Install New Car Carpet
Updated: Jun. 24, 2022Replace the dirty, old carpet in an afternoon
- Time
- Complexity
- Cost
- A full day
- Intermediate
- $101–250
Buy a new car carpet and remove the old
You got a great deal on a “preowned” vehicle, but the carpeting in the car is simply a disaster. It’s too far gone for stain removers—new carpeting is the best solution. You can buy preformed car carpet replacement specifically for your car’s make, model and color and install it yourself. In most cases, car carpet replacement only costs about $200 and take an afternoon to install.
Shop for car carpet replacement at an auto parts store or an auto carpet website. But make sure the carpet you buy is custom molded to fit your car’s floor pan and hump. Better car carpets include original factory features like a heel pad under the accelerator and brake pedal. Most manufacturers offer a “mass backing” that duplicates the padding and rigidity of the factory carpet, and an economy “poly” backing. Choose mass backing if you plan to keep the car, poly if you’re going to sell it in the near future.
When the carpet arrives, unroll it and let it sit on a flat surface for at least two hours to lose its curl. While the carpet is “uncurling,” start removing the trim and seats to expose the old car carpet for removal.
Buy a shop manual that includes trim removal instructions and diagrams. This is one of 100 super simple car repairs you don’t need to go to the shop for. Detach the door sill covers and remove the kick panels from the bottom of the front pillars.
Unscrew/unsnap any trim pieces from the seat tracks so you can get to the four nuts that secure the seat to the floor pan studs. You may also have to remove the seat belt anchor bolts (you may need Torx bits for these bolts). Disconnect any electrical connectors under each seat and lift the seats up and out (call in a helper for this part). Then remove the rear seat cushion. If you have a console, remove the shifter knob and all the fasteners. Lift the console out of the vehicle and pull out the old carpet and pad. But don’t throw out the old car carpet just yet; you’ll need it.
Remove the Seats
Remove the four seat retaining nuts from the floor pan studs and disconnect the electrical connectors. Remove the seat and the console.
Install the new car carpet
Vacuum the floor pan and check for rust. Treat rusted areas with a rust converter (such as Loctite Extend or naval jelly) and paint them with a rust-inhibiting paint.
Using the old car carpet as a template, trace the cutouts onto the new carpet with chalk. Next, move the carpet into the vehicle and double-check your cutout marks with the actual stud and anchor points on the floor pan. When you’re confident the marks are in the right places, cut X-shaped openings at each chalk mark. Fit the openings over the studs and feed the electrical cables through. Enlarge the openings to achieve a good fit.
Cut off excess carpet at the door sills and apply a light coating of spray adhesive such as 3M Spray 77 to the back of the carpet where it rides up onto the firewall. Then reinstall the seats and trim and reconnect the electrical connectors. Enjoy the look and feel of new car carpet and buy a set of no-spill coffee mugs.
Required Tools for this Car Carpet Replacement Project
Have the necessary tools for this DIY car carpet project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.
- 4-in-1 screwdriver
- Drill/driver - cordless
- Socket/ratchet set
- Torx bit
- Utility knife
- Wrench set
Required Materials for this Car Carpet Replacement Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.
- Chalk
- New carpet
- Rust converter
- Spray adhesive
Next, check out the 12 best car floor mats to upgrade your ride.
