The 5 Best Carpet Knee Kickers [Ranked]
Carpet knee kickers enable professionals and home DIY people to easily install and repair carpet.
For smaller jobs the QEP knee kicker is a good choice- great for hallways and closets.
While the Roberts Deluxe knee kicker is a better option for extended, heavier-duty use.
How They Work
A carpet knee kicker will help you lay carpeting down easily.
The way it works, the kicker will have teeth of adjustable depth on the end of it to grip into the carpet. You can experiment with the teeth depth for the carpet you are working with.
Positioning the kicker, push the teeth down into the carpet, and then move the kicker about an inch away from the wall (Source).
You will then need almost slam your knee into the cushion to get the carpet in place. You can also use the kicker to as a carpet stretcher to get rid of any bumps or bubbles in the carpet (Source).
Our Top Pick: The Roberts Deluxe
- The most popular knee kicker and has been the industry standard for over 25 years
The Roberts Deluxe Knee Kicker is a solid option- it's constructed from diecast aluminum to be durable and lightweight, and features a non-slipping checkered handgrip and a foam bumper pad to cushion the knee kicking.
One professional carpet installer that we spoke with who has been working in the field for over 12 years, says that he has seen a lot of economy-model plastic knee kickers that just don't stand up to the test of time, nor provide him with the quality results he expects as a professional service person.
The Roberts Deluxe model is a favorite of his- one of the features he likes is that the kneepad can be unscrewed and replaced with a thicker one, which is great if you're using it every day the way he does.
He recommends purchasing the Roberts brand because they are well-known for producing quality products, and it is likely that if you purchase a cheaper brand model your carpet will be bubbling up again within 10 months and you might end up shattering your knee from poor cushioning in cheaper knee kicker models.
Roberts Video Overview
Let's take a look at 5 of the best-selling options on the market today.
Contents
| Carpet Knee Kickers | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The QEP Economy Knee Kicker | 4.2 | $ | |
 | The Pit Bull Carpet Kicker Installer | 4.3 | $ |
 | The Roberts Carpet Tools Deluxe Knee Kicker | 4.7 | $$ |
 | The Bon Economy Carpet Knee Kicker | 4.0 | $ |
| The XtremepowerUS Carpet Installation Knee Kicker | 3.7 | $ |
The Five Best Knee Kickers For 2023
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This carpet knee kicker offered by QEP is inexpensive, useful and practical for hallways and closets. Users love the sturdy design and the price, but some do note that handle tends to slide. This knee kick tool has a size of 4.2″ x 4.2″ x 16.9″, a weight of 2.5 pounds, a triple nap design, a thick foam-filled bumper pad, and a comfortable, non-slip grip handle.
It’s made of lightweight aluminum, so this kicker could be an excellent choice for small installation or for fixing loose carpets.
As a whole, customers are satisfied with the convenience, usefulness, and durability of the QEP economy kicker. A buyer comments that this knee kicker for carpets is easy to use, and he managed to put his carpet back in place with minimal efforts and more quickly than he expected.
Another reviewer mentions that the handle doesn’t slip at all and that there was no visible damage to his carpet after the used the kicker. But he warns that you might get a sore knee for a couple of days. A happy user shares that this kicker really holds the carpet in place while you’re kicking and that it’s ideal for small DIY projects.
However, some customers have complained that this stretching tool didn’t work as well as they expected and that it won’t be a good choice if you want to install a new carpet.
Pros
- cheap
- easy to use
- light
- a triple nap design
- a foam-filled pad
- non-slip grip handle
- suitable for small spaces
Cons
- not enough padding
- not very suitable for new carpet installation
- complaints of malfunctioning
- it’s not adjustable
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This carpet knee kicker installer offered by Pit Bull is well-designed, well-constructed and an excellent choice if your carpet needs re-stretching. Users love the high-quality construction, but some do note that it’s heavier than they expected. This carpet kicking tool has a size of 18″ x 2.5″ x 2.5″, a weight of 7.2 pounds, a padded bumper, and a plated steel teeth construction.
The kicker also has a telescoping handle that has four adjustment positions so you can extend it from 18-1/2″ to 21-1/2″. Overall, this could be the right fit for you if you want an effective, but reasonably priced carpet stretcher.
A buyer mentioned that it took him some time to get used to the Pit Bull carpet installer, but he was extremely pleased with its performance, and the adjustable handle was a nice bonus. Another customer comments that this knee carpet kicker saved him a lot of money and that now he can re-stretch his carpet by himself quickly and efficiently.
A happy purchaser shared that it took him only 20 minutes to get his carpet back tight to the wall and that it worked far better than he expected. He would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a top-rated knee carpet kicker. However, some customers have complained that there is not enough padding to protect your knee. Some also state that the spikes broke easily and they barely managed to finish one room.
Pros
- easy to use
- a plated steel construction
- a telescoping handle
- a padded bumper
- high-quality
Cons
- not enough padding
- complaints that it broke easily
- slightly heavy
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
If you are looking for a high-quality stretching tool, you might want to take a look at the Roberts deluxe knee kicker. Users love solid construction, but some do note that it’s expensive. This stretcher has a size of 17.5″ x 5″ x 5″, a weight of 4.8 pounds, die cast aluminum body, a non-slip checkered handle grip, a foam-filled seamless bumper pad for comfort, and you can extend its length from 17-inches to 21-inches.
Overall, this is a well-made tool, suitable for professionals and novices alike.
In general, users have an extremely favorable opinion of this deluxe knee kicker, and they praise its usefulness, efficiency, and design. A buyer shares that he has been installing and re-stretching carpets for eight years and the Roberts knee kicker is one of the best kicking tools. He would recommend it to anyone that needs a kicker for regular use.
Another user mentions that even though she didn’t have any experience laying carpet, she managed to install the carpets in her room and in the closet relatively quickly. A happy customer also comments that this is a solidly built stretcher and he used it on a heavy-thick shag with no issues.
However, one customer has complained that he has broken 5 of these knee kickers and that they get quickly deformed from the constant kicking. Some also advise that you unscrew the knee pad and place a thicker one – especially if you plan to use it often.
Watch The Roberts Kicker In Action
Pros
- light
- easy to use
- a non-slip handle grip
- a padded bumper
- expandable length
- solid
- well-built
Cons
- some buyers said not enough padding
- expensive
- complaints of malfunctioning
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This economy knee kicking tool offered by Bon is well-constructed, efficient and convenient for do-it-yourself projects. Users love the sturdy, lightweight construction, but some do note that you can’t adjust its length. The Bon carpet stretcher has a size of 16.8 x 4 x 4 inches, a weight of 2.7 pounds, a trip nap grip, and a non-slide grip handle.
Overall, this is a high-quality, but inexpensive knee kicker and it could be an excellent choice for anyone who doesn’t want to rent a carpeting tool every time they need it.
As a whole, users are extremely satisfied with the Bon knee kicker, and they praise its performance and functionality. A buyer comments that he carpeted easily and professionally his 12-step stairway and he is very pleased with the quality of this knee kicker. Another customer mentions that he didn’t have any problems to stretch his carpet back to its place and after two months the carpet hasn’t moved an inch. He would recommend it to anyone looking for a cheap stretcher.
A happy purchaser shares that the Bon knee kicker is well-built, solid and it saved him a lot of money and time. However, one customer has complained that this kicking tool doesn’t work as well as he expected because the teeth are not long enough to dig in the carpet and pull it. The reviewer states that the only thing he achieved was to tear the weave on the carpet.
Pros
- cheap
- easy and comfortable to use
- light
- a trip nap grip
- a non-slide handle
- effective
- durable
Cons
- length is not adjustable
- complaints of malfunctioning
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
If you need a reliable and efficient carpet stretcher, you might want to consider the carpet installation knee kicker offered by XtrempepowerUs. Users love the quality and the price, but some do note that the pad often falls off. With a size of 4 x 20 x 4 inches, and a weight of 3 pounds, this knee kicker for carpet installation has a padded bumper pad, a wide head with two replaceable grippers, and 16 hardened steel pins.
It also has a telescoping handle with four 1-inch adjustment holes so you can extend it up to 21-1/2″. Overall, it’s a great choice for anyone who wants to do the carpet stretching by himself.
A buyer shared that he was skeptical at first about the qualities of the Xtremepower carpet kicker, but he was very surprised how well it removed the wrinkles from his old carpet. The reviewer states that this is a well-built, easy-to-use carpeting tool and he would recommend it without a second thought.
Another customer says that it is easy to adjust the depth of the teeth and a piece of cake to kick the carpet back in place. A happy user also shares that this carpet kicker is as good as a professional carpet knee kicker and he is very pleased with the achieved results. However, some customers have complained that there were no instructions on how to use the Xtremepower carpet installation kicker or that the teeth started falling off after several uses.
Pros
- light
- easy to use
- a padded bumper pad
- 16 steel pins
- replaceable grippers
Cons
- the bumper pad comes off
- teeth fall off
- no instruction for use
What Are Buyers Saying?
The QEP 10408 knee kicker was one of the options that we examined- the manufacturers say that it is ideal for smaller scale installations and to repair loose carpet. It's constructed of a lightweight steel and aluminum build, suitable for closets and hallways, and its handle is designed to be comfortable with a soft foam grip. One buyer that we spoke to said that this was a solid value buy, allowing you to do restructuring and repair, with this particular user employing it to help him reattach his carpet to the tack strip that had become disengaged.
Another reviewer we interviewed told us that this was a decent economy carpet stretcher, enabling he and his family to pull up their garage carpeting after heavy rain had leaked into his home and completely ruined the wall-to-wall carpeting. Reviewers, in general, endorse purchasing a kicker especially if you're looking for more affordable way to stretch the carpet back in place than hiring a local service professional that would likely charge you a couple hundred dollars.
One other home repair person said that they used this economy needed it in order to stretch one 12 foot side of carpet to accommodate a new hardwood floor installation. One of the downsides of these devices is that if you use it extensively, no matter how well padded the knee kicker, many users experience sore knees afterwards for a couple of days.
How To Repair Loose Carpeting
The Pit Bull CHIC0151 kicker installer was another solid option that features plated steel teeth construction. A reviewer that we spoke to said that in general he would endorse this kicker installer, with the caveat that there are some guards around the teeth of the kickers face that prevented him sometimes from extending the teeth out far enough and causing him to rip out some rug strands. After he adjusted to this, it worked perfectly for his needs.
That said, this reviewer said that it isn't a amazingly constructed device- not something you would want to kick with your full force because you would likely suffer some significant bruising as a result. Other purchasers say that buying one of these kicker installers saved them hundreds of dollars of professional home-repair invoices. A novice homeowner said that he had never installed a rug before, but he decided to try to do it on his own to save some money. He purchased this kicker installer, and found that the adjustable grip was solid, allowing him to comfortably use it to stretch it around doorways, cleanly stretching the carpet wall to wall.
A Roberts kicker buyer that we spoke to was repairing her residence from extensive water damage, and they purchased the Roberts Deluxe knee kicker to reinstall carpeting that had become soaked and removed to dry out for a reinstallation. She had examined cheaper models, but decided it made sense to invest in a better-quality option, even if she only used it once a year, than suffer through the poor workmanship of an inferior knee kicker.
The XtremepowerUS installation kicker was another option that we examined- this 3 pound tool includes a telescoping handle that can be adjusted in 1 inch increments and its wide head grip has two replaceable grippers and features 16 hardened steel pins. Buyers, in general, say that this is a sturdy device that they recommend keeping dial numbers low for to prevent from ripping.
One buyer we interviewed told us that they had used it in their bedroom to help them stretch a rug after it had become wet and needed to be reinstalled after some time drying out in the sun. One buyer did have some trouble with the kicker pad detaching- they had to go through the hassle of reattaching it after every room they serviced, and he blames this on a defective screw that was no longer effectively tightening the kicker to the pad.
Final Thoughts
If you are in the market for a kicker, you might want to invest in a better-quality option rather than an economy model, especially if you are going to use it for more than one install. Obviously, if you are a construction worker or other type of service professional and are using one of these devices every day, we would definitely recommend the Roberts brand Deluxe kicker, as opposed to some of the other models that we examined.
