Do I Really Need A Rug Pad?

Pad for Area Rugs

Do I really need a pad?

For most rugs and in most applications, a pad for your area rugs is a good idea.  Even the heaviest rug will allow fine particulates to sift through to the floor, and the slight shift of the rug with normal foot traffic can then damage the floor and the rug.  Thin rugs will travel easily and become either a nuisance or hazard.  A large, heavy rug in a lightly used room may be fine without a pad.

There are many kinds of carpet pad (AKA:  Underlayment or cushion) for use under wall-to-wall carpeting and all have their own strengths.  However, only a few types of pad make a good choice for use under an area rug.  Since an area rug isn't nailed to the floor under tension like installed carpeting, it will flex more and this movement can cause the wrong pad, or a poor quality rug pad, to rapidly fail.  Also, pad made for wall-to-wall use is stapled or glued to the floor, so doesn't have any non-slip properties.