Rug Size Guide

The right rug size depends on two things: the size of your sofa, bed or table, and the size of the room around it. This guide gives you the sizes we stock, what each one does in a room, and a quick way to check before you buy. Every size is in centimetres. If you want a second opinion, call 02 9166 3980 or send us a photo of the room and we will tell you what fits.

The sizes we stock

• 80 x 150 cm runner: beside a bed, in front of a kitchen bench, or inside the front door.
• 80 x 300 cm hallway runner: long hallways and corridors. Some designs come in 80 x 280 cm and 100 x 300 cm as well.
• 120 x 170 cm: beside a bed, or a small space such as a study, an entry or a nursery.
• 160 x 230 cm: the most popular size in Australia. It sits under a coffee table with the sofa just off the rug.
• 200 x 290 cm: the rug comes right up to the front legs of the sofa.
• 240 x 340 cm: about half the sofa sits on the rug. Also sold as 240 x 330 cm and 250 x 350 cm.
• 280 x 380 cm and 300 x 400 cm: the whole sofa sits on the rug, with floor showing around the edge.
• Round rugs: under a round dining table, in a reading corner, or to soften a room full of straight lines.

Living room: start with the sofa

Measure your sofa first. A standard three-seater is about 200 to 220 cm wide. A sofa with a chaise can be 260 cm or more. Then decide how much of the sofa you want on the rug.

Sofa off the rug: a 160 x 230 cm rug sits under the coffee table and stops just short of the sofa. This works in apartments and smaller living rooms where you want softness underfoot without covering the floor. A sofa with a chaise can rest its chaise end on this size.

Front legs on the rug: a 200 x 290 cm rug reaches the front legs of a three-seater and ties the sofa, coffee table and armchairs together. This is the size most people are after when they say the 160 x 230 cm "looks a bit small".

Half the sofa on the rug: at 240 x 340 cm (or 240 x 330 cm and 250 x 350 cm) about half the sofa sits on the rug, and side tables usually fit on it too. Open-plan rooms and bigger lounges are where this size belongs.

Whole sofa on the rug: a 280 x 380 cm or 300 x 400 cm rug takes the sofa, the armchairs and the coffee table, with floor still visible around the edge. Measure the room before you order one. You want at least 20 to 40 cm of floor between the rug and the walls, so a 300 x 400 cm rug needs a room at least 3.5 by 4.5 metres.

Bedroom: the rug should show on both sides of the bed

A queen bed is 153 cm wide. A 160 x 230 cm rug laid across the bed covers the lower two thirds and gives you about 60 cm of rug on each side to step onto. For a king bed (183 cm wide), go to 200 x 290 cm so the rug still shows past the sides. Two 80 x 150 cm runners, one on each side of the bed, do the same job for less if the room is tight.

Dining room: chairs should stay on the rug when pulled out

Allow about 60 cm beyond the table edge on every side. A four-seater table suits 160 x 230 cm. A six-seater needs 200 x 290 cm. An eight-seater or a long table needs 240 x 340 cm, and a ten-seater needs 300 x 400 cm. Round tables take a round rug about 120 cm wider than the table.

Hallways, entries and kitchens

A hallway runner should leave 10 to 15 cm of floor on each side. Most Sydney hallways are 100 to 120 cm wide, which is why the 80 x 300 cm runner is the one we sell most. For a short entry or in front of the kitchen sink, the 80 x 150 cm runner is the right length.

A quick way to check at home

Lay masking tape or a bed sheet on the floor in the size you are thinking of, then put the furniture back. If the sofa legs land where you want them and there is still floor around the edge, that is your size. Our sizes can vary by 3 to 5 percent, so leave a little room.

Keep it in place

Every rug on a hard floor needs an anti-slip underlay. It stops the rug creeping and stops the corners curling. We sell underlay cut to each rug size, and the Rug Care Kit adds a cleaner spray for spills.

Still not sure?

Send us a photo of the room with the sofa or bed in it and the room measurements, and we will tell you which size to buy. You can also walk on the sizes side by side at our Auburn showroom, 111 Station Road. Online orders come with 21-day returns if the size is not right once it is down.