# Rug Size Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/everyday-life/rug-size/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The rug size calculator works out the ideal custom rug size for a room – leaving an even border of bare floor and allowing for built-ins – suggests the closest standard size and calculates the cost.

## Inputs

- Rug shape
- Room width (ft, m, in, cm, yd)
- Room length (ft, m, in, cm, yd)
- Bare floor border (in, cm, ft)
- Built-in furniture depth (one side) (in, cm, ft)
- Price per area (/ft², /m², /yd²)

## Results

- Rug width
- Rug length
- Rug area
- Closest standard size (not larger)
- Rug cost

## Formula

```
Rug width = room width − 2 × border − fixed furniture depth; length similarly
Round rug diameter = smaller dimension − 2 × border
Cost = rug area × price per unit area
```

## Explanation

Designers usually leave 12–18 in (30–45 cm) of bare floor around a room-sized rug. In living rooms the front legs of the sofa and chairs should sit on the rug; in dining rooms the rug should extend at least 24 in beyond the table so chairs stay on it when pulled out.

### How to use the Rug Size Calculator

- **Rug shape**
- **Room width**
- **Room length**
- **Bare floor border**
- **Built-in furniture depth (one side)**
- **Price per area**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Choose the rug shape, enter the room size, the border of bare floor you want and the depth of any built-in furniture along one side, and the price per square foot.

### Tips

- Use the figures from your own bills and product labels – prices and appliance ratings vary widely.
- Look at yearly totals: small daily costs add up and make it easier to compare options.
- Round quantities up to whole packs, rolls or bulbs when you shop.
- Re-check the numbers when prices change; most results scale directly with the unit price.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Confusing watts (power) with watt-hours or kilowatt-hours (energy).
- Comparing prices without bringing them to the same unit first.
- Ignoring one-off costs such as installation, delivery or replacement parts.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterRug shapeChoose one: Rectangle, Square, Round, Oval …Room widthUnits: ft, m, in, cm, ydRoom lengthUnits: ft, m, in, cm, ydBare floor borderUnits: in, cm, ftBuilt-in furniture depth (one side)Units: in, cm, ftPrice per areaUnits: /ft², /m², /yd²

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Room width** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Room width (ft)Rug width (ft)6396129151218152421

## Worked example

Inputs — Rug shape: Rectangle; Room width: 12 ft; Room length: 15 ft; Bare floor border: 18 in; Built-in furniture depth (one side): 0 in; Price per area: $6 /ft².

Results — **Rug width = 9 ft**; Rug length = 12 ft; Rug area = 108 ft²; Closest standard size (not larger) = 9 × 12 ft; Rug cost = $648.00.

## FAQ

**What size rug for a 12 × 15 room?**
Leaving 18 in all round gives a 9 × 12 ft rug – a standard size.

**How big should a dining room rug be?**
At least 24 in larger than the table on every side.

**Should furniture sit on the rug?**
In living rooms, at least the front legs of seating should rest on the rug to tie the area together.

**What formula does the Rug Size Calculator use?**
Rug width = room width − 2 × border − fixed furniture depth; length similarly.