The Best Rug Pad Options

Area rugs add warmth to rooms, but without a rug pad to secure them, they can damage your floors or cause an injury. The best rug pads keep your area rugs from sliding and bunching and make your home safer. Depending on the material, rug pads can also add cushioning or even soundproofing. Ultimately, the best rug pad for your home ensures that both your floors and your rug are protected from excess wear and tear.

Types of Rug Pads

Rug pads come in a variety of materials. While the differences may seem subtle, they can have a major impact on performance. The best rug pad for you will depend on the style of rug and the purpose you want the rug pad to serve.

Felt

Felt rug pads come in a range of thicknesses and densities. They provide cushioning and sound insulation and naturally grip your rug. Used alone, felt rug pads don't grip the floor very well. You can combine felt with a bottom layer of rubber to secure the rug. Pads made exclusively from felt work well under rugs made of heavy materials or when furniture is anchoring the rug in place. Felt rug pads don't hold up well against water, so they're not the best rug pads for outdoors, kitchens or bathrooms.

Natural Rubber

Rubber rug pads are derived from rubber tree sap. They're an eco-friendly, healthier alternative to PVC. (Read about PVC below.) They can be quite thin, so alone, they provide minimal cushioning. They work well with thin rugs or in rooms with a low clearance of doorways because they don't add significant height to your rug. Rubber is ideal for outdoors and in areas that tend to get wet like kitchens and bathrooms. Look for rug pads in 100% natural rubber. Additional filler ingredients like sand or clay can compromise quality, and synthetic rubber can damage certain types of floors.

Memory Foam

Memory foam, the same material used in mattresses and pillows, can make for a luxurious rug pad. The extra cushioning that memory foam provides makes it an excellent choice for children's rooms and playrooms. However, rug pads made exclusively from memory foam don't provide adequate grip, therefore, a layer of natural rubber will help keep everything in place. Together, they're a perfect pairing for larger rugs.

PVC

PVC rug pads are an inexpensive option with some down-sides. Rugs made from PVC (or polyvinyl chloride) often contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which emit chemicals into the air. Not only is that a potential risk to your family and pets, but PVC can also stain, discolour or otherwise damage hardwood, laminate and vinyl floors. PVC pads are less of a problem under outdoor rugs.

Latex

Most budget rug pads contain latex, an inexpensive alternative to rubber. They are cheaper because they include filler ingredients like clay, which can leave a slight residue on your floors with long-term use. They stand up well to water, so they're a smart choice for outdoors, kitchen and bathroom.

Hybrid

Some rug pads use a combination of materials to provide a variety of benefits. Dual-layered felt/rubber hybrids are among the best rug pads on the market. They provide the cushion of felt with the grip of the rubber. Typically, the top layer is made from felt, which naturally grips the material of the rug, while the bottom layer is made from rubber to grip the floor.