Rug Size Calculator
Find the perfect rug size for any room. Calculate ideal dimensions based on room size, furniture layout, and the 18-inch rule. Get matched to standard rug sizes instantly.
The 18-Inch Rule
Leave 18 inches of bare floor between your rug and walls for visual balance. Formula: Rug Size = Room Size - 36" (18" on each side). For smaller rooms, 8-12 inches works better.
📐 Room Dimensions
💡 Front legs of sofa and chairs should be on the rug
The 18-inch rule creates visual balance between rug and floor
🎯 Recommended Rug Size
Ideal Rug Size
9.0' × 11.0'
108" × 132" (99 sq ft)
Closest Standard Sizes
How We Calculated
Room: 12 × 14 feet
Border: 18" on each side (×2 = 36")
Rug = Room - Border = 9.0' × 11.0'
🛋️ Living Room Tip: Front legs of sofa and chairs should be on the rug
📏 Standard Rug Sizes Reference
| Size (ft) | Size (inches) | Area (sq ft) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3' × 5' | 36" × 60" | 15 | Entryway, Small accent |
| 4' × 6' | 48" × 72" | 24 | Small bedroom, Bathroom |
| 5' × 7' | 60" × 84" | 35 | Small living room, Office |
| 5' × 8' | 60" × 96" | 40 | Medium bedroom, Office |
| 6' × 9' | 72" × 108" | 54 | Medium bedroom, Dining (4 chairs) |
| 8' × 10' | 96" × 120" | 80 | Living room, Dining (6 chairs) |
| 9' × 12' | 108" × 144" | 108 | Large living room, Dining (8 chairs) |
| 10' × 14' | 120" × 168" | 140 | Great room, Large dining |
| 12' × 15' | 144" × 180" | 180 | Open concept, Extra large |
📐 How to Choose the Right Rug Size
The 18-Inch Rule Explained
The 18-inch rule is a fundamental interior design guideline that recommends leaving approximately 18 inches of bare floor between your rug's edges and the walls. This creates a visual "frame" that makes the room feel balanced and proportional. For smaller rooms under 10×12 feet, reduce this to 8-12 inches. For larger rooms over 14×18 feet, you can extend to 24 inches.
Living Room Rug Placement
In living rooms, your rug should be large enough that at least the front legs of all seating furniture rest on it. This creates a cohesive conversation area. The most popular approach is "front legs on" - where front furniture legs are on the rug and back legs are off. For open floor plans, an 8×10 or 9×12 rug works for most setups. With sectionals, ensure the rug extends at least 6 inches beyond all sides.
Dining Room Rug Guidelines
Dining room rugs must accommodate chairs being pulled in and out. The rule is simple: add 24-30 inches to each side of your table's dimensions. For a 6-person table (36×72 inches), you'll need at minimum an 8×10 rug. Round tables should have round rugs with diameter equal to table diameter plus 48-54 inches. Chairs catching on rug edges during meals is the most common dining rug mistake.
📏 Quick Size Guide
Rug: 5×7 or 6×9
Rug: 8×10
Rug: 9×12
Rug: 10×14 or 12×15
✅ Common Mistakes
- Rug too small ("floating" look)
- Forgetting chair pullout space
- Not considering furniture layout
- Ignoring room shape
- Skipping rug pad
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Frequently Asked Questions
Measure your room's length and width, then subtract 24-36 inches from each dimension (to leave 12-18 inches of floor showing on each side). For a 12' × 14' room, subtract 3' from each: you'd need approximately a 9' × 11' rug. Since that's not a standard size, choose the closest option: 9' × 12'. For furniture placement, ensure at least the front legs of sofas and chairs rest on the rug.
A 9x12 rug measures 9 feet wide by 12 feet long (108 inches × 144 inches), covering 108 square feet of floor space. This is one of the most popular sizes for living rooms and dining rooms. In metric, it's approximately 2.7m × 3.7m. The first number is always width, the second is length.
The 18-inch rule is a design guideline recommending you leave about 18 inches of bare floor between your rug's edges and the walls. This creates a visual frame that makes the room look balanced and proportional. For smaller rooms, 8-12 inches works better. For larger rooms, you can extend to 24 inches. This rule helps prevent rugs from looking too small (floating) or too large (overwhelming).
A 5' × 7' rug measures 60 inches × 84 inches (approximately 152cm × 213cm), covering 35 square feet. This size works well for small living rooms, bedrooms, or as an accent rug in larger spaces. It can fit under a coffee table with a small sofa arrangement but may be too small for rooms larger than 10' × 12'.
For L-shaped sectionals, choose an 8' × 10' or 9' × 12' rug that extends at least 6 inches beyond the sectional on all sides. For U-shaped sectionals, you'll likely need a 10' × 14' or larger. The rug should be long enough that all front legs of the sectional rest on it. Measure your sectional's total footprint and add 12-24 inches to each dimension.
Add 48-54 inches to your table's dimensions (24-27 inches per side) to allow chairs to remain on the rug when pulled out. For a 6-person table (36" × 72"), you need at least an 8' × 10' rug. For an 8-person table (42" × 96"), choose a 9' × 12' or larger. Round tables need round rugs with diameter = table diameter + 48-54 inches.
🏠 Disclaimer: This calculator provides general recommendations based on common design guidelines. Actual rug needs may vary based on furniture arrangement, room shape, and personal preference. We recommend using painter's tape to visualize rug dimensions on your floor before purchasing.