Most carpets are dry within 2 to 6 hours after a professional steam clean, though this varies depending on carpet thickness, humidity, airflow in the room, and how much moisture the extraction equipment managed to remove during the clean itself.
Ventilation makes a bigger difference than most people expect, open windows and a running fan or air conditioner can meaningfully cut drying time, while a closed, humid room will extend it well past the average.
Avoid walking on damp carpet where possible, and hold off replacing furniture until it's fully dry, doing so too early risks pressing dirt or moisture marks back into the fibres just after they've been cleaned.
