Best Drum Rugs To Reduce Creeping & Protect Floors

Drummers need a lot of kit; it just goes with the territory. But one piece of kit that newby drummers often forget is a drum rug. And yes, you probably need a drum rug, so in today’s article, we’ll share with you the best drum rugs on the market.

Why do you need a drum rug? It protects your floors and stops your drums from slipping out of place. We’ll talk more about this below. We’ll also take you through all the most important things to consider when choosing the right drum rug or mat in our complete drum rug buying guide.

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Do I Need A Drum Rug?

Yes. Okay, let me give you a little more than that.

In your home, a drum rug will protect your floor against the scratches and dents that can easily occur as the feet or your drums hit the floor with every beat. They can also give the spurs on your bass and hi-hat something to dig into other than your floors, which means they will stay in place better.

That is the main concern when it comes to performing. You may be surprised just how uneven some surfaces are. Without a drum rug, it is not uncommon to feel your drums creeping across the floor. This may only be a little at first, but before you know it, your entire flow is broken because your drums are not in quite the right place. A drum rug stops your drums from creeping while playing.

Also, if you are gigging, you can mark up exactly where your kit should be on your rug. This can make setting up your kit a bit easier as you already know exactly where everything should be. This can be especially useful if someone else is helping you set up your kit.

While you can just get a plain black rug, you can also get rugs with cool designs that add to the overall aesthetic of your band when you are performing.

5 Best Drum Rugs In 2022

When talking about drum rugs, there are rugs that work for just one drum and mats that are appropriate for your entire kit. The latter are more popular, but we have included both options in our list of the five best drum rugs.

1. Aucuda Drum Rug

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Aucuda makes a variety of drum rugs, but this is our top pick for quality and coolness. We love the Persian rug design for this six foot mat for full drum kits.

• Full kit drum mat
• 6 ft by 6.6 ft

The top layer of the rug is made from tightly woven polyester fabric that is comfortable beneath the feet and shock-absorbing. This sits on top of a non-slip rubber layer that will keep your kit in place and which your spurs can dig into.

It is convenient for transport since you can just roll it up and secure the tube with a velcro strap. While we love the Persian rug style, there are lots of designs to choose from.

What we like: This mat is simple and good-quality, which is what most drummers are looking for. It also comes at an affordable price.

What we don’t like: While we like the Aucuda brand, it is pretty prominent in all their designs, which feels a little unnecessary.

If you want something that is affordable, good-quality, and just works, then this Aucuda mat should be at the top of your list.

2. Black Widow Drum Web

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When you are just starting out gigging, you are often asked to play on tiny stages where there just isn’t room for your mat. This mat by Black Widow is designed to solve that problem.

• Partial full kit
• Weighs 2 lbs

Rather than a full mat, you get a small mat for your seat and then attach velcro lines, or “webs,” to the seat for your pedals. The velcros are strong, and your weight in the throne holds everything in place.

The system works pretty well, though not as well as a normal mat. When you are done, the military grade nylon mat folds up for storage in a functional case.

What we like: We like how well this mat works when you are dealing with a small space, which is often the case when you first start gigging.

What we don’t like: This mat is for a very specific market who need the space. If space isn’t an issue, you would be better off getting a sturdier and larger mat.

If you are just starting out in the gigging scene and you are finding yourself squashed into tight corners, this mat could be exactly what you are looking for.

Read our guide to the best drum pedals here.

3. Meinl Cymbals Drum Rug

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This is a top-quality full kit mat that won’t disappoint. It is a little more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but it is worth every cent.

• Full kit mat
• 6.5 ft by 5.25 ft

The mat is big enough for most full kits measuring 6.5 by 5.25 feet. It combines a densely woven top layer with a sturdy, non-slip rubber layer for something that is functional, and there are various designs to choose from as well for something attractive.

When you aren’t using it, the mat rolls up and can be carried in a travel bag that comes included. It is great if you want to use the mat at home and on the road.

What we like: We like that this mat is designed to be multifunctional. Use it at home to protect your floors and on the road to create an even drumming surface.

What we don’t like: For the price tag, we wish that this one came with a few more bells and whistles.

If you want a top-quality drum mat that will work for you in any situation, this is an excellent choice.

4. Kaces Crash Pad Drum Rug

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If you need something for a single drum that is as good of quality as a full mat, then this crash pad is excellent. It is principally designed for the bass but can be used with any of your drums.

• Single drum rug
• 22 in by 10 in

The mat measures 22 by 10 inches, which is enough for your biggest drum without taking up too much space. The mat itself is made from a polypropylene top with a non-slip rubber bottom and trim. One of the sides also has a wood reinforcement to ensure against slippage.

This one is easy to roll out just when you need it, such as when you are traveling, and can be stored in a functional nylon carrier case.

What we like: It is great that this rug uses material as high-quality as the full kit mats, so you aren’t losing out when you only need a single drum option.

What we don’t like: We were surprised how bulky this was when rolled up. It’s nothing when compared to your kit as a whole, but it was still a surprise.

If you just need a single drum mat but you want something that is excellent quality, then this option by Kaces is a fantastic choice.

5. Ludwig Non-Slip Drum Rug Mat

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The last on our list, this is another big mat for a full kit measuring 6 by 6.6 feet. A lot of people love this option for the Ludwig logo!

• Full kit mat
• 6 ft by 6.6 ft

This mat doesn’t do anything new. It matches a tightly woven top layer that absorbs shocks with a rubber bottom layer that prevents slips and can take your spurs. But every part of the construction is excellent quality.

It is highly transportable; just roll it up and secure it with the velcro strap. It is lightweight, so it won’t add anything to the equipment you are carrying.

What we like: We like that this mat is simple and good quality and comes with a mark you can trust.

What we don’t like: This is one of the largest mats on the market, so squeezing it into smaller places can be an issue.

If you want something simple but good quality from a well-known and trusted brand, this Ludwig option is definitely worth considering.

Drum Rug Buying Guide

It’s just a rug to put under your drum, how hard can finding a good one be? There are lots of great quality products on the market to choose from, but there are some important things to consider when choosing the right option for you.

Single Drum Rug vs. Drum Mat For Your Kit

When browsing drum rugs, you will see options that are designed to sit under an individual drum and mats designed to accommodate your full kit. While mats tend to be more affordable and convenient, that is not always the case.

If you have a hard floor, then a mat that protects the floor under all of your kit and stops any of your drums from wandering is going to be a good choice. But if you are playing on carpet, arranging a full mat can be troublesome and damaging. Instead, you might just want to put a single rug under your bass.

There is, of course, also a question of aesthetics. Do you like the look of a full mat, or do you prefer to get rugs for your individual drums?

If you go for individual rugs, pay particular attention to what you put under your bass drum and hi-hat. These both have metal spurs at the bottom that can easily cut into and damage your floor.

Even if you use a rig, it is a good idea to place rubber flooring runners under the rug underneath these spurs as they can easily cut through a rug or mat.

Essential Features

Once you have decided on the type of mat that you want, there are a number of essential features to tick off your wish list.

• Your drum rug should have two layers: a top woven layer that absorbs shocks and a rubber underlay that ensures against sticking. The rubber layer also gives your spurs something to dig into to hold your drums in place.
• If you are looking for a drum to sit under your whole kit, make sure it is the right size. You want something big enough to fit everything but not so big that it is spilling out and occupying space it doesn’t need to.
• If you are gigging, you will want something small and light enough to be easily transportable but heavy enough to still do the job.
• Portability features like a velcro closure and a carry bag are nice to have.
• Choose something with weighted corners so that the edges of your rug don’t start to curl up and become a tripping hazard over time.
• While most mats will come in standard black that blend in with most stages, there are also some cool designs out there. This can add a bit of fun to your group’s overall aesthetic.

Need shoes for drumming as well? Check out our guide to the best drumming shoes.

FAQs

What does a drum rug do?

Drum rugs serve two purposes. First, they protect floors from scratches and marks. They also keep the drums from gradually sliding out of place as they are played.

How thick should a drum rug be?

Most drum rigs are a minimum of 3 millimeters thick, but they can also be significantly thicker. They need to be thick enough that the spurs on the base drum dig into the rug but not the floor underneath.

What can I use as a drum rug?

You don’t necessarily need to buy a special drum rug for your drums; standard rugs are often good enough to do the job. But specially designed drum rugs tend to be the right size and have features such as weighted corners to ensure they don’t start to curl up if you roll them out and up frequently.

How big is a drum rug?

Drum rugs vary in size. You can get small rugs that are just for one drum or large rugs for a full kit. Full kit rugs range from 4 feet to 7 feet wide to accommodate kits of different sizes.

Can I use any rug as a drum rug?

You could put any rug under your drums, but it may not work as well as a specially designed drum rug. These rugs tend to be just the right size for a drum kit. They also have a tightly woven top layer that the feet of your drums can dig into with a rubber protective layer that your spurs can dig into. They prevent sliding as the drums vibrate.

Why is my bass drum moving?

If you feel your bass drum sliding away from you while you are playing, there could be a variety of reasons why this is happening. Perhaps you aren’t using an appropriate drum rug. Maybe your spurs aren’t set up properly. It could be that your kick pedal isn’t attached correctly to the kick drum. You need to troubleshoot to get to the bottom of the problem.

The Verdict

While a drum rug can feel like just one more bit of kit that you need to invest in, they can actually be very important for drummers.

They protect your floors, and that’s important. But they also help keep your drums where they should be when you aren’t playing on the best floor. That means no creeping and no losing your flow as your drums slide out of their perfectly balanced positions.

Drum mats don’t have to cost a lot; just make sure you get one that meets a minimum standard. You can also get mats for your whole kit or smaller mats just for problem drums, like your bass, which tends to both dig into the floor and slide when being played.

All the options on our list of the five best drum rugs should be more than good enough to keep you, your drums, and your floors happy, whether you are playing at home or gigging.