Rug pads for hardwood floors
On wood, the right pad protects the floor as much as the rug. The wrong one can mark the finish.
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Felt, natural rubber, and felt bonded to natural rubber are the usual safe choices for finished hardwood. They grip or cushion without reacting with the finish.
What to avoid
Avoid pads made of PVC, vinyl or other plastics, and pads with a sticky or adhesive back. They can leave a residue, stick to the finish or discolor it, sometimes in the pattern of the pad.
Also avoid laying a rug on wood with no pad at all. Grit trapped under the rug can scratch the floor.
How thick should it be?
About a quarter inch suits most rooms and gives a soft feel underfoot. Under doors and in entries, use a thin rubber pad so the door clears the rug.
New or refinished floors
Fresh finishes need time to cure before a rug and pad go down. Ask your flooring installer how long to wait, and follow the finish maker’s instructions.
Look after the floor under the rug
Lift the rug and pad now and then to clean the floor beneath. Sunlight darkens or fades many woods, so rotating the rug helps the floor age evenly.
Quick answers
Will a rug pad scratch hardwood?
A felt or natural rubber pad should not. Scratches usually come from grit trapped under a rug with no pad, or from a worn-out pad.
Is rubber safe on hardwood?
Natural rubber is generally safe on finished hardwood. PVC and other synthetic pads sold as rubber are the ones that can mark a finish, so check the label.
How often should I replace a rug pad?
When it flattens, crumbles or stops gripping. A good felt-and-rubber pad lasts many years.
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