What Size Rug Pad do you Need?
A rug pad should be slightly smaller in size than the actual rug size. this is true for a few reasons. First, if the rug pad is slightly smaller than the rug, then the edges of the rug will taper to the floor. This prevents any trip hazard by a heel of a shoe catching onto the edge of the rug. This also prevents any premature wear to the edge of the rug by avoiding the edge of the rug from being caught and curled up whenever someone walks on it. Finally, the other reason why the rug pad should be smaller than the rug is so that the edge of the pad is not seen.
The way to determine what size your rug pad should be is simple. The rug pad should be about one inch less than your rug size on all four sides. So, assuming your rug size is 8'x10', then the rug pad size should be 7'10"x9'10", a total of two inches less in each dimension, which is the same as one inch less on all four sides.
You may hear varying stories about the size of a rug pad and as long as the rug pad is at least one inch less than your rug size on all four sides, it should not be more than 1 1/2 inches less.