For homeowners with vinyl floors, the strict no rubber or latex rugs and rug pads rule must be adhered to. And getting rug pads that are safe for vinyl floors can be frustrating. 

This is because most rug pads in the market are made of rubber to make them non-slip.

Rug pads that are safe for vinyl floors are those that do not contain any trace of rubber in them. Otherwise you risk staining and discoloration of your floors over time.

Luckily we have done the honors of rounding up rug pads that are safe for your vinyl floors. These will add cushioning to your rugs to make them cozy to step on and stop them from slipping that are safe for vinyl floors.

Our Top Picks for Rug Pads Safe for Vinyl Plank Floors

• Aurrako Non Slip Rug Pads Non Adhesive Rug Underlay
• IFRMMY Newest Felt and Silicone Area Rug Pad
• Rugpad USA Memory Foam Cloud Comfort Rug Pad

What Kind of Rug Pad Can You Use On Vinyl Floors

Rug pads that you can use on vinyl plank floors are those that do not contain rubber or latex. As these will react with chemicals used to make vinyl floors causing discolouration and staining overtime.

You can use rug pads that are made from felt, silicone or polyvinyl chloride. These will not cause any chemical reaction that can lead to yellowing of vinyl plank flooring.

Rug Pads Safe for Vinyl Floors

Aurrako Non Slip Rug Pads Non Adhesive Rug Underlay

Are you looking for a rug pad without rubber or latex or adhesive that will not stain your expensive vinyl plank floors?

Or maybe you are looking for a rug pad to keep your area rugs from slipping around to avoid dangerous slipping accidents? Then the Aurrako rug pad is for you.

Key Features

• Safe for use on vinyl plank flooring. It is made of premium Polyvinyl chloride material similar to the chemical used to make vinyl floors.
• Does not contain any rubber that could stain your floors or reduce the quality of air in your home.
• Non adhesive material which does not stain laminate, vinyl or hardwood floors.
• Can be cut and resize the rug pad to fit all shapes and sizes of the rugs in your home
• Super grippy rug pad enough to keep area rugs in place for a home with pets and kids running around.
• Mesh design which allows air circulation between the rug and floors.
• It is easy to clean and maintain by vacuuming.
• Lightweight and easy to install and move around when you need to clean underneath your rug.

Pros

• Safe for vinyl plank floors
• Non slip on all type of floors
• Its customizable
• Allows for air circulation

Cons

• Its thin so it does not add cushioning to your rugs

IFRMMY Newest Felt and Silicone Area Rug Pad

If you are looking for a thick non slip rug pad that will hold your rugs in place  even with running pets and kids in the house or a dog who loves running around in circles we strongly recommend the FRMMY felt and silicone double sided rug pad.

It is made of felt material which is a textile material made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur or synthetic materials like petroleum based acrylic or wood pulp. This makes it very safe to use on vinyl plank flooring. It will not stain or discolor your floors.

Key Features

• Double sided rug pad which is made of silicone gel grips which will not stain your expensive floors.
• Super strength gripper for area rugs Being double sided it sticks to your floors firmly and sticks to your area rug backing too. Keeping it EXACTLY where you placed it.
• Non adhesive rug pad that does not leave behind sticky icky residue to floors.
• The non adhesive rug pad is made of durable materials making it long lasting.
• You can easily trim the rug pad to fit your area rugs.

Pros

• Non slip on your vinyl plank floors
• Double sided gripper silicone gel grips
• Easy to cut

Cons

• It’s also thin 

Rugpad USA Memory Foam Cloud Comfort Rug Pad

Rugpad USA is a popular brand in the rug pad market and this boils down to their determination to provide rug pads to keep area rugs in place in our homes. It is good to know their memory foam cloud comfort rug pad is safe for use on vinyl plank flooring. 

This is because memory foam is made of polyurethane and other additional materials to increase its density. This makes it very safe to use on vinyl plank floors which also have polyurethane finishes.

Key Features

• Super comfy for a rug that is thin, this rug pad will add the much needed cushioning so that you feel like your walking on clouds- given the squish it adds to rugs
• Very easy to cut with scissors to fit your area rug shape and size
• Easy to vacuum clean the memory foam to keep it dust free and clean
• Does not emit any smell at all-making your air quality fresh and safe.

Pros

• Super comfortable and plush
• Super easy to cut to size
• Easy to clean and maintain by vacuuming
• Does not gass off

Cons

• Not non slip

ECO Plush Rug Pad USA 

If you already have a rug on your vinyl plank flooring that is anchored by furniture. And all you are looking for is some padding to your rug then this eco plush rug pad is what you should go for.

Top Features

• Ecofiendly and safe for vinyl plank floors. It is made from recycled felt materials which are free from rubber, latex and glues.
• Available in different thickness from ½, ¼ and ⅜. You can get a thicker rug pad if your rugs are a little thin.
• Super comfortable. These rug pads are dense and add more than enough protection for your rugs and your vinyl plank floors
• Safe for vinyl floors. It is safe on all types of floors including high maintenance vinyl floors

 

Pros

• Super comfortable
• Safe for vinyl floors
• Ecofriendly 
• Super thick

Cons

• They are not non slip

Mohawk Home 100% Felt Rug Pad

Unlike the felt rug pad above this mohawk rug pad is made of recycled polyester materials and other fibers. It will be great at adding padding and thickness to your rug pad anchored on furniture as it is not non-slip.

Key features

• It’s made of 95% recycled polyester materials and 5% other fibers. Polyester is safe for vinyl floors and won’t discolor or damage your floors over time.
• It is available in 3 thickness sizes, ¼. ½ and ⅜ inches depending on your needs. However, ¼ inch will definitely be a good enough padding for your rugs
• It is customizable by cutting with scissors easily to fit your rug size.

Pros 

• Available in different thickness
• Very easy to customize
• Safe for vinyl floors

Cons

• Not machine washable
• Not anti slip

see also Bathroom rugs safe for vinyl plank floors

Do You Need a Rug Pad on vinyl Plank Flooring

You definitely need a rug pad on vinyl plank flooring for your rugs in order to protect your floors.

A rug pad will not only protect your floors from scratches from the rug backing but also prolong the life of your rug pad as it will reduce the effects of wear and tear due to movement from foot traffic.

Pros of Rug Pads On Vinyl Plank Floors

• Protective

Rug pads add an extra layer of protection for your floors on top of the rug from damage from friction in the case of a high traffic area like the living room. 

It reduces the impact of friction on the floors hence shielding it from wear and tear.

• Cushioning

Some vinyl plank floors do not have a foam backing which makes them not so comfortable to step on. However, a rug pad will add extra cushioning on the floors and the rug making it so comfortable and cloud like to step on.

You will feel like you walking on clouds , its super plush

• Noise Canceling

Adding a rug pad on vinyl plank flooring will help in absorbing noise in the room. It will add a layer of fibers that can soak in the noise hence making your floors quiet to step on and in turn adding warmth to the room.

• Anti Slip Features

For rug pads that are non slip then they will prevent rugs from slipping all over your floors and help keep then securely anchored

Cons of Rug Pads on Vinyl Plank Flooring

Rug pads without anti skid features are susceptible to sliding around on your slippery vinyl floors. Which makes the rugs a falling hazard for both pets and humans alike.

For non slip rug pads consider anchoring your rug pads to furniture to avoid such cases of falls and tripping

See also Door Mats safe for vinyl plank floors

How To Choose Rug Pads safe for Vinyl Floors

Material.

Do not buy a rug pad with any trace of rubber or latex because these will react with your vinyl floors as a result of friction and exposure to the sun. In turn, the gasses released will stain and ruin your floors.

Consider getting a rug pad made of memory foam which is a material that contains polyurethane which is also used to finish vinyl floors. 

Rug pads made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and felt which is a man made material from natural fibers are also safe for vinyl floors.

Thickness.

For a thin area rug, you should get a thick rug pad to add some cushion to the rug.As for thicker rugs, get a thinner rug pad to avoid raising the height of the rug too high to avoid tripping over it.

Ease of use.

The rug pad should be easy to cut with either scissors or a knife so that you can custom size it to fit your rug. This way you ensure the rug is covered all round to keep your floors safe.

Anti skid.

The rug pad should have anti slip features to prevent slipping accidents in your house.

Size.

The rule of thumb is that a rug pad should be 2” away from the edges of an area rug.Therefore you should get a rug pad large enough to fit your rug.

See also how to protect vinyl floors from office chair damage

FAQ on Rug Pads Safe for Vinyl Floors

Can You Use A Rug Pad on Vinyl Plank Flooring

You can use a rug pad on vinyl plank flooring so long as it does not contain any rubber or latex backing as those will stain and discolor your floors. 

You should only use rug pads made from felt materials or silicone if you are looking for a non slip rug pad.

Can You use Non Slip Rug Pads on Vinyl Plank Floors

You can use non-slip rug pads on vinyl plank floors but you must make sure that they are free from rubber, latex or tpr backing.

This is because that backing will stain your floors yellow overtime due to a chemical reaction triggered from foot traffic friction and exposure to sunlight

Conclusion

If you do not want to ruin your expensive vinyl flooring, then getting rug pads that are safe for your floors is very important.

You need to avoid rug pads with rubber in them at all cost because they will stain and discolor your floors over time. 

We strongly recommend the Aurrako Non Slip Rug Pad made from PVC which will not stain your vinyl floors or leave behind any mucky sticky residue. It will keep your area rugs exactly where you want them and avoid your dogs and kids from slipping on rugs.

See also Can You Put Rugs on Vinyl Plank Flooring