Rug size calculator
Enter your room size and your bed, sofa or dining table, and the calculator picks the standard rug size that fits, draws it to scale and tells you why in inches. It works from the rules designers use: 24-36 in of rug beside a bed, the front legs of every seat on a living room rug, and 24-36 in of rug beyond a dining table.
- Rule 01Size the rug to the furniture, not the room.
- Rule 02Leave 8-18 in of floor at the walls.
- Rule 03When two sizes work, take the larger.
Recommended sizequeen bed, 12 x 14 ft room
8 × 10ft
An 8 x 10 ft rug, laid with the 10 ft side across the bed, leaves 30 in of rug on each side of a queen bed and 34 in past the foot, starting just in front of the nightstands.
Drawn to scale, 1 ft grid. Drag the rug to move it, drag its corner to snap to another standard size, or rotate it.
An 8 x 10 ft rug, laid with the 10 ft side across the bed, leaves 30 in of rug on each side of a queen bed and 34 in past the foot, starting just in front of the nightstands.
| Rule | 8x10 |
|---|---|
| Rug on each side of the bed18 in minimum, 24-36 in ideal | 30 in |
| Rug past the foot of the bed12-48 in, 18-36 in ideal | 34 in |
| Gap in front of the nightstands0-6 in, or the nightstands fully on the rug | 0 in |
| Floor showing at the walls8 in minimum | 12 in |
| Verdict | ideal |
How the calculator decides
It places every standard size in your room, tries each rectangular rug both ways round, measures it against the rules below and recommends the one that fits best. When two sizes both meet every rule, it recommends the larger one, because a rug that is too small is the most common mistake. You can also rotate the rug yourself.
- Bedroom: 18 in of rug on each side of the bed at minimum, 24-36 in ideal, and 18-36 in past the foot. The top edge sits 0-6 in in front of the nightstands or runs fully under them, so they never rock on the rug's edge.
- Living room: at least the front legs of the sofa and every chair on the rug, the rug at least as long as the sofa, and 8-18 in of floor showing at the side walls.
- Dining room: 24 in of rug beyond every edge of the table at minimum, 30-40 in ideal, so chairs stay on the rug when pulled out.
- Entryway: the rug at least as wide as the door, with 12-24 in of floor at the side walls.
- Hallway: a runner with 4-8 in of floor on each side (18 in at most) that stops 6-18 in short of each end (36 in at most). Wider halls get a 3 ft runner; above 6 ft wide, the space is treated as a room and gets an area rug.
Every result can be shared: the link keeps your room, furniture and the rug you picked. Guides for specific layouts: rug size for a queen bed, rug size for a king bed, rug size for a full bed, rug size for a twin bed, rug size for a California king bed, living room rug size, dining room rug size.
How to measure for a rug
- Measure the room wall to wall in both directions, at floor level.
- Measure the furniture the rug will sit under: the mattress width, the sofa length, or the table.
- Enter both above and pick the recommended size, or drag the rug to see how another size sits.
- Tape the rug outline on the floor with painter's tape and live with it for a day before you buy.
Questions people ask
How big of a rug do I need?
Size the rug to the furniture, then check the room. Under a bed you want 24-36 in of rug on each side; in a living room, the front legs of every seat on the rug; under a dining table, 24-36 in past every edge. Then make sure 8-18 in of floor still shows at the walls.
How do you measure for a rug?
Measure the room wall to wall, then the furniture the rug will sit under: the mattress, the sofa's length, or the table. Mark the rug's outline on the floor with painter's tape before you buy; it shows the size far better than numbers do.
What size rug for a 10x10 room?
A 10 x 10 ft room fits a rug up to 8 ft 8 in in either direction with 8 in of floor at the walls, so a 5x8 is the largest standard size that fits comfortably; a 6x9 leaves only 6 in at the walls. A 12 x 12 ft room takes an 8x10 with at least 12 in of floor on every side.
How far should a rug be from the wall?
Leave 8-18 in of floor between the rug and the walls in most rooms. Less than 8 in looks like carpet that does not quite fit; in a small room, much more than 18 in makes the rug float.