What Are the Standard Sizes of Rugs?

When it comes to size, what are the more standard sizes we see in area rugs?

Size matters, especially when choosing between area rugs for your space. If you go too big, you could visually shrink your room and cover flooring details. On the other hand, rugs that are too small can seem to float and cause a distraction. To get you started, there are standard rug sizes for different rooms and layouts.

In this guide, we’ll include an area rug size chart that covers:

  • Standard rug sizes in inches
  • Standard rug sizes in feet
  • Standard rug sizes in cm

We’ll also give tips on how rug sizing affects placement, and when it’s a good idea to break the rules.

What Are the Standard Sizes of Rugs? Nazmiyal Antique Rugs

What Are the Standard Sizes of Rugs?

What Is the Most Popular Area Rug Size?

In a nut shell the most popular rug size are (in feet) are listed below from smallest to largest:

  • 3 x 5
  • 4 x 6
  • 5 x 7
  • 6 x 9
  • 8 x 10
  • 9 x 12
  • 10 x 14
  • 12 x 15
  • 12 x 18
  • 14 x 20

That said, the most popular area rug size really depends on the space that you’re designing, but there are some “standard” rug dimensions. In this section, we’ll break down area rugs into small, room size, large, extra large, and runner rugs with the most popular dimensions for each.

Standard Sizes For Small Rugs

Small rugs tend to be less than 9 feet long.

Common small rug sizes in feet / inches are:

Feet Inches
3 ft x 5 ft 36 in x 60 in
4 ft x 6 ft 48 in x 72 in
5 ft x 7 ft 60 in x 84 in
5 ft x 8 ft 60 in x 96 in

Common small rug sizes in meters / centimeters are:

Meters Centimeters
0.91 m x 1.22 m 91 cm x 122 cm
1.22 m x 1.83 m 122 cm x 183 cm
1.52 m x 2.13 m 152 cm x 213 cm
1.52 m x 2.44 m 152 cm x 244 cm

With some additional warmth or character, small rugs can tie a room together.

Standard Sizes For Room Size Rugs

Room size rugs are large enough to define a space and are typically between 9 and 15 feet long.

Standard room size rug dimensions in feet / inches are:

Feet Inches
6 ft x 9 ft 72 in x 108 in
8 ft x 10 ft 96 in x 120 in
9 ft x 12 ft 108 in x 144 in
10 ft x 14 ft 120 in x 168 in
12 ft x 15 ft 144 in x 180 in

Standard room size rug dimensions in meters / centimeters are:

Meters Centimeters
1.83 m x 2.74 m 183 cm x 274 cm
2.44 m x 3.05 m 244 cm x 305 cm
2.74 m x 3.66 m 274 cm x 366 cm
3.05 m x 4.27 m 305 cm x 427 cm
3.66 m x 4.57 m 366 cm x 457 cm

Room size rugs can bring sophistication to your living room, dining room, bedroom, or family room.

More Common Sizes For Large Rugs

Between 15 and 20 feet long, large rugs are an ideal option for filling an expansive room.

Common large rug sizes in feet / inches are:

Feet Inches
12 ft x 18 ft 144 in x 216 in
14 ft x 20 ft 168 in x 240 in

Common large rug sizes in meters / centimeters are:

Meters Centimeters
3.66 m x 5.49 m 366 cm x 549 cm
4.72 m x 6.1 m 472 cm x 610 cm

Large rugs demand attention with their impeccable designs and craftsmanship, even in expansive rooms.

Common Sizes For Extra Large Rugs

Extra large rugs tend to be over 20 feet long.

Common extra large rug sizes in feet / inches are:

Feet Inches
15 ft x 30 ft 180 in x 360 in
19 ft x 30 ft 228 in x 360 in

Common extra large rug sizes in meters / centimeters are:

Meters Centimeters
4.57 m x 9.14 m 457 cm x 914 cm
5.79 m x 9.14 m 579 cm x 914 cm

Extra large oversized area rugs can serve as a commanding presence in even the largest rooms with their storied origins and intricate details.

Runner Rugs

Runner rugs are characterized by their long, narrow dimensions.

The typically runner rug sizes in feet / inches:

Feet Inches
2 ft x 8 ft 24 in x 96 in
2 ft x 10 ft 24 in x 120 in
3 ft x 12 ft 36 in x 144 in

The typically runner rug sizes in meters / centimeters:

Meters Centimeters
0.61 m x 2.44 m 61 cm x 244 cm
0.61 m x 3.05 m 61 cm x 305 cm
0.91 m x 3.66 m 91 cm x 366 cm

Runner rugs can line hallways, border kitchens, or add distinction along a bed or sofa.

Is It Better To Have a Bigger or Smaller Rug?

It all depends on what your goals are for your space. A rug that is too big for a room can make that room look smaller, while a rug that is too small can make your space feel disjointed. The visual effects of having a rug that doesn’t match the size of your room can also be exaggerated by other design choices. For example, rooms painted in light colors tend to look bigger, so a small rug could be even more of a mismatch in that instance.

How Do You Tell If a Rug Is Too Big for a Room?

The standard rule of thumb is that an area rug should be 18 to 24 inches smaller than the space it occupies. This is especially true for rooms with flooring that enhances the space. For example, gorgeous hardwood floors or tiles can make a room feel cozier or more elegant. In these cases, leaving some space around your rug allows you and your guests to appreciate both design elements.

Are There Rug Under Couch Rules?

When placing area rugs in rooms, the size and location of your furniture also factor into what size area rug would best fit. For couches, beds, tables and most other pieces of furniture, the standard rule is to have a rug that extends at least six inches past the furniture on all sides.

In many situations, it can be ideal to have multiple pieces of furniture placed on the same rug, like a couch and a coffee table. The standard rule works here, too, and it’s usually best to have your rug extend at least six inches past each piece of furniture.

How To Position and Place Rugs in Rooms - By Nazmiyal Antique Rugs

How To Position and Place Rugs in Rooms

It’s also typical for rugs to be centered around the main furniture group—not necessarily the center of the room. For example, if you have a couch pressed against the wall and a coffee table in the middle of the room, you wouldn’t normally center the rug around the coffee table. Instead, you could anchor the rug under the couch and have it extend out past the coffee table.

Exceptions to the Rug Size Rules

In some cases, it makes sense to break the rules. The size of your area rug isn’t an isolated influence on how you place it. An example of this would be choosing a rug to go under your coffee table. Even by following the standard six-inch rule, the rug could feel too small for the room, especially if it’s surrounded by empty floor space.

When buying your area rugs, please keep in mind that you don’t always need to cover all of the space under a piece of furniture—especially in the bedroom. Sometimes, you might want to have the rug only cover the floor under two-thirds of the bed. This allows your rug to extend well beyond the foot of your bed but still be anchored by the bed.

As with many of the recent interior deign trends and “design rules”, it’s most important to do what you like. If you feel that having a rug that stretches from one edge of your living room to the other enhances the space, then that’s the size you should choose for your rug.

Go Beyond Trends with Nazmiyal Collection

Size, style, and sophistication—no rug is complete and ready for your space without all three. For over 30 years, we’ve gathered one of the world’s largest collections of antique, vintage, and modern rugs. Explore our collection to see what suits your design style, or try your hand in making your very own custom rugs to experiment with shapes, sizes and every color and pattern imaginable.

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