When you prepare for a new carpet installation in your home, you’ll need to buy carpet padding. While many homeowners think that the padding for carpet makes the carpet feel softer under their feet, that’s not the primary purpose of carpet padding. A carpet pad actually absorbs most of the shock from foot traffic and also protects the carpet. Without carpet padding, carpets would have to stand up to that daily stress on their own. The synthetic fibers would break down and the carpet would wear out very quickly. Including a carpet pad in your carpet installation also prolongs the life of your carpet.

Choosing carpet padding is an important decision. When you buy a carpet pad, pay close attention to the material and thickness.

Carpet Padding Types

Much like actual carpets, carpet padding comes in a variety of different materials. The type of carpet pad you choose will depend on your budget and plans for your carpet.

• Felt fiber: This type of carpet padding is popular among homeowners who are looking for eco-friendly flooring options. Felt fiber carpet pads are made from natural materials. However, these aren’t the best-performing carpet pads, and the natural ingredients may cause problems for people with allergies. They’re best used in low-traffic areas.
• Frothed polyurethane: Ideal for hot and humid environments, frothed polyurethane carpet padding bounces back well after being compressed. This type of carpet pad stands up to heavy foot traffic and other stressors, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas like hallways or living rooms. However, frothed polyurethane is one of the most expensive padding for carpet available.
• Prime urethane: Compared to other carpet padding types, this carpet pad is a budget-friendly option that stands up well to moisture and heat. However, this type of carpet pad compresses easily, and isn’t the best choice for high-traffic areas.
• Rebond: This is the most popular of all carpet padding types. It’s made from scraps of urethane foam from furniture and automotive manufacturing. This type of carpet pad is budget-friendly, and comes in many different levels of density and thickness.

Thickness of Padding for Carpet

Beware of buying carpet padding that is too thick or too soft. Many homeowners believe that the softer and thicker the carpet pad is, the better. Not true. In fact, padding for carpet that is too soft will collapse when subjected to foot traffic. When this happens, the carpet is forced to bear the brunt of daily wear and tear, and it breaks down quickly. If the padding is too thick, the carpet won’t be able to attach to the tack strip. For ease of carpet installation, never choose carpet padding more than a half-inch thick.