I need this appraisal for
Know what your rug is worth — wherever you are. Submit photos from anywhere in the United States and receive a RICA-certified appraisal report in 3–5 business days. From $175.
No universal pricing standard. No verifiable credentials. No published sold-price database. The RUG Index fixes all three.
Whether you're selling, insuring, or investing in a fine rug — the RUG Index gives you the number you can stand behind.
The RUG Index grading formula is transparent and reproducible. Every appraisal uses the same five factors.
Whether you want an instant estimate or a court-ready appraisal, the process is the same.
One of the five pillars our appraisers document from your photos — see how it moves the number.
Knot density is measured from a close photo of the rug's reverse face — the knots are countable there without disturbing the pile. It's one of the strongest single indicators of labor investment and fineness.
City-workshop density — fine detail, moderate labor investment. Common in Tabriz, Isfahan, and comparable workshop production.
Pile material and height are read together — silk piles run thinner but denser; heavily worn wool piles lose both height and value.
Condition is graded A through E. It's the pillar most likely to move a value after the fact — undisclosed repairs are a common source of insurance disputes.
Fair market, insurance, and estate values are legally distinct — each report states all that apply to your certified tier.
For the cases where origin is disputed, documentation is absent, and the difference is measured in multiples.
Regional attribution is verified by weave structure, dye chemistry, and design vocabulary — not by what a previous owner was told. Two visually similar tribal pieces can carry very different Origin & Region multipliers once examined.
Applies if: your rug's origin was passed down verbally, or a prior dealer's attribution was never documented.
Machine-made and hand-knotted rugs can look similar in a photo. Construction is confirmed by knot and weave-back inspection — a step every submission goes through before a value is assigned.
Applies if: you're unsure whether your rug is hand-knotted or machine-made.
An insurer wants replacement cost. A probate court wants liquidation value. A buyer wants fair market value. Reporting the wrong one for the context is a common source of disputes — your certified report states which apply to your tier.
Applies if: you need a report for more than one purpose (e.g. insurance and eventual resale).
The Age & Provenance pillar doesn't require a receipt. Weave evidence, dye chemistry, and wear pattern establish an age range even when no documentation survives.
Applies if: you inherited the rug and have no bill of sale, appraisal, or import record.
Reweaving, patching, and edge repair are documented explicitly in the Condition section of your report — an insurer reviewing a claim will look for exactly this.
Applies if: your rug has any visible repair, patch, or reweave, disclosed or not.
Synthetic dyes weren't in common use before the late 1800s, so dye behavior — fading pattern, color saturation, crocking — helps bound the age range without lab testing.
Applies if: age or origin attribution is in dispute and no lab dye test has been performed.
A report formatted for IRS Form 8283 charitable-donation submission looks different from one formatted for probate distribution. Certified tiers are formatted to the documentation requirements of each; admissibility is ultimately determined by the receiving court or agency.
Applies if: the report is for probate, IRS charitable donation, or another legal proceeding.
A single auction hammer price isn't a market. Comparable sales are weighted by condition, size, and venue before they inform a value — the same sold-price reference dealers and adjusters query through our data layer.
Applies if: someone has cited a single auction result as "the" value for your rug.
Every certified report contains the same structure, regardless of tier.
"Incredibly knowledgeable — they know rugs inside out. I've never received an appraisal report as detailed as this."
"Family heirloom pieces that needed a professional appraisal. The RUG Index is genuinely the go-to for rug appraisal — and you don't even have to be local. Zoom call and it's done."
"I couldn't speak more highly of this platform. It's a gem for rug research. I'm an avid collector and every time I want to buy a rug, all I have to do is give The RUG Index accurate details and I get real, honest pricing — not deflated estimates. If you buy rugs, the insights here are invaluable."
Talk through your rug with a RICA-certified appraiser before you order — what to submit, which tier fits your situation, and what to expect.
Select your rug's approximate origin, size, and condition. This is a ballpark only — not a certified appraisal. Use it to decide whether a full appraisal makes sense for your situation.
Our Certified and Legal, Estate or Tax Appraisal reports are 100% remote — submit photos from any state and receive a signed RICA Certified report by email in 3–5 business days (Certified) or 5–7 (Legal, Estate or Tax Appraisal). Formatted to meet documentation requirements commonly requested by U.S. insurance carriers. Acceptance is subject to individual carrier requirements and policy terms. Reports are formatted for potential use in probate proceedings; admissibility is determined solely by the court.