Carpet Underlay

Cloud 9 is one of the UK’s most popular underlay brands and is made by manufacturer Ball & Young. Valued for its comfort, insulation, and lightweight foam, Cloud 9 underlays  noticeably improve how your carpet feels underfoot, it's longevity and also increases insulation.

Tredaire underlay is trusted by professionals for its high performance and comfort. At Online Carpets, we stock several Tredaire options to suit different needs, whether you’re looking for extra warmth, cushioning, or durability underfoot.

Good underlay transforms how your carpet feels and lasts, and Tredaire has been a go-to name in the flooring industry for decades. Choosing the right underlay helps reduce wear, improve insulation, and gives your room that premium finished feel.

Different rooms and carpet types benefit from different underlays. Thicker or denser underlays offer extra comfort and durability, while thinner options work well for low-pile carpets or areas with doors. Some thicker underlays can slightly raise your carpet height, which may affect door clearance. We recommend measuring before installation to avoid any issues.

Not all underlays are compatible. We recommend options that are safe to use with underfloor heating systems such as Cloud 9 Radiance 6mm Thick Carpet Underlay.

Carpet underlay is the secret to a great-looking and long-lasting carpet. It acts as a shock absorber, protecting your carpet from wear and tear, and provides a layer of cushioning for extra comfort underfoot. It also improves thermal insulation, helping to keep your home warmer, and reduces noise, creating a quieter and more peaceful environment.

PU (polyurethane) foam underlay, like our popular Cloud 9 range, is made from recycled materials, making it an environmentally friendly choice. It is lightweight, easy to handle, and offers excellent comfort and insulation. Crumb rubber underlay is extremely durable and provides outstanding support for your carpet, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like stairs and hallways.

We strongly advise against reusing old carpet underlay. Over time, underlay loses its cushioning and support, and it can harbour dust, dirt, and allergens. A new underlay is a small investment that will significantly improve the feel and performance of your new carpet, and ensure it lasts for years to come.

The tog rating measures the thermal insulation of the underlay. A higher tog rating means better insulation, which can help to reduce your energy bills. If you have underfloor heating, you will need an underlay with a low tog rating (typically below 2.5) to allow the heat to pass through effectively.

If noise reduction is your priority, particularly in upstairs rooms or between floors, look for a carpet underlay with good acoustic properties. Crumb rubber underlay for carpet is the most effective for sound reduction, as its dense construction absorbs impact noise very effectively. High-density PU foam is also a good option and tends to be more widely available at accessible price points. The thicker the underlay, the greater the sound-dampening effect.

Felt-backed carpets have a degree of cushioning built into their backing, which means underlay isn't essential in the same way it is for hessian or action-backed carpets. However, adding underlay for carpet, even with a felt-backed product, will improve insulation, add extra comfort underfoot, and help the carpet wear more evenly over time, particularly in higher-traffic areas. It's a relatively small additional cost that delivers a meaningful improvement.