Carpet padding or cushion is installed under carpet and serves a variety of purposes. 
Top-quality padding extends the life of your carpet as well as adding to its luxurious feel. Carpet padding is available in varying thickness and densities. For the right amount of walking support and comfort, padding for use under wall-to-wall carpet should be no thicker than 1/2”. Padding is available in several different materials such as foam rubber, rubber and urethane. Not only does good padding make any carpet feel better underfoot, it protects your carpet investment. Because padding acts like a shock absorber, protecting your carpet from the wear and tear of heavy traffic, it will look better for longer.
Carpet padding acts as a shock absorber, reducing the strain of impacts on your carpet. This can increase the overall lifetime of the carpet by reducing pile crushing and protecting the backing of your carpet from rubbing on the subfloor. Installing carpet padding can also make cleaning your carpets easier, as it lifts your carpet off the subfloor allowing more air flow when vacuuming. In addition, carpet padding can provide heat and sound insulation to your home, not to mention the added comfort underfoot.
Choosing carpet padding should not be a careless decision. While your carpet retailer should be responsible for helping you make the right padding choice, this is unfortunately not always the case. For that reason, FindAnyFloor has created this guide to carpet padding so that you will be able to make an educated decision when choosing the right padding for your carpet.
There are several different types of carpet cushions with different densities and thicknesses, each with its pros and cons. The free padding that many retailers offer with the purchase of carpet is not always the best choice and your carpet may suffer as a result. The thickest carpet padding isn’t necessarily the best choice either, depending on the type of carpet being purchased, as it may allow the backing of the carpet to flex too much, causing it to stretch and even break. This can further cause separation of the carpet fibers from the carpet backing. Choosing the wrong thickness or density can also cause your carpet to ripple.
