40 of the Best Classroom Rugs on Amazon to Brighten Your Day

In our school district, we are only offered $100 each year to pay for the next year’s classroom improvements. Plus, we have to use overpriced approved vendors! 

Since $100 is not likely enough to pay for a classroom rug, most of us have to make due with our own pocket money, but at least we can shop somewhere affordable and convenient. It’s also important that you get free shipping, since rugs are so oversized and bulky. 

These are the best classroom rugs for teachers who are looking for affordable, convenient, durable, and stain-resistant. Many of these are outdoor rugs, because in my experience, these will serve you better over many years of teaching. At the end of each year, you can bring home an outdoor rug and spray it down. They also never soak up stains the way an indoor 

As an Amazon Associate, I earn pennies on the dollar when you click on my links. However, as an experienced teacher, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what you’re looking for!

What Makes a Great Classroom Rug?

Here are 6 tips for choosing a beautiful rug for your classroom that will actually LAST. 

Consider an indoor/outdoor rug.

Believe it or not, the best classroom rugs are designed for your porch or patio. That’s because classroom rugs get so much nastier than a rug that would sit in your living room, and you need an easy way to clean them. Outdoor rugs may not be plush, but they still add a layer of interest and color while creating a separate zone in your learning environment.

They’re cheaper, too! You’re gonna need something large if this is for your direct teaching with little kids.

The best part is that they can be taken outside at the end of the school year and hosed down in your driveway to look brand new. Machine washable is fine if you have a big enough washer, but water hose washable is even better. 

Pick an area rug that will hide stains.

Even if you prefer neutrals, choose something dark like a charcoal grey or something with a bold pattern. You probably won’t be washing your new rug during the school year, so you’ll want something that can hide messes until the summer when you can properly clean it. Young children are messy and older children can be pretty careless, so even if you don’t allow eating and drinking, there are OTHER gross things that can happen. 

Pick an oversized oversized rug for an elementary school classroom.

Little kids need a nice, large space for circle time or direct teaching. You don’t want them crammed too tightly together, because then they’ll start misbehaving and will have a hard time keeping their hands to themselves. 

Avoid tassels and fringe. 

Kids will not be able to stop touching the fringe on the edge of the carpet, which is totally normal. Will that bother you when you’re trying to hold their attention? 

More importantly, your janitors will hate it because it hangs up in the vacuum cleaners. 

Choose a rug that comes in a variety of sizes.

Visit your classroom and step off the dimensions of your space before buying a rug. It probably needs to be bigger than you think to achieve the desired effect. The perfect rug for the front of your classroom should comfortably seat everyone, and an 8×10 won’t be large enough.

Then again, you may want a special small rug to designate a reading corner, and you’ve got less space available to you than you might imagine. Be sure to measure. 

There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect rug for your classroom environment and it only come in three sizes. Choose a rug that comes in many different sizes.

Bonus: Squares or Circles to Designate Personal Space

This isn’t completely necessary, since you can always purchase adhesive dots for students to sit on. But many teachers like a rug that has a design that facilitates classroom management. 

This might mean you’d choose a rug with carpet squares, which will really help especially with younger kids. A kindergarten teacher will tell you that it’s nearly a requirement. 

50 of the Best Classroom Rugs

Here’s a great mix of rugs that might be perfect for your classroom space. Here you’ll find a mix of quality rugs, whether you’re looking for a whole group carpet at the front of your room (often used in elementary classrooms), or a book corner rug. All are budget-conscious since teachers are always looking for ways to save. 

1. Neutral Geometric Indoor/Outdoor Rug

Some people love a colorful rug, but neutrals are absolutely on trend for teachers who prefer a calming space. 

2. Color Rings Area Rug

This colorful rug is eye-catching, and a nylon rug will always be pretty durable. It’s likely to hold up well over time, and it would be a fantastic choice for any kindergarten classroom.

3. Artificial Turf

Here’s an outside the box idea! Consider artificial turf as the perfect addition to any classroom with a garden theme. Not only can you spray it down in your driveway at the end of the year, but it will also do an excellent job of hiding stains. 

4. Boho Blue and Pink Round Rug for Reading Corners

I always liked my classroom to feel like home, so I am attracted to rugs that don’t scream “classroom.” Pick a color theme and use that to tie your space together. This round rug would provide some excellent design definition to any reading corner. Just add a cushion of some kind, some books and a lamp! 

5. Blue Geometric Patio Rug for Easy Cleaning

This straw rug is so affordable and easy to clean. It may not be cushy and plush to sit on, but I love the way it can define your space and add a pop of color. 

6. Black and White Indoor/Outdoor Geometric Rug

I really like this rug if you’re looking for something a bit edgier. It reminds me of something you might see in a cozy middle school classroom. One of my best memories from 8th grade is listening to story time, when my language arts teacher would read to us from a novel. The story was incredible, but being read to like I was still a little kid was my favorite. 

7. Leaf Rug

Trying to bring a bit of the outdoors inside? Try this quality rug! This design is a great way to make your room feel less sterile and more inviting. 

8. Cheerful Mid-Sized Shape Rug

Calling all math teachers! Check out this rug with octagons on it. It’s a bit too small to seat your entire class on it, but it could be great in a classroom reading corner, or small group work space. 

9. Preschool Learning Rug

Of all the alphabet rugs I saw, this one is my favorite. It’s a bit small, but it would work just fine for preschool, which is where you’re likely to want one anyway. There’s a lot of information in just one space, and the colors are excellent. I also appreciate a rug with both lowercase letters and uppercase, too. 

10. Sunshiny Reading Corner Rug

If you need a pop of happy in just one small section of your classroom, here’s a great choice! I love this sunshine design, which is sure to lift anyone’s spirits. Since there is a decent amount of white on the rug, I’d probably avoid high traffic areas.

11. Alphabet Small Group Round Rug

I love this little navy rug for small group instruction. If you’ve got little kindergarteners who need to master their letter sounds and names, this would be such a cute addition to your room. 

12. Handwriting Rug by Flagship Carpets

Most classroom rugs are super brightly colored, but I appreciate the black and white styling on this handwriting rug. This carpet is the perfect choice for a first grade classroom where many kids are working hard on their printing, but it could also be a fun choice for 2nd and 3rd grade when many kids get interested in cursive. 

13. Watercolor Rug

While this isn’t a traditional kids rug, I think it could be a great choice for an elementary classroom that needs a pop of color. This abstract rug would be cool in an art teacher’s class, too! 

14. Fluffy Reading Rug

If you don’t mind running a vacuum through your rug every few days, this could be a good choice for a reading area. It’s nice and affordable and comes in a wide variety of colors. 

15. Colorful Jute Rug

Jute rugs are notoriously durable, but I’m always a bit bored by the neutral tan color, especially in public schools with old buildings that can feel quite institutional and bland. This rug pairs durable materials with bright colors. 

16. Apple Rug

Flagship carpets have wonderful child-friendly designs. This apple rug can compliment any classroom decor, but it works especially well for teachers who have black and white designs with pops of color throughout the room. 

17. Sit in Your Spot Carpet

This rug hits all the high spots for me! Get it? Colorful classroom carpets can really tie together the whole theme of your room. If you want students keep their hands and bodies to themselves, the spots on this rug will help you out. 

18. Bookshelf Reading Corner Rug

This rectangular rug would look so cute in front of your classroom library. 

19. Classroom Library Rug

Here is another option for your classroom library. I love how these rugs both deviate from primary colors. 

20. Personalized Doorstep Rug

Here’s a fun welcoming mat that includes your own name. You can put this at your classroom doorstep, and the encouraging statements will help you create a positive learning environment.

21. Be Happy Rug

This is possibly my very favorite classroom rug. The smiley faces are so adorable and I haven’t seen a rug like this in our school. 

22. Boho Kilim Indoor/Outdoor Rug

I chose this rug for its unique design and popular color scheme. I especially love indoor/outdoor rugs for gathering at the front of the class because they’re so easy to keep clean. 

23. Night Sky Plastic Straw Rug

This rug is so fun, especially since camping is a common classroom theme. Teachers who have a “rising star” theme may also love it. Most importantly, I can’t find another rug that’s so cheap for so much square footage. It won’t be plush since it’s made of plastic, but it will still help to define your learning space in front of your Smart Board. Be sure to pair this rug with carpet tape. 

24. Black and White Painted Dots Rug

This black and white dot motif is so popular right now and it can match so many other classroom elements. I love the dalmation print elsewhere in the classroom, but not on a high traffic rug. The black background makes it much more kid-proof. 

25. In the Pink Outdoor Rug

Love pink?! This is the rug for you. It should wear exceptionally well, and it comes in many different sizes. 

26. Safavieh Rust and Red Rug

If you’d like to have a more exotic classroom theme, try this tribal red and orange red to warm up your space. Add in lamps and Moroccan style elements, and you’ll have the perfect learning space.

27. Machine Washable Rust Colored Tribal Rug

You can try this rug in orange or blue, but either way, it will provide a warmth and coziness to your classroom. Since it’s on the smaller side, consider layering it around your room with other rugs. This one is machine washable, which is a rare find! Take it home over the summer and you’ll have a brand new rug when fall comes back around. 

28. US Map Rug

Most elementary school kids are SO BAD at geography. It’s just not something that gets stressed in public school systems across the United States. With this rug, you not only get lots of color, you can also reinforce your social studies objectives without any effort. Try this in an elementary school social studies class!

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29. Deep Teal Ultra Thin Rug

This deep teal rug is so pretty! I don’t often see such a saturated print on a carpet. While this would be an unconventional choice in a classroom, it’s certainly eye-catching and would be absolutely beautiful. It’s stain resistant and pretty large classroom rugs at a decent price are always hard to find. This one fits the bill. 

30. Hello Welcome Rug

Many of our teachers have welcome rugs at their doorstep. This one is fun and affordable. 

31. Bright Colors Seat Spots Rug

​There are about 5 teachers in our building who have this rug, and it’s especially popular in the kindergarten wing. Giving each student a color to sit on will automatically allow you to group students for conversations, keep students in designated spaces and reduce unwanted behaviors with clear boundaries for students.

32. Silly Spots Flagship Carpets Rug

Here’s another nylon rug that gives each student a space where they can anchor for your direct instruction. It’s a bit sillier than the rest with off-kilter dots. I love it!

33. Black and Brights Classroom Theme

Here’s a wonderful rug choice for teachers who have a black and brights theme in their room. Here is a great classroom example. 

34. Funky Alphabet Carpet

This alphabet carpet has a really unique design, but I like it better for older students who aren’t still working hard to learn their letter shapes.

35. Black Dotty Rug

Here’s a rug that will hide stains exceptionally well, since it’s almost entirely black. Still, the dotted border is awfully cute and provides definition to the space. 

36. Black World Map Rug

Here’s one of my favorite rugs for elementary school. Our students are using the Amplify curriculum, so they’re being exposed to literature from all over the world. This rug is understated but still an interesting conversation piece in a classroom space. 

37. Black and White Hearts Carpet

Here’s a happy rug for an elementary school space. It’s cute, but not overwhelming to look at since it’s also black and white. 

38. Colored Pencil Border Rug

I like these rugs that have a solid, dark background and just pops of color and design around the perimeter. 

39. Grow Like a Flower Rug

This is such a sweet pattern if you’ve got a garden theme in your room. Many teachers like to pair this classroom theme with growth mindset statements since most students easily relate to plants growing from a seed. 

40. Round Preschool Animal Rug

Preschool kids LOVE animals, and this one is adorable. Here’s the perfect rug for small groups or story time. 

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Helpful Products for Your Classroom Rug

Since our classrooms have wall-to-wall carpet, many of our teachers choose to not purchase an additional rug. But since we teach at an elementary school, our students sit at the front of the room for each mini lesson and the fidgeting and pestering classmates can become annoying. 

We have found sit spots to be incredibly helpful. They allow kids to each have their own space and it ensures that every child can see the Smart board or easel. Teachers can evenly space out these sit spots, and even create rows of matching colors to designate talking partners or groupings. 

Another great product is carpet tape. No matter what rug you purchase, you’ll likely struggle with rolling edges on the carpet at first. This particular brand works well for me at home. It holds your edges to the ground and it won’t ruin either the rug or the flooring beneath. I think you’ll love it, and there’s enough to share with teammates, too.

Concluding Thoughts

Classroom rugs are unique because they suffer more wear and tear than a household rug – even one under a kitchen table! That’s why it’s so important to choose wisely. I hope this post has the right rug for you!