What size rug for a twin bed?
A 5x8 rug is the best size for a twin bed that stands away from the walls. Laid with the 8 ft side across the bed, it leaves 29 in of rug on each side of the 38 in wide mattress and 17 in past the foot. Most twin beds stand against a wall, though, and then a 3x5 or 4x6 on the open side is all the room needs.
- Rule 01Rug on each side of the bed18 in minimum, 24-36 in ideal
- Rule 02Rug past the foot of the bed12-48 in, 18-36 in ideal
- Rule 03Gap in front of the nightstands0-6 in, or the nightstands fully on the rug
- Rule 04Floor showing at the walls8 in minimum
Try it with your room
Recommended sizetwin bed, 10 x 11 ft room
5 × 8ft
A 5 x 8 ft rug, laid with the 8 ft side across the bed, leaves 29 in of rug on each side of a twin bed and 17 in past the foot, with 14 in of bare floor between it and the nightstands.
Drawn to scale, 1 ft grid. Drag the bed to slide it along the headboard wall. Drag the rug to move it, drag its corner to snap to another standard size, or rotate it.
A 5 x 8 ft rug, laid with the 8 ft side across the bed, leaves 29 in of rug on each side of a twin bed and 17 in past the foot, with 14 in of bare floor between it and the nightstands.
| Rule | 5x8 |
|---|---|
| Rug on each side of the bed18 in minimum, 24-36 in ideal | 29 in |
| Rug past the foot of the bed12-48 in, 18-36 in ideal | 17 in |
| Gap in front of the nightstands0-6 in, or the nightstands fully on the rug | 14 in |
| Floor showing at the walls8 in minimum | 12 in |
| Verdict | works |
4x6, 5x7, 5x8 and 6x9 rugs under a twin bed
Each plan is drawn to the same scale, under a twin bed in a 10 x 11 ft room. The 1 ft grid shows how much floor each size covers.
Why a 5x8 fits a twin bed
A twin mattress is only 38 in wide, so a 5x8 turned sideways (96 in across) leaves 29 in on each side, right in the 24-36 in range. A 5x7 leaves 23 in and still works; a 4x6 leaves 17 in and slips under the 18 in minimum.
A 5x8 is only 5 ft deep, so it sits in the lower half of the bed with 14 in of bare floor in front of the nightstands. In a room at least 10 ft 4 in wide, a 6x9 fixes that: it leaves 35 in on each side and reaches from the nightstands to 21 in past the foot.
In a child's room the rug is also a play surface, so the part that shows matters more than the part under the bed. A size that leaves a wide band of rug on the open side earns its keep.
Rug size for a twin bed against a wall
Pushed against a wall, a twin bed only has one side to step out of. A 3x5 turned sideways and started a few inches from the wall shows about 30 in on the open side. A 4x6 or a runner laid along the bed works too.
Rug size for two twin beds
Two twin beds with a nightstand between them span 8 ft 10 in (two 38 in mattresses and a 30 in gap). One 9x12 across both leaves 19 in past each outer side, and it needs a room at least 13 ft 4 in wide. An 8x10 leaves only 7 in, short of the 18 in minimum.
In a narrower room, lay a 5x8 between the beds, running the same way as the beds, so it tucks 15 in under each one and covers the floor you step onto from both.
| Setup | Best size | Smallest that works |
|---|---|---|
| 12 x 13 ft room | No standard size | - |
| 13 x 14 ft room | No standard size | - |
| 14 x 14 ft room | 9x12 | 9x12 |
| 15 x 16 ft room | 9x12 | 9x12 |
Choose two beds and enter your room in the rug size calculator.
Every standard size under a twin bed
| Rug size | Rug on each side of the bed | Rug past the foot of the bed | Floor showing at the walls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4x648 x 72 in | 17 in | 17 in | 24 in | Too small |
| 5x760 x 84 in | 23 in | 17 in | 18 in | Works |
| 5x860 x 96 in | 29 in | 17 in | 12 in | Best fit |
| 6x972 x 108 in | 35 in | 21 in | 6 in | Too big for the room |
| 8x1096 x 120 in | 29 in | 45 in | 12 in | Works |
| 9x12108 x 144 in | 53 in | 33 in | -12 in | Too big for the room |
| 10x14120 x 168 in | 65 in | 45 in | -24 in | Too big for the room |
| 12x15144 x 180 in | 71 in | 69 in | -30 in | Too big for the room |
Questions people ask
What size rug under a twin bed?
A 5x8, laid with the 8 ft side across the bed, leaves 29 in on each side. A 5x7 also works (23 in); a 4x6 is too small to go under a twin (17 in).
What size rug for a dorm room?
Dorm beds usually stand against the walls, so put the rug in the open floor between them: a 5x7 or 5x8 covers the walking area without running under the furniture. In a single room, a 4x6 beside the bed is enough.
What size rug for two twin beds?
A 9x12 under both beds leaves 19 in past each outer side in a room at least 13 ft 4 in wide. In a smaller room, a 5x8 between the beds, running the same way as the beds, tucks 15 in under each one.
How big is a twin bed?
A twin mattress is 38 x 75 in (97 x 191 cm). A twin XL, common in dorms, is 38 x 80 in, so the same rug sizes work.