The short answer
Your rug pad should be slightly smaller than your rug — roughly an inch less in each direction. For an 8′×10′ rug, you want a pad around 7′10″ × 9′10″.
If you are buying from us, you do not need to work this out. Pick your rug size and we cut the pad for you before it ships. Every size option on our product pages shows the exact finished pad dimensions in brackets, so you can see what you are getting before you order.
Why smaller, and not the same size?
Three reasons, and they all matter more than they sound.
So the pad does not show. A pad cut to the same size as the rug will always peek out somewhere. Rugs are rarely perfectly square, floors are rarely perfectly flat, and once the rug settles you get a grey or tan border creeping out along one edge. Half an inch of clearance on each side makes the pad invisible.
So the edges lie flat. The edge of a rug needs to taper down to the floor. If the pad runs all the way to the edge — or past it — the rug stops short in mid-air and the border lifts. That is what creates the little ridge people catch their toes on.
So you do not trip. A pad edge sitting proud of the rug is a genuine trip hazard, particularly in a hallway or doorway. The whole point of a pad is to make the rug safer, not to add a new lip to it.
Size chart for common rugs
These are the finished pad sizes we cut for our standard rug sizes.
| Your rug | Pad cut size |
|---|---|
| 2′×4′ | 1.9′ × 3.9′ |
| 3′×5′ | 2.9′ × 4.9′ |
| 4′×6′ | 3.9′ × 5.9′ |
| 5′×7′ | 4.9′ × 6.9′ |
| 5′×8′ | 4.9′ × 7.9′ |
| 6′×9′ | 5.9′ × 8.9′ |
| 8′×10′ | 7.9′ × 9.9′ |
| 9′×12′ | 8.9′ × 11.9′ |
| 10′×14′ | 9.9′ × 13.9′ |
| 12′×15′ | 11.9′ × 14.9′ |
| 12′×18′ | 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 is straightforward:
- Lay the pad out flat and let it relax for an hour or two if it arrived rolled.
- Put the rug face down on top of it, lined up.
- Mark about half an inch inside the rug edge.
- Cut. Our All-Purpose, Superior and Deluxe Outdoor 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
Round: order the round pad in your rug's diameter. We cut it slightly under, same principle.
Runners: the clearance matters more here, because runners live in hallways where people walk fast. Do not let the pad reach the edge.
Hides, octagons, anything irregular: order a rectangular pad that covers the widest and longest points, then trace round the rug and cut to shape. Mark on the pad, not the rug.
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
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 — though 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.
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:
