What are Standard Rug Sizes (in Feet)? Common Sizes for Every Room

Whether you’re shopping at a boutique store or a large retailer, rugs usually come in standard sizes. Small Rugs are usually less than 5′ in either length or width, medium rugs are approximately 5′ to 8′ on their longer side and large rugs are approximately 8′ to 12′. Extra large rugs are larger than 12′.

The most common rug sizes are 3’x5′, 5’x8′, 8’x10′, 9’x12′, and 12’x15′.

3’x5’ rugs are considered small, 5’x8′ are considered medium rugs, while 8’x10′ and 9’x12′ rugs are considered large. 12’x’15’ would be considered extra large.

Choosing the correct rug size for a room will depend on the size of the room you want to place it in. So let’s have a better look at how everything should go together to create a harmonious design for each space in your home. 

Standard Rug Sizes by Category

Rug Size Category	Common Dimensions (in feet)
Small	2′ x 3′, 3′ x 5′, 4′ x 4′
Medium	5′ x 7′, 5′ x 8′, 6′ x 6′
Large	8′ x 10′, 9′ x 11′, 9′ x 12′, 8′ x 11′
Extra Large	10′ x 13′, 10′ x 14′, 12′ x 15′

Extra Large and Large Rugs

Large rugs are approximately between 8′ to 12′ on their longer side. Extra large rugs are larger than 12′.

Large rugs are placed in open spaces and big rooms. These could be living rooms, or master bedrooms. The standard sizes for large rugs are 8’x10′, 9’x12′ and extra large 12’x15′ or more. 

Thanks to their big surface, these rugs can define the decor of the space and help you give your floors more depth and color. In addition, they can determine specific areas in open spaces, such as a living room, dining room, or kitchen. 

Another reason to use large rug sizes is to cover any flooring design that you do not like such as old tiles or scratched hardwood floors. They are also great to make the floors warmer in areas with a cold climate and no underfloor heating. Last but not least, large rugs can be used to protect floors from scratching as a result of furniture legs. 

In terms of shape, there is no rule that says a large rug can only be rectangular. You might very well choose a round large rug to go into your room and still get all its benefits. Most round rugs are used in ultra-modern living rooms or even exhibition spaces. 

Medium Rugs

Medium rugs are approximately between 5′ to 8′ on their longer side.

Medium rug sizes are the most common ones as they can be used in bedrooms, smaller living rooms, hallways, offices, and more. The most common size for a medium rug is 5’x8′. 

This size is very convenient and perfect for most apartments. It can help you bring warmth and definition to a space. In addition, this is a great size for a rug to be placed underneath a bed. It allows you to step off on a soft and warm surface on both sides of the bed every morning. 

You can also use them in smaller children’s bedrooms and home offices. 

Small Rugs

Small rugs are approximately 5′ or less in either length or width.

Any rug that is 3’x5’ or less is considered a small area rug. Small rugs are charming and versatile. You can find them in many different shapes, such as round or organic, like faux sheepskins. 

They are perfect for nurseries, bathrooms, mud rooms, entryways, small living rooms, bedrooms, balconies, and other smaller rooms in a house. You can choose to place them by a furniture piece and create an accent spot in the room. 

You can also use them as layers on a larger rug in a bigger space, to give the space more depth and color. 

Common Rug Sizes for Each Room

Type of Room	Common Rug Sizes (in feet)
Living Room	5’x8′, 8’x10′ (Small – Medium Living Rooms), 9’x12′, 12’x15′ (Large Living Rooms)
Bedroom	All Sizes, typically from 2’x3′ to 12’x15′
Kitchen	Runner Rugs (2.5’x7′, 2.5’x10′), 3’x5’, 5’x8′
Dining Room	9’x12′, 12’x15′ (for 8+ people), 8’x10′ (for 6 people), 5’x8′ (for 4 people or 2)
Hallway	Runner Rugs (2.5’x7′, 2.5’x10′), 3’x5′, 5’x8′
Bathroom	2’x3′, 3’x5′
Study	5’x8′, 8’x10′, 9’x12′

Living Room Rugs

The most common rug sizes for a living room are 5’x8′ and 8’x10′ for small to medium-sized living rooms and 9’x12′ to 12’x15′ for larger living rooms. 

A smaller rug will anchor the space, while a larger one will help ground the furniture and define the layout of the living room. 

As a rule of thumb, it is best to leave an 18’’ gap between the edges of the rug and the furniture unless you choose to put the furniture legs on the rug itself.

In this case, make sure the rug is definitely large enough to hold the entire surface of the coffee table on it. Then, place the front legs of the furniture, such as sofas and armchairs, inside the rug.

If the living room is too big, you can get an oversized rug and place all pieces of furniture on the rug. This is a great idea if you have an open space room where the living room and kitchen are in the same area. It also works great if you live in an open-space loft where there are no walls at all separating the living room from the bedrooms. 

In this case, you do not want furniture floating in the room, so you can place all of them on the rug, leaving about 18’’ of offset space on all sides of the rug. 

Bedroom Rugs

There are many different ways of placing a rug in a bedroom, as there are also many different sizes of bedrooms. Therefore, giving an ultimatum on the best rug size for a bedroom is impossible. 

Basically, all rug sizes can be used in a bedroom. You can choose a large rug that goes underneath a king-size bed and allows you to cover the alleys in between the bed and the walls. Alternatively, you can opt for a medium size rug to go in front of a bed or even on the side in case of a single bedroom. You might also go for smaller area rugs that have organic shapes and are plush and soft, and scatter them around the room. 

If you are placing a rug underneath the bed or in front of it, make sure to orientate it so the longer side of the rug is parallel to the headboard. 

If you are using smaller scattered rugs, make sure to place them in front of the main furniture pieces in the room such as a vanity mirror or wardrobe. 

Kitchen Rugs

It’s quite tricky to pinpoint the correct size for a kitchen rug. This is because kitchens come in an infinite number of layouts. Typically, runners are used in between the kitchen aisles. If you have a U-shaped or L-shaped kitchen, however, you can choose to place an area rug in there.

The most common kitchen rug sizes are 5’x8′ and 3’x5’. These are medium-small rugs that you can place in front of the kitchen sink or where you feel you spend most of your time in the kitchen. They are perfect for protecting your floors from spills. In addition, they allow you to rest on a soft and warm surface while you cook. 

If you feel you have a large kitchen, you can opt for a larger area rug. Just measure the free space you have and subtract 18’’ on all four sides. This is a sure way to determine the perfect rug size for your own kitchen. 

Also, if you have a small island or a small table in the middle of your kitchen, you can choose to place it on the rug. In this case, make sure the rug can cover all sides of the table or island. 

Dining Room Rugs

The most common sizes for dining room rugs are 12’x15′ and 9’x12′ for a table for 8 people or more, 8’x10′ for a table for 6 people and 5’x8′ for a table for 4 people or even 2. 

Large rugs are used in dining rooms because the table and the chairs should always rest on the rug, even when the chairs are open. 

Therefore, contrary to other rooms where the rug is determined mostly based on the shape of the room, in a dining room, the shape of the rug follows the shape of the table. As such, you can use a rectangular rug if you have a rectangular table or a round one if you have a round table.

Hallway Rugs

Hallways are usually small and tight so the most common hallway rug sizes are 5’x8′ and 3’x5’. These rugs follow the orientation of the hallway or corridor. If you have a tight but long corridor you can choose to place a few smaller area rugs instead of a runner.

In addition, if you have quite a large entryway, you can choose a bigger rug. As always, follow the golden rule of rug sizes: leave 18’’ space between the rug and the wall on all sides.

Bathroom Rugs

Bathrooms are usually small, and as a result, the best rug sizes for these spaces are 3’x5’ or less, most commonly 2’x3′. You can choose a few small rugs to go in front of your sink or vanity mirror or opt for a larger rug to become the focal point of the bathroom and place it in the middle if the space and the layout of the room permit. 

Study Rugs

Studies and home offices can definitely benefit from a nice rug to make the room cozier and more comfortable. In addition, the rug can absorb any noise and deliver better audio for conference calls. The best rug sizes for an office at home are 5’x8′, 9’x12′ and 8’x10′. 

These are medium-large rugs that can make the space feel curated and well-designed. They also prevent the space from looking like a home setting. 

You can place the rug underneath your table or desk. You can also choose a dedicated space with chairs and couches for clients. If you have a library in your office, it is a good idea to have a rug in front of the library. 

Another tip is to get a small 3’x5’ rug and place it next to a window with an armchair on top to create a relaxation spot in your office.

Rug Size Tips

Make sure to check the sizes of the rugs detailed in an online store, or ask a shopping assistant to help you find the size on the back of a rug before purchase.

Once you find the exact size of the rug you are interested in buying, keep in mind all of the tips mentioned above. Also, check out our Rug size chart article for help.

You can even place measuring tape on the floor to have a look in the room at how much space the rug will cover and how that will feel.

Make sure to place the rug close to the seating rather than in the middle of the room. Also follow the shape of the room so you can have a balanced design and visual flow.