An oriental rug appraisal establishes the documented value of a hand-knotted oriental rug — or oriental carpet — for insurance, estate, donation, and resale. The RUG Index appraises every major origin: Persian, Turkish, Caucasian, Turkmen, Indian, and Chinese. RICA-certified appraisers apply our five-pillar grading standard and issue a signed report formatted to meet documentation requirements commonly requested by insurance carriers and estate courts; acceptance is subject to individual requirements. Instant valuation from $35; RICA Certified Appraisals from $125.
“Oriental rug” covers every hand-knotted rug woven across the rug belt — from Iran and Turkey through the Caucasus, Central Asia, India, and China. Values run from a $200 decorative piece to a six-figure antique, and a general appraiser rarely sees the difference. The RUG Index grading standard quantifies it.
Every oriental rug appraisal grades five independent pillars — origin, material, age, condition, and knot density — then returns four certified value outputs: resale, insurance replacement, retail, and auction. For specific origins, see our dedicated Persian rug appraisal and Turkish rug appraisal pages, or read about the antique rug appraisal premium.
An oriental rug appraisal costs the same regardless of origin: $35 for an instant valuation, $125 for a RICA Certified Appraisal, and $195 for a Legal/Estate report. A Persian Tabriz, a Turkish Hereke, and a Caucasian Kazak are all assessed with the same five-pillar method and the same flat fee — pricing reflects the report, not the rug’s value. Traditional specialists often charge $195–$400 because their rates scale with appraiser time. See our full rug appraisal cost breakdown.
Searching for an oriental rug appraiser near you? The RUG Index is remote-first: photograph your rug, submit measurements, and a RICA-certified appraiser returns a signed report in 3–5 business days — no in-person visit needed, anywhere in the United States. We also place certified appraisers in major metros. Browse our rug appraisal near me directory, including Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
Oriental rugs 100 years or older carry a documented age premium of 1.8–3.0× in the RUG Index formula. Antique oriental pieces — pre-Revolution Persian city rugs, 19th-century Caucasian weavings, antique Oushaks — require an appraiser who can verify age, authenticate origin, and read period characteristics. For pieces destined for insurance scheduling, an estate, or the IRS, our Legal/Estate report ($195) is built for the purpose. Learn more about the antique rug appraisal process.
An oriental rug valuation is an instant, formula-based estimate — useful when you simply want to know what your rug is worth. An oriental rug appraisal is a certified, signed document with legal standing for insurance, estate, and tax use. Start with the free rug valuation tool from $35, then upgrade to a certified appraisal when you need a defensible figure.
All reports include resale, insurance, retail replacement, and auction values.