Buyer guide · Quality
How we check every handmade rug
Every piece is weighed and checked against the specification: weight within plus or minus 5%, size within plus or minus 3%, and skew within 1 inch. Colour is approved before production, and finishing is inspected before dispatch.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
Quality control at a glance
- Weight
- Every piece weighed, within plus or minus 5% of specification
- Size
- Within plus or minus 3%
- Skew
- Within 1 inch (about 2.5 cm)
- Colour
- Approved as a lab dip before production
Terms at a glance
- Minimum order
- 1 piece
- Sampling cost
- Credited against your order
- Sampling
- 5 to 20 days
- Bulk production
- 8 to 16 weeks
- NDA
- Signed as standard before designs are shared
- Label, barcode, packaging
- Your own, on request
- Payment terms
- 50% advance, 50% before dispatch
The three measurable limits
- Weight. Each piece is weighed and checked against the specification, with a tolerance of plus or minus 5%. See rug weight and GSM checks.
- Size. Finished dimensions are measured and recorded, with a tolerance of plus or minus 3%.
- Skew. Skew means the rug is not square. Our tolerance is 1 inch (about 2.5 cm).
Archived with a DOI: Quality tolerances and inspection for handmade rugs (Zenodo, CC BY 4.0).
Where the checks happen
Checks are not left to the end. As described on our standards and manufacturing, the stages are:
- Raw material selection and grading on arrival.
- In-process checks at the loom for knot density, colour placement and dimensions.
- Hand-finishing inspection after washing and shearing, against the approved sample.
- Dimension, colour and packaging verification before dispatch. Each piece is photographed and logged. A buyer or the buyer's inspector is welcome to attend inspection at any time.
Colour and finishing
Colour is approved as a lab dip before production, under D65, TL84 and A light. The finished rug is then checked against that reference. Finishing checks cover pile height, surface texture, edges and handle. Read more on lab dip and colour matching.
Washing and finishing
What the approved sample does
The approved sample is the reference for bulk production and for final inspection. If you order a custom design, the path to that reference is in CAD to strike-off. Before dispatch, see pre-shipment inspection. For the common faults these checks are designed to catch, read why handmade rugs fail quality checks.
Send your specification for a quote
Send your design, size and estimated quantity. We reply within two business days, usually within one. Minimum order: 1 piece. Sampling cost is credited against your order. Payment: 50% advance, 50% before dispatch.
Buyer questions
Rug quality control: your questions
What tolerances do you work to?
Weight within plus or minus 5% of specification, size within plus or minus 3%, and skew within 1 inch (about 2.5 cm).
Is every rug checked, or only a sample?
Every piece is weighed and checked against the specification.
What is skew in a rug?
Skew is when a rug is not square, so the corners are not true right angles. We keep it within 1 inch.
Who checks colour, and when?
Colour is approved as a lab dip before production, then checked against the approved reference under standardised lighting before dispatch.
Can I get photos of my order before it ships?
Yes. We keep you updated with photos throughout the process, from production until dispatch. Each piece is also photographed and logged before dispatch.
Do you test with an outside laboratory?
Test reports or third-party testing can be arranged on request for qualifying orders, as stated on our standards page. Confirmed on your quote.
What happens if a piece is outside tolerance?
A piece that fails inspection is repaired. If it is beyond repair, which is rare, it is scrapped responsibly and not shipped.
Does a small order get the same checks?
Yes. The minimum order is 1 piece, and the checks apply to every piece.