How Much Does It Cost to Start Tufting in the UK? (2026 Guide)
Rug tufting is one of those hobbies that looks expensive — tufting guns, frames, specialist fabric, yarn — and it's hard to know what you actually need to spend before you've done it before.
This guide gives you the full picture. Every cost, every option, and the most efficient way to get started at any budget.
⚡ Quick Answer
- Minimum viable setup: £220–£250 (gun + cloth + yarn only)
- Complete beginner setup: £380–£450 (everything you need start to finish)
- All-in-One Starter Kit: £389 — saves £44 vs buying separately
- The tufting gun is the biggest single cost (£170–£190)
- Ongoing costs are low — mainly yarn (£25/cone) and finishing supplies
- You don't need to spend a lot to make a great first rug
The Cost of Every Tufting Supply
1. Tufting Gun — £170–£190
The biggest single cost. This is non-negotiable — you can't tuft without one.
| Gun | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| AK-V 2-in-1 (Cut & Loop) | £180 | Beginners — does both styles |
| AK-2 Long Pile (40mm) | £190 | Upgraders wanting long pile |
For a first setup, the AK-V is the right choice. One gun, two techniques, no need to commit to a style before you've found your feet.
2. Tufting Frame — £30–£60
You need something to stretch your fabric on. An aluminium frame is the most beginner-friendly option — lightweight, sturdy, and easy to set up.
| Frame | Price |
|---|---|
| Aluminium Frame (50cm) | ~£35 |
| Aluminium Frame (90cm) | ~£55 |
Start with the 50cm. It's the right size for a first rug and much easier to manage at home than a larger frame.
3. Primary Tufting Cloth — £25
A 2m x 2m sheet of 100% polyester primary tufting cloth gives you enough fabric for a standard rug with plenty left over for practice runs.
Don't try to tuft onto the wrong fabric. The open weave of proper tufting cloth is what makes the gun work correctly — using anything else will cause jams and uneven pile.
4. Yarn — £25 per cone
Each 600g cone of Loop 8 by Cheekyarn gives you approximately 890m of super bulky recycled yarn — enough for a medium-sized rug in a single colour.
Rough yarn quantities by rug size:
| Rug Size | Yarn Needed | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (30 x 30cm) | 100–150g | £5–7 |
| Medium (50 x 50cm) | 300–400g | £13–17 |
| Standard (60 x 90cm) | 600–900g | £25–38 |
| Large (90 x 120cm) | 1,200–1,600g | £50–67 |
For a first rug, budget for 1–2 cones depending on your design complexity.
5. PVA Adhesive — £13
Applied to the back of your finished rug to lock the yarn in place permanently. A 1L bottle covers multiple rugs.
This isn't optional — skip it and your rug will unravel with use.
6. Spray Adhesive — £10.99
Used to bond your backing fabric to the dried PVA layer. One 500ml can covers approximately 3m² per application — enough for several rugs.
7. Non-Slip Backing Fabric — £20
The final layer that finishes the underside of your rug and stops it sliding on smooth floors. A 2m x 2m sheet trims to fit any standard rug size.
8. Scissors — £8–12
Sharp 8-inch tufting scissors for trimming yarn ends and finishing work. Included in the Starter Kit.
9. Yarn Threaders — £5
A 3-piece bamboo threader set. Small cost, but genuinely essential — threading a tufting gun without one is unnecessarily frustrating.
10. Tufting Projector — £59 (optional)
Not essential for a first rug, but a significant time-saver for anyone working with complex or detailed designs. Projects your image directly onto the tufting cloth for accurate tracing in minutes.
Full Cost Breakdown
| Supply | Price | Essential? |
|---|---|---|
| AK-V 2-in-1 Tufting Gun | £180 | ✅ Yes |
| Aluminium Frame (50cm) | £35 | ✅ Yes |
| Primary Tufting Cloth (2m x 2m) | £25 | ✅ Yes |
| Yarn — Loop 8 (x2 cones) | £50 | ✅ Yes |
| PVA Adhesive (1L) | £13 | ✅ Yes |
| Spray Adhesive (500ml) | £10.99 | ✅ Yes |
| Non-Slip Backing Fabric | £20 | ✅ Yes |
| Scissors | £10 | ✅ Yes |
| Yarn Threaders | £5 | ✅ Yes |
| Trace & Tuft Projector | £59 | Optional |
| TOTAL (without projector) | ~£349 | |
| TOTAL (with projector) | ~£408 |
The Three Budget Options
Budget 1: Bare Minimum — ~£220
If you want to test tufting before committing to a full setup:
- AK-V Gun — £180
- Primary Tufting Cloth — £25
- Yarn (1 cone) — £25
What you get: enough to tuft a small practice piece and see if you enjoy it before investing in the rest.
What you'll need to add later: frame, finishing supplies, backing fabric.
Budget 2: Complete Setup — ~£349
Everything you need to tuft, finish, and keep a rug:
- AK-V Gun + Frame + Cloth + Yarn + PVA + Spray Adhesive + Backing + Scissors + Threaders
This is the full picture — nothing left out, nothing to add.
Budget 3: All-in-One Starter Kit — £389
Our All-in-One Tufting Starter Kit bundles the gun, frame, tufting cloth, backing fabric, trimmer, scissors, and threaders — saving £44 versus buying each item separately.
Just add yarn (£25/cone) and PVA adhesive (£13) and you're completely ready to go.
It's the most popular choice for London beginners because there's no sourcing, no second-guessing, and no missing something on your first session.
Ongoing Costs After Your First Rug
Once you've got your setup, the ongoing costs are low:
| Item | Cost | How Long It Lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Yarn (per cone) | £25 | 1 medium rug |
| PVA Adhesive (1L) | £13 | 3–5 rugs |
| Spray Adhesive (500ml) | £10.99 | 3–5 rugs |
| Backing Fabric (2m x 2m) | £20 | 2–4 rugs |
| Tufting Cloth (2m x 2m) | £25 | 2–4 rugs |
Cost per rug (ongoing, excluding fixed setup costs): roughly £30–50 depending on size and yarn usage.
Is Rug Tufting Worth the Cost?
That depends on what you're comparing it to.
A handmade tufted rug of the kind you'd produce with this setup typically sells for £150–£400+ at markets and online. The initial setup cost pays for itself after two or three sold pieces.
As a hobby, it's comparable in cost to other textile crafts — and significantly cheaper than screen printing, embroidery machines, or weaving setups.
As a creative skill, it's one of the most satisfying things you can learn. Most people who start tufting don't stop.
Ready to Get Started?
Now you know exactly what it costs — the only question is which option suits you best.
Shop the All-in-One Starter Kit at UK Tufting — £389, everything included, fast UK delivery or Click & Collect from Hackney Wick.
Know your budget. Get your kit. Start your rug. 🧵
Not sure what you need? Read our Complete Beginner's Checklist, find out which tufting gun to buy, or browse our full range of tufting supplies.