Get a rug that runs past both arms of the sofa, with its front legs on it. For an 84-inch (7 ft) sofa that's a 6 × 9 ft rug; with armchairs around it, 8 × 10 ft.For a 213 cm sofa that's a 200 × 290 cm rug; with armchairs around it, 240 × 340 cm. Enter your sofa and room under the 3D.
It's the rug most people buy first: big enough for the coffee table, so it looks right in the shop. At home it stops 1 ft 2 in short of the sofa, and the sofa, table and armchair look like three separate pieces.
Each dot is a sofa leg: green on the rug, red on bare floor. The front two are the ones that count. Once they sit on the rug, the sofa, table and chairs read as one group.
Tap the sizes under the room; the furniture stays put. Too small leaves the legs on bare floor. Too large runs almost to the walls and looks like fitted carpet. The one that fits runs about 1 ft past each arm.
Show the · ·
From above: the rug runs under the front legs, past both arms, and stops short of the walls. The dashed outline is the narrowest rug that still works. For an 84 in sofa, that's a 6 × 9 ft.
Get a rug that runs at least 6 in15 cm past each arm of the sofa, with the front legs on it.
Tap your sofa width, measured arm to arm, for the rug that looks right.
5 × 8 ft looks right: the rug runs about 1 ft past each arm. Leave 12–18 in of floor to the walls.200 × 290 cm looks right: the rug runs about 54 cm past each arm. 160 × 230 cm is the smallest that works. Leave 30–45 cm of floor to the walls.
6 × 9 ft looks right: the rug runs about 1 ft 3 in past each arm. 5 × 8 ft is the smallest that works. Leave 12–18 in of floor to the walls.200 × 290 cm looks right: the rug runs about 46 cm past each arm. 160 × 230 cm is the smallest that works. Leave 30–45 cm of floor to the walls.
6 × 9 ft looks right: the rug runs about 1 ft past each arm. 5 × 8 ft is the smallest that works. Leave 12–18 in of floor to the walls.200 × 290 cm looks right: the rug runs about 38 cm past each arm. Leave 30–45 cm of floor to the walls.
8 × 10 ft looks right: the rug runs about 1 ft 3 in past each arm. 6 × 9 ft is the smallest that works. Leave 12–18 in of floor to the walls.200 × 290 cm looks right: the rug runs about 31 cm past each arm. Leave 30–45 cm of floor to the walls.
8 × 10 ft looks right: the rug runs about 1 ft past each arm. 6 × 9 ft is the smallest that works. Leave 12–18 in of floor to the walls.240 × 340 cm looks right: the rug runs about 48 cm past each arm. 200 × 290 cm is the smallest that works. Leave 30–45 cm of floor to the walls.
9 × 12 ft looks right: the rug runs about 1 ft 6 in past each arm. 8 × 10 ft is the smallest that works. Leave 12–18 in of floor to the walls.240 × 340 cm looks right: the rug runs about 33 cm past each arm. Leave 30–45 cm of floor to the walls.
| Sofa | Smallest rug | Looks right |
|---|---|---|
| 60 in | 4 × 6 ft | 5 × 8 ft |
| 66 in | 5 × 8 ft | 5 × 8 ft |
| 72 in | 5 × 8 ft | 5 × 8 ft |
| 78 in | 5 × 8 ft | 6 × 9 ft |
| 84 in | 5 × 8 ft | 6 × 9 ft |
| 90 in | 6 × 9 ft | 8 × 10 ft |
| 96 in | 6 × 9 ft | 8 × 10 ft |
| 108 in | 8 × 10 ft | 9 × 12 ft |
| 120 in | 9 × 12 ft | 9 × 12 ft |
| Sofa | Smallest rug | Looks right |
|---|---|---|
| 152 cm | 160 × 230 cm | 160 × 230 cm |
| 168 cm | 160 × 230 cm | 160 × 230 cm |
| 183 cm | 160 × 230 cm | 200 × 290 cm |
| 198 cm | 160 × 230 cm | 200 × 290 cm |
| 213 cm | 200 × 290 cm | 200 × 290 cm |
| 229 cm | 200 × 290 cm | 200 × 290 cm |
| 244 cm | 200 × 290 cm | 240 × 340 cm |
| 274 cm | 240 × 340 cm | 240 × 340 cm |
| 305 cm | 240 × 340 cm | 300 × 400 cm |
| Rug size | Past each arm | Front legs | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 ft | 6 in short | Off | Too small |
| 5 × 8 ft | 6 in | On | Just fits |
| 6 × 9 ft | 1 ft | On | Fits |
| 8 × 10 ft | 1 ft 6 in | On | Fits |
| 9 × 12 ft | 2 ft 6 in | On | Fits |
| 10 × 14 ft | 3 ft 6 in | All four | Too large |
| Rug size | Past each arm | Front legs | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 × 170 cm | 22 cm short | Off | Too small |
| 160 × 230 cm | 8 cm | On | Too small |
| 200 × 290 cm | 38 cm | On | Fits |
| 240 × 340 cm | 63 cm | On | Fits |
| 250 × 350 cm | 68 cm | On | Fits |
| 300 × 400 cm | 93 cm | All four | Too large |
8 × 10 ft is the size sold most in the US: it fits a sofa of about 90 in, or a smaller sofa with armchairs around it. For a 7 ft (84 in) sofa on its own, 6 × 9 ft is the smallest that looks right.200 × 290 cm is the size most shops stock: it looks right under a sofa of about 180–230 cm. With armchairs around it, or a longer sofa, go up to 240 × 340 cm.
The front legs should sit on it, about 6–8 in15–20 cm in. That ties the sofa to the rest of the seating. All four legs on the rug also works in a large, open room; no legs on it makes the rug look like it's floating.
For most sectionals, 9 × 12 ft250 × 350 cm or bigger, so the front legs of both sides sit on the rug. Measure each side arm to corner and add at least 6 in15 cm past each end.
Usually 5 × 8 ft, which works with a sofa up to about 72 in (6 ft). Still get the front legs on: a 4 × 6 ft rug under the coffee table is the classic too-small rug.Usually 160 × 230 cm, which works with a sofa up to about 170 cm. Still get the front legs on: a 120 × 170 cm rug under the coffee table is the classic too-small rug.
Yes. With less than 10–12 in25–30 cm of floor between rug and wall, it reads as wall-to-wall carpet and the room looks smaller.