Rug Size Calculator
Skip the guesswork. Get designer-approved rug sizes that balance your room, anchor furniture, and maintain walkways.
Most designers leave 12–24 inches of bare floor around rugs.
Measure along the longest seating side.
Recommended Rug Sizes
Fits within room
Max rug footprint: 15 ft × 11 ft (after clearance)
Minimum needed to anchor furniture: 9.5 ft × 12.5 ft
Top picks
- 4 × 6 ft6 × 4 ft
- 5 × 8 ft8 × 5 ft
- 6 × 9 ft9 × 6 ft
- 7 × 10 ft10 × 7 ft
Leave 12–18" clearance from walls and slide the front legs of seating onto the rug.
How to Use This Calculator
Measure the room
Record the full length and width of the area you want the rug to cover.
Select arrangement details
Choose the furniture setup and enter key dimensions like sofa length or table size.
Review recommended sizes
Compare suggested standard rug sizes, then pick the one that suits your style and budget.
Formula
Max Rug Size = (Room Length − 2 × Clearance) × (Room Width − 2 × Clearance)
Dining Minimum = (Table Length + 2 × Chair Pull-Out) × (Table Width + 2 × Chair Pull-Out)
Bedroom Minimum Width ≈ Bed Width + 3 ft (18" each side)
Example: 18 × 14 ft living room with 1.5 ft clearance → Max rug ∼ 15 × 11 ft. Sofa length 8 ft suggests 8 × 10 ft or 9 × 12 ft.
Dining example: 6 × 3.5 ft table + 2 ft chairs → Need ≥ 10 × 7.5 ft rug. Standard 8 × 10 ft works.
Styling Tips
The right rug size pulls a room together. Too small and the arrangement feels disconnected—too large and it swallows the space. Use these guidelines to strike the right balance.
- Living rooms: front legs of sofas and chairs should sit on the rug.
- Bedrooms: leave 18–24" of rug on both sides and at the foot of the bed.
- Dining rooms: chairs should remain on the rug when pulled out 24".
- Entryways: frame the rug with 6–8" of visible flooring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should every piece of furniture sit on the rug?
Not always. In living rooms, placing only the front legs on the rug is a common, balanced look.
What if my room is narrow?
Choose a rug that leaves consistent clearance on both sides, even if you size down slightly. Layer runners if needed.
Can I layer rugs?
Yes—try a large neutral base with a patterned smaller rug angled on top to add depth and color.
How do I convert to metric sizes?
1 ft ≈ 30.48 cm. Multiply the recommended dimensions by 0.3048 to convert to meters.