Information about the approximate prices and types of Persian carpets

 

It's a small-sized carpet. It's more for decorative purposes rather than practical use. It's very small, about 80cm in size.

In fact, if you have a reliable good friend in Iran, you could probably find them easily at an affordable price!  

In Iran, carpets are essential whether the home is small or large, poor or wealthy.

The prices of these carpets vary greatly depending on production methods and materials. 

 Based on information I heard at carpet shops: Carpets are divided into handmade and factory-made (machine) according to production methods, and these differences also affect quality.  

Handmade carpets are more intricate and durable, while factory-made ones have more uniform stitching and symmetry.

-To summarize 

 Durability: Handmade carpets are superior  

Collection value: Handmade carpets are somewhat superior  

Uniformity and symmetry of patterns: Machines are more precise 

However, Persian carpets are not simply divided into factory-made (machine) and handmade. 

You will see carpets made of wool and silk.(I also saw some made of fabric material, but most were wool and silk carpets) In my personal opinion, silk carpets immediately felt very soft and luxurious, while wool carpets felt somewhat stiff. 

However, the price difference was significant, with silk carpets costing at least 5 times more

 It was about 60 x 90cm , Wool Hand made

Let's get to the next point quickly. about prices... 

For small rectangular carpets made of wool and handmade, you can purchase them for about $150-250. There are slight differences depending on the pattern, origin, and shape... but I bought them for $150 and $200 each.

It was about 60 x 90cm. It's the most common size you can find in carpet shops at tourist areas.  

They said these are mainly used for decoration.  

They weigh about 3kg each, and when packed, you can fit about 2 of them in a regular suitcase. 

With 3 carpets in my suitcase, I still had some space left where I could pack clothes and souvenirs. 

 Later, when I was leaving Tehran for Ankara on Pegasus Airlines, according to the baggage policy I checked, the number of luggage bags wasn't important. 

Since weight was more important, I paid about $50 extra for additional baggage through the mobile app before heading to the airport.

60cm~80cm(?) × 120~150cm , Wool  Hand made

60cm~80cm(?) × 120~150cm , Silk  Hand made

It was a carpet approximately 60~80cm × 120~150cm in size. 

It was handmade and made of silk. The price was expensive. It was $2,000.  A handmade wool carpet of this size was $250-400   

I would like to tell you that this size is good for you to take to the airport. 

I cannot guarantee that the airport will accept anything larger than that.  

Since carpets are packaged in a rolled cylindrical form, it is very difficult to reduce them in the ideal way you might want.  

If you try to forcibly reduce the volume, the carpet could be permanently damaged.

I bought a total of 3 carpets, two of size 60x90 and one of size 80~90x120. 

To be honest, if you consider practicality, the bigger the better.  

I gave away all the 60x90cm ones I bought as gifts, and I keep the 80~90x120 size at home.  I regret not buying a larger one.

What you should not forget right after purchasing a carpet is to make sure you receive a certificate for it.  

The price of the carpet recorded on the certificate, along with the product material and description certified by the sellers, is the minimum means for you to receive compensation if problems arise later.  

This document is also essential if issues occur at customs in the airport. Sending international packages from Iran was expensive, and it cost $200 to ship all three carpets in one box.  

I was planning to take them to Turkey and then ship them from Ankara to Korea, but it was very difficult. It would have been only about $100 cheaper too. 

 It's better to just pay an extra $100 and send them from Iran.  

International shipping is certainly possible, and some stores also accept international credit card payments (Visa card, Master card)

To summarize

60 x 90cm wool handmade carpet = $150-250.  

80 x 120cm wool handmade carpet = $250-400.  

80 x 120cm silk handmade carpet = $2,000. 

 80 x 120cm, Polyester + machine made carpet = 14~20$  

International shipping availability: Possible for about $150-200 for 3 items. (Varies by store) 

International credit card acceptance: Generally not possible, but there are stores that accept them. (Varies by store) 

Suitcase storage possibility: Possible up to 3 pieces.

 This is a good size for use in the living room. Can you see that shimmering luster? It's very soft. Carpets with that kind of shine and soft texture are made of silk. If I remember correctly, it cost over $10,000

Realistically, you won't be entering Iran with over $10,000 in cash to buy carpets during your trip. 

That would be very dangerous and not easy. From this amount upward, credit cards are more practical.  

But as you know, international credit cards are not commonly used in Iran. 

Therefore, you need to find carpet businesses that can help with international credit card payments. 

 But larger doesn't necessarily mean more expensive. In the case of carpets made of polyester and manufactured by machine, they can be large yet inexpensive.

For a 200 x 300cm carpet(polyester + made by machine), it costs 7 million tomans, which is approximately $90 based on the dollar exchange rate as of April 27, 2025. 

For the small size of 80 x 120cm, it costs 1.1 million tomans, which is approximately $14 based on the exchange rate as of April 27, 2025. 

Of course, since these prices are based on my personal experience, there will be price differences between stores.  

However, since I went to the shops accompanied by a local, visited several times to explore them, and negotiated prices with the owner before getting these prices, I think I got them at a decent price from a traveler's perspective.  

I don't think I got them at the absolute cheapest price though.  My local friend told me that I paid a price that was neither expensive nor cheap. 

The price for a 6-meter silk handmade carpet was 7.8 billion tomans.  

This is not a fixed price and is just the price of one carpet among many designs. Even with the same silk material and handmade quality, prices vary greatly depending on the design and place of origin. 

That's about $97,500, and honestly, I don't have that kind of money. 😆 And I have no idea how to take this back to Korea... 

The taxes would be enormous too. As a traveler, you probably won't be buying these kinds of carpets.  

Maybe if you marry an Iranian partner, you might have a reason to buy one, but in that case, your Iranian partner's family would likely accompany you and help negotiate a good price, so don't worry. 

I'd like to tell you that the types of carpets you will realistically end up buying are the two sizes I mentioned above. Those are sizes that fit in a suitcase!