Apartment living is great, but there you cannot escape your downstairs neighbors’ complaints about you being too noisy. Whether you are listening to music, vacuum cleaning your home, or just walking around, you will be “too noisy” for them.
To get away from this situation, all you need is to soundproof your floors, or at least reduce the sound transmission through the floor. One simple way of doing that is to lay soundproof rug pads. Rugs or carpet pads are insulation layers that not only prolong the life of rugs and prevent skidding, it also absorbs sound energy. It will substantially help you lessen the sound transfer from your floor to the one down the stairs.
But how would you know what type of carpet pad is best for noise reduction? Let’s find out by looking at these 7 best soundproof rug and carpet pads!
Top Picks for Best Soundproof Rug and Carpet Pads
Here are our top picks for the best soundproof carpet pads:
| Product | Features | Link |
| RUGPAD USA Basic Felt Pad (Best-overall) | – Compatible with all types of floors – Available in 3 thicknesses – Available in various sizes – 100% felt-made – Reasonable price – Durable | Amazon |
| Carpenter Visco-Elastic Memory Foam (Runner-up) | – ½ inch thickness – Memory foam material – Moisture resistant – Available in 14 sizes – Easy to cut – Recyclable and eco-friendly – Durable | Amazon |
| Ophanie Non-Slip Rug Pad(Best Budget Option) | – Grid design – Anti-slip – PVC material – Available in 11 sizes – Approximately 1/16 inch in thickness – Suitable for solid hardwood, laminated, or tiled floors – Durable – Easy to clean | Amazon |
Best Soundproof Rug Pads
1. RUGPADUSA Basic Felt Pad
The RugPadUSA’s Basic Felt Pad is the best overall on our list. It is composed of pure dense felt that makes it more effective for sound absorption. One of the best things about these pads is that they are available in three different thicknesses; ½-inch, ⅜-inch, and ¼-inch. Therefore, you can easily select one as per your rug or carpet’s requirement.
Other than the thicknesses, this felt-made rug pad gives you a number of options for sizes and shapes. Moreover, this soundproofing rug pad is compatible with every floor type. As it is grey in color and does not use chemicals, it is safe for your flooring.
For better results, we recommend going for ½-inch thickness as it would be cozier and denser to absorb the sounds. It would be a fine underlay for a thinner rug that will prolong its life. It might be arduous to cut this carpet pad as it would require a carpet knife or a wire cutter. However, with various sizes available you probably would not require that.
One downside of this rug pad is its poor grip on the floor. Even carpet tape is not available for that purpose. So, it would not be ideal for a tile floor unless you use a rug gripper or carpet tape.
Pros
- Compatible with all types of floors
- Available in 3 thicknesses
- Available in various sizes
- 100% felt-made
- Reasonable price
- Durable
Cons
- Skiddy rug pad
- Difficult to cut
2. Carpenter Visco-Elastic Memory Foam
The Carpenter Visco-Elastic Memory Foam is second on our list of the best soundproofing rug pads. This pad is thicker, softer, and ideal for sound absorption. You can place it anywhere, your bedroom, living room, children’s room, or for your pets, it will go well with all.
These half-inch thick soft pads can reduce any impact noise from transferring to the floor beneath. The memory foam that gives you a comforting feeling is also moisture resistant. Therefore, you can place these even on concrete flooring in humidity. For the better grip of this pad, carpet tape is available with the package.
Even though the Carpenter rug pad comes in 14 different sizes and shapes, you can also easily cut the pieces according to your liking. Also, it is a heavy-duty carpet padding that is recyclable.
However, a one-off thing about the Carpenter Visco-Elastic carpet pad is its price as it is much costlier than other carpet or rug pads. Nonetheless, its effectiveness against the impact noises puts it on the second spot on our list.
Pros
- ½ inch thickness
- Memory foam material
- Moisture resistant
- Available in 14 sizes
- Easy to cut
- Recyclable and eco-friendly
- Durable
Cons
- Highly expensive
- Requires carpet tape for gripping
3. Ophanie Non-Slip Rug Pad
If you do not want to go for an expensive rug pad, you might consider the Ophanie Non-Slip Rug Pad. This soundproof rug pad has an open-gridded design that makes it more gripping. Also, the netted-like design is not plain; rather there are spherical thicker points that provide it with some density.
The Ophanie rug pad is composed of polyvinyl chloride that makes it non-slipping on surfaces like laminate, hardwood, or tile floors. Also, this rug pad is available in a total of eleven sizes so that you can easily select one according to your requirement. However, if you do not find the right size, you can smoothly cut it using scissors.
Moreover, it is long-lasting padding that you can easily clean with a vacuum cleaner. However, you cannot use it on entirely carpeted floors, vinyl floors, or acrylic finish. Also, it is not recommended to place it on stairs. Nonetheless, this rug pad is pretty handy and the best budget option.
Pros
- Gridded design
- Anti slip
- PVC material
- Available in 11 sizes
- Approximately 1/16 inch in thickness
- Suitable for solid hardwood, laminated, or tiled floors.
- Durable
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not suitable for vinyl or complete carpeted floors
- Less dense than other paddings
- Shouldn’t be placed on stairs
4. Mohawk Felt Rug Pad
Mohawk is another felt-made rug pad that is highly operative for sound absorption. It is compatible with all types of floors as there is no rubber or latex layer that may cause discoloration to your floors. These are ¼ inch in thickness which makes them fairly useful for noise reduction.
The Mohawk rug pads are also available in a total of nine sizes and it is effortless to trim according to your requirement. Moreover, these felt carpet pads are odorless and are not harmful to the environment.
However, there are a few things about this rug pad that might irk you. Firstly, it is not very gripping and skids on most of the surfaces. Therefore, you have to make it gripping through carpet tape or grippers. Secondly, it is not very plushy so you would have to pair it up with thicker carpets or rugs. Anyhow, it can be quite helpful in lessening the noise.
Pros
- Felt fiber material
- ¼ inch thickness
- Available in 9 different sizes
- Compatible with most types of floorings
- Easy to cut
- Eco-friendly
- Odourless
Cons
- Not very plushy
- Skiddy
5. Gorilla Grip Rug Pads
Gorilla Grip Rug Pads are made of both felt and rubber. The upper side is of felt fiber and is soft while the lower side is of rubber which makes it anti-skid. The rubber that is used in this rug is natural and does not contain any chemicals that might damage the floors. Therefore, it is suitable for all types of floorings.
The Gorilla grip carpet pads are available in a number of sizes and you can easily customize them with the use of scissors. Although it is only ¼ inch thick, it is impressive for noise reduction because of the rubber backing. Also, as these are slip-resistant, it is way easier to clean them using a vacuum cleaner.
Being high duty, these rug paddings are a bit pricey. Moreover, it does not go well with completely carpeted floors.
Pros
- Anti-skid
- ¼ inch thickness
- Felt and natural rubber material
- Suitable for all types of floors, excluding carpeted
- Easy to cut
- Highly durable
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Expensive
- Not suitable for completely carpeted floors
6. Enjoy Holiday Rug Pad
Enjoy Holiday rug pad is yet another impressive rug pad that is slip-resistant and sound absorbent. These are also composed of both EVA rubber and felt layers. Moreover, these rug pads are ⅓ inch thick which gives them enough density to absorb the impact noises.
The EVA rubber layer makes them slip-resistant and appropriate to be used on slippery floorings. It will make floors safer for your kids and pets. For hardwood floors, Enjoy Holiday rug pads are an ideal choice. Also, this rug pad comes in various sizes, and you can easily customize its size.
One issue with these pads is that they are not very durable, and their edges get folded over time which may cause tripping hazards. Also, these are not compatible with carpets.
Pros
- Felt and natural rubber material
- ⅓ inch thick
- Ideal for hardwood floors
- Available in various sizes
- Slip-resistant
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not very durable
- Nor suitable for carpets
7. Durahold Plus Felt and Rubber Rug Pad
Durahold Plus is another felt and rubber-made rug padding that can be used for noise reduction. It is a non-skidding and environment-friendly rug pad. The upper felt layer is ¼ thick which makes it more comfortable to walk on. Its backside is made of pure natural rubber which makes it sound absorbent.
The hexagonal tire marks make it more slip-resistant. Moreover, as it is a gripping rug, you can easily clean it with a vacuum cleaner. The availability of different sizes makes the Durahold Plus easier to install.
Furthermore, it is a heavy-duty product that is suitable for all types of floors. However, these are quite expensive in comparison to some of the other felt-rubber rug pads.
Pros
- Felt and rubber material
- Slip resistant
- Various size options
- ¼ inch thick
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Quite Expensive
Buying Guide For Soundproof Rug And Carpet Pads
Buying a carpet pad for soundproofing would require you to consider the following things:
Type Of Flooring
Before you start looking for the features of the carpet or rug pads, you must consider the type of flooring you have. Though most of the carpet pads are compatible with every type of flooring still you should consider a few things:
Wooden Floors
Whether hardwood, engineered, or laminated, you must avoid any type of material that may leave marks or scratches on these floors. Therefore, you should not use colored carpet pads as they can stain the floors.
Moreover, rubber-backed pads are also not recommended for wooden floors because they use certain chemicals that may damage the finish of the floor. However, you can use natural rubber-made carpet pads.
Tiled Floors
The tiled floors are very slippery, which causes rugs and carpets to skid and clump. Therefore, there are more chances of accidents. Hence, for tile floors, make sure to use gripping pads so that the rugs would not skid, ensuring safety from accidents.
Moreover, colored and rubber-backed pads are also not recommended for tiles. Because they can cause discoloration of the grout that combines the tiles.
Concrete Floors
As concrete floors are hard surfaces, walking barefoot on them feels discomforting. Therefore, you require soft and plush padding under your carpet. Also, the concrete floors are more vulnerable to moisture, so you should use a water-resistant carpet pad.
The most recommended carpet or rug pads for concrete floors are foam-made that are also vapor resistant.
Thickness
Like for any type of soundproofing material, thickness is essential for rug pads too. Mostly, the thickness of carpet pads lies between ½ inch and 1/16 inch. However, an ideal soundproof rug pad should not be less than ⅛ inch.
Most of the products on our list are over ⅛ inches. Nevertheless, you can go for thicker or thinner rug pads depending on the quality of your carpet or rug.
Material of Rug Pad
Materials used in rug pads cannot be ignored either. A rug or carpet pad has to be denser in order to absorb the sound energy hence, the materials it is made of are foam, PVC, felt, rubber, or a blend of both felt and rubber.
The most recommended materials for soundproofing are foam and felt. However, for a more skidding surface, you can opt rubber or PVC carpet pads.
Size and Shapes
Rug or carpet pads are available in various sizes and shapes in the market. You must consider these before buying one. Because getting the wrong one would mean you have to make adjustments by cutting the pads, which can be laborious.
Here, the general rule of thumb is to select a pad that is 1 inch smaller than the size of rugs from all sides. This will ensure that it grips the rug firmly and is hidden properly.
Note: The sizes mentioned in the description of soundproofing rug pads are of the rugs they will be appropriate for and not of the paddings themselves. Therefore, the rug pads you receive will be a little smaller than the size of your rug.
FAQs
Will a rug pad help with noise?
Placing a carpet or rug pads can be really helpful in reducing the impact noises like footfall, vacuum cleaning, moving of furniture, etc. Moreover, it can also lessen the echo and sound vibrations in the room to an extent. However, they are not very effective against airborne noises, so they cannot completely soundproof a room.
What carpet pad is best for soundproofing?
The best carpet pads for soundproofing are made of denser and thicker materials. Ideally, the high-density foams and felt-made paddings that are ½ inch in thickness are recommended. However, you can also go for felt-rubber, PVC, or rubber carpet pads too, depending on the type of your floor.
Will a rug or carpet pad reduce the squeakiness of hardwood floors?
No, a carpet or rug pad cannot be used for resolving the squeakiness of hardwood floors. You can only use them under the carpet or the rug. However, the squeakiness of hardwood floors has more to do with the underlayments that are placed between the subfloor and the hardwood floor.
Final Thoughts
Carpet or rug pads are an excellent choice for floor noise reduction, especially if you are living in an apartment or a condo. These are made of various materials like foam, felt, polyvinyl chloride, rubber, and felt rubber. This layering goes under your carpets and rugs that not only makes them plushy but absorbs sound energy too.
Before you buy a soundproofing rug pad, make sure that its material does not cause discoloration or damage to your floors. Moreover, consider the materials, thickness, sizes, and shapes before selecting the rug pad.
According to our carefully curated list of the 7 best soundproof rug and carpet pads, the overall best is Carpenter Visco-Elastic Memory Foam that is ½ inch thick and water-resistant. The runner-up is RUGPADUSA Basic Felt Pad that is also ½ inch thick and reasonably priced. Another cost-effective option for the soundproof rug pad is a non-skidding, PVC-made Ophanie Non-Slip Rug Pad.