An antique Persian rug can be worth a few hundred dollars or several hundred thousand. On our own site today, the 1,171 antique Persian rugs listed carry asking prices from $300 to $595,000, and half of them sit between $6,400 and $26,000. Type, age, condition, size, design and dyes decide where a particular rug falls.
How much is an antique Persian rug worth?
An antique Persian rug is worth what its type, age, condition, size and design together justify, and the range is very wide. Two rugs that look alike from across a room can differ in value many times over once you look at where they were woven, how old they really are and how well they have survived.
To give a grounded sense of scale rather than a guess, we counted the antique Persian rugs listed on rugsonnet.com when this guide was written. These are asking prices on our site today, not appraisals and not market values:
| Antique Persian rugs listed on our site | Asking price |
|---|---|
| Number of rugs | 1,171 |
| Lowest | $300 |
| Middle half of rugs | $6,400 to $26,000 |
| Median (half above, half below) | $12,000 |
| Highest | $595,000 |
These figures come from the rugs tagged with a Persian origin on our site and described as antique in their titles, pulled from our public product data in September 2026. Stock changes every week, so the numbers will move. Other sellers, auctions and private sales can land higher or lower.
What makes one antique Persian rug worth more than another?
Seven factors decide most of the value of an antique Persian rug, and they work together rather than alone:
- Type and weaving area. Where and by whom the rug was woven matters. Workshop carpets from towns such as Kerman, Tabriz or Kashan, village rugs such as Heriz and Serapi, and tribal weavings such as Baluch each have their own markets and buyers.
- Age. Older is often worth more, but not always. A well preserved rug from around 1920 can be worth more than a worn one from the 1880s.
- Condition. Even pile, a sound foundation and original ends and edges support value. Heavy wear, holes, dry rot, moth damage and large repairs reduce it.
- Size. Room size and oversized rugs usually ask more than small rugs, because there are fewer of them and more people can use them.
- Design. A clear, well drawn, balanced design is worth more than a muddled or crowded one, and some designs are in higher demand than others.
- Color and dyes. Rich, harmonious natural dyes that have aged well add value. Harsh or faded synthetic colors lower it. See our guide to natural vs synthetic dyes.
- Materials and weave. Good, lustrous wool and a well made foundation matter more than knot count alone.
If you are not sure what you have, start with how to identify an antique Persian rug and our antique Persian rugs guide.
How much do antique Persian rugs cost by size?
Asking prices rise with size, and the jump is steep at room size and above. The table below shows antique Persian rugs on our site today, grouped by standard size:
| Standard size (feet) | Rugs listed | Middle half of asking prices | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x 3 | 43 | $1,840 to $3,750 | $2,700 |
| 3 x 5 | 39 | $1,840 to $5,450 | $3,350 |
| 4 x 6 | 103 | $3,800 to $8,100 | $5,250 |
| 6 x 9 | 41 | $7,500 to $16,500 | $9,000 |
| 8 x 10 | 53 | $8,600 to $25,000 | $13,000 |
| 9 x 12 | 79 | $10,450 to $24,200 | $16,500 |
| 10 x 14 | 79 | $16,700 to $33,750 | $22,500 |
| 12 x 18 | 57 | $23,400 to $52,500 | $34,000 |
| 3 x 12 runner | 38 | $5,850 to $11,400 | $8,800 |
The spread inside each size is large. A 9 x 12 with strong color and even pile and a worn 9 x 12 with a plain design are not in the same bracket, even though both are antique Persian rugs of the same size. You can browse the current 9 x 12 rugs to see how that plays out.
Does the type of Persian rug change the price?
Yes, the type changes the price a great deal, even before size is considered. Here are several common types among the antique Persian rugs on our site today:
| Type | Rugs listed | Middle half of asking prices | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baluch | 46 | $1,395 to $4,181 | $2,462 |
| Kurdish | 103 | $5,800 to $9,800 | $8,000 |
| Malayer | 86 | $4,912 to $18,800 | $10,450 |
| Sarouk | 48 | $5,950 to $22,200 | $13,000 |
| Tabriz | 96 | $7,475 to $41,625 | $14,800 |
| Kerman | 83 | $11,700 to $30,000 | $19,500 |
| Heriz Serapi | 67 | $15,000 to $38,000 | $22,500 |
| Sultanabad | 85 | $16,800 to $41,000 | $24,000 |
Read this table with care. Each type mixes small and large rugs, so part of the difference comes from size. Baluch rugs, for example, are mostly small, while many Sultanabad and Heriz Serapi rugs on our site are room size or larger. Our guides to Sarouk, Heriz and Sultanabad rugs explain what sets the best examples of each apart.
Why are online “average prices” for Persian rugs misleading?
Online average prices mislead because they blend rugs that have almost nothing in common. A single average mixes new and antique rugs, tiny mats and palace carpets, fine city rugs and worn tribal pieces, and asking prices with sale prices. The result describes no real rug.
- Averages hide the spread. A few very expensive rugs pull an average far above what most rugs ask. That is why we show the median and the middle half instead.
- “Persian” is a wide label. It covers rugs from many towns and tribes, woven over more than a century, at every level of quality.
- Asking and selling prices differ. Our figures are asking prices. Auction results and private sales are different numbers from different markets.
- Condition rarely appears in the data. Two rugs with the same title can be in very different states.
The only reliable way to value a specific rug is to look at that rug.
How much does condition change the value?
Condition can change the value of an antique Persian rug more than any other single factor. Even, honest wear and neat old repairs are expected on a rug that is a century old. Brittle foundation, large holes, moth damage, extensive reweaving and painted wear pull value down sharply. Our checklist of red flags when buying an antique rug covers the condition problems worth spotting early. Care helps protect value, too: see our rug cleaning and moth proofing services.
How can I find out what my antique Persian rug is worth?
The simplest way to find out what your antique Persian rug is worth is to ask for a free appraisal from clear photographs. At Rugs On Net you can choose between two options, both free:
- Free Quick Opinion. Send photographs and measurements, and we reply by phone or email with our view of what the rug is.
- Free In-Depth Appraisal Report. A written report for insurance, estate valuation and documentation.
Photograph the full front, the full back, all four corners, both ends and any damage or repairs, and measure the length and width without the fringe. You can upload photos on our rug appraisals page. If you are thinking of selling, we also buy antique rugs outright: Kevin Rahmanan, who founded our New York gallery in 1979, reviews the photos and decides. See sell your antique rug, or browse our Persian rugs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price of an antique Persian rug?
An average is not very useful because prices range so widely. On our site today, antique Persian rugs ask from $300 to $595,000, with a median of $12,000 and half of them between $6,400 and $26,000. These are our asking prices, not market values.
Is an older Persian rug always worth more?
No. Age helps, but condition, type, size, design and color matter just as much. A well preserved rug from around 1920 can be worth more than a worn rug from the 1880s.
How much is a 9 x 12 antique Persian rug worth?
On our site today, antique Persian rugs in 9 x 12 ask a median of $16,500, and half of them fall between $10,450 and $24,200. A specific rug can sit well outside that range depending on its type and condition.
Can I value my Persian rug from photographs?
Photographs are enough for a first opinion on what the rug is. Send the full front, the full back, the corners, the ends and any damage, plus the measurements. A written valuation needs more detail, which our free In-Depth Appraisal Report provides.
Does Rugs On Net charge for an appraisal?
No. We offer a free Quick Opinion by phone or email from photographs, and a free In-Depth Appraisal Report for insurance, estate valuation and documentation.