Pak-Persian Area Rugs: What They Are and How to Choose One

Arsh's Rug Library · Rug Styles

Green and ivory Pak-Persian rug with a classic floral design in a living room — Shown: Pak-Persian Serrano, 9'0" x 12'2"

A Pak-Persian rug gives you the look of a fine Persian carpet, hand knotted by master weavers in Pakistan, at a price that makes a room-size rug possible.

What is a Pak-Persian rug?

A Pak-Persian rug is a hand-knotted wool rug woven in Pakistan in the designs of the great Persian weaving cities: Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Kerman and others. The name says exactly that: Pakistani weavers, Persian designs. Over the last century, Pakistan built one of the strongest rug-weaving traditions in the world, and its workshops became known for faithfully reproducing classic Persian medallions, florals and borders.

A Pak-Persian is not a copy in the cheap sense. It is a fully hand-knotted rug, made one knot at a time on a loom, with the same structure and time behind it as a rug woven in Iran. What changes is where it is woven, and usually the price.

How to recognize a Pak-Persian rug

Classic Persian layouts: a central medallion with corner pieces, or an all-over pattern of flowers, vines and palmettes.
A high knot count, so curved lines, small flowers and border details are drawn crisply.
A high sheen of the wool: the pile catches the light and looks almost silky from one direction.
A short, even pile that shows the design clearly and lies flat under furniture.
A design name in the title, such as Tabriz, Kashan, Agra or Gulshan, which tells you which tradition the pattern follows.

Gold and green Tabriz-design Pak-Persian rug — A Tabriz-design Pak-Persian, and the fine knotting and wool sheen up close.

Close-up of the fine knotting and sheen of a black and red Pak-Persian rug — A Tabriz-design Pak-Persian, and the fine knotting and wool sheen up close.

Pak-Persian vs Persian rugs

A rug woven in Iran and a Pak-Persian can share the same design, materials and hand-knotted structure. The differences are mostly about origin and price. Iranian rugs carry the prestige of the place, and fine city rugs from Iran are rare and expensive. Pak-Persians are woven in larger numbers, often in softer and more modern colorways alongside the classics, and cost far less for the same size. For most homes, a Pak-Persian is the most practical way to own a hand-knotted rug in a classic Persian design. Our Persian vs Oriental vs Iranian guide explains the labels in more detail.

Our Pak-Persian rugs

Our Pak-Persian collection has hundreds of rugs in traditional and transitional designs, from 4x6 accent rugs to 10x14 room sizes, plus runners and rounds. Our finest pieces, woven in a dense 16/18 quality, are in the Heritage Collection. Each rug is one of a kind.

Where a Pak-Persian rug works best

The fine pile and clear pattern make a Pak-Persian a natural centerpiece for a living room or dining room, and the dense wool stands up to daily traffic. Classic red and navy designs suit traditional rooms with dark wood; ivory, gray and black-ground designs work in transitional and modern rooms. Use our Persian rug buying guide to compare designs and sizes.

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