What is the difference between cut, loop, low, and high-piles?

February 19, 2026

The pile of a rug refers to the raised surface of fibers, consisting of upright strands or loops of yarn. 

Cut-pile rugs feature a dense pile that exposes the end of the fibers. This is achieved with a cut-pile tufting machine, like the AK-I, which automatically cuts the yarn as you tuft using small mechanical scissors.  

Loop-pile rugs have a nubby, “looped” texture because of the way in which loop-pile tufting machines punch through the tufting cloth in a continuous cycle. This means that yarn must be cut by hand when the machine is moved away from the cloth. 

Low-pile refers to a shallow cut or loop-pile in which the fibers are relatively short, between .275 and .70 inches (or 7 - 18 mm). Low-pile rugs are created using electric tufting machines, including the AK-I Cut-Pile, AK-II Loop-Pile, low-pile DUO machine and KRD-I Cut & Loop-Pile. This is the most common pile for rug tufting. 

High-pile, alternatively, refers to a deeper rug pile, in which fibers are relatively long, between .78 - 2.36 inches (or 20 and 60 mm) and have a “shaggy” look. All pneumatic tufting machines (those that require an air compressor) are capable of creating high piles. The most elite high-pile machine we sell is the AK-III Industrial Tufting Machine.  But our medium and high pile DUO machines are also capable of high pile tufting.  

Check out this video to see close-ups of cut and loop-piles!

Also in Compare the Machines