Our top choice is the Wayfair Basics Premium Dual Surface Rug Pad for its compatibility with multiple floor types and the fact that it has more than 50 sizes available. Plus, its combination of latex and felt gives it the ability to stay in place and add cushioning to your rug, which is not a function that all rug pads can perform. Here, the best rug pads you can buy today. Who it isn’t for: People who want a rug pad that will work both inside and outside. The best rug pads provide both cushioning and slip protection. This popular rug pad from Wayfair offers just that, with one side made of latex and the other felt. The latex on the underside of the rug pad will keep your rug stuck to the floor, while the felt on the top side provides a smooth surface for the rug to sit on, as well as extra cushioning that is shock-absorbent. The Wayfair Basics Premium Dual Surface Rug Pad is compatible with multiple types of floors, including hardwood, laminate, tile, concrete, stone, vinyl, and more. It’s also safe to use on heated floors. The pad is about a quarter of an inch thick and comes in more than 50 sizes, including multiple options for runners, square, and round rugs in addition to common rectangular rug sizes. This rug is intended for indoor use only. If this Wayfair rug pad gets dirty, the brand recommends vacuuming, spot cleaning with a mild detergent, or getting it cleaned professionally. Product Details:
Material: Latex and feltThickness: 0.25 inchesFloor Types: Hardwood, carpet, linoleum, laminate, concrete, stone, marble, tile, vinyl
Who it isn’t for: Homeowners who are afraid of PVC doing damage to their floors. The Veken Non-Slip Rug Pad is an affordable, no-frills rug pad that is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a material that provides a strong grip and is resistant to water. This is a great option for thin, flimsy rugs that are prone to bunching and sliding, as well as rugs that are placed in high trafficked areas of your home. Along with the PVC material, the rug pad features a denser pattern compared to similar models, allowing for a greater grip on your floors. However, its low price comes with a cost. PVC contains chemicals, which can soak into your floor and potentially cause damage over time, especially if you have wood floors. This product is also not compatible with a wide array of floor types, including concrete, stone, carpet, vinyl, acrylic, lacquer, and anything that is porous, refinished, or heated. As such, this option is best for renters and those with tile or laminate floors. One cool thing about this rug pad is that it also acts as an adhesive for your furniture. If you have cushions that don’t stay in place on your chair or couch, or a mattress that tends to slide around in your bed frame, this product will help keep them in place. Product Details:
Material: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)Thickness: 0.01 inchesFloor Types: Tile, laminate
Who it isn’t for: People looking for a rug pad that prevents slippage. If you’d like your rug to have more of a cushion-y feel, get yourself a felt rug pad. Felt rug pads are much thicker than PVC or rubber pads, providing you with a thick layer that acts as a cushion under your rug. Felt rug pads are also one of the safest to use on your floors, as they won’t cause damage like staining or discoloration. This Mohawk Home rug pad offers this experience, as well as a very low impact on your home’s indoor air quality thanks to its Green Label Plus Certification from The Carpet & Rug Institute. This distinction certifies that this product contains very little volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted from household products, such as carpeting. Unlike many other rug pads, the Mohawk Home Comfort Cushion Felt Rug Pad offers three options for thickness, including 0.25 inches, 0.37 inches, and 0.5 inches. There are also 14 rectangular sizes available, ranging from 4 x 6 feet to 12 x 15 feet. It’s important to note that this rug pad does not prevent slipping, and it works best with thick rugs and rugs that are anchored by furniture. Product Details:
Material: FeltThickness: 0.25, 0.37, and 0.5 inchesFloor Types: All
Who it isn’t for: People who want a rug pad for less than $100. Like felt rug pads, memory foam rug pads provide cushioning. The only difference between the two is that because memory foam is softer than felt, it provides extra plushness that is more comfortable and moves with your feet. The RugPadUSA Cloud Comfort Rug Pad certainly lives up to its name, and provides additional benefits including floor protection and sound insulation. It also contains very low VOCs and boasts a moisture barrier that will prevent water from touching your floors, should your rug get wet. This rug pad is compatible with a variety of floors, including hardwood, concrete, stone, tile, vinyl, laminate, and floors with a polyurethane finish. There are three thickness options available, including 0.25, 0.5, and 0.44 inches, and 21 sizes to choose from, ranging from 4 x 6 feet to 12 x 18 feet, with a couple of round options available. Like felt, memory foam rug pads are purely for cushioning and will not provide protection against slippage. Although the price of this rug pad is certainly much higher than its felt counterpart, it does come with a ten-year warranty. Product Details:
Material: Memory foamThickness: 0.25, 0.5, and 0.44 inchesFloor Types: Hardwood, stone, tile, concrete, laminate, vinyl, and floors with polyurethane finishes
Who it isn’t for: People who want a rug pad that offers cushioning. Rubber is one of the best materials you can use to prevent your rug from sliding or bunching. Rubber rug pads grip your floor hard, allowing your rug to stay perfectly put no matter how little or how much foot traffic your rug gets. What’s so great about this RugPadUSA rug pad is that it is made from 100 percent natural rubber, not PVC. This type of rubber is more eco-friendly since it is made entirely from rubber trees, and contains low VOCs. Plus, you don’t have to worry about your floors getting damaged by debris that rubs off the rug pad with friction, which is common in rubber-blend rug pads and PVC rug pads. The RugPadUSA Super Lock Natural Rubber Rug Pad works with all types of flooring but is a particularly great option for people with hardwood floors who want a grip rug pad. Just make sure that you follow the brand’s instructions exactly to prevent any possible damage. This rug pad comes in 16 sizes, ranging from 2 x 3 feet to 9 x 12 feet. There is also a round option that is 5 feet in circumference. Product Details:
Material: Natural rubberThickness: 0.13 inchesFloor Types: Hardwood
Who it isn’t for: People who want extra cushioning. Another way to prevent your rug from slipping is by purchasing grippers for your rug. Grippers are adhesive strips that keep the corners and edges of your rug in place. This is a great alternative for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot on a rug pad, or someone with a heavier rug that doesn’t necessarily require an entire rug pad to keep it in place. However, the best use for grippers is to prevent curled rug corners. The Gorilla Grip Rug Corner Grippers not only prevent curled rug corners but are strong enough to stop bunches and sliding overall. They’re super easy to use too—all you do is remove the backings on the double-sided adhesive strip and stick them to the floor and rug. The grippers won’t leave behind a sticky residue on your floors, even though they use a strong adhesive. When you do the application, just make sure to follow the brand’s instructions, as improper application could lead to the product not working as intended. The Gorilla Grip Corner Grippers come in packs of eight, 12, 16, and 24. Product Details:
Material: AdhesiveThickness: 0.07 inchesFloor Types: Hard
Who it isn’t for: People who want more thickness options. This Pottery Barn rug pad is a great option for people who want to put their rugs in a place that gets excess moisture, whether that’s the bathroom, kitchen, or any places that are prone to accidents or spills. What makes this rug pad great for moisture-ridden environments has to do with its synthetic fibers, which are always more water-resistant than natural materials. The top of the rug pad is made with a recycled, polyester felt-like material that provides a nice cushioning, while the bottom of the rug pad is made with a sturdier moisture-proof material that also holds the rug in place. The Pottery Barn Spill-Proof Pet-Friendly Rug Pad is compatible with all floor types, including luxury vinyl tiles. It can also be used on carpeting—just make sure to flip the soft side so that it touches the bottom of the carpeting, instead of the other way around. This rug pad is 0.2 inches thick and comes in eight sizes, ranging from 2 x 3 feet to 10 x 14 feet. Product Details:
Material: Polyester Thickness: 0.2 inches Floor Types: All
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How to Shop for Rug Pads
Material
Common rug pad materials include rubber, latex, felt, felt/rubber combo, memory foam, and PVC. Which material you choose should be dependent on your needs. If you are buying a rug pad purely to prevent slipping, go with rubber, latex, or PVC. All of these materials grip quite well and are water-resistant, so they make great options for places that get excess moisture, such as the bathroom or kitchen. A rubber pad is the most eco-friendly option, as long as you make sure to get something that is 100 percent rubber, as rubber blends often include additional materials that, when faced with friction, create excess debris. PVC, a cheap plastic, could potentially damage floors, so this is a better option for someone on a budget or a renter. Felt and memory foam, on the other hand, aren’t great at gripping. Felt and memory foam pads are great for someone who is looking for extra cushioning or insulation under their rug. These are best for large, heavier rugs that are already anchored by furniture. Felt/rubber combos are the perfect solution for people who are looking for both cushioning and gripping, and are particularly helpful for thin area rugs.
Size
It’s very important to choose a rug pad that is 1-2 inches smaller than your rug on each side. Sizing your rug pad this way ensures that you won’t actually see your rug pad while looking at your rug. This is especially important for felt or memory foam rug pads, which are a lot thicker than rubber or PVC rugs. If you end up getting a rug pad that is still a little too big, you can always cut it down to your preferred size with scissors.
Thickness
Like size, taking into account thickness is important so that your rug pad remains unseen under your rug. Since rubber and PVC rugs are so thin, thickness is more of a factor to consider if you are getting a felt or memory foam rug pad. The rule of thumb in the rug pad world is to not exceed a thickness that is more than half an inch. To determine how much thickness you need below that measurement, look at the thickness of your rug. Thin rugs should have thin rug pads and vice versa. While you may want to add a thick, cushioned rug pad to a thin rug, you may run the risk of your thin rug looking like it’s laying on top of your rug pad.
Questions You Might Ask
Do you need to clean a rug pad?
It’s a good practice to do every few months but it’s not as necessary as vacuuming your rugs frequently. Before you clean it, make sure to read your rug pad’s instruction manual to see if the brand has any recommended cleaning methods. For rubber or PVC rug pads, give them a good shake to get off any debris it might be holding, then vacuum and mop the floor under it. Don’t put the rug pad back on until the floor is completely dry. If you have a felt or memory foam rug pad, do the same thing as you would with a rubber or PVC, then vacuum them.
Could a rug pad damage my floors?
Yes. PVC rug pads are usually the main culprits when it comes to floor damage from rug pads. PVC is a cheap plastic that can affect the finish of your floors over time, often because of material or chemicals rubbing off and sticking to your floors. Hardwood floors should avoid PVC for this reason, as they are the most susceptible. Felt and memory foam won’t do this, and since rubber is a natural material, it is far less likely to cause this kind of damage.
When will I need to replace my rug pad?
It depends. Some rug pads can last up to 15 years; others for just a few years. Read your brand’s instructional manual, as it may list the lifespan of the rug pad. Otherwise, plan to replace it when you notice the performance isn’t what it once was when you bought it. For example, if a grip rug pad may not be gripping as well as it used to, or a felt or memory foam has dips in it, or doesn’t have the support it once used to, then it’s time to replace your rug pad.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Rachel Center, a product reviews home writer for Real Simple. She spent hours researching all the components that make the best rug pads, ultimately choosing the products in this list based on material, size options, and thickness.
