The 10 Best Rug Pads for Any Floor and Carpet Type

Courtesy of Wayfair

Rugs can be expensive, so if you're going to invest in one for your home, you should do everything you can to extend its lifespan. That's where rug pads come in. These felt or latex pads are designed to go under your carpets to help protect your floors from things like heavy objects or accidental spills while minimizing rug wear. They also help keep your rug rooted in place so you don't slip. Plus, some of the thicker rug pads just make walking on your carpets a cushioned dream.

The type of rug pad you want depends on your rug size and your flooring type. If you have a slippery wood or laminate floor, it's important to choose a rug pad that will provide a good amount of grip. If you have a very thin rug, you won't want a thick pad because it could elevate the rug and cause people to trip. For an area rug, you may want a denser pad to make walking on it extra soft. Whatever your rug pad needs or desires, this list of the best rug pads has you covered. And if you already broke the bank to buy the rug, it's nice to know that the rug pad doesn't have to come at a high price, too.

Best Rug Pads to Buy Now

• Best Affordable: Safavieh Martha Stewart Non-Slip Padding

• Best Area: Wayfair Basics Dual Surface Rug Pad

• Best for Hardwood Floors: DoubleCheck Products Non-Slip Rug Pad

• Best Felt: Rug Pad USA 100% Felt Cushioning Rug Pad

• Best Thin: Mohawk 1/8-Inch Non-Slip Rug Pad

• Best Thick: Rug Pad USA Cushioning Rug Pad

• Best Strong Grip: Gorilla Grip Area Rug Pad

• Best for Laminate Floors: Ninja Gripper Rug Pad

• Best for Over Carpet: Grip-It Magic Stop Non-Slip Pad

• Best Outdoor: Wayfair Basics Deluxe Grip Outdoor Rug Pad

Related: 10 Washable Rugs That Are as Beautiful as They Are Easy to Clean

Best Affordable: Safavieh Martha Stewart Non-Slip Padding

Padding for large carpets can often run over $100, but the largest size of this pad is just under $50. The non-slip pad has a low profile, so it's perfect to go under rugs that you don't want to raise too far off the ground. And just because it's affordable doesn't mean it's not a great option: Customers love this rug because of how high-quality it is, noting so in the reviews.

Shop Now: Safavieh x Martha Stewart Non-Slip Padding, from $19.15, walmart.com

Best Area: Wayfair Basics Dual Surface Rug Pad

One side of this rug is a plush felt while the other side has a non-slip latex to keep it rooted in place on your floor. The quarter-inch thickness helps reduce furniture dents—essential for area rugs that are often anchored with couches, chairs, and tables. The pad is also thin enough to prevent any edge lifting that would become a tripping hazard. On the fence about it? Know that this rug pad has over 100,000 five-star reviews.

Shop Now: Wayfair Basics Dual Surface Rug Pad, from $13.99 (was $18.25), wayfair.com

Best for Hardwood Floors: DoubleCheck Products Non-Slip Rug Pad

For homes with hardwood flooring, you'll want to choose a rug pad that keeps the carpet in place without sticking to your floors and making it impossible to remove. This non-slip pad is inexpensive and can cover large areas or be cut down to fit a smaller rugs. In addition to being a great option for hardwood, it also works well on tile, laminate, and vinyl, keeping slippery rugs in place as you walk, vacuum, exercise, and more. And when it comes time to remove it, many customers said they had no staining or sticking issues on their floors.

One review said: "We love these carpet pads. They feel great, have no odor, are the perfect thickness to keep rugs from slipping or wearing out too fast but don't raise the carpet to the point of making it a tripping hazard. They have not left a mark on the wood floor even after being [there] for a long time. Just perfect."

Shop Now: DoubleCheck Products Non-Slip Rug Pad, from $12.99, amazon.com

Best Felt: Rug Pad USA 100% Felt Cushioning Rug Pad

For anyone who wants added cushion under their rugs, this 100 percent felt pad comes in a 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2-inch thickness. "Very pleased with this pad and I didn't realize what a big difference it would make. My inexpensive rug feels like a million bucks under my feet [and it] looks terrific!" raved one of the over 7,000 five-star reviews. This pad works best for heavy rugs or area rugs that are anchored by furniture, since the felt pad doesn't provide a ton of non-slip action on its own.

Shop Now: Rug Pad USA 100% Felt Cushioning Rug Pad, from $33.97, amazon.com

Best Thin: Mohawk 1/8-Inch Non-Slip Rug Pad

The Mohawk brand is a standout favorite when it comes to rug pads. This 1/8-inch, lightweight option is perfect for thin rugs that you don't want to come up off the floor too high. It's slip-resistant and can be used on all flooring surfaces. One happy customer wrote, "I have a heavy rug and didn't want a pad that slid or a pad that was too high since the rug was pretty high on its own. This is perfect. There is a good grip on the floor side and [the felt] upper side has enough traction to hold the rug in place.

Shop Now: Mohawk 1/8-Inch Non-Slip Rug Pad From $17.74, amazon.com

Best Thick: Rug Pad USA Cushioning Rug Pad

At 1/2-inch, this pad is super thick, and feels great under big carpets. It's also water-resistant to protect your floors from pet messes or accidental spills. "One of the best purchases I've made!! I love walking on my rugs now! The padding is like walking on an air mattress!!!" said one of the over 2,000 five-star reviews.

Shop Now: Rug Pad USA Cushioning Rug Pad, from $56.99, wayfair.com

Best Strong Grip: Gorilla Grip Area Rug Pad

With over 18,000 five-star reviews, customers kept raving about how anti-slip this pad is. "These just plain work," one buyer wrote. "I have recently adopted a 90-pound Akita who loves to run around and play in the house. He was sending our area rugs everywhere and then scratching the hardwood floors with his paws. This totally solved the problem." As a bonus, any excess material can be used to line shelves, or for slippery mattresses and futons.

Show Now: Gorilla Grip Area Rug Pad, from $8.99, amazon.com

Best for Laminate Floors: Ninja Gripper Rug Pad

This rug pad's non-slip material is perfect for keeping carpets in place on slippery laminate floors. As one of the over 3,000 five-star reviews said, "Bought a runner rug for my kitchen and it slid all around on the laminate flooring. Put this under it, and it's like it's frozen in place. Love it!" The open-weave design also helps prevent dust from building up under your carpets.

Shop Now: Ninja Gripper Rug Pad, $8.97, amazon.com

Best for Over Carpet: Grip-It Magic Stop Non-Slip Pad

If you're putting a rug on top of carpet, this non-slip pad will protect the carpet underneath while providing a non-slip surface for the rug. It comes in a ton of sizes to best fit your rug, and it has nearly 2,000 five-star reviews.

Shop Now: Grip-It Magic Stop Non-Slip Pad, from $11.92, amazon.com

Best Outdoor: Wayfair Basics Deluxe Grip Outdoor Rug Pad

For outdoor rugs, it's best to go with an open-weave pad made of a plastic material. That way you can prevent mold and mildew, and it will hold up through the elements. This one is made of PVC and latex and has over 5,000 five-star reviews. "Perfect! Rugs haven’t budged all summer, despite being in a high use area," said one happy customer.

Shop Now: Wayfair Basics Deluxe Grip Outdoor Rug Pad, from $18.99, wayfair.com