Rug Pads for Vinyl and Vinyl Plank Floors
We always recommend following your floor manufacturer's instructions. Given that most vinyl recommend no rubber, here are our non rubber alternatives.
Eco-Plush 3/8"
Dense felt pad with generous cushioning for use with larger rugs that don’t require a non-slip pad
Cloud Comfort Memory Foam 7/16"
Dreamy cushioning that comes from 100% visco elastic memory foam, the same found in quality mattresses
Rug Pads for Vinyl and Vinyl Plank Floors
Want to Avoid Damaging Your Vinyl or Vinyl Plank Flooring? Read This
Vinyl is always classic — whether you’re dropping the needle on the Beatles’ White Album or updating the flooring in your home. Unfortunately, if you choose the wrong rug pad, your nice vinyl floor could end up more damaged than Janis Joplin.
Because vinyl and vinyl plank flooring can react badly with rubber and cheap polyvinyl chloride blends, it’s crucial to choose a rug pad that isn’t made with those materials.
Not to sound like a broken record 😉 but we always recommend following your floor manufacturer's instructions. Most manufacturers recommend no rubber — so here are our non-rubber alternatives.
Felt, soybean oil-based polymer blends, and visco-elastic memory foam are our top picks for vinyl-floor-safe rug pads. Whether you need a sturdy grip or out-of-this-world cushion, we have the pad for you.
Why do you need special rug pads for vinyl & vinyl plank floors?
In a word: chemistry!
Lots of homeowners choose to install luxury vinyl plank floors as an alternative to hardwood floors. Vinyl is extremely durable and also waterproof — making it a great choice, especially in high-humidity climates, where hardwood might bulge or swell.
The downside is that many luxury plank floors are made with chemical plasticizers and polymers. These components can undergo an ugly reaction when covered with certain types of floor coverings (like rugs, rug pads, and floor mats).
That’s when you’ll start to see your rug pad dissolving, disintegrating, or sticking to your once-beautiful floor! 😱
Friends don't let friends buy poor-quality rug pads.
Our advice: Avoid imported plastic pads
Most imported plastic pads are coated with adhesives to enhance grip. While that might be effective in the short term, in the long term, it can destroy your vinyl floors.
To make things worse, these pads often contain a combination of toxic chemicals which can "off-gas,” staining your floor permanently and filling your home with harmful vapors. Have you ever needed to open a window to “air out” a new purchase? That’s off-gassing.
The vast majority of rug pads on the market come from overseas manufacturers that aren’t subject to the same stringent quality controls as U.S. manufacturers. These pads usually contain chemicals, oils, or adhesives that can negatively react with the chemicals in your floor finishes.
For example, let’s look at phthalates: a common ingredient in many plastic rug pads.
Phthalates are a class of chemicals used to make plastics tougher and harder to break. However, they are also extremely toxic to both humans and animals, AND can be used as dissolving agents. We’re guessing you probably don’t want something that’s listed as a “dissolving agent” lying directly on your vinyl floors! We definitely don’t. 🙅♀️
So, What IS the Best Rug Pad For Vinyl Plank Flooring?
It depends on your needs!
We have two main categories for you: non slip rug pads for luxury vinyl floors and cushioned rug pads for vinyl plank floors.
You want the non slip feature if you have a small or medium rug or runner (think 6 x 9 or smaller) or if you have a lightweight flatweave rug (of any size).
You want a cushioned pad for any larger area rug that has heavy furniture to anchor it so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy plush, luxurious comfort from your rug. 😌
The Best Non Slip Rug Pad For Vinyl Floor Without Rubber
We’ll cut right to the chase: you want the Anchor Grip rug pad for vinyl flooring.
Anchor Grip is a low-profile, American-made PVC (AKA vinyl) rug pad specifically for folks with vinyl and vinyl plank floors.
Instead of natural rubber, Anchor Grip uses soybean oil-based polymer blends. That means it’s non slip and durable without the harmful plasticizers or unsustainable petrol oil polymers. They won't harm vinyl floors, hardwood floors, and urethane finishes. We guarantee it!
I’ll have a non slip vinyl rug pad, hold the toxins, please.
(P.S. if you want a different type of non slip pad like a natural rubber rug pad, we’ve got you covered there too — check out our non slip collection.)
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Safe for Vinyl Floors Recommended by more flooring manufacturers and rug care professionals - Vinyl Floor Disclaimer |
Better Grip Use of soybean oils & bio based fillers lends a better grip while protecting floors -- sustainably |
Low VOC’s Made with real soybean oil, natural soybean won't off-gas or leach chemicals, which can damage Vinyl and polyurethane finishes |
Longer Lasting Our Vinyl collection doesn’t contain harmful plasticizers, such as phthalates, that can react with certain floor finishes. |
★★★★★
Perfect for our vinyl plank flooring
Cut perfectly to our measurements, secure grip to hold the rug steady on our vinyl plank flooring.
— Ann M.
The Best Area Rug Pad For Vinyl Flooring
Want comfort and cushion for your large area rug? You need our Eco Plush 100% felt rug pad.
The Eco Plush is a dense felt pad from 100% recycled felt. Eco friendly, sustainable, toxin free, and seriously comfortable!
This pad comes in three different thicknesses: 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2".
For the extra luxurious folks, you need our upgrade pad: the memory foam Cloud Comfort.
This pad comes in two thicknesses (1/4" and 7/16”) and uses premium visco elastic memory foam to give you that squishy, pressure relieving, mattress-like feel.
Both these pads can offer deluxe padding for larger rugs that don’t need non slip grip and are safe for all floor types including luxury vinyl, wood floor, laminate flooring, and linoleum.
Customer Questions & Answers
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Can I put Penneys bath rugs on a Karndean vinyl floor or on top of your rug pads?
Unfortunately, I can't speak about products we don't carry, but we definitely have rug pads that work well on vinyl floors, for example, our Anchor Grip and Eco Plush pads. However, before making a purchase I recommend you contact your floor's manufacturer for their specific guidelines on what can be laid down on your floor.
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I am told that several types of area rug pads will yellow my luxury vinyl plank flooring. What do you recommend in this instance? I think I need something that is BHT Certified.
Please contact the manufacturer of your floor type as they will have guidelines on what is and isn't safe. I am almost certain they will advise you to stay away from rubber. The pad that we mostly sell to clients with your floor type is Anchor Grip, which is a soybean oil-based polymer blend.
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I have light vinyl kitchen floors that discolor with latex-based pads. Do you offer any pads that won't discolor light vinyl?
We use plant-based oils instead of other fillers that can stain floors. For example, many cheap pads contain phthalates that react with certain floor finishes. Our pads will not stain or discolor your light vinyl floor.
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Can I use an Anchor Grip pad on my luxury vinyl plank floors? I would like to put this pad under a gel mat.
We find that the firm grip and floor protection of our Anchor Grip pad make it a popular choice among customers who have the same type of floor as yours. However, I do recommend you contacting the floor's manufacturer for specific guidelines about what you can use.
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We are going to be installing luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout the house this month. I need many rug pads (some small, but several for 9'x 12' and 8' x 10' rugs). I'd like pads with thicker cushioning and wonder what you recommend.
First of all, please contact your floor manufacturer because they will have specific guidelines for your floor type. Having said that, customers with vinyl floors tend to purchase our Anchor Grip pad. This is a soybean oil-based polymer blend that is safe for all hardwood floors, finishes, and laminates. It has a strong grip and a generous layer of cushioning for a plush feel.
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I have new Mannington Adura grouted vinyl tile and Mannington vinyl distinctive plank flooring in my house. What rug pads do you sell that are safe for these floors?
I would ask the floor manufacturer for guidelines on what is safe to use on your floors. Many customers with vinyl plank floors purchase our Anchor Grip pad but we don't recommend this for tiles because it can stick to the floor.
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I need a rug pad that won't damage the luxury vinyl plank flooring in my foyer and kitchen. What do you suggest?
I recommend our Anchor Grip pad. This firm gripping pad is a soybean oil-based polymer blend that will protect your floor for many years to come. It won't damage it in any way. However, with vinyl plank flooring we always recommend checking with the manufacturer first for their guidelines on what is safe to use.
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Will your vinyl pads discolor an engineered vinyl floor?
The best pad for your floor is Eco Plush which is a 100% heat-pressed felt pad. It doesn't contain any chemicals, glues or adhesives and will not discolor or harm your engineered vinyl floor.
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We are putting in Armstrong CushionStep vinyl and will have new plywood over a really damaged hardwood floor. We would like a pad for cushioning that will last and wonder what you recommend.
The best pad for that would be the Eco Plush 1/2". This durable pad has lots of generous cushioning but it is not non-slip. If you need something with grip you could go with our Anchor Grip pad.
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My vinyl plank floor is cold, even through the rug, and I was wondering whether a rug pad would provide insulation as well as cushion.
Our Eco Plush felt pad has insulating properties, but keep in mind that this is not a non-slip pad. If your rug is smaller than 9' x 12' it may slip.
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I've just installed COREtec Plus engineered luxury vinyl plank tile flooring. I want to be very careful about the rug pads I use on this surface but need some non-slip options. What do you recommend?
The first thing we always say is check with your floor's manufacturer for their specific guidelines on what can and cannot be used. Secondly, I would take a look at our Anchor Grip pad which is often bought by customers with your type of floor. This non-slip pad is a soybean oil-based polymer blend that will also safeguard your floor for many years to come.
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Is the Anchor Grip pad safe for vinyl laminate floors?
Yes, this pad along with every product we carry is safe for all floors and finishes. In fact, many customers with your floor type purchase Anchor Grip. However, I first would advise you to contact your floor manufacturer because they will be able to tell you exactly what can and cannot be put down on your floor.
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What matting do I use on a Coretec (vinyl) floor?
We suggest that you contact the manufacturer of your floor. They will have specific guidelines about what is safe to use on your vinyl floor.
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I'm looking for a rug pad that is 100% safe for Stainmaster vinyl plank flooring, with a guarantee that it will not stain or ruin the floor. I have been told that silicone would be best but I cannot find any silicone rug pads.
I would contact the floor manufacturer and mention our Anchor Grip rug pad. Customers with similar floor types to yours usually go with this pad which is a soybean oil-based polymer blend.
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We have Moduleo luxury vinyl floor planks and want to lay down some rugs. However, they all seem to have rubber or latex backing, which I heard can discolor floors. What type of pad can I use under a rug/mat so that no discoloring occurs?
For stubborn rugs that just won't stay in place I recommend Anchor Grip, our PVC pad. For bigger area rugs the Eco Plush pad would be safe and comfortable for your floor type.
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What is the least expensive rug pad to use on vinyl plank floors?
It would be the Eco Plush all felt pad. However, I would not suggest this pad unless your rug is bigger than 8' x 10'. That's only because Eco Plush is not a non-slip.
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Is your PVC pad safe for luxury vinyl plank flooring?
The only two pads I recommend for luxury vinyl flooring are Anchor Grip if you need grip to keep rugs in place and Eco Plush if you have a larger rug. Keep in mind that this 100% heat-pressed felt product is not a non-slip pad.
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I'm having trouble finding durable entry rugs for a lake house that are rubber/latex free. Can Anchor Grip be used under a rubber or latex-backed rug without harming vinyl plank flooring?
Yes, Anchor Grip can be used without causing any harm to your floor. This pad is a soybean oil-based polymer blend that delivers maximum gripping power and confers long-term floor protection.
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What is the best non-staining and breathable rug pad to use on a luxury vinyl tile floor? It would be used in a mudroom under rugs that are 2' x 8' and 4' x 50".
Our Anchor Grip pad is very safe for vinyl flooring. It is a soybean oil-based polymer blend that doesn't contain any rubber. Anchor Grip is a non-slip pad with a superb gripping attribute which makes it ideal for rugs and runners that have problems with slipping.
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We have just installed over 500 square feet of LifeProof vinyl plank flooring. Will the Anchor Grip rug pad be safe to use under a rug on this floor?
Yes. Anchor Grip is safe for vinyl and luxury vinyl planks. If you're unsure, I would contact your floor manufacturer and ask them for guidelines on what is okay to put down on your floors.
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I would like pads for area rugs on vinyl plank flooring. I want something that will keep them in place and that won't leave an imprint when they're taken up as the floors are mopped. The floor manufacturer suggests no rubber. What do you recommend?
I recommend our Anchor Grip pad, which is a soybean oil-based polymer blend. Its solid construction delivers exceptional gripping power, and unlike many other pads it doesn't contain plasticizers, such as phthalates that can react with some floor finishes.