The right rug anchors the furniture instead of floating in the middle of the floor. Enter your room size and how you arrange your furniture, and get a standard rug size that fits.
Rug Size Calculator
How this calculator works
Good rugs leave a border of bare floor — roughly eighteen inches — between the rug edge and the walls, which makes the room feel bigger, not smaller. From your room dimensions the calculator finds your seating zone, scales it to your layout (all legs on the rug needs the biggest size), then matches it to the nearest standard rug sizes. Tape the outline on the floor before you buy; it takes two minutes and prevents most mistakes.
Good to know
Three layouts cover most rooms: all furniture legs on the rug for a generous, unified feel, front legs only for the common middle option, or a smaller rug floating under the coffee table in tight spaces. Leave a consistent border of floor showing so the rug reads as intentional.
Popular living-room sizes are 5×8 ft for small rooms, 8×10 ft for most sofas and 9×12 ft for open layouts; dining rugs should extend about 24 inches beyond the table on each side. A thin rug pad underneath stops slipping, protects the floor and makes thin rugs feel thicker.
Do I need a rug pad? Yes in most cases. A pad stops the rug creeping, protects both rug and floor, and adds softness. Choose a thin pad for low doors and a slightly thicker one where you want more cushion.
Should all sofa legs be on the rug? In larger rooms yes for a unified look. In average rooms, front legs on the rug is the practical sweet spot and still anchors the seating area.
How much floor should show around a rug? Leave roughly 12-20 inches between the rug edge and walls where you can, keeping the border even on all sides for a balanced look.
What size rug for a dining table? Pick a rug that extends about 24 inches beyond the table on all sides so chairs stay on the rug when pulled out, even at the heads of the table.