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Installation Guides · 4 min read

What to Do When the Rug Arrives a Different Size

The single most common install-day surprise, and the two-second fix.

Short answer

What to Do When the Rug Arrives a Different Size

If the rug arrives larger than ordered, the pad is now too small and should be replaced. If the rug arrives smaller — far more common — rip 2-inch strips off the pad until it sits about an inch inside the rug's edge on every side. No tools, no reorder, no second trip.

Why does this happen so often?

Because rug dimensions are nominal. A 9x12 from one mill and a 9x12 from another can differ by several inches, and nobody discovers it until both items are in the same room.

The rug is smaller. What now?

Rip. Take one 2-inch strip off the long side, re-set the rug, check the edges, and repeat if needed. Two seconds per strip and the job is back on schedule.

The rug is bigger. What now?

The perforation only runs one direction, so this is a reorder. Same or next business day cutting means it is usually a delay of days rather than weeks — and it is the reason to order at the larger measurement when a rug's size is uncertain.

Published 2025-11-11. Last updated 2026-08-01.

Answers

Related questions

What if I order the wrong size?

If the pad is too large, remove 2-inch strips along the perforations and it is solved on the spot. If a pad is materially undersized for the rug, contact your representative and we will make it right.

Can rug pads be resized during installation?

Yes. That is the point of the perforations. If the room or the rug measures differently than expected, pull along a perforation line to remove a 2-inch strip. It takes seconds per side and requires no tools.

My handmade rug is not perfectly square. What do I order?

Order at the largest measurement in each direction, then use the perforations on site to bring the short side in. This is the exact scenario the 2-inch increments were designed for.

How fast do custom-cut rug pads ship?

Pads are cut and shipped the same or next business day, and typically arrive in one to three days. Because manufacturing and cutting happen in the same domestic facility, custom sizing does not add a lead-time penalty.

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