What size rug for an entryway?
An entryway rug should be at least as wide as the front door, ideally 12-36 in wider, with 12-24 in of floor at the side walls. In a 6 x 8 ft entry with a 36 in door that is a 4x6 laid lengthwise: 12 in wider than the door and 12 in of floor at each wall. Keep the pile low so the door swings over it.
- Rule 01Rug wider than the doorat least the door's width, 12-36 in wider ideal
- Rule 02Floor showing at the side walls6 in minimum, 12-24 in ideal
Try it with your entry
Recommended sizeentryway, 6 x 8 ft
4 × 6ft
A 4 x 6 ft rug, running into the entry, is 12 in wider than a 36 in door and leaves 12 in of floor at each side wall.
Drawn to scale, 1 ft grid. Drag the door along its wall. Drag the rug to move it, drag its corner to snap to another standard size, or rotate it.
A 4 x 6 ft rug, running into the entry, is 12 in wider than a 36 in door and leaves 12 in of floor at each side wall.
| Rule | 4x6 |
|---|---|
| Rug wider than the doorat least the door's width, 12-36 in wider ideal | 12 in |
| Floor showing at the side walls6 in minimum, 12-24 in ideal | 12 in |
| Verdict | ideal |
- Pick a low-pile rug (under 1/2 in thick) so the door swings over it without catching.
2x3, 3x5, 4x6 and 5x7 in a 6 x 8 ft entry
Each plan is drawn to the same scale, inside a 36 in front door in a 6 x 8 ft entry.
Entryway rug size by entry size
The calculator's pick for common entries, each with a 36 in door unless noted, and the smallest size that still works. Square entries get a round rug.
| Setup | Best size | Smallest that works |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 5 ft entry | 2x3 | 2x3 |
| 5 x 7 ft entry | 3x5 | 2x3 |
| 6 x 6 ft entry, square | 4 ft round | 2x3 |
| 6 x 8 ft entry | 4x6 | 2x3 |
| 7 x 9 ft entry | 5x7 | 2x3 |
| 8 x 8 ft entry, square | 6 ft round | 2x3 |
| 8 x 10 ft entry | 5x8 | 2x3 |
| 8 x 10 ft entry, 72 in double doors | 5x7 | 4x6 |
| 4 x 10 ft entry hall | 3x5 | 2x3 |
Why the door sets the width
The rug's first job is to catch what comes through the door: wet shoes, grit, the dog. Narrower than the door and people step around it or half on it. At least as wide as the door, both feet land on it; 12-36 in wider, they land on it even coming in at an angle with the door half open.
Its second job is proportion. The 12-24 in of floor at the side walls frames the rug and tells the eye it is a mat for the doorway, chosen for the door rather than cut to the room. Under 6 in it looks like an undersized carpet, and past 24 in in a small entry the rug looks lost. In the 6 x 8 ft entry above the 4x6 is 12 in wider than the door with 12 in at each wall; the 3x5 laid across is 24 in wider but leaves only 6 in, and the 2x3 is exactly the door's width with 18 in at the walls.
Low pile, so the door swings over it
A door usually clears the floor by 1/2-3/4 in, less over a threshold, so a rug thicker than about 1/2 in with its pad catches the door. Choose a flatweave, a low-pile wool or a washable cotton, and a thin rubber pad so it stays put. The calculator starts every entry rug 6 in inside the door wall, within the door's swing, which is why it insists on the low pile; a rug placed past the swing can be any thickness.
Square entries and round rugs
In a square or nearly square entry the calculator offers round rugs, and they often win: a round echoes the door's swing and leaves the corners free for a console or a bench. A 4 ft round fits a 6 x 6 ft entry (12 in wider than a 36 in door, 12 in at the walls) and a 6 ft round an 8 x 8 ft one (36 in wider, 12 in at the walls).
Long, narrow entries
A narrow entry hall takes a rug sized to its width, not its length. In a 4 x 10 ft entry the calculator picks a 3x5 laid lengthwise: as wide as a 36 in door, with 6 in of floor at each wall. If the hall runs 8 ft or more past the door, a runner fits the far part better; the runner rug sizes guide has the rules.
How to measure an entryway for a rug
- Measure the entry wall to wall, width and depth, to where the floor changes or the hall begins.
- Measure the door: a standard front door is 36 in wide, double doors about 72 in. Note which way it swings and how much it clears the floor.
- Pick a rug at least as wide as the door and 24-48 in narrower than the entry, so 12-24 in of floor shows at each side wall. Round to the nearest standard size, or to a round rug in a square entry.
- If the rug sits inside the door's swing, keep it and its pad under 1/2 in thick.
Every standard size in a 6 x 8 ft entry
| Rug size | Rug wider than the door | Floor showing at the side walls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2x324 x 36 in | 0 in | 18 in | Works |
| 3x536 x 60 in | 24 in | 6 in | Works |
| 4x648 x 72 in | 12 in | 12 in | Best fit |
| 5x760 x 84 in | 24 in | 6 in | Too big for the room |
| 5x860 x 96 in | 60 in | -12 in | Too big for the room |
| 6x972 x 108 in | 72 in | -18 in | Too big for the room |
Questions people ask
What size rug for an entryway?
At least as wide as the door, with 12-24 in of floor at each side wall. For a 6 x 8 ft entry with a 36 in door that is a 4x6 laid lengthwise; a 4 x 5 ft entry takes a 2x3, a 7 x 9 ft entry a 5x7, and a square 8 x 8 ft entry a 6 ft round.
How big should an entryway rug be compared to the door?
As wide as the door at minimum and 12-36 in wider ideally, so people land on it coming in at an angle. Wider than that in a small entry eats the floor at the walls, which should keep 12-24 in.
Can you put a round rug in an entryway?
Yes, and in a square entry it is often the better shape. The calculator picks a 4 ft round for a 6 x 6 ft entry (12 in wider than a 36 in door) and a 6 ft round for an 8 x 8 ft entry (36 in wider), each with 12 in of floor at the side walls.
What kind of rug works best in an entryway?
A low pile, under 1/2 in thick with its pad, so the door swings over it: a flatweave, a washable cotton or a low-pile wool on a thin rubber pad. A pattern or a mid tone hides grit better than a solid light color.