5 Best Drum Rugs – Mats to Keep Drums In Place

Drum rugs are simple products that often get forgotten. To improve your drumming and your comfort while drumming, the best drum rugs keep your drum set in one place.

Some people see drum rugs and mats and think they are for cosmetic pleasure only. Though they can look pretty cool, they aren’t just there to be pretty on stage. The different parts of your drum kit can move around. The drum stands naturally move, the drums on them are being hit around, after all!

Drum rugs also protect the ground beneath. If you don’t want your flooring getting scuffed up, you might want a mat or rug to protect the wooden flooring or other floor surfaces.

Our Top Drum Rug Picks

The drum rug that’s best for you depends on the size of the room and the drum set you plan to put on top. It can also depend on the size of the stage, if you are putting it in a performance space. Our top picks give you options for drum rugs in different sizes and made of a variety of materials.

Zildjian Deluxe Drum Set Rug – Best Overall Drum Rug


If you want the best in the world of drumming, you might need to go for Zildjian as your brand. This is true of drum rugs too, and this deluxe option is one of the best made mats to protect your drums (and the floor).

Check Current Price

So, what makes this the best drum rug?

  • Weighted corners. These stop the rug from moving around at all and keep it in place even before you have put the drums on top.
  • Comes with an inbuilt strap and latch that allows you to carry it to gigs and practice.
  • Zildjian quality and durability. This drum rug is built to last for many years, or even decades.
  • Exceptional non-skid coating on the back means it won’t move around on the top of the floor.
  • 6 1/2′ x 5 1/3′ in size. Great for even large drum kits.

If you are looking for the very best, and a well made product that can fit your whole drum kit, this could be the answer for you. It costs a little more than some of the other options. However, this rug can last many years. The Zildjian Deluxe Drum Set Rug is for the hardcore drummer.

 

Black Widow Drum Web Anchoring Drum Mat – Best Portable Drum Rug

If you are looking for a small and affordable drum rug, the Black Widow Drum Web could be an option. It is designed mainly for the pedals rather than for the whole drum set, so be warned that it doesn’t give as much protection as some other choices.

The Black Widow does a fantastic job of keeping your drum pedals in place. Drumming becomes simpler, and the pedals won’t slip around and impact your playing.

This is small and portable, as it folds up. You can take this drum rug out and about with the rest of your drum kit. It weighs under 2 lbs in total.

This drum rug sticks to the floor using velcro. You can set it up where you want, safe in the knowledge it’ll stay perfectly in place. You can put your drum throne on the mat along with the pedals, it stops you from moving around when you don’t want to while playing.

For a cheap and portable drum rug, this can be a fantastic option. It doesn’t cover the full setup. If you need your toms, snare and all the drum stands to be protected from moving on the floor, go for a bigger option.

Zildjian Gig Drum Rug – Best for Gigging

The second option on the market made by Zildjian. The gig drum rug is made to be compact and easy to take to concerts. You can use this option as a home drum rug as well as a gig drum rug.

This is a little small. For compact drum kits, the gig drum rug is perfect. The overall size is  5 1/2′ x 4 1/2′. If you need a massive drum rug, this might not be the perfect choice.

Like the other Zildjian drum rug, this has weighted corners. Consequently, the extra bit of weight helps to keep your drum set in place. The rug won’t slide around the floor.

One feature this drum rug has that others don’t is the kick drum stopper. This sits where your bass drum will go, keeping the bass drum in place so it doesn’t slip and slide even when hit by your kick drum pedal.

Overall, this is a lightweight choice for people who take their drum rug out and about with them regularly.

On-Stage DMA6450 DrumFire Non Slip Drum Mat with Bag – Affordable Option

You might not want to spend a huge amount on your drum rug. It is clear that drumming is an expensive hobby anyway! You might want to spend your money on a new drum mic or stand instead of a drum rug. Although a mat or drum can be important for your drum set, it isn’t the most fun item.

You’ve probably never heard of this brand, DrumFire is no drum juggernaut. However, this mat is great quality and represents value for money.

Check Current Price of This Drum Rug

As well as being reliable, this drum rug is made to be convenient. It is a roll-up model. You can unroll it in a matter of a few seconds. Also, the material used means it doesn’t curl at the edges even after persistent use.

The PVC bottom means it won’t slip around, and because it isn’t made of traditional rug material, it doesn’t fray either.

6′ x 4′ area means you should have room for pretty much any drum set, even if you have a larger kit.

For transport, the On-Stage option has a nylon bag. This has a strap for your shoulder. When you’ve rolled up the rug, a velcro strap clips it together so it won’t unroll when you don’t want it to.

This isn’t a heavy option, but it does the job. A traditional, larger rug might be good if your kit stays in one place. For a drum set rug for gigs and practice, this is ideal.

Meinl Drum Rugs – Best Looking Drum Rug

Meinl drum rugs get honorable mention on our list. They look fantastic. The oriental design is one we specifically like. They’re made with drumming in mind, with a rubberised bottom to avoid slipping around. They include a travel bag, and though a bit hefty, they can be transported.

Drum Rug Buying Guide – How to Choose a Drum Mat

Most people have never bought a drum rug before. Even passionate drummers may be new to the concept. So, what should you look for? We’ve included some of the information and FAQs about choosing a drum rug below. You should be able to choose the right option for your drum kit.

Benefits of Drum Rugs

What is the point in a drum rug? Are they worth the hassle? More importantly, are they worth the money? What can a drum rug do for your drumming?

  • Drum rugs prevent your kit from slipping and sliding. This can be a real problem, your pedals and the drums themselves can get misplaced. This leads to you not playing to the best of your ability.
  • Drum rugs protect the floor beneath you. They’re popular for drum kits being set up at home. You don’t want your floor getting scuffed up by the kit.
  • A drum rug with bass drum stopper can stop the kick drum from moving when hit by the pedal. The Zildjian Gig Drum Rug is an example of a rug with a stopper to keep the bass drum in place.

Portability

Think about whether your drum rug needs to go anywhere. You might be looking for an option that sits in the same space all the time. A Meinl drum rug, made by the famous cymbal brand, is an example of a quality, hefty rug that can stay in your studio or rehearsal space. These drum rugs look great, too.

If you want to take your drum rug to gigs, you need something more portable. Many of the top rugs on the list include straps and carry cases so you can take them out to gigs. Think about the weight, too. A big heavy rug is not something you want to take to shows with you. Many of the options on our list are great portable drum rugs. The On-Stage DMA6450 DrumFire Non Slip Drum Mat rolls up into a small and convenient shape to carry.

DIY Drum Rug – Is Home Made an Option?

A drum rug often includes some extra features that are specific to drumming. However, generally, it is similar to any other rug. Most rugs stay in place and protect the floor. There’s nothing stopping you from using an ordinary household rug as a drumming rug.

Ensure that you find an option with a design that doesn’t slip and slide on a hardwood floor. A rubber mat for drum kit use doesn’t have to be a specific drum rug.

Spread the love