How to choose the right carpet pad.
What is a good carpet pad thickness.
For this reason you ll want a thinner carpet pad.
Shop all thickness options.
The thickness and density of carpet pads affects how the carpet looks and feels.
That s because the thick carpet pad has too much give for a short pile carpet.
Standard residential carpet and pad thickness.
If you choose a low pile carpet which includes berber loop pattern carpet and commercial varieties the carpet pad thickness should be 3 8 inch or less.
It s usually pretty simple because most carpets call for 7 16.
Some prefer a rubber pad or a synthetic fiber or wool pad for basements.
Don t choose a carpet pad that s too thick or you risk unsightly folds and wrinkles developing in and beneath.
Carpet density is basically a combination of height and thickness.
Berber styles require a special padding that is more dense with a lower profile.
If you re using the rug pad on top of a carpeted surface then the felt side should be used.
Together they are key factors in your carpet s look and feel and they also influence its resilience and durability.
The good news is most retailers know the padding thickness you need.
The density of the carpet pad foam is another factor to consider.
This 0 25 inch thick rug pad features a felted surface on one side and a latex rubber surface on the other side.
Widely looped carpets like berber do not react well to thick carpet padding.
For example a good quality rebond padding 1 4 to 3 8 thickness and a density of at least 8 pounds.
But with padding thicker pad isn t always the best carpet padding.
Although carpet padding is responsible for a lot more than comfort the average person walking across his living room may imagine that thicker is better.
Products with a density of 6 to 8 pounds are standard.
Thick padding may not be as durable and anything over 8 16 will cause installation problems.
Get to know the basics below to decide which options are best for your home and lifestyle.
In fact it might even be worse for your home.
Selecting the right carpet pile density.
Thickness ranges from 0 25 0 50.
Carpet padding should be soft enough for comfort but sturdy enough to provide support and shock absorption.
Thick padding is generally not only not worth it but may result in buckling worn or splitting carpet.
If you have smooth solid floors the natural grip of the rubberized side will keep your carpet pad in place.