6 Best Carpet Paddings For Stairs [Jul 2023] Review & Buying (2023)

☰ Table of Content

Best Overall: Mohawk Home BFR58 Dual Surface Nonslip Latex Carpet Padding

Runner Up: Veken VK076 Nonslip Extra Thick Carpet Padding for Home Use

Budget Friendly: ZAKRA Nonslip Extra Strong Carpet Padding for Added Protection

Budget Friendly: RUGPADUSA Ecofriendly and Floor Protective Carpet Padding Safe for All Floors and Finishes

Thick Carpet Padding: RUGPADUSA RCC12 810 Cloud Comfort 0.5 Inches

Best for Lightweight and Hard Floors: Gorilla Grip SYNCHKG054341 Skid and Slip Resistant Carpet Padding for All Floors

Carpet padding is a crucial part of the carpet installation process. The carpet padding does not work as another carpet but as a layer of protection. This piece of furniture is optional, but it is advisable to have one for added floor protection. Carpet paddings, besides, will lengthen the lifespan of your rug. The problem of rug cleaning will be less too. In upcoming sections are product reviews of the most potential carpet paddings in 2021, buying tips for you, and the brand you can trust.

Here are the best carpet paddings for stairs you can buy in 2023:

  • Best Overall: Mohawk Home BFR58 Dual Surface Nonslip Latex Carpet Padding
  • Runner Up: Veken VK076 Nonslip Extra Thick Carpet Padding for Home Use
  • Budget Friendly: ZAKRA Nonslip Extra Strong Carpet Padding for Added Protection
  • Budget Friendly: RUGPADUSA Ecofriendly and Floor Protective Carpet Padding Safe for All Floors and Finishes
  • Thick Carpet Padding: RUGPADUSA RCC12 810 Cloud Comfort 0.5 Inches
  • Best for Lightweight and Hard Floors: Gorilla Grip SYNCHKG054341 Skid and Slip Resistant Carpet Padding for All Floors
6 Best Carpet Paddings For Stairs

Best Overall

Mohawk Home BFR58 Dual Surface Nonslip Latex Carpet Padding

    See at Amazon

    Runner Up

    Veken VK076 Nonslip Extra Thick Carpet Padding for Home Use

      See at Amazon

      Budget Friendly

      ZAKRA Nonslip Extra Strong Carpet Padding for Added Protection

        See at Amazon

        Budget Friendly

        RUGPADUSA Ecofriendly and Floor Protective Carpet Padding Safe for All Floors and Finishes

          See at Amazon

          Thick Carpet Padding

          RUGPADUSA RCC12 810 Cloud Comfort 0.5 Inches

            See at Amazon

            Best for Lightweight and Hard Floors

            Gorilla Grip SYNCHKG054341 Skid and Slip Resistant Carpet Padding for All Floors

              See at Amazon

              Best Overall: Mohawk Home BFR58 Dual Surface Nonslip Latex Carpet Padding

              6 Best Carpet Paddings For Stairs [Jul 2023] Review & Buying (1)

              Mohawk Home BFR58 Dual Surface Nonslip Latex Carpet Padding

              See at Amazon

              Pros

              • It is comfortable underfoot and usable for any surface
              • Long-lasting and floor protective layer
              • Easy for vacuuming

              Cons

              • Quite hard to cut into pieces

              Mohawk Home is popular among shoppers for its high-quality home devices. The Mohawk Home BFR-58 dual-surface latex carpet padding is one of the most purchased items in the section of Home and Kitchen on several e-commerce websites. The latex used ensures a long-lasting and protective layer to your rug. There are two thickness levels: 0.25 and 0.375 inches. Also, the sizes for this product are various. You can select from the smallest size of 2x4 feet to 5x8 feet as the biggest one.

              Mohawk Home BFR58 Dual Surface Nonslip Latex Carpet Padding Specifications

              Sizes

              2 x 4 feet (smallest size)

              5 x 8 feet (biggest size)

              Weight

              10 pounds

              Material

              Synthetic

              Thickness

              0.25 or 0.375 inches

              Verdict

              The Mohawk Home carpet padding, in general, is a potential purchase for your home. It is long-lasting and comfortable underfoot. However, you may need some patience when cutting it into pieces for stairs.

              See at Amazon

              Runner Up: Veken VK076 Nonslip Extra Thick Carpet Padding for Home Use

              See at Amazon

              Pros

              • Long-lasting and floor protective
              • Easy to be trimmed to fit into different places
              • Your carpet will not move when everything is on set

              Cons

              • Not so soft for feet

              Our second suggestion on the list of the best carpet paddings for stairs is the Veken VK076 non-slip extra-thick model. This carpet padding comes from vinyl. Its size can come up to 10x14 feet with a thickness of 0.25 inches. It is easy to trim into pieces. When purchasing this product, you will have a policy of risk-free in terms of 2 first years. The item also comes with a lifetime guarantee. What probably attracts shoppers most is the customer policy.

              Veken VK076 Nonslip Extra Thick Carpet Padding for Home Use Specifications

              Sizes

              2 x 3 feet (smallest size)

              10 x 14 feet (biggest size)

              Weight

              9.5 pounds

              Material

              Polyvinyl Chloride

              Thickness

              0.25 inches

              Verdict

              We love this carpet padding. It has every factor: durable, floor protective, easy to trim, and lightweight, compared to its size. The only drawback of the Veken padding is that it may be not so soft underfoot.

              See at Amazon

              Budget Friendly: ZAKRA Nonslip Extra Strong Carpet Padding for Added Protection

              6 Best Carpet Paddings For Stairs [Jul 2023] Review & Buying (3)

              ZAKRA Nonslip Extra Strong Carpet Padding for Added Protection

              See at Amazon

              Pros

              • Can install it easily and clean
              • The wood material ensures it is durable and floor-protective
              • You can fit into any locations thanks to the easy trimming

              Cons

              • Not fully work on tile

              The following recommendation is the ZAKRA non-slip carpet padding. It is one of the most reasonably priced products in the session of rug paddings. You can purchase a large size of 5x8 feet for under 30 dollars on e-commerce websites. The material used to produce the padding is wood, ensuring a durable and floor-protective layer. The trimming is going to be easy too. What we love about this ZAKRA carpet padding is its quick installation process.

              ZAKRA Nonslip Extra Strong Carpet Padding for Added Protection Specifications

              Sizes

              2 x 3 feet (smallest size)

              5 x 8 feet (biggest size)

              Weight

              3.78 pounds

              Material

              Wood

              Thickness

              0.25 inches

              Verdict

              The ZAKRA non-slip extra strong padding will be perfect for almost every floor, except for tile. If you tend to use it on the wooden floor, it will live up to your expectations.

              See at Amazon

              Budget Friendly: RUGPADUSA Ecofriendly and Floor Protective Carpet Padding Safe for All Floors and Finishes

              6 Best Carpet Paddings For Stairs [Jul 2023] Review & Buying (4)

              RUGPADUSA Ecofriendly and Floor Protective Carpet Padding Safe for All Floors and Finishes

              See at Amazon

              Pros

              • Safe to use for all floors and finishes
              • Comfortable and soft to touch
              • Eco-friendly with its creation from recycled materials

              Cons

              • Hard to trim into pieces for its thickness

              If you are an individual who cares about the environment, this padding is for you. What makes it outstanding from other candidates is that it is created from excess fibers of other new or unused carpets. Our fourth suggestion is also the thickest padding on the list for its thickness of 0.5 inches. This figure guarantees a sense of comfort underfoot and softness. This recycle-made padding is protective over your floor, especially hardwood. You can use it on any floor type or finish.

              RUGPADUSA Ecofriendly and Floor Protective Carpet Padding Safe for All Floors and Finishes Specifications

              Sizes

              4 x 6 feet (smallest size)

              8 x 10 feet (biggest size)

              Weight

              18 pounds

              Material

              Recycled fiber

              Thickness

              0.25 or 0.375 inches

              Verdict

              We have no complaint about the RUGPADUSA eco-friendly carpet padding. If we have to choose, this product will be in the cart.

              See at Amazon

              Thick Carpet Padding: RUGPADUSA RCC12 810 Cloud Comfort 0.5 Inches

              6 Best Carpet Paddings For Stairs [Jul 2023] Review & Buying (5)

              RUGPADUSA RCC12 810 Cloud Comfort 0.5 Inches

              See at Amazon

              Pros

              • Free from glue, adhesives
              • No odor while using
              • Keeps things in their place when applied
              • Offers users a sense of cloud comfort

              Cons

              • Might be overpriced for things that it offers

              Another product from RUGPADUSA is on the list of the best carpet paddings in 2021. The texture will ỉmpress us easily. It is so soft and comfortable for the foot. The thickness is also 0.5 inches. Besides, that is still not the best part. What can outplay the others is the glue-free feature of this padding. You will not have to glue it down, which can take an eternity. The installation process has now become easier than ever. One more plus point of this padding is its odor-free feature.

              RUGPADUSA RCC12 810 Cloud Comfort 0.5 Inches Specifications

              Sizes

              4 x 6 feet (smallest size)

              9 x 12 feet (biggest size)

              Weight

              23 pounds

              Material

              Foam

              Thickness

              0.25, 0.4, or 0.5 inches

              Verdict

              If your budget is beyond 200 dollars for carpet paddings, this is a beneficial investment. If it is the opposite case, you can consider the smallest size, which costs about 72 dollars.

              See at Amazon

              Best for Lightweight and Hard Floors: Gorilla Grip SYNCHKG054341 Skid and Slip Resistant Carpet Padding for All Floors

              6 Best Carpet Paddings For Stairs [Jul 2023] Review & Buying (6)

              Gorilla Grip SYNCHKG054341 Skid and Slip Resistant Carpet Padding for All Floors

              See at Amazon

              Pros

              • An adhesive-free installation process is available
              • Incredibly lightweight even with its large size
              • No skidding and slipping when you use this padding

              Cons

              • It has chemical odor

              If you look for carpet paddings that work on hard floors, you will easily catch sight of the Gorilla Grip skid and slip resistant product. The padding comes from Polyvinyl chloride, which is the world's third-most produced material in terms of plastic polymer with approximately 40 million tons per year. This material is friendly and protective towards hard floors.

              The Gorilla Grip skid and slip resistant padding is claimed to be a wonderful item for households with kids and pets. It keeps everything in their place, and it does not need adhesive in the installation process. It is also a lightweight padding compared to others for its weight of 2.7 pounds.

              Gorilla Grip SYNCHKG054341 Skid and Slip Resistant Carpet Padding for All Floors Specifications

              Sizes

              2 x 3 feet (smallest size)

              10 x 14 feet (biggest size)

              Weight

              2.7 pounds

              Material

              Polyvinyl chloride

              Thickness

              0.25 inches

              Verdict

              If notwithstanding the chemical odor, we would say this is an ideal padding for everyone. But the chemical odor issue can be improved by time. Hence, if you have hard floors, kids, and pets, this Gorilla Grip padding is definitely worth a trial.

              See at Amazon

              How To Choose The Best Carpet Padding For Stairs?

              We nearly reach the end of the article on the best carpet paddings for your home. Before making any purchase of this product, you should keep in mind a few things. There are five principal factors you need to consider carefully: Sizes, materials, thickness, standards, and installation process.

              • Size: For stairs, sizes do not matter much since you will be trimming one large piece into smaller ones. In this way, the padding bought can fit into your stairs. However, you must measure the figures of your stairs and calculate how many pieces you will need. It will be handy in terms of cost.
              • Materials: Paddings are made of various types of materials. Some come from rubber, which guarantees safety for users who usually get allergies. The next one is fiber. Fiber paddings are eco-friendly because some of them can come from the recycled fiber of new or unused carpets. The next common material is foam. If you have foam padding, softness and comfort are all you can expect.
              • Thickness: The most popular thickness levels you may encounter are 0.25, 0.375, and 0.5 inches. Many would say the thicker the better, which is a perspective we may disagree with. We believe that 0.25-inch thick padding is not enough, while 0.5 is a bit too much. In our viewpoint, a 0.375-inch thick carpet padding will give you the best scenario.
              • Standards: Some shoppers may find this strange. Some have never heard of the term "standard". There is a standard set used by the HUD and the US Department of Housing. It clarifies two types of paddings, which are class 1 and class 2. Class 1 is for areas receiving light to moderate foot traffic, while class 2 is vice versa with dense traffic, including stairs. If you are purchasing carpet padding for stairs, it is best to go for class 2.
              • Installation process: The installation process is the last thing to notice. Whatever padding you are purchasing, it must be easy to install manually. Especially for stairs, the padding should be easy to trim. A long and tricky installation can be a massive minus point.

              Which Brands Make The Best Carpet Padding For Stairs?

              Mohawk Home

              A division of Mohawk Industries, our name is synonymous with quality craftsmanship and innovation. We create livable products, intended to become the backdrop for some of life's best moments.

              Mohawk's extensive and thoughtfully crafted product line includes doormats, utility mats, kitchen and bath mats, accent rugs, area rugs and rug pads. We believe in innovative design, quality material and original style. We believe in valuing our customers first, standing behind our products and that no detail is too small to make you happy. We are continuously looking for ways to serve our customers and our communities responsibly by developing energy-efficient manufacturing processes and eco-friendly products that you can feel good about. At Mohawk, we don't simply believe in meeting high expectations, we believe in exceeding them.

              Conclusion

              Here are the final lines of our article on the best carpet paddings. For those who intend to purchase padding for stairs, keep in mind that it should be in class 2. The most advised thickness you should look for is 0.375 inches. Anyone with allergies can take a look at rubber paddings because they are 100 percent safe for users. We also have reviewed and specified some products above. We hope that this article is helpful to you when choosing suitable carpet paddings for stairs.

              FAQs

              What type of carpet padding is best for stairs? ›

              You don't want a thick cushion such as 1/2" as that will shorten the tread and could cause slips and falls. If your budget allows you would be better served upgrading to an 8 to 10 lb cushion or a 32 oz synthetic felt cushion. The better your cushion, the longer your stair carpet will keep its like-new look.

              What thickness of carpet padding is best? ›

              A general rule of thumb for most residential carpet applications is to choose cushion no more than 7/16 inch thick and no less than 1/4 inch with 6 pounds per cubic feet density. If the carpet is a berber or a low-profile carpet, choose a cushion no more than 3/8 inch thick with 8 pounds density.

              Is upgraded carpet padding worth it? ›

              Many people who have built a home will tell you that, yes, upgrading the carpet pad is always a good choice. In fact, it might be a more important choice than the carpet itself!

              What are the different grades of carpet padding? ›

              Commercial Carpet
              Carpet Pad TypeDensityThickness
              Bonded6.5lbs3/8"
              Frothed Foam12lbs +1/4"
              Synthetic Fiber6.5lbs +3/10"
              Rubber RollN/AVaries

              What to look for when buying stair carpet? ›

              The sturdiest carpet material is polyamide or synthetic nylon. As they're typically low pile, they won't mat down and can handle a substantial amount of foot traffic whilst maintaining a good look. Polypropylene is also a great material choice as it's highly stain-resistant, fade-resistant and easy to clean.

              What texture of carpet is best for stairs? ›

              If a product is classified as high traffic carpet for stairs, then it's suitable for just about any high traffic area! Low-to-medium pile carpets and loop carpets are usually the best options for high-traffic areas. But, they also sacrifice the comfort that deep and/or cut pile carpets offer.

              Is 10 pound or 8 pound carpet pad better? ›

              For good comfort and durability, experts recommend a foam in the 6 pound to 8 pound range. The denser it is, the longer and better the pad will hold up. Carpet thickness is also important.

              Is 6 lb carpet pad good? ›

              The two most popular choices are 6 pounds and 8 pounds. A 6-pound carpet pad is going to be softer underfoot while an 8-pound carpet pad is more durable, and can extend the life of your carpet. An 8-pound carpet pad is also preferable for higher traffic areas of your home.

              Is thick carpet padding worth it? ›

              Your choice usually depends on the type of carpet and where you're using it. The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends a thicker, softer cushion for lower traffic areas like bedrooms. However, a thinner, firmer cushion is best for high-traffic areas like living rooms, hallways and stairs.

              Is 8 lb carpet padding better than 5 lb? ›

              Carpet pad density or weight essentially measures how much material exists within a cubic foot or yard. Most carpet padding weighs between 3 to 10lbs per cubic foot, although 6.5lbs or higher is ideal. In fact, the best carpet pad usually weighs at least 8lbs per cubic foot.

              How many years does carpet padding last? ›

              Depending on the material, carpet padding can last up to 25 years. Although, the most popular foam-based carpet padding only lasts around 10 years. Over time, and especially in high-traffic areas, your padding can degrade and become misshapen and dirty, just like the carpet above it.

              Is 7 16 8 lb carpet pad good? ›

              8lb, 7/16” Rebond Padding

              This foam pad is compiled from recycled material and is available in different densities and thicknesses. We recommend 8lb, 7/16” because it performs great under a nice mid-grade nylon and will withstand even the heaviest of traffic.

              What is the most commonly used padding under carpeting today? ›

              Bonded Urethane: This carpet cushion is also called rebond and is the most popular type of carpet padding sold today.

              How do I know what quality carpet is best? ›

              Density, face weight, and tuft twist are all important factors that indicate how durable a carpet is. Considering all of these factors together can help you determine whether a carpet is of good or poor quality, and how well it will hold up to daily use.

              Do you use carpet pad on stairs? ›

              For stairs, choose something that is well made and pair it with a recommended carpet pad. Look for a style that firm and thin, rather than plush and thick. While the stairs will not feel as bouncy the thinner cushion will hold up better and provide a safer and more stable surface for everyday use.

              Is long or short pile carpet better for stairs? ›

              You should look for something which is stain resistant, easy to clean and durable. Carpets with a low pile work really well on stairs, and make them safe and stable to use.

              How thick should padding be under stair runner? ›

              This 1/4" thick padding is ideal for staircase runners.

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