My house also is known as "rug mart." I've been through the pad fandango -- discount, non-discount, thick, thin and every type. Best pads I bought came from Crate & Barrel. They have multiple sizes and the materials are green so they won't interact with the floor finish (but double check) or melt onto the floor over time (had that happen as well).

I measure rugs, get the closest sizes and trim to fit as needed. It is a 2 person job so you might want to get someone in to help or if you have cleaners they can do it.

Overstock has some good ones in standard sizes and varying thickness (read, varying quality). I've bought several new ones lately for runners and for a new inexpensive rug we bought for the study (that the dog hangs out on) and have been pleased so far. Although the 90+ pound lab can still make the runners slide a bit.

I'll second Outside's suggestion for Overstock. Last night DH and I replaced the pad under our DR Oriental rug with this one. It was not an easy job, moving the DR table, rolling up a big rug, getting the pad just so, etc. so you might want to hire someone to do it.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Supreme-Felted-Dual-Surface-Rug-Pad-8-x-10/5721573/product.html?refccid=OEJCGTUKUPELVLCGLWIB3A4YUM&searchidx=0

This is the kind you want, IMO. Dual surface. Felt on top, non-skid on the bottom. I have the same kind under my MB rug and it's GREAT. the rug doesn't bunch up at all, doesn't move at all, is comfortable to walk on...

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Supreme-Felted-Dual-Surface-Rug-Pad-8-x-10/5721573/product.html?refccid=BYWDRO2YKTMIAWCGZWV66BWKUI&searchidx=0

The dual surface like Tibbrix said, but I would go to a reputable rug store and have them come do them at your house.

It is getting harder to find the higher quality felt-like pads to place under hand knotted rugs. Even the high end rug dealers just give you the thin rubbery net-like versions. Not much profit in pads! The net-like ones are not good because dirt/grit can fall through the openings and scratch the floors. I found one of the rug dealers at the design center here in LA has a source for the better pads and I have been replacing the rubbery ones with them. They can source them in 2 thicknesses depending on the application. I used a thicker one for my bedroom, but a thinner one for the dining room. I actually have to go there tomorrow to pick up 3 pads I had ordered a month ago. The pads run about $2.50/sq.ft.

You could certainly have a rug vendor measure the rugs, cut the pads and install, but just make sure that they have the better felt-like pads and not the thin rubber versions.

The ones I have look like the ones Tibbrix posted, but like I said, they cut them for you. They seem like they would be really hard to cut, unless you had some really heavy duty scissors. Anyone cut them themselves? Just curious how difficult-or easy they might be?

Those look like the ones I bought at Overstock and I cut them myself with heavy duty scissors with no problem at all. Easy peasy. You know how a rug is always a tad shorter than the advertised dimensions, I had to cut an inch or so off one side for the correct length, iirc.

I buy large pieces of dual-surface felt-type rug padding here at Carpeteria (local rug chain) and use ordinary scissors to make pads. It's not a big deal. I wouldn't use those BBB net-like pads for ANYTHING, much less my hand-knotted rugs.

I took all the msmts and think I will go with the Rug Pad Corner, per Olliesmom's suggestion. They have what looks like the "good kind"and will cut them for me. Putting them in place is no biggie as most are not under furniture.

thanks all!

How is the one linked above (rubber/polypropylene) different from this one (felt)?
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Superior-Dual-Felt-Rug-Pad-710-x-910/6638950/product.html

Or in other words, don't I want felt?

Also, what do you use for seagrass rugs? Slipping isn't a problem, but I'm worried about my hardwood floors.

I ordered from Rug pad corner, and they are all here but I havent had a chance to put them down yet. I ordered thinner ones for those rugs I have that are thin, dhurrie-type.

I have a seagrass rug from PB that has an integrated pad.

nosoccermom, I've had the felt/felt ones before (versus felt/rubber) and unless they are under very large rugs and have heavy furniture on top the rug will move because the felt will slide on tile or hardwood floors.

Mtn, I actually ordered the thicker pad for my 10x14 thinner rug and it made a world of difference. It feels thicker and softer, and is not moving or wrinkling, like it used to, at all. Much easier to vaccum too.

@mtnrd -- How did you do with the pads you bought from rugpad corner? Did you go with thinner or thicker?

bump

Alas, I ordered and received them but all ten are still rolled up!I bought them last summer because we were hosting an elderly couple and I worried about my banana-peel-carpets.

I think we ended up just rolling up the ones in hallways, the others are well anchored by furnishings.

So it's still one of the things on my to-do-list that is not to-done.

Thx Mtn. Think I'll take a chance as the pads do look ok.

So went to buy the rug pad corner pads and they turn out to be 1/4" thick which doesn't work for my small area rugs. Shame. Going back to Teebaud which is very think and has been working. Just think some of those under heavy wear carpets may need to be replaced once every 6-8 years. Things in our house are now in the 10-12 year range. Just replaced TV room sofa. Mattress and a few rug pads are next up.