Choosing a rug often comes down to two key factors: style and practicality. Rugs.com stands out for its vast inventory, offering nearly every style imaginable at highly competitive price points, making it a go-to for shoppers who prioritize variety and budget. In contrast, Ruggable built its brand on one innovative idea: a two-piece, machine-washable rug system designed for homes with pets, kids, and high traffic, prioritizing convenience and peace of mind above all else.
Let's compare these two popular online rug retailers to help you decide which one is the right fit for your home.
Rugs.com: The Value-Focused Rug Superstore
Rugs.com operates like a massive online warehouse for floor coverings, offering a deep and diverse selection that caters to almost any taste or budget. The brand is known for aggressive pricing, frequent sales, and an inventory that spans from classic Persian designs to modern abstract patterns. It's the ideal destination for anyone who wants endless options without breaking the bank.
- Product mix: An extensive collection of area rugs, runners, and round rugs in countless styles.
- Style/vibe: Extremely broad, covering everything from traditional, Oriental, and Persian styles to contemporary, modern, farmhouse, and bohemian designs. Their selection ensures you can find a match for nearly any decor.
- Price point: Very budget-friendly. It is easy to find 5x8 area rugs under $150 or even $100 during a sale, while 8x10 options frequently fall in the $200–$400 range. Premium materials like wool will cost more.
- Quality & Materials: A wide range of materials are available, including durable polypropylene, polyester, natural wool, and various blends. Quality scales with price - while a $90 rug will be functional, a more expensive wool or high-pile synthetic option will feel more plush and substantial.
- Sales: Constant sales and promotional events. Discounts of 50-70% off listed prices are common year-round, making it a great place to score a deal.
- Return policy: Offers a 30-day return window. Customers are responsible for return shipping costs, which can be significant for larger rugs.
- Delivery: Free and fast shipping within the contiguous U.S. is a major selling point.
Rugs.com excels at providing an unmatched variety of styles and unbeatable prices, making it perfect for budget-conscious shoppers who want maximum choice.
Shop Rugs.com: www.rugs.com
Ruggable: The Original Washable Rug
Ruggable changed the rug industry with its patented two-piece system: a lightweight, decorative rug cover that can be detached from a non-slip rug pad and thrown directly into a standard home washing machine. This focus on easy maintenance has made them a favorite among pet owners, parents, and anyone living in a high-traffic or spill-prone environment. The brand pairs this functionality with trendy, modern designs.
- Product mix: Two-piece washable rug systems consisting of a rug cover and a rug pad (available in classic and cushioned versions).
- Style/vibe: Leans modern and contemporary, with many minimalist, geometric, bohemian, and abstract patterns. They also have collaborations with brands like Disney and designers like Jonathan Adler.
- Price point: Mid-range to premium. A 5x7 rug typically costs between $200–$300, and an 8x10 will run from $400–$700, reflecting the investment in its washable technology.
- Quality & Materials: Rug covers are a low-pile, durable, stain-resistant polyester weave. The standard rug pad is a non-slip polyester base. The material is engineered specifically for durability through repeated washing.
- Convenience: The brand's entire value is built around stain resistance and machine washability, eliminating the need for professional rug cleaners for everyday messes.
- Sustainability: The system reduces waste because you can simply replace a worn or outdated rug cover without needing a new pad. Ruggable also uses eco-friendly materials and dyes.
- Return policy: A 30-day return policy on items in new, unused condition. They will require photos before initiating a return or exchange.
- Assembly: There is a simple assembly process of laying down the pad and rolling the flexible rug cover on top.
Ruggable is a lifestyle choice for those who value practicality and cleanliness, offering a stylish solution to the realities of a busy home.
Shop Ruggable: www.ruggable.com
Rugs.com vs. Ruggable Comparison
Price Comparison
There is a clear difference in price between the two brands. Rugs.com is the champion of affordability. You can easily find large area rugs for under $200, and their frequent sales make decorating on a budget simple and accessible. This approach allows you to update your decor frequently without a major financial commitment.
Ruggable represents a higher upfront investment. An 8x10 Ruggable system can cost more than double its equivalent on Rugs.com. However, the value is calculated over the long term. By eliminating the need for expensive professional cleanings after a pet accident or major spill, a Ruggable rug can save money over its lifespan, making it a worthwhile investment for certain lifestyles.
Style & Aesthetic
If variety is your priority, Rugs.com wins hands down. Their massive catalog encompasses almost every imaginable style, from intricate traditional patterns to simple, solid modern designs. Whether you're decorating a classic Colonial home or a minimalist loft, you are virtually guaranteed to find an option that fits your vision.
Ruggable offers a more curated selection that leans toward what is popular and on-trend. Their designs are heavily focused on modern, Scandi-boho, and contemporary aesthetics with plenty of bold patterns and collaborations. While they do offer some traditional-inspired designs, the overall vibe is much more current and less comprehensive than Rugs.com.
Quality & Construction
Quality at Rugs.com is directly tied to price and material. A machine-woven polypropylene rug is built for durability and stain resistance but won't feel as luxurious as one of their more expensive wool rugs. The feel and thickness vary greatly, from flatweaves to high-pile shags, but many of the budget options are thinner and a bit less substantial underfoot.
Ruggable's quality is consistent and engineered for a specific purpose. Every Ruggable cover is a low-pile, relatively thin polyester weave designed to fit in a washing machine. It won't feel like a thick, plush, traditional rug. The non-slip pad beneath it adds some cushioning (especially the cushioned version), but the primary feel is smooth and low-profile. The construction quality is excellent for what it is designed to do: withstand washing and repel stains.
Maintenance & Cleaning
This is the most significant differentiating factor. Cleaning a Rugs.com rug requires traditional methods: spot cleaning, vacuuming, and periodic professional deep cleaning for heavy soiling, which can cost $100 or more. Spills need immediate attention to prevent staining on certain materials.
Ruggable revolutionizes this process. A spill on a Ruggable rug can be wiped away, and if a deeper clean is needed, you simply detach the cover from the pad and toss it in the wash. This provides unparalleled peace of mind for parents and pet owners, as events that would ruin a traditional rug become minor inconveniences.
Shopping Experience
Both brands offer excellent online shopping experiences tailored to their products. Rugs.com provides powerful filters to sort its giant inventory by size, style, color, and price. Customer photos and reviews are crucial for judging quality and color accuracy.
Ruggable's site is slick and focuses on visual storytelling, showcasing how its rugs work in various rooms and situations. The process is streamlined: select a design, then choose your size and pad type. Their navigation pushes the core benefit of washability at every step.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends entirely on your lifestyle, aesthetic, and how you use your space. Both are great online retailers, but they serve very different needs.
Choose Rugs.com if:
- You are decorating on a strict budget and need the most affordable options available.
- You want the broadest possible selection of styles, particularly in traditional, classic, or Persian designs.
- You prefer the feel of a thicker, more traditional rug pile.
- Your rug is for a low-traffic area like a guest room or home office where spills are highly unlikely.
Choose Ruggable if:
- You have kids, pets, or frequently host guests in high-traffic, spill-prone areas like the living room or dining room.
- Ease of cleaning and machine-washability is your number one priority.
- You love trendy, modern, and contemporary patterns and don't mind a lower-pile rug.
- You see the higher upfront cost as a long-term investment in durability and convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rugs.com or Ruggable cheaper?
Rugs.com is significantly cheaper on a per-rug basis. They are a value-oriented retailer with frequent, steep discounts that make most of their products much more affordable than Ruggable's premium-priced systems.
Which has better quality furniture?
The term "better" is subjective here. Ruggable has highly consistent, durable quality designed for a specific purpose: washability. Rugs.com has a wide spectrum of quality levels, their high-end wool rugs are exceptional, while their ultra-budget options are designed for economy and looks over longevity.
Can you wash a Rugs.com rug?
Generally, no. Most rugs from Rugs.com - especially larger area rugs - cannot be put in a home washing machine. They require traditional cleaning methods like vacuuming, spot treatment, or professional deep cleaning.
Which brand is better for pets and kids?
Ruggable is the clear winner for homes with pets and kids. Its ability to be machine-washed easily neutralizes spills, dirt, pet accidents, and general messiness in a way that traditional rugs cannot compete with.
Does a Ruggable rug feel thin?
The Ruggable rug cover itself is a low-pile weave, so it is thinner than a typical high-pile or shag rug. However, when paired with their non-slip pad (especially the thicker cushioned version), it provides a comfortable surface underfoot. It feels different but not necessarily bad.
Which brand has more style options?
Rugs.com offers an exponentially larger and more diverse selection of styles. They are an encyclopedia of rug designs, while Ruggable has a more focused, curated collection of trendy designs.
Can you just buy a Ruggable rug cover?
Yes. Once you own a Ruggable system (cover and pad), you can purchase new rug covers separately to change your decor. This is more affordable than buying a whole new system and reduces waste.
What are the return policies?
Both brands offer a 30-day return window. The key difference is that with Rugs.com, you are responsible for the return shipping costs, which can be expensive for a heavy rug.
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