Border Options for Custom Rugs

Published January 2025 | Updated January 2025

Area rugs usually need a border applied to the edges so that the weave does not unravel. There are exceptions—a woven vinyl rug or a fusion-bonded rug from tretford® has a clean, sharp edge when cut. But in general, an area rug will need a border. In this post, we show you the most common border options and finishings available for custom rugs.

Table of Contents
  1. Border Options
    1. Cloth
    2. Serged Edge
    3. Hand Serged Edge
    4. Infinity Edge
  2. Which border option is best for an outdoor rug?
  3. Finishing Details: What is a lapped or mitered corner?
choices: mitered-hidden stitch, serged edge, lapped-top stitch, infinity edge

Border Options

Cloth

Cotton, Linen, Leather & Polyester are a traditional way to finish a rug. Available in an array of colors and textures. The reveal width ranges from 1” to 3 ½” and does not add to the width of the rug.

*You can order samples of our cloth borders to find the perfect match. From your selected weave page, click Order Samples, then Border Samples.

Serged Edge

Serging is the continuous application of yarn around the edges of the rug to secure and stabilize the weave. A serged edge is very durable and offers a discreet finish. The serging yarns are carefully chosen to match weave color.

Hand Serged Edge

Hand serging is a beautiful finish for a rug and is offered on some of our wools and poly silks. Extra time is needed for this border, but the beauty is worth the wait.

Infinity Edge

The Infinity Edge is a minimalist finish that has no border at all and creates a clean, elegant edge. The Infinity Edge is available on several of our natural fiber rugs and our sisal-look SynSisal®.

For more details on the border options we offer, visit our Rug Border Guides page.

Which border option is best for an outdoor rug?

We recommend a polyester border or a serged edge for outdoor rugs or busy households.

Finishing Details: What is a lapped or mitered corner?

If you decide to finish your custom area rug with a cloth border, you may be asked to choose between a mitered or lapped corner, or top stitch or hidden stitch. Not all of our weaves come with these options, but if yours does, we want you to be prepared to make a choice.

a mitered corner is stitched at a 45* angle and the stitching is visible along the interior edge of the cloth border.
a mitered corner is stitched at a 45* angle and the stitching is invisible or hidden along the interior edge of the cloth border.
the cloth border overlaps at a 90* angle and all stitching is invisible or hidden.
the cloth border overlaps in the corner at a 90* angle. visible stitching lines the interior edges of the cloth border.
mitered corner with top stitch, mitered corner with hidden stitch, lapped corner with hidden stitch, and lapped corner with top stitch (left to right)

Our Rug Buying Guide is a one-stop shop for gathering all you need to know about buying a rug, from selecting the best material for your lifestyle to the delivery of your new rug.

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Christy is the Flooring Content Specialist at Curran and sisalcarpet.com. She writes about flooring products with a focus on design and sustainability. For 5 years, her blog posts, technical guides, and product descriptions have led customers along the path from purchasing to maintaining their flooring investments. Her favorite natural flooring? A sisal rug, of course.

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