Underlay Picker
Underlay is easy to overlook, but it decides how comfortable your carpet feels and how long it lasts. Answer three quick questions — the room, how much foot traffic it sees, and your budget — and we’ll recommend one of the three grades we fit most often, along with the guide price and the reasoning behind the pick, so you understand the trade-off rather than just taking our word for it.
We recommend
Premium 10–11mm underlay
£5–£8 per m²
A premium 10–11mm underlay adds noticeably more cushioning and warmth underfoot, which suits a comfort-focused living room with medium everyday traffic.
Guide prices — your exact quote depends on room sizes and flooring choice.
Get a Quote for This Underlay on WhatsAppThe Three Grades, In Brief
PU foam is the entry-level, all-purpose choice — light, affordable and perfectly adequate for low-to-medium traffic rooms and rentals. Premium 10–11mm underlay is noticeably thicker and softer, adding real cushioning and warmth for bedrooms and living rooms where comfort matters more than outright durability. Crumb rubber is the dense, heavy-duty option — it doesn’t compress under repeated pressure, which is exactly what stairs and high-traffic family rooms need. None of the three is objectively “best” — the right one depends entirely on where it’s going and how hard it’ll be worked, which is what this tool weighs up for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does underlay really make that much difference?
Yes — it's the single biggest factor in how a carpet feels underfoot and how long it lasts. A good underlay absorbs impact, insulates against cold floors, and stops the carpet backing from wearing through in high-traffic spots. Skimping on underlay under a premium carpet is one of the most common false economies we see.
Why do stairs always get crumb rubber?
Stairs take repeated, concentrated point-loading on the nose of every tread — softer foam underlays compress and flatten there far faster than anywhere else in the house. Dense crumb rubber holds its shape under that kind of wear, which is why fitters default to it for stairs regardless of budget.
I'm a landlord — what should I choose for a rental?
PU foam is usually the sensible choice for rentals: it's the most affordable grade, still gives tenants a comfortable floor, and keeps re-carpeting costs down between tenancies. If a particular room sees unusually heavy wear (a shared hallway, for instance), it's worth stepping up to crumb rubber there specifically.
Can I mix underlay grades across the same job?
Absolutely — plenty of customers use crumb rubber on the stairs and landing, then a premium 10–11mm underlay in bedrooms for extra comfort. Run the picker separately for each room type and mention the mix when you message us for a quote.
More Free Tools & Guides
Ready to Book Your Underlay?
Message us on WhatsApp with your recommended grade and we’ll come back with a confirmed price — usually the same day.