Best Overall
Unique Loom Border Area Rug
- This area rug doesn’t snag or tear during cleaning or when moving heavy objects across it, stays put without bunching or sliding underfoot, and is easy to maneuver—even for one person.
This area rug doesn’t snag or tear during cleaning or when moving heavy objects across it, stays put without bunching or sliding underfoot, and is easy to maneuver—even for one person.
- Once it's put in place this rug tends to stay put, which also means the edges of this rug may have a memory and need a little time to flatten out the first time it is unrolled.
Once it's put in place this rug tends to stay put, which also means the edges of this rug may have a memory and need a little time to flatten out the first time it is unrolled.
If you need a lightweight yet durable rug that can be moved around easily—even for one person working alone—the Unique Loom Outdoor Collection Transitional Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug is one of our favorite picks because of how effortlessly it can be folded up and carried around.
We also named this rug the overall best indoor/outdoor rug because of its quality. The fibers resisted snags, tears, and excessive wear when we slid heavy objects, like furniture and plants, across it, subjecting it to a lot of surface friction.
In our lab testing, we liked how well the rug stayed in one place without shifting or sliding underfoot, but we were downright pleased when we discovered that we could slide heavy objects from side to side on its surface without causing it to buckle or bunch up. Keep in mind that the rug may need some time to fully flatten, though, since it ships rolled up.
Another reason this rug made our list is because it is incredibly easy to clean with a broom or vacuum, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas that could get a little muddy. We found that liquid stains (barbecue sauce and grape juice) did not come completely out, however. Luckily, this rug’s fibers can stand up to a little elbow grease without causing too much noticeable damage.
If you’re planning to place this rug in an uncovered area outdoors, be aware that it may take some time to dry after a rainstorm—the rug was still wet one day after we hosed it down.
How It Performed After Six Months
After months of testing, we were especiallky impressed with the durability of the rug. When testing this rug in our home, we were able to almost completely remove a three-day old pet stain, and were equally pleased at how the fibers held up after tough scrubbing.
Product Details: Size: From 2 x 6 feet (15 sizes available) | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Easy to vacuum, sweep, or spray down with garden hose | Dries overnight: No | Pad recommended: No
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Budget
Better Homes and Gardens Striped Outdoor Rug
- The rug laid flat immediately—even the tassels—after unrolling it from the packaging.
The rug laid flat immediately—even the tassels—after unrolling it from the packaging.
- We weren’t able to get barbecue and grape juice stains completely out of this rug, so it may not be the best choice for under outdoor dining sets.
We weren’t able to get barbecue and grape juice stains completely out of this rug, so it may not be the best choice for under outdoor dining sets.
Liven up any space with the Better Homes and Gardens Multi-Color Striped Outdoor Rug, our choice for for shoppers on a budget. The light color palette and tassels add a pop of color and texture to your space while remaining subtle enough to not steal the show.
Because it comes ready to use, it’s the perfect same-day addition to your outdoor space for hosting guests or throwing a barbeque party. We found that the rug laid flat immediately after unrolling and was completely free of imperfections. Even the tassels were in great shape straight from the packaging.
Made from polyester and polypropylene, this rug is designed to be durable against weather, sun, and abrasion caused by surface wear, and we found this to be true during testing. The rug stayed in place when we wiped our feet, and although it moved slightly when moving a chair and a planter across it, there was no damage left behind.
It also held up well when we swept and vacuumed it, though it can also be easily sprayed down with a hose to clean up spills and debris. We did have trouble getting out juice and barbecue sauce, however, so you may want to avoid eating messy foods around this rug.
We recommend the Better Homes and Gardens rug for use outdoors, but because it is available in varying sizes (and colors), this rug is also perfect for entryways, and any other living space inside your home (try it as a kitchen rug!).
Product Details: Size: From 5 x 7 feet (three sizes available) | Material: Polyester, polypropylene | Care: Easy to vacuum, sweep, or rinse with garden hose | Dries overnight: No | Pad recommended: No
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Jute Alternative
Ruggable Border Braid Re-Jute Rug
- The rug is made from recycled plastic bottles and can be tossed in your washing machine when it needs a clean.
The rug is made from recycled plastic bottles and can be tossed in your washing machine when it needs a clean.
- While most standard washing machines can handle cleaning this rug, you’ll want to double check the size of your machine’s tub before buying.
While most standard washing machines can handle cleaning this rug, you’ll want to double check the size of your machine’s tub before buying.
If you want a rug that can be washed in your washing machine and is a feel-good, eco-friendly purchase, look no further than this super-soft area rug that is made from recycled plastic bottles and fits comfortably in your washer and dryer.
Available in two colors (sand and antique oak), the Ruggable Border Braid Re-Jute Rug has a woven pattern designed to mimic the look of hand-braided jute rugs—but with a softer surface that’s easier to clean.
The rug passed our cleaning test against dirt and liquid stains because of its ability to be laundered in a washing machine—just make sure to verify that the tub of your machine is large enough for the size of rug you choose (at least 2.2 cubic feet for 5 x 7 rugs and 3.8 cubic feet for 6 x 9 rugs).
Most standard washing machines can handle this rug. For lighter cleaning, we found using a broom to be a bit challenging with this rug, but debris lifted easily with a vacuum.
The subtle sophistication of this rug will complement any patio, deck or entryway. Or, if you prefer to use this rug inside, its soft surface would make it a great option for your kitchen, living room, or den because it holds up against snagging and does not have loose threads.
The rug comes with an outdoor-friendly rug pad that adds a bit of cushion and secures the rug in place.
How It Performed After Six Months
We put the rug's durability to the test against an unexpected flood. The rug was completely submerged under about an inch of water. After the storm had passed, we separated the rug from the rug mat and hung both of them up to dry. The rug dried completely in about a day with no odors, stains, or other indication of flooding.
Product Details: Size: From 3 x 5 feet (five sizes available) | Material: Recycled polyester, polyurethane | Care: Easy to vacuum, machine wash | Dries overnight: No | Rug pad recommended: Yes
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Quick-Drying
nuLOOM Marybelle Diamond Rug
- Of all the indoor/outdoor rugs that we tested, this was the only one that completely dried overnight after getting wet.
Of all the indoor/outdoor rugs that we tested, this was the only one that completely dried overnight after getting wet.
- The edges curled up and required a bit of smoothing. Expect to give this rug some time to flatten after unrolling it from its packaging.
The edges curled up and required a bit of smoothing. Expect to give this rug some time to flatten after unrolling it from its packaging.
If you live in a rainy climate and you plan to keep your rug in an unsheltered location, the best indoor/outdoor rug for you will be a quick-drying pick. This Aperto Indoor/Outdoor Diamond Trellis Area Rug is the only one on our list that we found to dry completely overnight after being soaked with a hose the previous day.
Another great aspect of this rug is its latex backing, which makes the rug slightly tacky so it stays in place on smooth surfaces. Testers found that the rug didn’t scrunch or bunch while dragging objects across it or vacuuming its surface. This is an optimal quality for placing this rug in a dining area where guests need to be able to scoot their chairs back easily without causing a tripping hazard.
We did notice that the edges tended to stick up after unrolling the rug from its packaging, however; plan to give this rug a bit of time to completely flatten. The latex backing also made this rug a cinch to vacuum, according to testers.
Dirt, debris, and food all swept and vacuumed off very easily without causing much trouble (though it needs to be mentioned that the tassels can be tricky to clean). Liquids can be dabbed off, but we were impressed by how easily stains came out with a gentle cleanser and a little elbow grease. The rug looked like new after being hosed down.
How It Performed After Six Months
During our long-term tests, when the rug received direct sunlight, it dried in about three hours. We also appreciated how easy it was to clean, and simply used a water hose or a broom to refresh the rug.
Product Details: Size: From 2 x 3 feet (10 sizes available) | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Easy to vacuum, sweep, or rinse with garden hose | Dries overnight: Yes | Rug pad recommended: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Small
Rifle Paper Co. Veranda Monstera Outdoor Rug
- The rug laid flat the moment we unrolled it for a polished look straight from the packaging.
The rug laid flat the moment we unrolled it for a polished look straight from the packaging.
- While everyday maintenance with a vacuum will keep this rug looking beautiful, it is difficult to spot treat, and you will need to budget for professional cleaning to ensure its longevity.
While everyday maintenance with a vacuum will keep this rug looking beautiful, it is difficult to spot treat, and you will need to budget for professional cleaning to ensure its longevity.
The best choice for a petite space is a proportionately small rug. The Veranda Monstera Cream Outdoor Rug from Rifle Paper Co. is available in six sizes starting at 2 feet 3 inches by 4 feet.
This rug packs a punch of color with its botanical print and rolls out like a yoga mat, perfectly flat with an invitingly smooth texture that testers said resisted snags and tears when moving furniture across it. The rug has a plush surface that should not only stand up to the elements over the long haul but also felt comfy underfoot when we stood and walked across the rug. We appreciated how much it brightened up her deck when she put the rug under our dark outdoor furniture.
The rug has a grippy backing that helps it stay put on surfaces. We experienced no sliding when wiping our feet or bunching when moving large objects across the rug. Plus, it stayed grounded when we used a broom and vacuum to clean up dirt and debris, making everyday maintenance less of a chore.
We were unable to blot liquid stains out of this wool rug, but a professional cleaning service would likely be able to do the trick.
How It Performed After Six Months
After months of enduring snow, rain, sleet and wind, the colors on this rug are just as bright as when we first received it. And despite being a thinner rug, we haven't noticed any significant signs of wear.
Product Details: Size: From 2 feet 3 inches x 4 feet (six sizes available) | Material: 100% wool; polypropylene backing | Care: Spills can be blotted; professional cleaning recommended | Dries overnight: Unknown; spot clean only | Rug pad recommended: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Colors
Safavieh Courtyard Collection Accent Rug
- Because it’s available in 10 different colors, you’ll be able to find a match for your patio’s color palette.
Because it’s available in 10 different colors, you’ll be able to find a match for your patio’s color palette.
- While this rug is water resistant, it does not dry out quickly, which may be a concern if you want to place it on a wooden surface like a deck or pergola.
While this rug is water resistant, it does not dry out quickly, which may be a concern if you want to place it on a wooden surface like a deck or pergola.
We found the Safavieh Courtyard Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug—in all of its 10 beautiful colors—to be one of the best indoor/outdoor rugs you can buy if you want to play with color in your space and don’t want to worry about fading (although the manufacturer recommends keeping it out of direct sunlight).
Given the detail of this rug's colorful weave, we were impressed that there were no snags or loose threads when inspecting the rug, noting that it seems very high quality. Even after dragging a heavy potted plant and chair across the rug, the abrasion had no effect.
The rug also passed our cleaning tests with flying colors. Testers found dirt and debris were easily swept away with a broom or vacuumed up. Plus, all it took was a brush and a little bit of mild detergent to scrub out grape juice and barbecue sauce stains. The rug can also be cleaned with a hose, but you’ll want to remember to give it time to dry out before you plan to host a gathering. We found the rug was still wet the next morning after spraying it down the day before.
How It Performed After Six Months
This rug was put to the test in severe weather, performing well against a hail storm. The hail chipped paint on our deck; however, when we removed the removed the rug we discovered that no paint was chipped under it. The rug didn't show any signs of damage despite the powerful storm.
During the colder months, we brought the rug indoors with two active dogs, and surprisingly didn't see any snags appear. While it has started to show some light wear in heavy traffic areas, we still think the rug would last years based on its durability performance.
Product Details: Size: From 9 x 12 feet (28 sizes and shapes available) | Material: Polypropylene, polyester, latex | Care: Easy to vacuum, sweep, or rinse with garden hose | Dries overnight: No | Rug pad recommended: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Pattern
Urban Outfitters Tillie Reversible Rug
- This rug screams bold and beautiful, and its energizing pattern makes it one of the best options we tested.
This rug screams bold and beautiful, and its energizing pattern makes it one of the best options we tested.
- This rug is not able to be hosed off and requires spot cleaning. There was also not a huge difference in design from one side to the other, despite the rug being reversible.
This rug is not able to be hosed off and requires spot cleaning. There was also not a huge difference in design from one side to the other, despite the rug being reversible.
If you want to bring a graphic look to your patio, then the Tillie Reversible Indoor/Outdoor Rug from Urban Outfitters is a great option. Bonus: Because it’s reversible, you get two looks in one, although we didn’t find much difference between the two sides.
Homeowners and renters alike will appreciate this bold and vibrant rug not only as a statement piece, but a versatile decor item that testers found to be lightweight enough to roll up and carry to a new location—even the 6 x 9 size—when you’re ready to try its look in a different area of your home. It’s squishy enough under your feet to feel comfortable while barefoot yet durable enough to withstand a high traffic area.
Even though this rug is made from durable recycled plastic, the manufacturer recommends spot cleaning only. We found that both sweeping it with a broom and vacuuming it was effective and there was no need to scrub out any spills. A quick wipe did the trick to clean up barbecue sauce and grape juice, so there’s no fear of snagging or fraying from unnecessary rubbing while cleaning.
How It Performed After Six Months
In long-term testing, we did find that the corners of the rug had a tendency to fold up in the wind; however, the rug was on the second floor of our home and was more susceptible to wind. By moving our chairs to the corners to add some weight, we were mostly able to resolve the issue.
The rug sat on our uncovered deck throughout the winter, withstanding snow, ice, and sunlight. We didn't notice any discoloration or fiber breakage, so we're confident the rug will last multiple seasons.
Product Details: Size: From 5 x 6 feet (two sizes available) | Material: Recycled plastic | Care: Spot clean only | Dries overnight: Unknown | Rug pad recommended: Not listed
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Texture
West Elm Reflected Diamonds Indoor/Outdoor Rug
- The soft, thick texture of this rug is comfy enough to lie down on. Plus, the reverse side of this rug is a solid color, giving you two decorating options.
The soft, thick texture of this rug is comfy enough to lie down on. Plus, the reverse side of this rug is a solid color, giving you two decorating options.
- The texture that makes this rug so wonderful to touch can also make it harder to clean since a broom does not run as smoothly over the weave.
The texture that makes this rug so wonderful to touch can also make it harder to clean since a broom does not run as smoothly over the weave.
The West Elm Reflected Diamonds Outdoor Rug’s diamond pattern draws the eye in with its modern look, making it a great addition to any high-traffic area that needs a durable rug where detail does not go unnoticed.
Upon seeing this rug, you’ll want to lean down and feel the raised texture found in the weave of this geometrically designed gem. We thought the feel and plushness of the rug was so nice that you could lay directly on it to enjoy the sun.
Because this rug is available in seven colors and 12 sizes, you could purchase multiple versions of this pattern for different areas in and outside your home as a way to transition the eye from one space to another. The rug is reversible, so opting to put one rug with the solid side up could be an interesting way to incorporate similar textures—without too many patterns—into one space.
We found that the rug’s recycled polyester material stood up to normal wear and tear, showing no signs of damage or snagging when they slid heavy objects across it. The thick, though lightweight, rug also held up to cleaning with a vacuum and a garden hose. If you aren’t a fan of vacuuming, however, you will have a hard time cleaning its raised texture with a broom.
How It Performed After Three Months
Despite the texture of the rug, removing stains is relatively easy. After inadvertently stepping in a dropped avocado and tracking it onto the rug during long-term testing, we were able to completely remove the fruit stain with a basic carpet cleaner.
Product Details: Size: From 3 x 5 feet (12 sizes available) | Material: Recycled polyester | Care: Vacuum, rinse with hose | Dries overnight: Unknown | Rug pad recommend: Yes, if used indoors
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Flat Weave
Nourison Positano Area Rug
- This rug is one of our favorites because it is as low as low maintenance can go with its thin and smooth texture that cleans like a dream yet remains smooth to the touch.
This rug is one of our favorites because it is as low as low maintenance can go with its thin and smooth texture that cleans like a dream yet remains smooth to the touch.
- Because of its thin construction, the corners and short sides have trouble laying down flat, even after walking over them a number of times.
Because of its thin construction, the corners and short sides have trouble laying down flat, even after walking over them a number of times.
The Nourison Positano Modern Indoor/Outdoor Rug would be well equipped for homes with pets, children, or a lot of traffic running through it thanks to its flat weave.
What impressed us most was the ability for it to be hosed off and look as good as new, even though it did not dry quickly overnight. For everyday maintenance, a broom or vacuum can easily pick up dirt and debris. Liquid stains rolled off and were easy for testers to dab up. If a liquid stayed on for too long, a little gentle soap with water did the trick without a massive amount of scrubbing.
The texture is nice and smooth so moving planters or larger objects like furniture over its surface didn’t result in bunching or snags. Keep in mind that this rug is quite thin though, and we were able to feel rocks underfoot. We recommend adding a rug pad for extra comfort.
After we unrolled this rug from its packaging, the rug’s corners and short sides had a tendency to stick up, even after they walked across the rug a few times. You’ll want to plan to give this rug a few days to fully flatten.
How It Performed After Six Months
During long-term testing, we found this rug durable enough to withstand storms and light snow. During the winter months, we moved it to our home gym in our basement. We've noticed some edges fraying and colors fading in heavy traffic areas, but overall it's still holding up well for the amount of use it gets.
Product Details: Size: From 3 x5 feet (14 sizes available) | Material: Polypropylene | Care: Easy to vacuum, sweep, or rinse with garden hose | Dries overnight: No | Rug pad recommended: Yes
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON