Area rugs and carpeting are two great ways to spruce up your home and give it a personal touch. However, not all carpets like to stay where you've put them—especially on hardwood or otherwise slick flooring. Carpet pads are the answer to your frustration; their rubbery surface holds your rug firmly in place, no matter what. We've compiled a list of dependable mats, pads, and adhesive corners to choose from below. Read on to find the best carpet pads for your home, and say sayonara to slipping.
Gorilla Grip 4'x6' felt and rubber rug gripper
Holds on tight
Available in 1/4" and 1/8" thicknesses, this carpet pad from Gorilla Grip comes in twelve different sizes—you'll quickly find one that works for your flooring. Hypoallergenic felt and rubber combine to provide a cushiony feel and slip-free carpets. The dimensions of these pads are exact, so feel free to trim them down with scissors if they peek out past the edges of your rug.
Aurrako non-adhesive no slip rug pad
Bang for your buck
Aurrako's anti-slip PVC rug grippers are not only useful but affordable too. Its proprietary "open wave" pattern, explicitly designed to make vacuuming easier, is lightweight underneath your carpeting. This carpet pad plays nicely with vinyl and laminate flooring, not just hardwood. A quick tip: if you or anyone in your home has a latex allergy, this is the pad to pick.
Rug Pad USA felt and rubber non slip rug padding
Widest selection
Rug Pad USA offers the widest selection of carpet pad choices we've found so far—they even sell narrow pads sized for stair runners and are one of the few brands offering round mats. Standard 1/4" thickness is available, along with a chunkier 7/16" style for a plush, bouncy feeling under your rugs.
Ninja Brand rug pad for hardwood floors and hard surfaces
Avoid bunched rugs
Fourteen different sizes to choose from and an open-weave, non-adhesive structure are the top features of this carpet pad from Ninja. It won't fuse to your flooring over time and is safe for use on hardwood, tile, and laminate floors. Like most rug mats of this style, you can trim it to customize the dimensions.
Home TechPro vacuum tech rug grippers
Stick to these
Cleverly designed with tiny pores that act like suction cups, these "vacuum tech" rug grippers flatten carpet edges effortlessly. These grippers might not match your initial idea of a carpet pad, but they're invisible underneath and are beyond simple to install. Peel and stick to each corner of your rug, and you've found a low-effort way to make your carpet stay.
Epica extra-thick non-slip area rug pad
Twice the thickness
If you prefer your rug pads to be low-profile, but would still like a bit of spring when you step on them, this is the right one for you. Epica's extra-thick mat has a tighter grip than its peers due to the open-square design, able to compensate for sudden movements. Easily trimmable, it comes in three standard sizes.
Enjoy Holiday 1981 felt and EVA non-slip rug gripper
Unique sizes
Another wise choice for those with latex allergies, the felt and EVA foam carpet pads from Enjoy Holiday 1981 aren't just rectangular. They offer square and even round shapes, catering to countless decor styles. Its hybrid felt and foam design puts a bit more spring in your step and is budge-proof.
No more sliding, no more tripping
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Your household may be in constant motion, but your carpets and rugs should not. Thankfully, carpet pads prevent them from sliding askew or riding up. EVA foam, rubber, felt from recycled materials comprise most carpet pads on the market but suctioned or adhesive grippers are beginning to make an appearance.
Our favorite is still the Gorilla Grip 4'x6' felt and rubber rug gripper, for its accessible price point, 100% hypoallergenic recycled felt, and varied dimensions and thicknesses. If you're not interested in wrestling with a mat that's just as heavy as your carpet, then a choice like Ninja Brand's rug pad for hardwood floors and hard surfaces would be best. It's whisper-thin, lightweight, and still capable of holding down rugs with an iron grip thanks to the open-wave design of its material.