A rug that is too small makes a room feel unsettled, and one that is too big swallows the floor. This calculator matches your room and sofa size to the standard rug sizes, applies the classic leg placement rules, and draws the result to scale so you can see the proportions before you buy.
Rug Size Calculator
See the right rug size for your seating area, drawn to scale so the proportions are easy to judge.
Assumptions: standard sizes are 5×8, 6×9, 8×10, 9×12 and 10×14 ft, placed with the long side along the sofa. Front legs on means the rug runs under the front of the sofa and across the coffee table zone. All legs on adds the full sofa depth plus the coffee table zone. The diagram is a plan view drawn to scale for the room and rug; the sofa and table are simple markers.
How it works
- Enter the room length and width, and the length of your sofa.
- Choose how the rug should sit: front legs on, all legs on, or floating in front of the sofa.
- The calculator picks the smallest standard size that satisfies the placement rule for your sofa.
- Check the plan diagram and the bare floor clearances around the rug edges before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Should a rug go under the sofa?
At least the front legs of the sofa should sit on the rug, because it anchors the seating group and stops the rug looking like it is floating. All legs on feels generous and suits larger rooms, if the budget allows the bigger size.
How much bare floor should show around a rug?
A border of roughly 8 to 18 in of bare floor around the rug is a good guide in most rooms. Even borders on all sides look calmest, which is why this calculator centres the rug in the seating zone.
What if my room is between standard sizes?
Go up a size if the seating feels cramped, because rugs almost always look smaller at home than in the shop. If the next size crowds the walls, stay with the smaller one and keep an even border.