There are four steps and they are the proper way to learn how to use a carpet knife, and these are:
> Place the carpet knife handle over the area you plan to cut
> Firmly press forward on the handle.
> Pull back on the knife’s blade
> Repeat the process
A carpet knife is a tool for cutting and ripping carpet.
It can also be used to cut the plastic backing off of old or dirty wall-to-wall carpets, providing a clean edge suitable for the installation of new flooring.
Let’s get going to how to use a carpet knife effectively.
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Best Knife For Carpet Fitting

BIBURY Multipurpose Carpet Knife
- Multi-functional utility tool
- Safety Use
- Anti Slip
- Durable and Multipurpose
- 1 Year Warranty
Place the carpet knife handle over the area you plan to cut
- Hold the handle with one hand.
- Place the blade against the carpeting, and firmly push forward until you have reached the length you desire.
- Remember to wear safety glasses and kneeling on a hard surface when doing so.
- When cutting an inside corner, place the knife beside the corner of the piece to be cut.
Firmly press forward on the handle until it hits resistance
- Pull back on the blade, and if you have held the handle with a firm hand, it will lift up onto itself.
- After you pull back on the blade, gently press forward.
- Repeat the process for the length of carpet you plan to cut.
Remember: There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to using a carpet knife because it’s important that you keep your eye on what you are doing and remain safe at all times.
Pull back on the knife’s blade
- Gently saw or rip out whatever is blocking your path in your intended direction.
- Work towards one end of the carpet pile at a time from both directions.
Repeat the process
- Look ahead at the end of each piece you are working with
- Keep your eye on where the place where you want your cut lines will be as you move forward.
- Do not let yourself get distracted while doing so and keep the piece steady so there are no shreds flying in all directions during the process.
When cutting an inside corner, place the knife beside the corner of the piece to be cut.
Doing the steps above ensures you that you can cut your carpet and other fabric based flooring with carpet knives.
Please check the video below for clear instruction:
Carpet Tucking Knife Vs Carpet Cutting Knife?
A carpet cutting knife features a very thin blade that can cut through surface materials quite easily and is commonly used by utility contractors to cut through drywall and carpet so they can install new carpets or flooring beneath them.
The downside of this type of blade is that it can easily chip off, hence you buy many replacement blade sets.
The carpet tucking knife on the other hand has this curvature-styled blade, this is a design so that you can snug the carpet inside the inner openings in the edges of the wall. The blade on this knife is mostly fixed, and that curvature can also acts as a hook to remove the carpet. It’s used for both installing and removing carpets.
Some Tips On Using A Carpet Knife
Don’t forget to tuck excess carpet under sofa or chairs before vacuuming.
The best place to start with your carpets is at their edges if you have furniture that will get in your way when you work on them.
A carpet knife is also considered a utility knife.
Because the carpet knife does not have a sharp edge, it should be used with care. The blade is made of hardened steel and must be treated with respect. Never attempt to saw or cut thicker hardwood flooring or carpeting.
Carpet knives are made from tool steel that is equivalent to carbon steel in hardness and can therefore cut through many materials including asphalt, upholstery wool, open-meshed tennis-court netting, polyethylene, linoleum, vinyl tile backer board and carpet fiber.
Because they are designed for cutting through carpet fibers as opposed to solid substances like metal or plastic, they will not cause injury when used on non-carpeted surfaces such as wood floors or drywall.
Carpet Knife Usage And Safety
Carpet knives are made from tool steel that is equivalent to carbon steel in hardness.
They can therefore cut through many materials including asphalt, upholstery wool, open-meshed tennis-court netting, polyethylene, linoleum, vinyl tile backer board and carpet fiber.
Because of this property they will not cause injury when used on non-carpeted surfaces such as wood floors or drywall.
The blades are sharp and can cause injury if the user is not careful in handling them.
When handling when using a carpet knife, the user should wear a pair of gloves and stand on a carpet or soft surface for protection.
It is also good practice to keep a pair of hand shears by the side to cut out the carpet from awkward areas such as underneath heavy furniture.
Lastly, always keep your Carpet Knives sharpened for maximum efficiency.
BIBURY Multipurpose Carpet Knife

Review:
This would be the BIBURY Multipurpose Carpet Knife.
This is the product I use for cleaning carpet.
I also use it to cut upholstery, plastics, fabrics and other materials.
This carpenter’s type utility knife cuts accurately and smoothly with a curved point on an aircraft aluminum handle that keeps the blade from touching any of these types of material when it is being used.
It works great for cutting carpet or removing padding to make room for new carpeting in basements and crawl spaces.
Definitely, a Dweller Power Recommended Best Carpet Fitting Knife!
Final Thoughts on How To Use A Carpet Knife
This ends our How To Guide of How to Use a Carpet Knife.
We hope the knowledge you gained here will help you in the future with your DIY or Professional Carpet and Upholstery projects. We want you to be sure of that what you get from us are 100% facts, so please don’t hesitate to ask for advice or to advise us in return with accurate facts.
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Weldon is a Single Dad who loves teaching others about the workaround in the house. He loves to write about DIY and Home Improvement Hacks and just recently had his first child. You’ll have some fun read with his write-ups and more of his works in his own home!