The 9 Best Rug Pads of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Wayfair Basics Premium Non-Slip Dual Surface Rug Pad

5

View On Wayfair

When you’re choosing a rug pad, the two most important criteria are resistance to slipping and protection of the rug and floor. Our best overall pick—the Wayfair Basics Premium Non-Slip Dual Surface Rug Pad—excels in both of these lanes. This rug pad is a top-tier option because it keeps the rug in place even with impacts like vacuuming and jumping on it. During testing, we loved how cushioned this rug pad was, so note that it will add quite a bit of padding if you have a decorative but otherwise thin rug on top. The thickness also contributes to the protection of both the rug and floor. This rug pad will absorb any shocks to the rug, such as excessive furniture weight, while the grip securing it in place keeps your floor from getting scratched or nicked. During our tests, we found it didn’t stretch or tear when we pulled on it, which is a great sign of the product’s durability.

When testing, we found that the 3 x 5-foot rug pad did not fit under a rug of the same size, so you may need to trim the edges if this occurs. However, this rug pad comes in more than 30 size options, so you’re sure to find one that fits your needs. Another characteristic of this particular rug pad is it works on both hard and soft surfaces. If using it on hardwoods or tile, simply place the latex side of the rug pad down; for carpets, the felt side. 

Price at time of publish: $60 for 6 x 9-foot siz3

_{Material: Latex, felt | Thickness: 0.33 inch | Weight: 15.75 pounds for 6 x 9-foot size | Intended Use: Indoor or outdoor | Floor Compatibility: Hardwood, carpet, concrete, stone, marble, tile, laminate, linoleum}

Best Budget

Better Homes & Gardens Cushioned Non-Slip Area Rug Pad

5

View On Walmart

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Overall Value
  5/5

For a highly durable rug pad that will keep your rug in place without hurting your wallet, look to the Better Homes & Gardens Cushioned Non-Slip Area Rug Pad (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by The Spruce's parent company, Dotdash Meredith). In lab tests, we found this option had phenomenal grip strength. During our tests, the rug barely shifted at all, despite being kicked and vacuumed on. When it did move, the rug went with it, reducing potential tripping hazards.

The open weave design isn’t particularly thick or cushioning. However, it was able to absorb some of the shock during the LEGO test, adding a barrier between the small toy and our testers’ feet. Not everyone prefers a thicker rug pad, and while this option may not provide extra cushion, it still provides adequate protection against foot traffic and furniture dents. Additionally, we were pleasantly surprised with the product’s overall quality and durability, as it didn’t stretch or tear when we pulled on it unlike many of the other open-weave options we tested. It’s available in seven sizes and can be returned within 90 days if you’re unsatisfied. Overall, this rug pad is a low-cost option that still gives you a high-quality result.

Price at time of publish: $37 for 6 x 9-foot size

_{Material: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polyester | Thickness: Not listed | Weight: 6.7 pounds for 6 x 9-foot size | Intended Use: Indoor | Floor Compatibility: Varies}

Best Adhesive

Home Techpro Rug Pad Grippers

4.2

View On Amazon

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  3.5/5
• Durability
  5/5

If you don’t want an entire rug pad, but still want to ensure your rug stays in place, consider the Home Techpro Rug Pad Grippers. Simply peel these small squares (3.9 x 3.9 inches) and stick them on the four corners of any rug to adhere to the floor. The adhesive technology uses air pressure to grip hard surfaces and keeps all corners firmly suctioned to the floor, preventing the edge of the rug from curling up. Note that these are not suitable for carpeting, but they work especially well on hard flooring with rugs of unconventional shapes.

Despite the suction capabilities, these rug pad grippers don’t damage the floor when removed and can be washed while still attached to the rug. They can also be peeled off easily when you’re ready to remove them—however, once removed, they won’t adhere back on, making them essentially single-use. During our tests, we found that even when kicked and vacuumed, these rug pads didn’t move, making them a good investment to prevent slips.

Price at time of publish: $12 for 4

_{Material: Polyester fiber, acrylic resin | Thickness: 0.07 inch | Weight: 0.6 ounces | Intended Use: Indoor or outdoor | Floor Compatibility: Hard floors}

Best Outdoor

Wayfair Basics Deluxe Grip Outdoor Non-Slip Rug Pad

4.5

View On Wayfair View On Allmodern.com View On Jossandmain.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Overall Value
  4.5/5

Outdoor rugs have their own set of challenges in terms of needs and upkeep, and that’s where the Wayfair Basics Deluxe Grip Outdoor Non-Slip Rug Pad comes in handy. We found the materials to be well-made and durable—ideal for standing up to different temperatures and weather conditions.

This rug pad is highly versatile because it comes in several sizes and can be trimmed down to fit unique rug shapes. It also has an extremely strong grip to keep the rug from sliding—making it ideal for both windy and humid climates. In fact, its grip was so strong that we even had some trouble repositioning it once it was placed on the ground. This is a great sign of its weather resistance and overall durability. The polyester material is also simple to clean, so when the elements start to make it grimy, it can be washed with ease.

Price at time of publish: $33 for 6 x 9-foot size

_{Material: Polyester, PVC | Thickness: 0.08 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds for 6 x 9-foot size | Intended Use: Outdoor | Floor Compatibility: Varies}

Best Spill-Proof

Annie Selke Solid Extra-Grip Rug Pad

4.2

View On Annieselke.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Overall Value
  4/5

In addition to protecting your floors from scratches, rug pads can also help keep spills from seeping through your rug and ruining the floors beneath. Though somewhat more expensive than others on this list, the Annie Selke Solid Extra-Grip Rug Pad is spill-proof, grips the floor to prevent slips, and lightly cushions the rug. The material is a woven polyester scrim-coated PVC vinyl compound, which gives it a yoga mat feel that is highly durable and stands up to wear and tear over time. In The Lab, we found that the rug pad didn’t budge at all during our slip tests, which is a great sign of the product’s grip strength.

It can’t, however, be used on heated floors, or have any heat applied to it. During our tests, we noticed the rug pad easily wrinkled, and when we tried to steam the wrinkles out, it started to melt. Due to this heat issue, it’s best to use this rug pad indoors in a controlled temperature. However, what it lacked in aesthetics it made up for in performance. It really delivered on its spill-resistance, which makes it a great pick for those with more fragile flooring or mess-prone kids and pets. And while this option is definitely on the pricier side, all things considered, we think its performance alone makes this product worth the splurge.

Price at time of publish: $240 for 6 x 9-foot size

_{Material: Woven polyester scrim coated with PVC vinyl compound | Thickness: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Intended Use: Indoor | Floor Compatibility: Varies}

Best Soundproof

Sonic Acoustics Non Slip Soundproof Rug Pad

4.2

View On Amazon

Whether you live in an apartment or just want to make your space a bit quieter, a rug pad can help soundproof your space. The Sonic Acoustics Non Slip Soundproof Rug Pad is advertised as absorbing noise, making this rug pad “soundproof.” While we were not able to test for this quality in The Lab, reviewers confirm these rug pads do help reduce sound in various living spaces. Since this rug pad takes the form of individual squares, this product works really well in compact apartments since you can place them in a formation that fits your exact space. 

We noticed that these squares are highly durable and somewhat cushioned, but do not grip the floor as well as others we tested. However, they didn't stretch or rip during testing, and the double-layered design overall felt high-quality and like they would stand up well to wear and tear. If you’re concerned about possible slips, you can always get rug tape to help better secure the rug pads to the floor. If you don’t need all 12 rug pad squares that come in the pack, the leftovers are compact and can be easily stored.

Price at time of publish: $24 for 12

_{Material: Rubber | Thickness: 5.28 inches | Weight: 3.16 pounds | Intended Use: Varies | Floor Compatibility: Hard floors}

Best Cushioning

Mohawk Ultra Premium Rug Pad

4.2

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When you’re walking around your home barefoot, it’s more comfortable when the floors are soft. Rug pads like the Mohawk Ultra Premium Rug Pad can facilitate that. Available in two different thickness options (0.25 and 0.375 inches), this felt option has enough thickness to protect your floors from discoloration and scratching. When the LEGO test was also applied here, we found that although we could still slightly feel the toy underneath the rug, the sensation was dulled. That being said, we loved how much more comfortable walking on the rug felt after the pad was placed underneath.  

This rug pad is available in a range of sizes, but if you can’t find one that fits your needs, you can easily trim it down one to two inches. While the rug did slip a little, this particular rug pad is designed to cushion rugs under pieces of furniture or heavy throw rugs, so slippage is not typically an issue. The design of this rug pad is highly durable and built to last for many years. During our tests, we found the material to feel very high-quality, and after tugging on and tearing the product, it still looked good as new. And while it’s not machine-washable, most messes can easily be spot cleaned with a mild detergent.

Price at time of publish: $37 for 0.375-inch thick, 6 x 9-foot size

_{Material: Recycled material, polyester | Thickness: 0.375 inches | Weight: 12 pounds for 0.375-inch thick, 6 x 9-foot size | Intended Use: Not listed | Floor Compatibility: Varies}

Best Natural Rubber

Room & Board Natural Rubber Rug Pad

5

View On Roomandboard.com

Our Ratings

• Quality
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Overall Value
  5/5

Due to the natural rubber material of this Room & Board Natural Rubber Rug Pad, this rug pad grips the floor and stays in place. Even after jumping, dancing, and running across it for good measure, this rug pad stood firm with no slips or movement, earning it 5 out of 5 stars in effectiveness. This kind of grip not only ensures safety for you, but it also protects your floor from potential scratches if the rug were to move back and forth excessively. This rug pad isn’t advertised as being cushioned, but, after placing several LEGO blocks under the rug pad, we noticed that it actually cushioned our steps surprisingly well. 

In terms of maintenance and longevity, the Room & Board rug pad is easy to wash, mildew-resistant, and highly durable thanks to the natural rubber material. Testing proved its durability with no flaws, tears, or other wear after vacuuming and rough treatment. For all of these reasons and more, the Room&Board Natural Rubber Rug Pad is a top-notch pick for those looking for a natural rubber rug pad.

Price at time of publish: $109 for 6 x 9-foot size

_{Material: Natural Rubber | Thickness: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Intended Use: Indoor | Floor Compatibility: Varies}