use a utility knife tocut the carpetinto strips.
The size of the strips depends on what you consider manageable.
Be careful not to sink the blade too deep into the carpet, as you may hit the subfloor.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Cutting carpet into strips can make it easier to remove, roll, and dispose of.
Continue pulling up the carpet until it has been removed entirely from one wall.
Work around the room until the entire perimeter of the carpet is free.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
With gloved hands, grab the end of the carpet and pull it up from the stairs.
Use the pry bar to pry up the tack strips one at a time.
Some communities will have roadside pick up for small quantities of carpet and other construction material.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Otherwise, you will need to take the old carpet to the nearest recycling center or landfill.
you’ve got the option to also rent a dumpster for easy disposal right outside your house.
The baseboards only need to be removed if the carpet runs underneath them.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Typically, beginner DIYers are able to handle this job.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
The Spruce / Kevin Norris