The Best Rug Pad for Hardwood Floors

Placing a rug on a hardwood floor is the perfect way to add a splash of color to a space and make a living area more comfortable. But if you don't sit it on top of a non-slip rug pad, it could damage your expensive flooring and even pose a serious tripping hazard.

So, if you've got your eye on an area rug to complete a room with a wood floor, you'd be well advised to place a rug pad under it.

Here's why – as well as a look at which is the right rug pad for hardwood flooring.

Why you need a rug pad for a hardwood floor

A hardwood floor is a beautiful thing – not to mention a big expense.

And while an area rug can lend a wooden floor a pop of color and pattern, it can also scratch up its surface, wear down its finish, and leave it stained from bleeding dye.

A quality rug pad will protect your wood floor from all of this wear and tear, saving you the stress and expense of having to have it refinished in years to come.

What's more, if you place a rug on a hardwood floor without a pad, then it's certain to slip, slide, and bunch up, creating a serious tripping hazard. Sandwiching a non-slip rug pad between the area rugs and hardwood floors in your home will keep it locked in place.

Because hardwood floors don't provide any cushioning on their own, thick rug pads can help make your rugs feel a lot more luxurious underfoot. This is great in the bedroom or living room, where sitting on the floor or walking barefoot is common.

This extra cushioning also provides soundproofing, which often goes a long way in rooms with hardwood floors with all those echoey surfaces.

And the more cushioning under your rug, the longer it will last.

Unlike rug tape, a rug pad anchors your rug in place through friction rather than an adhesive. That means it won't leave behind a residue that ruins your hardwood flooring.

The best part?

Because a non-slip rug pad anchors your rug firmly in place, you don't have to lift it up to vacuum either, making the housework a lot easier as well.

What's the best material for a rug pad on a hardwood floor?

Pick the wrong rug pad and it might do more harm than good to your wood floors.

When it comes to picking up a pad to protect hardwood floors, always go for a cushioned rug pad made from a quality rubber blend and topped with felt. This combination anchors your rug to hard flooring without damaging either.

Skimp on this expense and you'll end up with a cheap, imported rubber-backed pad that's been coated in chemical adhesives to enhance its grip by literally sticking to your expensive wooden floors. Over time, this adhesive will deteriorate, damaging and discoloring your floor – and your rug – in the process.

What's more, some of the adhesives used to coat cheap rug pads, such as PVC or synthetic rubber) contain known carcinogens.

And the solution to all of this?

A quality rug pad will prevent exposure to harmful chemicals every day.

Opt for a rug pad made from quality materials, as a cheap option is likely to cost you a lot more in the long-run…

...and put your loved one's health at risk along the way.

The best rug pads for hardwood floors

Each of these three rug pads from our range have been specifically designed for hardwood floors. They're engineered to protect hard floors, keep rugs of all shapes and sizes anchored in place, and provide plenty of underfoot comfort.

Plus, they're each made from high-quality, non-toxic materials right here in the USA – and come with a 10-year warranty and free delivery and returns.

RugPro

Our RugPro carpet pad is made from a bespoke low-clay rubber blend that anchors your rug to any hard surface through friction rather than an adhesive that will eventually deteriorate and damage your floor's finish.

Its felt upper also grips any area rug you place on it while providing a comfort boost.

And because it's one of the lowest-profile pads in our range, the RugPro is the perfect choice for hallways, doorways and smaller rooms where door clearance is an issue.

Contour-Lock

Our Contour-Lock rug pad has been specially designed to withstand heavy foot traffic, making it the perfect choice for hallways and entrances.

Its heat-pressed 1/8” felt top is backed by a natural, low-clay rubber blend that provides plenty of grip and cushioning.

This quality rug pad will stop any rug from slipping on a wood floor and provide the kind of added comfort that makes a house a home.

Superior-Lock

After a rug pad for an area rug that's going to sit in a living area with a hardwood floor? Look no further than our 1/4” Superior-Lock.

The thickest and most luxurious of the three pads we've profiled here, this pad will give any rug a comfort boost that helps make your living room or bedroom extra-cosy.

And the 12-ounce natural rubber backing and needle-punched felt topping holds even the heaviest rugs firmly in place – perfect for preventing a tripping hazard on your hardwood floor.

Other things you should know

Eyeing up a rug to go on one of your hardwood floors? Here are a few things you need to know before you pull out your credit card.

Can area rugs ruin hardwood floors?

An area rug without a rug pad beneath it could scuff and stain hardwood flooring. The cheaper the rug, the more likely this is to happen.

Luckily, a rug pad is a simple and affordable way to protect your hardwood floors from this wear and tear, prolonging the life of both your flooring and your rug.

Are felt rug pads good for hardwood floors?

A completely felt rug pad isn't a good match for a hardwood floor, as it will slip on the smooth surface.

The best rug pads for hardwood floors – like the three we've highlighted above – have a felt upper that grips your rug without stretching it on top of a rubber base that creates enough friction to stay anchored to the spot.

How long should you wait to place an area rug on a refinished hardwood floor?

When you refinish a hardwood floor, you should wait thirty days before placing an area rug on it. This will give it enough time to fully cure.

Put a rug down before thirty days are up and it could spoil your floor's new finish and – in extreme cases – leave your rug stuck to your floor.