What Size Rug for a Living Room

An 8×10 rug suits a medium living room and a 9×12 a large one (Wayfair). Under a seating group, the rug should reach at least 6 in past each end of the sofa: an 8×10 leaves 18 in beside a 7-foot sofa.

8×10 or 9×12 ftThe size to buy

7-foot sofa on an 8×10 rug, to scaleTop view: the 8×10 rug reaches 18 in past each end of a 7-foot sofa.8×10 ft rug7-foot sofa18 in
Drawn to scale. Each grid square is one foot.

The rule

  • The rug extends at least 6 inches past each side of the sofa (Wayfair).
  • For a seating area, add 12 to 24 inches to its length and width (Wayfair).
  • For a whole room, subtract 6 inches from the room's length and width (Wayfair).
Rug size by sofa length
Sofa up toRugSource
4 ft5×7 ft or largerThe Home Depot
5 ft6×9 ft or largerThe Home Depot
6 ft7×10 ft or largerThe Home Depot
7 ft8×10 ft or largerThe Home Depot
8 ft9×12 ft or largerThe Home Depot
Rug for the whole room (room minus 6 in each way)
RoomRug can be up toLargest standard size
10 × 12 ft114 × 138 in8×10 ft
11 × 14 ft126 × 162 in9×12 ft
12 × 15 ft138 × 174 in10×14 ft
13 × 16 ft150 × 186 in10×14 ft
14 × 18 ft162 × 210 in10×14 ft
16 × 20 ft186 × 234 in10×14 ft
Rug size by room size
RoomRugSource
Small5×7 ft or 6×9 ftWayfair
Medium8×10 ftWayfair
Large9×12 ftWayfair

Sources

  1. Wayfair: How to Choose the Right Rug Size, checked
  2. The Home Depot: Rug Sizing Guide (PDF), checked

Rules checked