The Foundation You Walk On

Carpet Padding

Four carpet padding samples in a black display tray on beige carpet, including speckled foam, SpillSafe, and Scotchgard pads.

What Padding Does

  • Comfort

    The pad is what gives carpet its soft, cushioned feel. Without it, even a luxurious, plush carpet feels firm and unforgiving.

  • Carpet protection

    A good pad absorbs the impact of foot traffic, extending the carpet's life by years. The carpet's own backing isn't designed to take that impact on its own.

  • Sound dampening

    Pad reduces footstep noise, especially on upper floors. Some pads are specifically engineered for sound reduction.

  • Moisture protection

    Specialty pads include moisture barriers that block spills, pet accidents, and tracked-in liquids from reaching the subfloor.
A person wearing beige trousers and a brown leather brogue shoe stepping onto a rectangular gray carpet sample, which is placed on top of branded carpet padding.

The Two Numbers That Matter

Density (measured in pounds per cubic foot) is the most important spec. Higher density means more support and longer-lasting cushion. For high-traffic areas, look for at least 8-pound density. For bedrooms, 6-pound is acceptable.

Thickness is less important than density. Thicker isn't better if the density is low. Most residential pads should be no more than 7/16" thick — anything thicker can actually void carpet warranties and cause your carpet to wear out prematurely.

Small cream-colored dog resting on soft taupe cut-pile carpet at home

Moisture-Barrier Padding for Pet and Family Households

If you have pets, young children, or both, a pad with a moisture barrier is worth the upgrade. These pads have a sealed surface that blocks liquids from soaking through to the subfloor — meaning spills and accidents stay on top of the pad where they can be cleaned up, rather than saturating the subfloor and causing odor or mildew issues over time. We'll show you which moisture-barrier pads we carry during your visit to one of our showrooms or during your FREE in-home estimate.

Easy To Get Started

Visit Us In Store

Walk through full-size installations, see and feel the products in person, and take samples home to compare against your space.

Find Your Nearest Showroom

Shop at Home

Our team brings samples in the styles and colors you're considering, laser-measures your space, and leaves you with a written estimate.

Schedule Your Free In-Home Estimate