Rug size chart (feet, inches, cm)
A complete area rug size chart: every size below, with its area and the rooms it serves. Use it as a reference, then confirm with a calculator for your exact room.
| Size | Inches | cm | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2×3 | 24×36 in | 61×91 cm | 6 sq ft | Doormats, accents |
| 3×5 | 36×60 in | 91×152 cm | 15 sq ft | Bedside, kitchen spots |
| 4×6 | 48×72 in | 122×183 cm | 24 sq ft | Entryways, bedside, layering |
| 5×7 | 60×84 in | 152×213 cm | 35 sq ft | Kids rooms, nurseries, bed sides |
| 5×8 | 60×96 in | 152×244 cm | 40 sq ft | Twin beds, apartment living rooms |
| 6×9 | 72×108 in | 183×274 cm | 54 sq ft | Full beds, small sofas, 4-chair dining |
| 8×10 | 96×120 in | 244×305 cm | 80 sq ft | Queen beds, living rooms, 6-seat tables |
| 9×12 | 108×144 in | 274×366 cm | 108 sq ft | King beds, large living rooms, 8-seat tables |
| 10×14 | 120×168 in | 305×427 cm | 140 sq ft | Great rooms, master suites, grand dining |
| 12×15 * | 144×180 in | 366×457 cm | 180 sq ft | Ballroom-scale living and dining rooms |
* 12×15 is standard but stocked by fewer stores. 7×10 exists from some makers but is uncommon; 7×9 is not standard at all (see below).
The most popular rug sizes
8×10 is the most common rug size in America (80 sq ft): the default answer for queen beds and standard living rooms. 9×12 is second (108 sq ft): the standard for king beds, sectionals, and 8-seat dining tables. If a guide only lets you remember two numbers, remember these two, because they are the sizes every store stocks deeply, which means better prices and faster delivery.
Small standard rugs: 2×3 to 5×8
Small rugs furnish edges, not rooms. 2×3 and 3×5 are doormat and accent territory: beside a bed, in front of a sink, layered over a bigger rug. 4×6 (122×183 cm) is the smallest size that reads as a real rug: entryways, one side of a bed, home offices. 5×7 (152×213 cm, 35 sq ft) covers roughly a full bed's footprint, right for kids rooms and nurseries. 5×8 (152×244 cm) is the small-room workhorse: under a twin bed or anchoring an apartment loveseat. None of these can anchor a full seating group; if yours needs to, jump to 6×9 or larger.
Medium standard rugs: 6×9 to 8×10
6×9 (183×274 cm, 54 sq ft) is the standard for full beds, small sofas, and 4-chair dining tables. 8×10 (244×305 cm, 80 sq ft) is the one-size-fits-most answer: queen bed under the lower two-thirds, living room with front legs on, 6-seat dining table with chairs pulled out. Between them sits 7×10, a legitimate but uncommon size; only consider it when 6×9 leaves the room bare and 8×10 will not fit, and confirm stock before falling in love with a pattern.
Large standard rugs: 9×12 to 12×15
9×12 (274×366 cm, 108 sq ft) grounds a king bed wall, a sectional seating group, or an 8-seat table. 10×14 (305×427 cm, 140 sq ft) is for great rooms and master suites where 9×12 would look like an island. 12×15 (366×457 cm, 180 sq ft) tops the standard ladder; beyond it you are into custom or broadloom pricing. Big rugs are heavy and hard to return, which is exactly why every answer on this site ships with a printable tape outline: mark 15 minutes with painter's tape before a four-figure order.
Standard runner rug sizes
Runners come 2 to 3 feet wide and 7 to 12 feet long: 2×7, 2×8, 2.5×8, 2.5×10 and 3×12. The rule is different from area rugs: leave 4–8 inches of floor showing on each side and stop about a foot before doorways, with every door swinging clear. One long runner beats joining small rugs. Measure your hall with the runner calculator, which checks borders and door swings for you.
Standard round rug sizes
Round rugs come in 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9-foot diameters, with 6, 8 and 9 ft the easiest to find. Pair them like this: a 42–48 inch round table takes an 8 ft round; a 54–60 inch table takes a 9 ft round, keeping the same 24-inch chair allowance in every direction. Round rugs also suit foyers and nurseries, where they soften a square room. See the dining calculator for round tables.
Why buy a standard size at all?
Four practical reasons. Price: standard looms run these sizes continuously, so you avoid custom weaving charges. Availability: popular sizes ship in days with the pattern you actually want. Pads: stock pads exist for every standard size (always order 1 inch shorter per side). Returns: a standard size resells and exchanges easily; a custom size is usually final sale. The only good reason to go custom is a room that falls badly between standards, where sizing down would leave more than 18 inches of extra bare floor.
How to pick your size from the chart
Three designer rules do most of the work. One: at least the front legs of every major furniture piece rest on the rug. Two: leave 12–18 inches of bare floor at the walls (8–12 is fine in small rooms). Three: when torn between two sizes, take the bigger one, unless a walkway or door says otherwise. Then verify with calculators built for each room: queen, king, full, twin, living room, dining room and runner. Every one answers with a scaled diagram and a tape outline, free and private.