The vinyl plank flooring is a luxurious investment. It’s ok to put a rug in this type of flooring, but you won’t want your rug to damage the floor. Thus, it’s best to protect both of them and your safety by buying the best rug pad for vinyl plank flooring.
Here are the best rug pads for vinyl plank flooring you can buy in 2025:
- Best Overall (Non-Slip): RUGPADUSA
- Best For Heavier Rug (Non-Slip): Flow.Mounth
- Best For Thin Rugs (Non-Slip): Loloi
- Best For Area Rugs (Non-Slip): Grip-It
- Durable (Not Non-Slip): Mohawk Home
- Most Cushioned (Not Non-Slip): RUGPADUSA
| 6 Best Rug Pads For Vinyl Plank Flooring | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | RUGPADUSA
| |
Best For Heavier Rug | Flow.Mounth
| |
Best For Thin Rugs | Loloi
| |
Best For Area Rugs | Grip-It
| |
Durable | Mohawk Home
| |
Most Cushioned | RUGPADUSA
| |
Best Overall: RUGPADUSA
- Safe
- Easy to cut
- Good thickness
- Soft
- Sturdy
- Can’t order custom size
Are you looking for a rug pad that is good at all aspects? If yes, consider the RUGPADUSA non-slip rug pad.
This product is made from the combination of the felt material and EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) construction, so it features the following benefits:
The felt material offers soft and supportive cushioning for more comfort, especially it can alleviate fatigue and strain on your feet and joints. However, this product is still effective enough to protect your rug and the floor from scratching and damaging. Its gripping capacity is good enough to keep your rug in place without slipping and sliding, so you can put it in high-traffic areas with active children and pets.
The felt pads feature sound-dampening properties which minimize noise transmission. So, there is no need to worry about the impact and vibration caused by footsteps and furniture movements.
When the winter is coming, this item acts as a buffer between the cold floors and your feet because the felt offers thermal insulation.
The EVA construction has water-resistant properties which keep it from moisture and mildew. Thus, you can put this item in areas where there are usually unexpected accidents about spills and high humidity.
EVA is so durable that it can withstand heavy furniture and other stresses without losing the shape quickly.
EVA material is non-toxic without emitting harmful fumes and chemicals, so it’s safe to use indoors. You can set your mind at rest if your family has children and pets.
| RUGPADUSA Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Felt and EVA |
Item weight | 12.2 pounds |
Thickness | 0.13 inches |
Highlight features | Low-profile |
The RUGPADUSA rug pad can provide you with both comfort and great grip to protect both you and your vinyl plank flooring.
Best For Heavier Rug: Flow.Mounth
- Reasonable price
- Easy to cut to size
- Smell
Is your rug too heavy? Which pad works well for it? A customer had the same problem as you. She used the Flow month non-slip rug pad and it resulted in a wonderful outcome.
Specifically, she invested in 2 pads. This product is one of them. Although it is more expensive than another, this brings a better result. Everything happens for a reason:
This pad is made from felt, providing cushioning and durability, so its weight can withstand a heavy rug.
Its non-adhesive Aurrako rug pad grippers can prevent your heavy rugs from sliding and bunching even in areas with high traffic.
Heavy rugs will put extra strain on the pad. However, this model is durable and long-lasting enough to withstand the pressure thanks to its premium PVC materials.
| Flow.Mounth Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Rubber, Polyvinyl Chloride |
Item weight | 3.84 ounces |
Highlight features | Non-adhesive Lightweight Low-profile Premium PVC materials |
The Flow.mounth rug pad can withstand the weight of your heavier rugs without sliding.
Best For Thin Rugs: Loloi
- Easy to lay flat
- Functions as a great cushion
- Great thickness
- Affordable
- Thick so it’s hard to cut with scissors
What is the best rug pad for your thin rug? Do you need practical advice from experiences of users instead of the advertisement from the manufacturer?
Kristin - a customer chose the Loloi non-slip rug pad for her thin rug and everything was wonderful. Specifically, her Loloi rug is thin, so it’s easy to slip and slide all over the place when someone steps on it. After using this product, the rug doesn’t move, so there is no need to worry about tripping hazards anymore. Plus, this item is pretty thick, so it can provide your feet with extra cushioning for more comfort.
| Loloi Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | 70% Polyester and 30% Polypropylene Face |
Item weight | 14.87 pounds |
Thickness | 0.25 Inches |
Highlight features | Reversible |
According to customers, the Loloi Non-slip rug pad is designed for thin rugs, especially as it can provide maximum comfort for your feet.
Best For Area Rugs: Grip-It
- Durable
- Easy to cut to size
- Waterproof
- Easy to clean
- Quick to dry
- Smell
While the wall-to-wall carpeting can stretch across the entire room, the area rug is smaller than the dimensions of the room. It has a variety of sizes and 2 of the most popular sizes are 5 x 8 inches and 8 x 11 inches. If your choice is the former, consider the Grip-It non-slip rug pad that is a 5’ x 8’ low-profile non-slip rug pad.
| Grip-It Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Polyester |
Item weight | 2.5 pounds |
Highlight features | Low-profile Coated with a high-grade vinyl compound |
The Grip-It Non-slip rug pad has a perfect size for area rugs, especially it’s lightweight enough for you to move it regularly.
Durable: Mohawk Home
- Very plush
- Easy to keep clean
- Reasonable price
- Thick
- Not enough cushioning
A durable rug pad is a worthy and long-term investment because it doesn’t require you to waste an amount of money to buy and change a new one after a short time. This is the reason you should invest in the durable Mohawk Home rug pad.
It is made from durable felt. This material can protect your floors from damages such as scratching, scraping, and puncturing for a long time. Meanwhile, its area rug backing won’t cause abrasion wear and discoloration on your rug.
| Mohawk Home Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Recycled Material, Recycled Materials, Felt, 95% Polyester/ 5% Other Fibers |
Item weight | 24 pounds |
Thickness | 0.4 Inches |
Highlight features | Plush felt cushion |
The Mohawk Home rug pad is a long-term and worthy investment because it is made from durable felt material.
Most Cushioned: RUGPADUSA
- Thick
- Helps the rug stay stable on the floor
- Sturdy
- Easy to cut to size
- Cushy
- Not cheap
Doesn’t your rug provide your feet with enough comfort when stepping and walking on it? In this case, there is no need to buy a new one because you can improve its comfort with the cushioned RUGPADUSA rug pad.
This product is made from 100% visco-elastic memory foam, so it can provide your feet with the highest level of comfort compared to others. Moreover, this material is water-resistant, so the pad can keep spills and stains from reaching your floors.
| RUGPADUSA Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | 100% visco-elastic memory foam |
Item weight | 23 pounds |
Thickness | 7/16 inches |
Highlight features | Water resistant |
The RUGPADUSA rug pad is cushioned, so it’s very comfortable and supportive to step and walk on it.
How To Choose The Best Rug Pad For Vinyl Plank Flooring?
How Thick Should Your Rug Pad Be?
The thicker the rug pad is, the more cushioning it can provide. Thus, if you want to maximize comfort and last the lifespan of your area rug and vinyl plank flooring, consider a thick rug pad. Keep in mind that too thick rug pad can create an uneven surface and pose a tripping hazard, so choosing a suitable thickness level keeps the balance between comfort and stability. Consider the medium thickness - ¼ inch for most residential applications.
How Large Is Your Rug?
Take the dimensions of your rug and remember this rule. The rug pad should be slightly 1-inch smaller than the area rug on all sides. This way can prevent the rug pad from peeking out to make sure that it functions as effectively as possible without compromising your space’s aesthetics. If the pad is larger than your rug, trim it for a perfect fit.
What Is The Best Material For Rug Pads?
Felt Rug Pads
This material can provide you with great cushioning, which helps you feel as comfortable as possible when walking on. The felt rug pads are also durable, especially as they can keep your floors from getting scratches, dirt, and debris. However, this type doesn’t have enough grip to keep your rug in place in high-traffic areas. In this case, consider double-sided rug tape instead because it can secure your rug to the felt pad.
Natural Rubber Rug Pads
This material features high-quality grip, so it perfectly keeps your rug to stay in place. Unlike PVC and plastic-based rug pads, the natural rubber rug pads leave less marks and stains on your vinyl plank floors, but make sure that the rubber is pure without being treated with chemicals. If not, it will harm your floors.
The Combination Of Felt And Rubber Rug Pads
This option has all benefits of 2 types: the cushioning of felt and the gripping power of natural rubber. So, this is the best solution for vinyl plank floors.
Polyester Rug Pads
This is the combination of polyvinyl chloride and synthetic polyester fabric. It is so durable that the polyester rug pads can resist water, mold, and mildew. Consider this material if you want something that can keep your floors from spilling and staining while offering cushioning. However, nothing is perfect since the polyester doesn’t grip enough for high-traffic areas.
Jute Rug Pads
The natural jute fibers are good at protecting your floor from scratches, wear and tear, especially as it can offer another layer of cushioning to help you walk more comfortably.
What’s more, this material is environmentally friendly since it is biodegradable and recyclable. This is a worthy and long-term investment since it can last for years.
Wool Rug Pads
Although this material is thick, the wool rug pads can prevent your rug from slipping thanks to its natural grip.
I strongly recommend this option for areas with plenty of traffic because the wool is naturally antimicrobial.
Foam Rug Pads
This material can meet the balance between comfort and stability. It grips good enough to prevent bunching and sliding.
The foam rug pads have a variety of thickness levels and densities, so you can choose a suitable one for your needs.
Memory Foam Rug Pads
This type is made from viscoelastic foam that is good at contouring your feet and providing significant support. It is also dense without compressing over time.
This option can relieve pressure points, so I recommend it for those who are suffering from back pain and joint pains. It is also good for people with allergies as this material is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites. However, its price is pretty high and there are no options for small rugs.
Double-Sided Rug Pads
Double-sided rug pads can offer a firm grip while the top side features plush cushioning. In particular, you can use both sides because of its reversible design.
Which Brands Make The Best Rug Pad For Vinyl Plank Flooring?
RUGPADUSA
This brand was operated in 1994, is a family-owned company in the United States. They specialize in producing high-quality rug pads. The highlight feature of their products is the exceptional grip because they are crafted with a non-slip material. Thus, their rug pads can adhere well to both hardwood and carpeted floors.
FAQs
What rug backing is best for vinyl plank flooring?
There are many options, but below are some of them:
Non-slip latex backing
The latex material can help the rug grip the floor stably and safely to keep it from sliding and bunching up.
Rubberized backing
This type provides you with great traction to prevent slipping and falling. However, when buying one, make sure that it won’t stain and damage the vinyl surface.
Felt-backed rugs
I strongly recommend this option for those who have a non-slip pad underhead. This type can provide you with cushioning and insulation while the non-slip pad keeps the rug stay in place.
Are rubber rug pads safe for vinyl plank floors?
Yes, rubber rug pads are safe for vinyl plank floors, but keep in mind these precautions:
The material of this type of rug pad should be made from natural rubber material or high-quality synthetic rubber because they are labeled for vinyl floors. Don’t choose products that are made from recycled rubber and low-quality materials since they contain certain additives and chemicals that will damage your vinyl plank flooring potentially.
Can I use a rug without a rug pad?
Although you can use a rug without a rug pad, this item is very essential because it can protect your floor, rug, and your safety. Here are some specific benefits of a rug pad:
It protects you from slipping, curling up and other significant hazards.
The lifespan of your rug can last longer because the pad will minimize bunching up and keep the edges from unfurling.
This item can protect your floor from unessential scratches, and indentation caused by heavy furnishings.
A good rug pad can add extra softness and another layer of cushion.
It can also minimize noise.
This rug pad item can function as an insulating layer to keep your room from a cold subfloor.
How do you keep a rug in place without a rug pad?
If you don’t have a rug pad to keep your rug in place, you can use one of the following things as an alternative.
Non-slip mats and drawer liners
Double-sided tape and sticky backing
Felt and foam underlays
Putting your furniture or other heavy objects on the rug to keep it in place
Directly attaching your rug to the floor with hot glue guns
What is the best way to clean luxury vinyl plank floors?
The best way to clean luxury vinyl plank floors is regular cleaning. Specifically, you can vacuum your vinyl plank floors every day or apply a wet cleaning method 2-3 times per month.
Conclusion
What if you directly lay your rug on vinyl plank flooring without using a rug pad? The high probability is that your beautiful rug will ruin your floors with scratches. Or it’s very effortless for you to slide on a rug with no supportive item. Therefore, investing in the best rug pad for vinyl plank flooring is worth it.
