Do I Need Carpet Padding?

Carpet pads mean comfort and quiet

A professional installing carpet with visible padding
Photo: bill oxford / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
A professional installing carpet with visible padding
Photo: bill oxford / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Stephanie Mickelson
Written by Stephanie Mickelson
Contributing Writer
Updated Jun 9, 2025
Highlights

  • Carpet padding protects carpet from wear, helping it last longer and making it softer and more enjoyable to walk on.

  • It also adds a layer of insulation and can help reduce noise in the room by absorbing sound.

  • The ideal thickness of the carpet pad depends on the room and how much traffic the area experiences.

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It may be tempting to save a few bucks by skipping the carpet pad, but if you’re asking yourself if padding underneath your carpet is worth it, the answer is a resounding yes. Carpet padding helps prolong the life of your carpet and makes it more comfortable. Let’s take a closer look at why you need carpet padding and how to choose the best one for your home.

4 carpet installation parts illustrated, including the carpet padding, tack strips, and nails

Do I Need Carpet Padding?

The short answer is yes, it’s best to include carpet padding when you install your carpet. You’ll never see it, but carpet padding is an essential part of wall-to-wall carpet. It’s installed under the carpet itself and lies between the floor and the carpet backing to protect it from rubbing against the subfloor and wearing out prematurely.

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Why Is Carpet Padding Necessary?

Carpet padding serves a few different functions that impact the appearance and lifespan of the carpet. Choosing the right carpet padding can offer all of the following benefits, and your carpet installer can make recommendations:

  • Extends the carpet’s life

  • Retains heat to make the room cozier

  • Cuts down on noise from heavy traffic or scurrying paws 

  • Acts as a cushion to make the carpet nicer to walk on and sit on

  • Creates a moisture barrier to prevent spills from reaching the subfloor

Pro Tip

Carpet is the most forgiving for subfloor imperfections. It can be laid over plywood seams, divots, or raised areas, as the thickness of the padding and carpet will help hide these flaws.

Carly D. Harrington

Owner of Floor Coverings International of South Atlanta, Georgia

Considerations for Choosing Carpet Padding

Replacing a carpet with padding underneath it
Photo: Diane079F / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Because carpet padding helps make the carpet softer, it can be tempting to buy the thickest carpet pad to protect the floor under the carpet. However, a thicker pad can make it difficult to move furniture around.

If someone in your home or a frequent visitor uses a wheelchair, it can be hard to maneuver around a room with a thick carpet pad. For rooms primarily used by children, a thicker pad has the advantage of cushioning falls and absorbing sound, which is good news for the grown-ups in the house.

Carpet pad density also affects performance and cost. It is measured in pounds, and the more dense the padding, the stiffer it will be. You can choose a heavier carpet pad for added durability and stability. However, if you want a carpet with a softer, more cushioned feel, choose a lighter weight. Carpet padding in residential homes is most commonly between 6 and 8 pounds.

A local carpet installer can help you factor in your unique living situation and needs so you can choose the best carpet pad.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Carpet padding costs an average of $510 to purchase and install in a 225-square-foot room. The price can range from as low as $170 to as much as $850, depending on the brand, the thickness, and the labor cost. Although carpet padding will increase the overall cost of carpet installation, it also helps the carpet hold up longer, reduces noise in the room, and provides more insulation.

Installing carpet padding is mostly a matter of measuring the room and cutting the carpet pad to size with a utility knife. You can save some money on carpet installation costs by doing it yourself. Before installing the carpet padding, you should install the tack strips around the room’s perimeter and prepare the subfloor by cleaning and making any necessary repairs. Then, unroll the carpet pad and cut sections as needed. Staple the carpet pad to the subfloor along the edges, leaving the tack strips exposed.

Technically, you can install carpet without padding. While skipping the padding can help you save on the project, it will make the carpet less comfortable and show uneven spots or imperfections in the subfloor. Because carpet padding protects the back of the carpet from wear, a carpet without padding can wear out faster than one with it. Carpet padding also cuts down on noise, so forgoing it can affect the acoustics in the room.

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Learn more about our contributor
Stephanie Mickelson
Written by Stephanie Mickelson
Contributing Writer
Stephanie Mickelson is a freelance writer covering home improvement, real estate, design, and personal finance. Before beginning her freelance career, she worked in residential construction, specifically remodeling kitchens, installing cabinets, flooring, countertops, trim, and more.

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