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When you want to prevent your dog from annoying your neighbors below you with its barking or dull your downstairs neighbor’s music so it doesn’t keep you awake at night, there’s a simple solution: rug pads. Lining your floor with a rug pad can be a great strategy for reducing ambient sounds in your home. But, how can you tell which are the best rug pads for soundproofing? As you shop, consider the thickness of the rug pad, the size you need, and the flooring it’ll be placed on.

Many rug pads are thin and made to simply prevent rugs from skidding around on the floor, not to soundproof. In contrast, rug pads that are best-suited for soundproofing are ones that are made of a denser material. The density of the pad helps it to cut down on noise passing between floors, so it’s best to buy the thickest pad possible. However, this comes at a cost: Often, the thicker the rug pad is, the more expensive it will be. And some thicker materials like memory foam are not anti-skid, so you’ll have to consider whether that’s important for your space. Alternatively, you can also purchase some rug grippers to keep your pad from sliding around.

Also, keep your flooring in mind as you shop. Many rug pads are designed for a long list of flooring materials. (Some rug pads are ideal for hardwood floors, while other rug pads are a better fit for laminate surfaces.) And when shopping for a rug pad, have your measurements on hand so the pad you buy is the right size for the rug you want to use it under.

In a hurry? Here are the best rug pads for soundproofing.

1. The Overall Best Rug Pad For Soundproofing: RUGPADUSA 0.5-Inch Memory Foam Rug Pad

2. The Best Budget-Friendly Rug Pad: Mohawk Home Ultra Premium All Surface 1/4 Inch Rug Pad

3. The Best Rug Pad With A Nonslip Backing: RUGPADUSA USA 0.25-Inch Felt & Rubber Rug Pad

But, enough talk. Keep scrolling for more details on the best rug pads for soundproofing, gathered up below.

Made from thick 0.5-inch memory foam, this RUGPADUSA rug pad is one of the densest you’ll find on the market. It’s available in a wide range of sizes and works on hardwood floors as well as a wide variety of other surfaces like concrete, stone, vinyl, and laminate flooring. However, while it boasts soundproof and water-resistant qualities, this rug pad is not anti-slip, so it’s not ideal to use in hallways and other areas where this could be an issue.

According to one reviewer: “Love how cozy it makes the room feel under area rug on hardwood floors. It keeps the room warmer and dampens sound too!”

For the most affordable option for a soundproofing rug pad, look no further than this Mohawk Home rug pad. It’s made of 0.25-inch recycled felt that both protects all types of flooring and helps reduce sound. Tons of Amazon reviewers have given it major kudos, including one shopper who attested that it made their “semi-inexpensive” area rug “feel like a more expensive product and is well worth the price.”

While this is a great budget-friendly option, it doesn’t have an anti-slip backing. Reviewers have also noted that it may not be the best fit for high-traffic areas of your home unless it’s weighed down with heavy furniture or you add rug grippers to keep the pad from moving.

According to one reviewer: “These are working perfectly. I bought cheaper rugs. Using these pads under them to help with softness and to help with sound as our house is all tile. Absolutely made all the difference for us!!”

While it’s not the thickest rug pad on the list, this 0.25-inch rug pad has the advantage of being anti-slip. The rug pad’s recycled felt and rubber material is very cushy and safe to use on hard-flooring (without staining or scratching floors), and it helps absorb sound. This pad is also manufactured with high-quality materials in the U.S. and, according to the manufacturer, is hypoallergenic and designed to not trap moisture.

According to one reviewer: “Used this to decrease the noise from the upstairs floor, and it helped a lot.”

This article was originally published on Feb. 1, 2020