Getting the size right is the difference between a rug pad you never think about again and one that shows at the edges, lifts the border and catches your toe. It is a simple rule, and we do the arithmetic for you.
Your rug pad should be about three inches smaller than your rug in each direction.
Same gap on all four sides. Three inches off each dimension.
You do not need to work this out. Pick your rug size and we cut the pad before it ships.
Why smaller, and not the same size?
Here is the edge of your rug, close up, three ways.
Pad too big
It peeks out along an edge, and the rug sits on a step instead of the floor.
Pad to the edge
The rug stops in mid air. The border lifts, and that is the ridge you catch.
Pad an inch and a half in
The border tapers down to the floor. Nothing shows, nothing lifts.
Size chart for common rugs
Your rug size on the left of each card, the pad we cut for it underneath.
2′×4′
pad 1′9″ × 3′9″
3′×5′
pad 2′9″ × 4′9″
4′×6′
pad 3′9″ × 5′9″
5′×7′
pad 4′9″ × 6′9″
5′×8′
pad 4′9″ × 7′9″
6′×9′
pad 5′9″ × 8′9″
8′×10′
pad 7′9″ × 9′9″
9′×12′
pad 8′9″ × 11′9″
10′×14′
pad 9′9″ × 13′9″
12′×15′
pad 11′9″ × 14′9″
12′×18′
pad 11′9″ × 17′9″
We also cut runners (2′×8′, 2′×10′, 2′×12′), rounds (6′, 7′, 8′) and squares (5′×5′ up to 9′×9′). The full list is on each product page.
Measure your rug. Do not trust the label.
This is the step people skip, and it is the one that causes returns.
Rug sizes are nominal. An “8×10” is very often 7′10″×9′10″, sometimes 8′2″×10′3″. Hand-knotted and vintage rugs can be off by several inches, and are frequently not quite rectangular. One end wider than the other is completely normal.
Take a tape measure to it
Measure the width at both ends and the length on both sides. Use the smallest of each pair. Measure the woven rug itself, not the fringe. Fringe should never sit on the pad.
What if my rug is not a standard size?
Order the next standard size up and trim it down. Never size down and hope. A pad that is too small leaves the rug edges unsupported, which is exactly where the wear happens.
Trimming, step by step
- Let it relax. Lay the pad out flat and let it relax for an hour or two if it arrived rolled.
- Line up the rug. Put the rug face down on top of it, lined up.
- Mark the line. Mark an inch and a half inside the rug edge.
- Cut. Our All-Purpose, Superior and Deluxe™ pads cut cleanly with household scissors. The Premium pad is 0.25″ thick, so use a utility knife and a straight edge.
Cut a little at a time. You cannot put it back.
Round rugs, runners and odd shapes
Do I need a pad under a rug on carpet?
Yes, and it is a different pad. On carpet you want our All-Purpose pad used upside down, fiber side facing down into the carpet, rubber side up against the rug. Same sizing rule applies.
Frequently asked
Tap a question to open it.
Can a rug pad be too big?
Yes. It will show at the edges, lift the rug border, and create a trip hazard. Too big is a worse problem than slightly too small.
Can a rug pad be too small?
Also yes, and it is worse for the rug. The unsupported edges flex every time someone walks on them, and that is where a rug wears through first.
What about under furniture?
The pad should run under the whole rug, furniture included. A pad that stops short leaves a visible step where the level changes.
Does the thickness change the size I need?
No. Sizing is the same whether you choose a 0.10″ or a 0.25″ pad. Thickness is about cushion and clearance, not fit. On a very thick pad, check the rug still clears any door that swings over it.
Do I need a pad for a small 2×3 rug?
If it is anywhere people walk, yes. Small rugs on hard floors slide the most, because there is not enough weight to hold them down.
Oriental Rug & Carpet Clinic · Denver
Still not sure?
Measure your rug and call us on 1-833-RUG-PADS or email contact@rugpad.us. Tell us the measurements and what floor it is going on, and we will tell you which pad and what size. If none of ours is right for your situation, we will say so.
Otherwise, pick your floor and go from there:
