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The ultimate rug size guide is here! Regardless of whether you own a home or an apartment, everyone needs at least one nice area rug in their life. 😉
Large area rugs can bring warmth to any room and anchor your furniture. Small accent rugs can be the perfect addition to a small space like a laundry room. A statement rug can be that “wow” factor you never knew you needed.
You can use rugs literally anywhere in your home.
But the most important thing to remember when buying a rug is ensuring your rug is the perfect size for your space!
In this post, I’ll be walking through room by room – from the kitchen all the way to the entryway. I’ll be helping you determine the best rug placement and provide a rug size guide for each space.
Enjoy the best rug size guide for your home!
Are you more of a visual learner and want to skip all of the words? I get it! I created a simplified version of this rug size guide that JUST has the visuals. You’ll love it – head on over there now.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Rug Size Guide:
Living Room
The living room is a place that’s meant to be cozy – for movie nights, relaxing, and socializing.
And with a room that has so many uses, the size and placement of your rug must be on point.
Living Room Rug Size Guide
So how big should a living room rug be?
The typical rug sizes for a living room rug are 8’x10’, 9’x12’, and 10’x14’.
And while these are the most common sizes for a living room rug, they’re simply just guidance.
Every space is different – so you need to determine the best size rug for your space!
With the living room being one of the bigger rooms in the house, you need to have a big rug to go with it. Some people tend to be a little nervous about rugs taking up too much space, but let me tell you, big rugs make a big impact!
You want to avoid getting a rug that is too small for your space. For example, if you have a tiny rug that can barely fit your coffee table, you have gone too small!
While a 5’x7’ could work in a small living room, I’m willing to bet that most living rooms will be better off with at least an 8’x10’.
To give you a reference on this living room rug size guide, I have a small living room (~18’x18’), and my rug is 8’x10’. If it were any smaller, it would look out of place and my ottoman would probably be hanging on by a prayer lol.
But don’t hate on your small living room – I find mine to be super cozy even though it’s not grand by any means! 😊
When figuring out how big should a living room rug be for your space – grab a tape measure. Measure and mark with painter’s tape or other objects from around your house to get a visual.
This will help you determine your living room rug dimensions best suited for your room.
Don’t forget for even more interest, you can layer a living room rug with another slightly larger rug. Just make sure the larger rug is at least 12 inches bigger on all sides!
Living Room Rug Placement
- Front legs of couch, chairs, and other furniture should be on the rug.
- Coffee table or ottoman should fully fit on the rug.
- There should be 6” of rug showing on the sides of your furniture.
- Rug should not stick out behind your sofa.
- Leave 1’-2’ between the rug and the surrounding walls.
When thinking about living room rug placement, the placement of your furniture is one of the most important things to consider.
Your furniture should sit on the edge of your rug, with the front legs actually on the rug. This should be done so that 6-12 inches of rug are under your couch but don’t touch the back legs.
For example, my rug is 12 inches under my sectional, which works perfectly for my space!
Should your end tables sit on or off your rug?
I’ve seen this done both ways, so it is up to your personal preference.
As long as you are following the “rug under couch” rules above, you should have plenty of space for your end table to sit on or behind your rug.
Want a simplified version of this post that JUST has the visuals? Check out the most common rug size guide here!
Rug Size Guide:
Bedroom
Bedroom Rug Size Guide
How big should a bedroom rug be? That’s the question here!
As there are different sizes of beds, there are different sizes of rugs that work for each of those beds.
Finding the perfect size rug in your bedroom is insanely important. We will look at the best bedroom rug sizes by bed so you can determine what the best size rug is for your individual space.
Let’s get into it!
Queen Bed Rug Size
The best rug size for a queen bed is either 6’x9’ or 8’x10’.
Keep in mind, a standard queen-size bed is 60″ wide by 80″ long.
When considering these queen bed dimensions, that means a 6’x9’ area rug will give you 24 inches of rug on either side of your bed and an 8’x10’ area rug will give you 30” on each side of your bed.
I recommend that if you have smaller nightstands, you opt for the 6’x9’, while wider nightstands may be better for an 8’x10’ rug.
Why? Because visually you don’t want your rug going too far past your nightstands. It’s okay if it extends a little past, but you don’t want a drastic amount of rug past your nightstand.
Now might also be a good time to see if you have the right size nightstand for your queen bed!
King Bed Rug Size
The best rug size for a king bed is either 8’x10’ or 9’x12’.
Keep in mind, a standard king-size bed is 76″ wide by 80″ long.
Taking a look at those king bed dimensions, an 8’x’10’ bedroom rug will provide 22 inches of rug on either side of your bed and a 9’x’12 will put 34 inches of rug on either side of your bed.
For most people, an 8’x10′ rug for your king bed is going to be the best size in your space.
If you want bigger and are going for that massive impact, I’d mostly recommend the 9’x12’ option for those larger primary rooms. You should avoid putting that size of rug in a small room because it is going to make it look pretty crowded.
So if you’re wondering what size rug goes under a king bed, I think 8’x10’ is going to make you more than happy in most cases!
RELATED POST: Ultimate Guide on Styling a King Bed (Make Your Bed Look Luxurious)
Full Bed Rug Size
The best rug size for a double or full bed is 5’x8’.
Keep in mind, a standard full-size bed is 54″ wide by 75″ long.
Pairing a 5’x8’ area rug with the dimensions of a full-size bed will put 21 inches of rug on each side of the bed.
And chances are if you’re buying a rug for a full bed, you aren’t dealing with a large bedroom – this makes the 5’x8’ a perfect candidate for your rug size.
If you do happen to have a little bit bigger of a space, you could go as far as a 6’x9’ which will give you 27 inches on each side of the bed. But this could look a little too big with a full bed.
Always measure it out! Blue painter’s tape is seriously my go-to when I’m trying to get a good idea of the size of anything – whether it’s on the wall or on the floor.
Twin Bed Rug Size
The best rug size for a twin bed is 5’x7’.
Keep in mind, a standard twin bed is 38″ wide by 75″ long.
Whether you are stuck with a college dorm twin bed, or your room only supports the size of a twin bed – it can be a little difficult to determine the best size rug for your bedroom.
But hey I’ve been there and done that! We all have.
So take these guidelines with a grain of salt – there are a lot of factors when it comes to putting a rug under a twin bed.
Is the bed against the wall? In the middle of the room? Is it against two walls?
If your twin bed is in the middle of the room, I recommend going for the 5’x7’. There will be 23 inches of rug on either side of your bed.
If you’re dealing with a twin bed up against walls or smushed between other furniture, you may be better off going with a 4’x6’ rug that can be styled partly under your bed.
Layering Rugs on Carpet
A lot of bedrooms already have carpet – which leads me to the question I get asked the most: “Can you put an area rug on carpet?” The answer is YES and YOU SHOULD!
Plus, rugs in the bedroom can make a HUGE difference between a boring room and a designer-worthy space.
Layering a bedroom rug on top of carpet will offset the single color and texture that you’ve been living with for so long. And you will be SO happy you got a rug.
Bedroom Rug Placement
- When standing at the foot of your bed, position your rug horizontally.
- Your rug should go under roughly two-thirds of your bed.
- Rug should extend roughly 2’ out from the foot of the bed.
- Bedroom rugs should stick out at least 18”-24” on either side of the bed.
- The rug should not extend past your nightstands. It’s okay if it’s just a little bit.
Want a simplified version of this post that JUST has the visuals? Check out the most common rug size guide here!
Regardless if you’re looking for queen bed rug placement, king bed rug placement, full bed, or twin bed rug placement, I’ve got good news!
Rug placement is going to be the same across all bed sizes…with the exception of a bed that has one side up against a wall.
Place the rug with the longer side running horizontally under your bed. Then pull it forward so that it’s sitting slightly under or in front of your nightstands.
The rug should not go under the entire bed. Usually, it’s recommended to only have about two-thirds of your bed have the rug underneath it. I’ve seen some people go as far as positioning their bedroom rug so that only half of the bed has the rug under it.
But it works! And the best part is that these are just guidelines and you get to do whatever works best for your space.
If YOU love it, DO it! 😊
Should bedroom rug go under nightstands?
Whether your rug should sit in front of your nightstands or if your nightstands should sit on top of your rug is purely up to preference.
With that being said, this rug size guide is all about making your bedroom look the best it possibly can!
The most popular look is to have the rug stay out from under your nightstands.
It helps create a layered look in your bedroom. Instead of having your bed and nightstands look like they’re all neatly collected on a rug island. 😏
Rug Size Guide:
Dining Room
The dining room is a place for gathering. It’s a place for family and guests to tell stories while they eat the most delicious food coming out of your kitchen.
With a room so special, you need to make sure you have a rug you love and a rug that is the right size!
When I found the perfect rug and rug size for my dining room, I was head over heels. Can you believe that this rug was one of the first pieces of my dining room makeover?
I saw it online and immediately had to have it. I wish it was still available to recommend, but I got it from Rugs USA. This online rug store has every size of rug you could possibly need under your dining room table. I’m obsessed and can speak to the quality of my dining room rug.
Before you pick out your rug, let’s check out the dining room rug size guide!
Dining Room Rug Size Guide
So how big should a dining room rug be?
The standard size of a dining room rug is 8’x10’ or 9’x12’.
For round tables, an 8’ diameter round rug is the recommended size.
These rug sizes work for most dining room tables!
- For round tables, add 4’ to the diameter of your table to get the best rug size.
- 8’x10’ will most likely be the best rug size for a dining room table for 6.
- 9’x12’ will probably be the best rug size for a dining room table for 8.
Getting the right rug size is equally as important here as any other room in your house.
You DO NOT want a small rug in the dining room. This will make your dining room space look very disproportionate.
Don’t be afraid of a bigger rug! Especially in a dining room where you want the space to feel big and grand.
As long as you can generally follow most of these guidelines, you’ll be in great shape for getting the right size rug under your dining room table. Don’t be too nervous about it! 😉
As you can see, my dining room is prettyyy tiny.
For reference, my dining room rug size is 8’x10’. My scalloped dining table is 84 inches long and 47 inches wide. There are roughly 24 inches between the table and the edge of the rug and about 12 inches between the head of the table and the edge of the rug.
Dining Room Rug Placement
- All chairs should stay on the rug when pulled out for seating. If the back legs are coming off the rug when sitting, the rug is too small.
- There should be at least 24 inches between the edge of your table and the edge of the rug – around the whole perimeter of your dining room table.
- If you don’t have seats at the head of your table, you can have a minimum of 12 inches between the heads of the table and the edge of your rug.
- Leave 1’-2’ between the rug and the surrounding walls.
Dining room rug placement is actually pretty simple.
Remember to always center the rug on the dining table.
One of the more important aspects of your rug placement is making sure your chairs fully fit on the rug even when they’re slid out while having dinner.
So measure, measure, measure before picking up an adorable rug!
Rug Size Guide:
Kitchen
Now when I say kitchen rug, I’m talking about the runners alongside your cabinets, in between your island, and rugs for the kitchen sink.
For reference, the rug in front of my kitchen sink is 2.6’x7’. Also for reference and your viewing pleasure, our favorite little friend, Calhoun, on our kitchen runner. 🥰
My kitchen is definitely on the smaller side, and that’s one of the reasons why a rug makes a big impact in my space.
Now, it’s time for you to find the perfect size rug for your kitchen so that you can make just as big of an impact in your home!
RELATED POST: 28 Best Cabinet Knobs and Handles on Amazon That Will Immediately Elevate Your Cabinets
Kitchen Rug Size Guide
What size rug for the kitchen?
The most common sizes for kitchen rugs are 2’x3′, 2.6’x7’, 3’x5’, and 5’x7’.
When looking for kitchen runners, you’ll most likely see 2.6’x7’ over and over again. The great thing is that in a lot of kitchens, you will have at least one section that’s long enough for this type of rug to work.
When you have narrow spaces between kitchen islands and cabinetry, this kitchen rug size is the perfect addition.
Even if you don’t have an island, but just have a long section of cabinetry, appliances, and even a sink, a runner will get the job done.
The elongated look will help your kitchen feel longer and bigger.
While 2.6’x7’ is the typical kitchen rug runner size, they do come in a couple of different sizes to accommodate most scenarios. Just make sure your runner isn’t so long that it’s extending past your cabinets.
Want a simplified version of this post that JUST has the visuals? Check out the most common rug size guide here!
How to use different rug sizes in the kitchen?
If you’re simply looking for the best kitchen sink rug size, it’s almost always going to be a 2’x3’. That’s because this looks the most proportionate to your sink.
When your kitchen is in a U-shape, a 3’x5’ rug could appropriately fill the space between the 3 areas of cabinetry and appliances. If the rug can come within 12 inches of all 3 sides, that’s how you know it’s the right size for your U-shape kitchen.
And last but not least, for those with a larger amount of space in the middle of their kitchen that you just don’t know what to do with, you could go as far as fitting a 5’x7’ area rug!
As long as the rug can come within 12 inches of all sides of the cabinetry and appliances, you’re in the clear to make this rug work in your space!
Kitchen Rug Placement
- Use runners when in between cabinets and an island.
- You can use two runners to come together at a corner. Just be sure to leave at least 2”-3” in between them.
- Make sure runners cover the majority of your cabinet length. Buy a longer runner if needed.
- Leave at least 4” on either side of your runner when between cabinets.
- Ensure larger accent rugs (3’x5’ and 5’x7’) come within 12” of surrounding cabinets.
- Center kitchen sink rugs on the center of the sink.
- When using two rugs in the kitchen, ensure they match.
Placement of your kitchen rug is going to be the key to success in making the particular rug size you went for look good in your kitchen!
It’s always best to have space between your rug and your cabinet. If your rug is touching your cabinet, toe-kick, or quarter-round, your rug is too big.
This will also actually have the opposite effect on your kitchen that you’re going for – it’ll make the kitchen look smaller since it can’t fit that rug.
One question I see a lot is if you can use two runners to come together in a corner. And the answer is that you absolutely can!
But remember to leave at least 2”-3” in between them so they aren’t on top of each other. If they’re touching each other it won’t look purposeful.
You Need Rug Grippers
To get your runners or any other rugs to stay in place – which is especially important in the kitchen – use these awesome Gorilla rug grippers.
I love this product and use these on any rug I’m having trouble with staying in one place.
I don’t know about you but I feel like I walk a 5k every time I’m cooking lol. Between the stove, sink, fridge, and pantry, I’m moving A LOT.
And I was really sick of my rug out to get me haha. That’s why you need a rug gripper.
Rug Size Guide:
Laundry Room
Ahh, the laundry room…everyone’s favorite place, am I right? 😉
Okay, maybe not so much.
But you know what CAN make a laundry a little bit more of a lovely place to be in every now and then? A cute laundry room rug!
A laundry room rug can take a standard room with four walls and a washer and dryer, to a cute and cozy room with a little bit of personality.
Do you have a super small laundry room? 🙋♀️ Don’t worry, I’m over here raising my hand as well! Between a rug and a few other upgrades, you can make your small laundry room a magical place.
Magical may be a stretch lol – but you know what I mean!
RELATED POST: 16 Cutest Laundry Room Rugs You Need In Your Life
Laundry Room Rug Size Guide
What size rug for laundry room?
The typical laundry room rug sizes are 2’x4’ and 2.6’x7’. You’ll notice one of these is a smaller rug, while the other is a runner.
Some of those blessed with a mudroom-styled laundry room or even a galley-styled laundry room could really benefit from a rug runner in their space.
The long rug size in your laundry room will fit appropriately with the space, and make the room look even longer.
But for those of us who have laundry rooms that I think were designed for a washer, a dryer, and one person at a time, a 2’x4’ accent rug will most likely be the golden ticket!
This laundry room rug size works really well in settings where you have your washer and dryer side by side.
That’s because the standard washer and dryer are 28 inches wide. Accounting for 1 inch in between the laundry machines, this makes up a total width of about 57 inches.
A 2’x4’ laundry room rug is 48 inches in width. If we do the quick math, that means when you place your rug right in front of the washer and dryer, your rug will be about 4 inches shorter than the total width of your washer and dryer on both sides.
This is actually the perfect look in a small to medium-sized laundry room.
If your laundry room has this same setup but is a little bigger, you could even utilize a laundry room rug size of 3’x5’.
Laundry Room Rug Placement
- For small to medium laundry rooms, place your rug directly in front and center of your washer and dryer.
- For larger, longer laundry rooms, place a rug runner in the middle.
- Be sure rug runners have at least 6” between any surrounding walls.
Laundry room rug placement is relatively simple.
Depending on the size, shape, and layout of your laundry room, your laundry room rug can either go in front of the washer and dryer, or the middle of the room if using a rug runner.
You really can’t go wrong here! Just be sure that your rug fits your laundry room appropriately and doesn’t feel too smushed or tiny.
Rug Size Guide:
Entryway
The first impression of your home – the entryway!
Every entryway needs a rug to greet you and your guests upon entering your home. From jute oval-shaped entryway rugs to patterned rectangular rugs to everything in between – the sky is the limit.
But no matter the type of rug, there are some good guidelines to help you pick out the best-sized entryway rug!
RELATED POST: 31 Small Space Entryway Ideas For An Instantly Welcoming Space
Here is your entryway rug size guide!
Entryway Rug Size Guide
Let’s dive into what size rug for entryway is best for you!
The ideal entryway rug size is 3’x5’, 2.6’x7’, 5’x7’.
You’re most likely going to have one of two entryways: a long entryway or an open entryway.
If you live in an apartment, or depending on your house layout, you may also have an entryway that doesn’t feel quite like an entryway at all.
This may leave you with a small entryway, or one where you walk straight into a room. That’s okay! You can still find the right size entryway rug for your space.
Plus, I highly recommend checking out these entryway ideas for some inspo.
Anyway, back to the entryway rug size guide!
In an open, more traditional-styled entryway, the best rug size will be a 3’x5’.
This is because the average front door is 36 inches wide and the standard sidelight window is roughly 12-14 inches.
So the width of the front door and the sidelight windows will line up perfectly with the total width of the foyer rug size. This rug size still works even if you don’t have sidelight windows.
In a scenario where you have an even larger entryway, you may find a 5’x7’ actually fills your space better.
This size entryway rug will not feel too overwhelming, but will also be larger than a doormat. If you have the space, this size rug will look very good!
For those unconventional entryways that are a bit on the small to non-existent end, you can use anywhere from a 2’x3’, 2’x4’, or 3’x5’ rug.
It’s up to your preference and the amount of space you have!
Entryway Rug Placement
- Your entryway rug should have 12 inches of space between the rug and any surrounding walls.
- You can place your entryway rug within 2”-3” of the front door so that it’s the first thing you and your guests step on.
Entryway rug placement is pretty standard as well. Just place it in front of your door, regardless of whether you have a rug or a runner.
All you need to do is make sure the rug has enough space between its edges and any nearby walls.
This will eliminate any overcrowding or the appearance that your rug is not the right size.
My entryway rug is a 3’x5’ oval jute rug. I’m absolutely obsessed with it!
Rug Size Guide:
Hallway
When you have a long hallway that just feels a little empty, a hallway runner might be the answer!
Rug runners work best in long, narrow spaces. That’s why rug runners and hallways go together like peanut butter and jelly!
Check out the below hallway runner rules and the best runner rug dimensions for your hallway.
Hallway Rug Size Guide
How long should a hallway runner be? How wide should a hallway runner be? Let’s find out!
The typical rug runner is 2’ to 3’ wide, and anywhere from 6’ to 14’ long.
You’ll commonly find the width of rug runners to be 2’6”. Then you can choose the length from there.
A hallway runner should fill the majority of your hallway.
Can you put two runners in a hallway? Absolutely! If you have an especially long hallway, you can use two or even three runners to account for the whole length of the hallway.
When using multiple runners, just be sure to leave at least 2-3 inches of space in between.
Your hallway runner dimensions will be heavily dependent on how much space you’re working with. I’ll talk more about this in the hallway rug placement below.
Hallway Rug Placement
- Ensure there’s at least 4” of space on either side of your runner.
- The ends of the runner can be 12” from the wall or door.
- Ensure your hallway runner takes up the majority of the hallway. You can also center it in your hallway if most of your rooms reside in the middle of the hall.
- Use the beginning and end of rooms to determine how long your runner should be (more on that below.).
A runner should cover the entire entrance of a room off the hallway. The rug runner can end at the other end of the entrance, as long as it covers the entrance in its entirety. It can also extend down your hallway well past the entrance and end at another door or doorway.
The longer the hallway runner, the better! You’d rather have the appropriate-sized runner going down the majority of your hallway, than a short runner that desperately wants to cover more ground.
Rug Size Guide:
Front Doormat
Before your guests even have the opportunity to be greeted by your entryway, they’ll first get to the front door.
So while the entryway rug is the first impression of inside your house, the doormat gives a pre-impression. 😉
There are SO many adorable doormats out there, and it’s important to keep in mind this rug size guide for when you decide to add one to your space.
Don’t worry, doormat size and placement are the easiest in this post – you got this!
Front Doormat Rug Size Guide
How big should a doormat be?
The best size for your front doormat is 18”x30”.
If you’re set on a larger doormat size, you can opt for a 24”x36”.
Remember, the standard front door is 36 inches wide – so an 18”x30” doormat will look very proportionate to your door.
Something that I LOVE doing, and always recommend from a design perspective, is layering your doormat with a larger outdoor rug.
The best size for this rug under your doormat is 28”x44”. This will perfectly peek out from behind your standard-sized doormat and accent your porch beautifully.
Front Doormat Rug Placement
- Center your front doormat on the front door.
- Your doormat should have about 3”-4” of space in between the doormat and the door or step.
No matter what the size of your doormat is, you’ll always center the doormat on the door.
Ensure that the doormat is not super far away from the door – or else it’ll be an awkward lunge to the front door. 😂
Front doormat placement is that simple!
Want a simplified version of this post that JUST has the visuals? Check out the most common rug size guide here!
Feel confident buying the perfect size rug for each room in your home!
I hope this rug size guide helps along the way in finding the best rugs for each room in your home!
I was looking for guidance on how to position a rug in an office space.
I need a rug to go under my desk to both protect the carpet, but also to help my chair to move. There must be rules about how to position a rug and how to size it up – bigger than the desk, smaller than the desk? Only two legs on or all legs on?
Knowing some office rug basics before I purchase would help me to make a good design decision.
Thank you for asking! I should really add a section in this post about rugs in an office space haha. ☺️
Here are some general guidelines that I hope will help:
– Rug Size: For a standard desk (about 60×30 inches), a rug size of 5×7 would work if the desk is pushed up against a wall. And a 6×9 rug would work well if it is centered in the room.
– Desk and Chair Movement: Make sure the rug is large enough to accommodate both your desk and chair. This way, you can smoothly roll back and forth without the chair falling off the rug. Ideally, the rug should extend at least 24-36 inches from the desk to prevent the chair from getting caught on the edge.
– Side Coverage: The rug should extend anywhere from 6-24 inches beyond the sides of the desk, depending on your situation and the desk size.
– Desk Positioning: I recommend having all four legs of the desk touching the rug to create a cohesive look and prevent the rug from shifting.
– Rug Placement: If your desk is in the middle of the room, center your desk and chair on the rug. If your desk is pushed up against the wall, position the rug so it is centered under the desk and extends more towards the back to ensure the chair stays on the rug when you pull it out.
I really hope this is helpful and that you find the perfect rug for your space!
I also have a post about desk positioning just in case you need tips on that as well: 9 Best Tips For Desk Placement in a Home Office