Needless to say, low-cost smaller area rugs are easier to pack and move than large area rugs that are both super expensive and super large, to begin with.

Luckily, you’ll only need three things to pack a rug for a move: 1) large pieces of durable brown or Kraft paper, 2) two pieces of string, twine or rope per rug, and 3) packing tape.

1. Clean the rug. Vacuum the rug to remove any dust or even tiny bits of food or other matter that may be hiding in the fibers of the carpet. This step is important as you don’t want any pests to get interested in your rugs. For best result, leave the rug out in the sun for a few hours before packing. If you have an area rug that is really dirty and soiled up from years of service, consider having it cleaned professionally prior to packing.
2. Determine the direction of the nap. The fibers of an area rug have a specific direction. This is step is all about figuring the direction of the rug pile (nap). To do this, rub your palm over the surface of the rug. You’ll notice right away that the fibers will give you some sort of resistance in one direction while they will feel smooth as you’re gliding your hand over it in the other direction.
3. Turn the rug upside down. That’s right, before you can roll a rug for shipping, you have to turn the carpet upside down so that the rug pile faces the floor. This is crucial. Why? If you roll your rug with the pile facing you, then you will put extra pressure to the backing of the rug, and as most fairly inexpensive rugs are stiff-backed, that may lead to stretching and possible cracking.
4. Roll it up. Start rolling your small area rug against the direction of the grain (rug pile or nap). Roll the rug slowly to create a tight cylinder and remember that a good fold will mean easier and safer handling and moving of your area rug.
5. Tie it up. When you’re done rolling up the rug into a neat and tight cylinder-shaped bundle, use two pieces of string or twine, one at each end, to secure the rolled-up rug and keep it from unfolding during transport. Do not use packing tape directly over your rug for fear of damaging it.
6. Wrap it up. DO NOT wrap your area rug in plastic. This common mistake when packing area rugs can cost you dearly. The problem is that while plastic wrap will keep the carpet perfectly safe from external harmful influences during the move (dirt, dust, rain, etc.), the plastic protective material prevents the rug from breathing and will trap moisture in, thus causing mold and mildew to grow. Instead, roll your rolled-up area rug in a couple of sheets of hard brown or Kraft paper, then tape it up, and you’re done.movingtips.com