Persian carpets wholesale: hand-knotted rugs, kilims, Gabbeh and machine-made carpets

Iran sells two very different carpet products to importers. Hand-knotted Persian rugs, kilims and Gabbehs are handmade in wool, silk and cotton in cities such as Tabriz, Isfahan, Kashan, Qom and Nain and by tribal weavers in Fars. Machine-made carpets come mainly from the industrial cluster around Kashan and Aran-o-Bidgol and are sold by reed count, density and yarn. On ASL Market you can compare both from Iranian workshops and factories, agree specifications in chat and pay through escrow.

525 listings on ASL Market now, usually $12.00–$5000.00 per piece.

Hand-knotted Persian rugs: main weaving centres

Name	Region	Typical character
Tabriz	East Azerbaijan	Wide range of designs and qualities; knot density measured in raj; Turkish (symmetric) knot
Isfahan	Isfahan	Fine wool, often with silk highlights; classical medallion designs
Kashan	Isfahan province	Classical medallion designs, deep reds and blues
Qom	Qom	Fine silk and silk-wool rugs, high knot density
Nain	Isfahan province	Fine wool with silk outlines; light ivory and blue tones
Heriz	East Azerbaijan	Coarser, very durable, bold geometric designs
Kerman, Mashhad, Bijar, Ardabil	Various	Regional styles from fine city rugs to dense, heavy weaves
Gabbeh	Fars (Qashqai and other tribal weavers)	Thick hand-spun wool pile, simple modern patterns
Kilim (gelim)	Many provinces	Flat-woven, no pile; light and reversible in many cases

How to specify a hand-knotted rug

Knot density, materials, size, design complexity and condition drive the price of a hand-knotted rug. Older or antique pieces can need extra export clearance in Iran, so ask the supplier before you agree.

Size in centimetres and in square metres; common room sizes are about 200 × 300 cm (6 m²), 250 × 350 cm and 300 × 400 cm (12 m²).
Pile material: hand-spun or machine-spun wool, kork wool, silk, or wool with silk highlights.
Foundation: cotton or silk warp and weft.
Knot type and density: knots per square metre or per square inch, or raj for Tabriz rugs.
Dyes: natural or synthetic.
New, used or antique; washed or unwashed.
Photos of front, back and edges, with a tape measure in the picture.

Machine-made Persian carpets

Iran's machine-made carpet industry is centred around Kashan and Aran-o-Bidgol. These carpets are woven on Wilton or face-to-face looms and are sold in large volumes to retailers and wholesalers.

The key specifications are reed count (shaneh) and density. A higher reed count and density give finer detail and a heavier carpet.

Specification	Typical options	What it means
Reed count (shaneh)	About 500, 700, 1000, 1200 or 1500	Number of warp threads across one metre of width
Density (tarakom)	About 2550 to 4000 or more	Number of weft rows per metre of length
Pile yarn	Acrylic, heat-set frieze, polypropylene, polyester, wool blends	Look, feel, washability and price
Sizes	From small rugs and runners up to about 3 × 4 m; custom sizes on request	Room sizes are usually standard
Finish	Standard, embossed (carved), vintage-washed	Style and price

Packaging, MOQ and lead times

Carpets are usually rolled, wrapped in polythene and packed in woven bags or bales. Fine silk rugs should be rolled pile-inward and protected from moisture.

Hand-knotted rugs are often sold piece by piece from stock, while new orders in a custom size or colour take months to weave. Machine-made carpets usually have MOQs per design and colour and lead times of a few weeks. Price depends on type, size, materials, density and quantity.

HS codes, documents and shipping

Check the full code with your customs broker. Usual documents are the commercial invoice, packing list with piece sizes and square metres, and certificate of origin. Some buyers also ask for a fumigation certificate for wool rugs. Import rules differ by country; check your own country's rules on trade with Iran before you order.

Sea cargo leaves from Bandar Abbas, often via Jebel Ali. Road and rail routes serve Turkey, Iraq, the Caucasus, Central Asia and China. Single rugs can be sent by air. See /guides/shipping-routes-from-iran.

Product	HS code (6-digit)
Hand-knotted carpets of wool or fine animal hair	5701.10
Hand-knotted carpets of other textile materials, including silk	5701.90
Kilims and similar hand-woven flat rugs	5702.10
Machine-woven pile carpets of man-made fibres, made up	5702.42
Tufted carpets	5703 (sub-heading by fibre)

How to buy Persian carpets on ASL Market

Browse /categories/asl_carpet_handicraft, or post a buying request at /post-request with type, size, material, density and quantity. Chat with weavers and factories through ASL Market; your contact details stay private. Ask for video of each hand-knotted rug before you agree.

The supplier confirms price, quantity, freight, Incoterm and ship-by date before you pay, and adds the checked freight to the invoice. Payment is in USDT today; more payment methods are coming soon. ASL Secure Pay holds the money until you confirm receipt, or until it is confirmed automatically after a set period if you neither confirm nor dispute. ASL Market decides disputes and may grant a partial refund. See /trade-assurance.

Listings

Embroidered Fur Rug — ≈ $100.00 / piece
Handwoven Kilim and Hide Rugs — ≈ $19.00 / piece
Handmade Carpet — ≈ $19.00 / piece
Machine-Woven Carpet — ≈ $19.00 / piece
Kashmar Handmade Rug 6m² — ≈ $19.00 / piece
Quranic Verse Carpet Painting, In Yakad Design, with 133 Frame, 50x70cm, 1200 Reed, 3600 Density — ≈ $19.00 / piece
Handmade Tabriz Rug 6m² — ≈ $19.00 / piece
Silk Carpets — ≈ $44.00 / meter
Flying Angel Figurine Set — ≈ $17.00 / piece
Heriz Handwoven Carpet — ≈ $19.50 / meter
Handmade Silk Rug — ≈ $19.50 / piece
Carpet — ≈ $7.00 / piece

FAQ

How can I tell a hand-knotted rug from a machine-made one?

Look at the back. A hand-knotted rug shows each knot slightly irregular, and the fringe is the end of the warp threads. A machine-made carpet has a very even back and the fringe is often sewn on. Ask the supplier for photos of the back and fringe.

What does 1200 shaneh mean?

Shaneh is the reed count of a machine-made carpet, the number of warp threads across one metre of width. 1200 shaneh is finer than 700 shaneh. Compare it together with density and yarn type.

What is a Gabbeh?

A Gabbeh is a hand-knotted tribal rug from Fars with a thick hand-spun wool pile and simple, often modern designs. Gabbehs have lower knot density than city rugs but are heavy and durable.

What is the HS code for Persian carpets?

Hand-knotted wool carpets are HS 5701.10 and hand-knotted carpets of other materials such as silk are 5701.90. Kilims are 5702.10, and machine-woven pile carpets fall under other 5702 sub-headings. Check the full code with your customs broker.

Can I export antique Persian rugs?

Older or antique rugs can need extra clearance in Iran before export. Ask the supplier whether the piece needs it and who will arrange it. New rugs do not usually need this.

Can I order machine-made carpets in my own design?

Many Kashan-area factories weave custom designs and colours. Expect a minimum quantity per design and a sample or strike-off before production. Agree the reed count, density and yarn in writing.

Is every carpet seller on ASL Market inspected?

No. A «Verified» badge means the store has at least two live listings with photos, or documents checked by ASL Market. ASL Market does not inspect goods, so ask for photos, videos and measurements, and pay through escrow.