Underlay is essential when installing new floors in the home – from laminate to carpets. The right product can enhance performance, improve comfort, and keep your floors better protected from daily wear and tear.
In this flooring underlay guide, we’ll explain the types of underlay and share the best underlay for laminate, luxury vinyl, and solid wood floors.
Underlay Types Explained
There are several types of underlay you’ll come across, including foam, foam and foil, rubber, XPS, and fibreboard underlay.
1. Foam Underlay
Suitable for hardwood, engineered wood & laminate flooring.
- Best Value
- Ultra Lightweight
- 2mm. provides an acoustic layer
- Low Tog. Perfect for underfloor heating
2. Foam and Foil Underlay
Suitable for hardwood, engineered wood & laminate flooring.
- Best Value
- Ultra Lightweight
- 3mm. Provides an acoustic layer
- Perfect for underfloor heating
- Incorporated foil barrier for suppressing subfloor moisture
3. Rubber
Suitable for hardwood, engineered wood and laminate.
- Made from recycled tyres
- Incorporated moisture barrier
- Can be paired with underfloor heating. Tog rating 0.8
- 3.5mm. Reccomended for herringbone pattern laminate and wood
- Provides excellent impact sound absorption at 23dB reduction
4. XPS Underlay
Suitable for engineered wood, laminate, and luxury vinyl.
- 20dB impact sound
- 2 Tog rating keeps the cold at bay
- 5mm. Levels minor subfloor imperfections
- Non-absorbing = ideal for kitchens and bathrooms
5. Fibreboard
Suitable for hardwood, engineered wood, and laminate.
- Recyclable
- 5mm. Levels minor subfloor imperfections
- Excellent 22dB impact sound reduction
- 0.5 Tog rating = perfect for use with underfloor heating
5. LVT Underlay
Suitable for luxury vinyl tiles (LVT Click & LVT Stick)
- Dense and sturdy
- Absorbs noise up to 19dB
- Moisture resistant foil membrane
- 0.6 Tog. Perfect for underfloor heating
- Fan-fold 1.2 x 0.4m boards with overlap seal
6. PU Underlay
Suitable for all carpet types.
Made with 100% recyclable polyurethane foam. PU Underlay lasts the lifetime of your carpet and beyond. It provides warmth and cushioning to extend the life of your carpet and is available in various thickness. Check the PU Underlay section for the specifications.
Features to Look For in Underlay
When shopping for underlay, you’ll encounter terms like TOG rating, DPM layer, and thickness – each affecting comfort, insulation, or moisture protection.
TOG Rating
TOG (Thermal Overall Grade) measures how well a material insulates. Underlay with a higher TOG rating offers better insulating qualities, meaning the floors stay warmer for longer and the room retains heat better. The lower the TOG rating, the less effective the insulating properties.
DPM Layer
DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) often refers to an underlay with a built-in layer that protects floors against moisture damage. You can also buy DPM as a standalone product, which goes over a subfloor and beneath your chosen underlay. DPM is essential when laying hard flooring over concrete to protect hard floors from moisture damage.
Thickness
Hardfloor Underlay is between 1.5mm to 5mm thick. Carpet underlay is between 8mm and 12mm thick. Each underlay has its own unique properties, so check to see which one is right for you.
What is the Best Underlay for Laminate?
The best underlay for laminate floors includes foam underlay, foam and foil underlay, XPS underlay, and fibreboard underlay.
Foam underlay is the most affordable option and is a universal solution, offering a range of benefits – from supporting underfloor heating systems to leveling floors and reducing echoes.
Shop Quality Underlay Today
Installing quality underlay beneath your floors and carpets is so important for extending the lifespan and comfort of your floors.
With the right underlay, you can protect your floors from damp or excess moisture, help with shock absorption, and improve soundproofing.
Find the right underlay for your home today with our collection of high-quality underlay for carpets and hard floors – including laminate, hardwood, luxury vinyl, and engineered wood.
Frequently asked questions
What is underlay and why is it important for flooring?
Underlay sits between your subfloor and your flooring. Skipping it is a mistake most people regret later. This helps in keeping floors warmer, quieter, and protected from moisture damage, which directly affects how long your floors hold up.
What are the different types of flooring underlay?
There is a large variety of flooring you will get to see, like foam, foam and foil, rubber, XPS, fibreboard, LVT, and PU. There are some floorings, which are built for sound reduction, others for moisture protection or underfloor heating, so the right one really comes down to your specific setup.
Which underlay is best for laminate flooring?
Foam, foam and foil, XPS, and fibreboard all work well under laminate. If you're unsure, foam and foil are a safe bet for most homes. It covers moisture, acoustics, and underfloor heating compatibility in one product.
Is foam underlay good for laminate flooring?
Yes, it's the go-to for most people fitting laminate. It's cheap, lightweight, and does the job well, especially if you're working with underfloor heating or just want a simple, fuss-free installation.
What is the benefit of foam and foil underlay?
The foil layer is the real selling point. It acts as a moisture barrier, which standard foam doesn't offer. If you're laying laminate over concrete, that extra protection against rising damp is well worth having.
Can rubber underlay be used with underfloor heating?
Yes, and it performs well with it. With a TOG rating of 0.8, heat moves through freely without being trapped, and you also get 23dB of sound reduction, which makes it one of the better all-round options available.
