The 5 Best Rug Pads For Carpet of 2023

Best Budget: Veken Non Slip Rug Pad Gripper 2 x 3 Feet

Who it's for: 

• Those looking for a rug pad that may also serve as slip protection for other pieces of furniture.

Who it isn't for:

• Homeowners who are concerned about PVC causing harm to their flooring.

The Veken Non-Slip Rug Pad is a low-cost, no-frills rug pad constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a polymer with a high grip and water resistance. This is an excellent choice for thin, lightweight carpets that are prone to bunching and sliding, as well as rugs in heavy traffic areas of your house. In addition to the PVC substance, the rug pad has a denser pattern than comparable models, providing for a better grip on your flooring.

Its cheap price, however, comes with a cost. PVC includes toxins that may seep into your floor and create long-term harm, particularly if you have wood flooring. This product is also incompatible with a broad range of floor materials, including concrete, stone, carpet, vinyl, acrylic, lacquer, and porous, refinished, or heated surfaces. As a result, this is the greatest choice for renters and people with tile or laminate flooring.

This rug pad has the added benefit of acting as an adhesive for your furniture. Whether you have cushions on your chair or sofa that don't stay in place, or a mattress that slides about in your bed frame, this device will assist hold them in place.

Best Felt Rug Pad: Mohawk Home 4' x 6' 3/8 Rug Pad 100% Felt Protective Cushion

Who it's for: 

• Individuals seeking for a thick rug pad for furniture-anchored carpets.

Who it isn't for:

• Individuals seeking for a slip-resistant rug pad.

Use a felt rug pad if you want your rug to have a more cushioned feel. Felt rug pads are far thicker than PVC or rubber pads, offering a thick layer that functions as a cushion underneath your rug. Felt rug pads are also among the safest to use on your flooring since they will not create stains or discoloration.

This Mohawk Home rug pad provides this feeling while also having a very minimal influence on your home's indoor air quality owing to The Carpet & Rug Institute's Green Label Plus Certified. This difference indicates that this product includes extremely little volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are released by home items like carpets.

Unlike many other rug pads, the Mohawk Home Comfort Cushion Felt Rug Pad comes in three thicknesses: 0.25 inch, 0.37 inch, and 0.5 inch. There are 14 rectangle sizes to choose from, ranging from 4 x 6 feet to 12 x 15 feet. This rug pad does not prevent slippage, and it works best with thick carpets and rugs that are supported by furniture.

Best Memory Foam: RUGPADUSA Cloud Comfort 8'x10', 1/2" Thick Memory

Who it's for: 

• Individuals looking for a cushioned rug pad that also serves as insulation.

Who it isn't for: 

• Individuals looking for a rug pad for less than $100.

Memory foam rug pads, like felt rug pads, offer cushioning. The main difference between the two is that memory foam is softer than felt and so gives greater plushness that is more comfortable and moves with your foot.

The RugPadUSA Cloud Comfort Rug Pad truly lives up to its name, and it also offers floor protection and sound insulation. It also has extremely low VOCs and a moisture barrier to keep water from hitting your flooring if your rug gets wet.

This rug pad is suitable for a wide range of flooring, including hardwood, concrete, stone, tile, vinyl, laminate, and polyurethane floors. There are three thickness possibilities, including 0.25, 0.5, and 0.44 inches, as well as 21 sizes ranging from 4 x 6 feet to 12 x 18 feet, with a number of circular alternatives.

Memory foam rug pads, like felt, are just for cushioning and will not prevent slipping. While this rug pad is somewhat more expensive than its felt cousin, it does come with a ten-year guarantee.

Best Rubber: RUGPADUSA Super Lock Natural 4'x6', 1/8"" Thick Rubber Gripping Open Weave Rug Pad

Who it's for: 

• Those looking for a non-PVC anti-slip rug pad.

Who it isn't for: 

• Individuals looking for a rug pad with padding.

Rubber is an excellent material for preventing your rug from slipping or bunching. Rubber rug pads hold your floor tightly, enabling your rug to remain properly in place regardless of how much or how little foot activity it receives. What makes our RugPadUSA rug pad so special is that it is constructed entirely of natural rubber rather than PVC.

Since it is created solely from rubber trees and has minimal VOCs, this form of rubber is more environmentally friendly. Also, you won't have to worry about debris rubbing off the rug pad with friction, which is frequent with rubber-blend and PVC rug pads.

The RugPadUSA Super Lock Natural Rubber Rug Pad is suitable for all kinds of flooring, but it is especially suitable for those with hardwood floors who want a grip rug pad. Just be sure you strictly adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations to avoid any potential harm. This rug pad is available in 16 different sizes, ranging from 2 x 3 feet to 9 x 12 feet. There is also a circular variation with a circumference of 5 feet.

Best Rug Pad Strips: Gorilla Grip 8 Piece Extra Strong Grippers for Rugs

Who it's for: 

• Individuals who have curling rug ends and don't want to invest on a full-size rug pad.

Who it isn't for: 

• Individuals who need more padding.

Purchasing rug grippers is another option to keep your rug from sliding. Grippers are sticky strips that hold your rug's corners and edges in place.

This is an excellent option for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a rug pad, or for someone who has a heavy rug that doesn't need a whole rug pad to keep it in place. The ideal use for grippers, however, is to avoid curled rug corners.

The Gorilla Grip Rug Corner Grippers not only prevent curled rug corners, but they are also strong enough to prevent bunching and sliding. They're also really simple to use—just peel the backings off the double-sided adhesive strips and adhere them to the floor and carpeting.

Despite their high adhesion, the grippers will not leave a sticky residue on your flooring. Just follow the brand's directions while applying the product, since poor application may result in the product not performing as intended. The Gorilla Grip Corner Grippers are available in packs of eight, twelve, sixteen, and twenty-four.

Material

Rubber, latex, felt, felt/rubber combination, memory foam, and PVC are all common rug pad materials. The material you chose should be determined by your requirements. If you're just looking for a rug cushion to avoid sliding, go for rubber, latex, or PVC. All of these materials grip well and are water-resistant, making them ideal for damp environments such as the bathroom or kitchen. A rubber pad is the most environmentally beneficial alternative, as long as it is 100 percent rubber, since rubber mixes sometimes incorporate extra materials that, when subjected to friction, produce unnecessary waste. Since PVC, a low-cost material, has the potential to harm flooring, this is a preferable alternative for someone on a tight budget or a renter.

Felt and memory foam, on the other hand, are poor grippers. Felt and memory foam cushions are ideal for adding additional padding or insulation under a rug. They are ideally suited for big, heavy carpets that have previously been anchored by furniture. Felt/rubber combinations are ideal for consumers searching for both cushioning and gripping, and are especially useful for thin area rugs.

Size

It is critical to choose a rug pad that is 1-2 inches smaller on each side than your rug. This method of sizing your rug pad assures that you will not see it when gazing at your rug. This is particularly crucial for thicker felt or memory foam rug cushions than rubber or PVC carpets. If you wind up with a rug pad that is still a bit too large, you can simply trim it down to size using scissors.

Thickness

Taking thickness into consideration, like size, is crucial so that your rug pad stays hidden under your rug. Since rubber and PVC rugs are so thin, thickness is more important to consider when purchasing a felt or memory foam rug cushion. In the rug pad world, a thickness of more than half an inch is considered excessive. Examine the thickness of your rug to estimate how much thickness you need below that measurement. Thin rugs need thin rug pads, and vice versa. Although you may wish to add a big, cushioned rug pad to a thin rug, you risk having your thin rug seem to be resting on top of your rug pad.

Is it necessary to clean a rug pad?

It's a nice habit to undertake every few months, but it's not as important as cleaning your carpets on a regular basis. Before you clean it, check the instruction booklet for your rug pad to see if the manufacturer has any suggested cleaning techniques. Give rubber or PVC rug pads a thorough shake to remove any dirt, then vacuum and wipe the floor below them. Replace the rug pad only after the floor is totally dry. If you have a felt or memory foam rug pad, vacuum it the same way you would a rubber or PVC rug pad.

Will a rug pad harm my floors?

Yes. When it comes to rug pad floor damage, PVC rug pads are generally the major offenders. PVC is a low-cost plastic that may deteriorate the polish of your floors over time, usually as a result of material or chemicals rubbing off and adhering to your flooring. Since hardwood floors are the most vulnerable, they should avoid PVC. Felt and memory foam will not do this, and since rubber is a natural substance, it is significantly less prone to do so.

When should I change my rug pad?

It all depends. Some rug pads may endure up to 15 years, while others just a few years. Check your brand's instruction booklet for the longevity of the rug pad. Alternatively, prepare to replace it when you discover the performance is no longer what it was when you purchased it. For example, if a grip rug pad is no longer holding as effectively as it once did, or if a felt or memory foam rug pad has dips in it or no longer provides the support it once did, it's time to replace it.

There are so many alternatives out there that it can be tough to choose one, but BestForHomes (bestforhomes.org) hopes that our evaluations have helped you narrow down your options and discover the best rug pads for carpet for your requirements