Carpet tiles are a good option for do-it-yourselfers because they're easy to install without any special tools or experience. And depending on the product, tiles can be a green alternative to broadloom carpeting, which comes in wide roles. That's because stained or worn tiles can be selectively replaced, reducing costs and waste. However, this requires keeping on hand spare tiles since it's likely that the style or color you chose will someday be discontinued.

Carpet tiles can be laid down like area rugs or installed as wall-to-wall carpeting. The downside is their cost—tiles may be twice the price of sheet carpeting.

Most carpet tiles are made for the commercial market. In the Green Product Directory, we feature carpet tiles that are specifically intended for use in homes. Our featured products are also GreenLabel Plus certified for low emissions and contain at least 25% recycled content.