- In cut pile carpets the loops stand straight up. Cut pile has a more luxurious, formal look than loop pile and comes in three main styles.
- Plush carpets are smooth, soft and elegant. The carpet pile is cut several times to create a velvety sheen but is susceptible to cut pile reversal (watermarking).
- Saxony carpets are similar to velvet, but not quite as smooth.
- Twist carpets have tightly twisted fibres that curl slightly at the pile surface. Shading is not as prevalent as in a plush carpet and twist carpets are more serviceable.
