Best Overall
Better Homes and Gardens Arches Area Rug
- Quality5/5
- Texture5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Durability4.8/5
- Value5/5
- Not only is this rug stylish and made of high-quality, durable materials, but it’s less expensive than other options.
Not only is this rug stylish and made of high-quality, durable materials, but it’s less expensive than other options.
- The pile height is a little inconsistent, though we noted that this is part of the look. We also felt that it could benefit from an anti-slip mat.
The pile height is a little inconsistent, though we noted that this is part of the look. We also felt that it could benefit from an anti-slip mat.
Soft and stylish with high-quality construction, we were very impressed by the Better Homes and Gardens Arches Hi Lo Area Rug, which nabbed top scores across all categories in lab testing and earned our vote for best area rug overall.
One of our favorite parts about the rug was how stylish it looked, as we felt it had a better design than some other rugs we had tried. Most of all, however, we were impressed with the price, which is less than many other options that are the same size.
Despite its light color, this rug was relatively easy to clean: The coffee grounds were vacuumed up very easily, and the chocolate syrup mostly came out after being cleaned—a very light stain was left behind, but we thought it would come out with more stain remover. After the rug had been vacuumed, the texture became a little fluffier, which we liked, but remained soft and smooth.
The rug earned solid scores for its durability, too. We observed that since it’s so light-colored, it could stain quickly in an area of the home that gets heavy use, so you should be mindful of where you place it.
This rug does have a bit of slip to it, but we noted that since it would likely be used in a room with a bigger piece of furniture weighing it down (such as a bed or dresser), movement would probably not be a huge concern.
Product Details: Size: 5 x 7 feet | Material: Polyester | Care: Not listed | Colors: One
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Key Terms to Know
- Pile: Refers to the density of fibers in a rug. High pile rugs are made with looser, longer fiber loops, resulting a thicker rug. Low pile rugs are thinner and made of tight, short fiber loops.
Best Budget
Safavieh Milan Shag Accent Rug
- Quality5/5
- Texture5/5
- Ease of Cleaning4/5
- Durability5/5
- Value5/5
- It proved to be durable during testing and has a high-quality feel.
It proved to be durable during testing and has a high-quality feel.
- It may be harder to vacuum than some other options.
It may be harder to vacuum than some other options.
Given the price of the Safavieh Milan Shag Collection Accent Rug, you might wonder if you’d be making some sacrifices in terms of quality. But we were very impressed by this rug, noting from the start of testing that it looked exactly like its online photos and was plush with a high pile, felt well-made, and lay completely flat with no curling of the edges.
This rug is thick, soft, and substantial-feeling. We also appreciated the many color options (your typical neutrals as well as more striking hues), and affordable price point, especially given how plush and soft it is. It’s so plush, we noted, that we could even envision ourselves taking a nap on it.
In durability tests, this Safavieh area rug performed very well. Though the pet brush noticeably fluffed the rug and made it look frayed and frizzy, it quickly went back to its normal state after we ran our hand over it. It also held up to foot traffic and wasn’t noticeably dampened despite its high pile.
About 95% of the chocolate syrup stain came out of the rug. And though vacuuming didn’t affect the rug’s texture, the thick pile did seem to make it tricky to fully vacuum up the coffee grounds. Though we initially thought the vacuum had cleaned up fully, additional coffee grounds fell to the floor when we picked the rug up.
Despite being a little harder than some others to clean, we wouldn’t change anything about the rug given its price point. Overall, we thought it was very soft and would be great in a larger size to cuddle up with a book on.
Product Details: Size: 5.25 x 7.5 feet | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Routinely vacuum, beat outside to remove excess debris, brush or sweep to remove pet hairs, avoid direct sunlight to prevent color fading | Colors: 28
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for High-Traffic Areas
AllModern Ovid Oriental Area Rug
- Quality5/5
- Texture5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Durability4.8/5
- Value5/5
- It’s easy to clean and highly durable, making it a great choice for areas with heavy foot traffic or families with pets.
It’s easy to clean and highly durable, making it a great choice for areas with heavy foot traffic or families with pets.
- It’s thinner than some other rugs on this list.
It’s thinner than some other rugs on this list.
Sometimes you need an area rug for a room that gets near-constant use — think the dining room where your family eats most meals or an entryway that experiences frequent foot traffic. For this type of space, you want a highly durable rug that won’t be visibly affected by people trampling it all day, and the AllModern Ovid Rug is just that.
One reason we thought this was one of the best options for high-traffic areas is that it’s thin, so we didn’t think it would show much wear and tear from frequent use. Though it has a very low pile, the texture of this rug is soft and it does a great job of laying flat.
We liked the design of this rug, which featured a medallion pattern with geometric borders — and we noted that it would be a great option for those with pets since the intricate pattern would likely conceal pet hair and household debris.
Although some fibers came out during the brush test, the rug did not show significant wear or tear, another sign that this is one of the best rugs for pet owners. It also proved easy to clean. We were shocked by how easy it was to vacuum up the coffee grounds. None of the coffee grounds were left behind and the rug looked good as new.
Our only complaint was how thin this rug is, so we recommend pairing this one with a rug pad. However, we also noted that the thinner pile would be a benefit for anyone who moves frequently since it would be very easy to roll up and carry, as well as for anyone with pets since it’s easy to clean.
Product Details: Size: 5.25 x 7.5 feet | Material: Viscose | Care: Vacuum with a beater bar or rotating brush, spot-clean with a dry cloth, or have cleaned professionally | Colors: One
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Shag
AllModern Walker Checkered Shag Rug
- Quality5/5
- Texture5/5
- Ease of Cleaning4.5/5
- Durability4.2/5
- Value4.5/5
- This rug is ultra soft and squishy with a tall, dense pile.
This rug is ultra soft and squishy with a tall, dense pile.
- The higher pile makes it a little difficult to clean.
The higher pile makes it a little difficult to clean.
There’s just something about shag rugs, which have a way of making any space feel oh so cozy and warm. We thought the AllModern Walker Checkered Shag Area Rug delivered this experience and checked all the boxes for a shag area rug: This one has a tall, dense pile and a soft, squiggly texture that’s uniform throughout the rug. It also earned points for looking exactly like its online photos.
With its retro-inspired checkered pattern and variety of color and size options, this is a stylish rug that will look nice in a home. We thought that the materials seemed to be very high-quality overall. After walking back and forth on it around 20 times, the rug still looked good and only slightly matted down, suggesting it would hold up reasonably well in a high-traffic area. It also lays completely flat on the floor without any curling edges, we observed.
Although it’s wonderfully cozy and soft, this also makes it a little more delicate and difficult to clean. After the brush test, a number of the fibers looked disturbed, creating the illusion that the rug was lighter in certain spots. We observed that some abraded areas looked fluffier than the rest of the rug. It also took a little longer for us to get all of the coffee grounds out of the rug, which they guessed was due to the high pile, though they were able to pick most of them up in the end.
As for the chocolate syrup, we sprayed and blotted four times before the chocolate stopped coming off on my paper towels. About 95% of the stain came out in the end, though you can still see a shadow of it.
While it’s not the easiest to clean or the most durable area rug on this list, we felt that we’d still buy this rug because it feels so nice to walk on. However, due to the stains, we’d recommend it for either a bedroom or a living area rather than a kitchen or dining room.
Product Details: Size: 5.25 x 7 feet | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Vacuum (without a beater bar or rotating brush) and spot-clean with mild detergent | Colors: Seven
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Ashler Home Faux Sheepskin Rug
- Quality4.5/5
- Texture5/5
- Ease of Cleaning4.5/5
- Durability4.5/5
- Value5/5
- This faux sheepskin rug is affordably priced and ultra soft.
This faux sheepskin rug is affordably priced and ultra soft.
- Although it’s easier to clean than you might think, some of the chocolate syrup remained on the rug after cleaning.
Although it’s easier to clean than you might think, some of the chocolate syrup remained on the rug after cleaning.
The Ashler Faux Fur Rug is one of the best options for an area rug if you want a luxe touch for your space without the luxe price tag. The rug is offered in several sizes and colors and was easy to vacuum, so we thought it was a good option for homes with small children.
This rug has a high pile and high density, with wispy animal-like “hair” that looks so realistic, that we thought it was hard to tell that it was synthetic.
Though it looked like it might shed, we were surprised that it didn’t at all, even when we ran our hand over it. The rug has suede backing and laid perfectly flat, with all edges sticking to the ground, and we appreciated that it didn’t budge when they tried to push it with our foot.
Despite its delicate looks, this rug fared reasonably well in the durability test. A small ball of hair was present on the brush afterward, but it was only a small bit of what we assumed would be scratched off.
The rug did quite well after being vacuumed, too, and no coffee grounds remained after a few passes. We were also pleasantly surprised that the vacuum didn’t appear to suck hairs out of the rug, which suggests it would be appropriate for high-traffic areas of the home.
Stain remover took out about 80% of the chocolate syrup mark, but we weren’t able to get it fully out. However, we thought that with one more pass of stain remover, this stain would have come 95% of the way out.
Product Details: Size: 5 x 7 feet | Material: Faux sheepskin fur and suede | Care: Machine wash and lay flay to dry | Colors: 24
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Flat Weave
IKEA LYDERSHOLM Rug
- Quality4.8/5
- Texture4/5
- Ease of Cleaning4.5/5
- Durability5/5
- Value4.5/5
- This affordable rug has a rustic appearance and proved highly durable in testing.
This affordable rug has a rustic appearance and proved highly durable in testing.
- It’s not at all plush and feels more like walking on a mat.
It’s not at all plush and feels more like walking on a mat.
Though this doesn’t happen very often, we thought this rug looks better in person than online. During testing, we were impressed that the color on the Ikea Lydershorlm Rug looks lovely and uniform in real life, and we liked the rustic pattern and the fact that the edges easily lay flat.
This rug is made from woven polypropylene cords and has a dense texture with a low pile. It’s important to note that this is not a soft, plush rug. We thought that it felt more like walking on a fibrous mat than a piece of carpet. We also noted that it has a rough, hard, and thin texture with no backing to speak of.
Still, as long as you aren’t looking for a super plush area rug, it’s worth considering this one for its impressive durability, especially if you have pets. It held up very well in the clawing test, for one. While we noted some slight whispyness above the abraded area, it wasn’t very noticeable and no fibers came out. We also thought that it would hold up very well in areas of the home with heavy foot traffic as it felt durable and the pile wasn’t affected by our feet.
The Ikea Lydershorlm Rug also proved itself very easy to clean. The coffee grounds came up after a single pass of the vacuum and the chocolate syrup also came out fairly well. We were able to remove about 2/3 of the leftover stain from the chocolate, but the little gaps in the weave of the chords made getting some of the liquid chocolate impossible, we noted.
Though it has a more rustic, simple design and isn’t plush, we thought that this rug was a fair price given how durable it is and how resistant it would be to foot traffic and pets. We liked it for a mudroom, a large entryway, or maybe even a basement workshop.
Product Details: Size: 5.25 x 7.58 feet | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Clean with a mild detergent, brush with a soft brush, and rinse with water, then let the rug dry completely before use | Colors: One
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Wool
Revival Dawn Ombre Rug
- Quality5/5
- Texture5/5
- Ease of Cleaning4/5
- Durability5/5
- Value4.5/5
- Made of high-density wool fibers, this rug is very durable and high-quality.
Made of high-density wool fibers, this rug is very durable and high-quality.
- The texture is a little stiff.
The texture is a little stiff.
We were quickly impressed by the construction of the Revival Dawn Ombre Wool Rug, which is made of 100% wool. Although it has a low pile height and the fibers seemed fairly fine, it’s quite dense and felt high-quality. The rug also scored points for looking just as it does on the website, and we appreciated that it laid completely flat with no curling on the edges whatsoever.
This wool rug felt pleasant to walk on and we liked the overall aesthetic as well. The colors are not too vibrant, but still add some nice color to a room other than beige or white.
This rug also performed well in our tests for durability. A small ball of fibers came off after we scratched the rug with a pet brush but it wasn’t very noticeable.
We were also able to vacuum all of the coffee grounds with a few swipes. Even after we attempted to rub the coffee grounds deeper into the rug, they were still suctioned up immediately. However, although it was otherwise easy to clean, the chocolate sauce stain didn’t completely come out of the rug and there was a moderately noticeable mark.
Because the wool fibers are so high-density and its color stained throughout rather than just at the top, we thought the rug could hold up well in a high-traffic area of the house and the color wouldn’t fade with time.
While we think this rug is a good value, especially given the high quality of the wool, one mark against it is that it’s not very soft, so keep that in mind depending on your preferences.
Product Details: Size: 5 x 8 feet | Material: Wool on a cotton foundation | Care: Not listed | Colors: One
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Jute
Revival Hart Jute Rug
- Quality3.8/5
- Texture4.3/5
- Ease of Cleaning4.5/5
- Durability5/5
- Value4/5
- Elegant and versatile, this jute rug is a great option for someone who likes the look of natural fibers, and the retailer also has a custom sizing option.
Elegant and versatile, this jute rug is a great option for someone who likes the look of natural fibers, and the retailer also has a custom sizing option.
- It can feel a little rough on bare feet.
It can feel a little rough on bare feet.
Made of unbleached jute, the Revival Hart Jute Rug is a great choice for anyone who loves the look of natural textures. Just know that this isn’t the best choice for you if you crave a thick, plush rug: we observed that there’s no pile and the flexible flatweave felt quite rough on bare feet.
Though not necessarily enjoyable to walk on, we liked the look of the rug and thought it would be a great choice for indoor/outdoor zones of the home.
Thankfully, this rug is also fairly easy to clean. All of the coffee grounds were cleaned up in the vacuum test and there were no visible changes to the appearance of the rug after vacuuming. And though the pet brush did rough up the fabric a bit, the texture already looks a bit rough, so it doesn’t necessarily make it worse, we noted. Given how durable it seems, we thought it would hold up well in high-traffic areas of the home as well as outdoor settings.
Product Details: Size: 5 x 8 feet | Material: Unbleached jute | Care: Not listed | Colors: One
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for Pet Owners
Safavieh Crystal Collection Rug
- Quality4.5/5
- Texture5/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Durability5/5
- Value4.5/5
- This non-shedding rug is easy to care for and available in more than 30 sizes and several color options.
This non-shedding rug is easy to care for and available in more than 30 sizes and several color options.
- We had some trouble getting the corners to lay flat.
We had some trouble getting the corners to lay flat.
Pet owners need a rug that won’t frizz and shed when furry friends scratch at it, and the Safavieh Crystal Collection delivers. This was one of the toughest rugs we tested and stood up very well against the pet brush, indicating it would also hold up to pet claws. None of the fibers were pulled up, and you couldn’t see any visible scratch marks on the rug.
This rug has a low pile with a ribbed texture and a tight weave. Though not plush, the fibers still felt moderately soft to walk on. The medallion design is lovely and very versatile, and it’s available in several different colors and sizes, from runners to square to round rugs. The real-life version looked just like the online photos, too, we noted.
Another plus for pet owners: It’s easy to clean. The coffee grounds came up easily (we were able to pick up almost all of them in one pass) and most of the chocolate stain was removed. We noted that the stains came out easier on this rug than on other rugs we tested, and we thought we could have removed them fully with a damp rug.
Our only frustration with this rug was that the corners curled up slightly and the edges rolled up slightly. It also felt a little slippery underfoot, so we thought this option needed a rug pad underneath.
Product Details: Size: 5 x 8 feet | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Regularly vacuum and gently blot out minor stains with a mild detergent or carpet cleaner | Colors: Seven
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Washable
Tumble Tabor Washable Rug
- Quality5/5
- Texture5/5
- Durability5/5
- Value5/5
- You can throw this rug right in the washing machine to clean it, and it even comes with a cushioned pad.
You can throw this rug right in the washing machine to clean it, and it even comes with a cushioned pad.
- It’s offered in fewer colors and sizes than other options.
It’s offered in fewer colors and sizes than other options.
When this rug gets dirty, you can take it out of its cushioned pad and throw it directly in the washing machine — it will emerge looking brand new. This might sound too good to be true, but we determined that the Tumble Tabor Washable Rug and Cushioned Rug Pad lives up to its claims. Compared to other rugs we’ve used, this one was the best at keeping stains out. Plus, it’s soft, sleek, and less expensive than other rugs of the same size.
Tumble Tabor rugs come with an EVA foam pad that connects like a puzzle in three sections. During testing, we found that it was easy to set up without any instructions. Once assembled, you insert the foam pad into the corners of the rug, then smooth it flat. After fully put together, the rug felt soft and smooth with just the right amount of cushion.
This is a low-density rug, which means it’s soft but not plush throughout —we observed that you can slightly feel the weaving of the fabric, which some people love but others dislike. The material feels well-made and proved itself to be highly durable. After digging into it with the pet brush, there were no snags or evidence that it had been abraded.
It’s also easy to vacuum (all of the coffee grounds were quickly lifted in testing) and blissfully stain-resistant: The fabric causes liquids to bead up so they don’t leave a mark. We spilled wine and coffee on the rug and then blotted it with a paper towel, after which there was no evidence of the spill.
Product Details: Size: 5 x 7 feet | Material: Polyester | Care: Pull the rug off the pad and put it in the washing machine with standard laundry detergent, dry on low heat | Colors: One
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Indoor/Outdoor
Unique Loom Border Area Rug
- Quality5/5
- Texture5/5
- Durability4/5
- Ease of Cleaning5/5
- Value5/5
- This rug has a versatile design that works well in both indoor and outdoor spaces, and it’s easy to care for.
This rug has a versatile design that works well in both indoor and outdoor spaces, and it’s easy to care for.
- There’s only one color option, and the texture isn’t the softest.
There’s only one color option, and the texture isn’t the softest.
If you’re looking for an area rug that will enhance your outdoor space (a deck, patio, or to take on a picnic, for example) but that can also be used indoors, the Unique Loom Outdoor rug is a great choice. We used it consistently during a six-month testing period and were very impressed by the rug’s high-quality materials and how durable it was.
Made from polypropylene pile, this rug has a thinner texture that makes it convenient to move furniture around on top of it, we noted. Even after consistently moving furniture on the rug, no snags, tears, or excessive wear occurred. It also stays in place nicely, we noted, and the material is easy to clean with a broom and vacuum.
Overall, the rug’s durability really impressed us: Our dog bled on the rug after a nail-trimming went wrong, and after we applied a cleaner and scrubbed the rug, most of the stains came out.
Like many indoor/outdoor rugs, the texture of this one isn’t the softest. While it’s lightweight and easy to fold in half and carry to a picnic, we noted that it’s thin and you’d likely be able to feel rocks underneath it. Still, the texture works well if you’ll primarily use it on your deck or patio.
We did find that it took a little time for this rug to completely flatten out. The manufacturer notes that it can arrive with creases and folds, and recommends reverse-rolling it, weighing down folds and bumps, and streaming any creases to release them.
Product Details: Size: 6.08 x 9 feet | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Regularly vacuum and spot-clean | Colors: One
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK