What size rug for a living room?
Decide how much furniture sits on the rug, check it is wider than the sofa, then check how much bare floor is left.
Checked against UK retailer and maker guides on 21 October 2026.
Three ways to lay a living room rug
| Layout | Typical size | Notes (Rug Kingdom) |
|---|---|---|
| All legs on | 200 × 290 cm or bigger | Every piece of seating fully on the rug. Best in larger rooms |
| Front legs on | 160 × 230 cm in most rooms | Front legs on the rug, back legs on the floor. The most popular layout in UK homes |
| Free-floating | At least the sofa’s width minus 30 cm | Rug in front of the sofa, under the coffee table only. Very small rooms only |
Fableroom agrees that front legs on is the most popular option for British living rooms.
Check the width against the sofa
Rug Kingdom’s check: the rug should be about 15 to 30 cm wider than the sofa at each end. Its example: a 220 cm three-seater suits a rug at least 250 cm long, so 160 × 230 cm is a little short and 200 × 290 cm fits better.
| Sofa width | Rug length needed (+15 to 30 cm each end) | Standard size |
|---|---|---|
| 180 cm | 210–240 cm | 160 × 230 cm |
| 200 cm | 230–260 cm | 160 × 230 cm (just), or 200 × 290 cm |
| 220 cm | 250–280 cm | 200 × 290 cm |
| 280 cm | 310–340 cm | 240 × 340 cm |
Typical sofa widths: 2-seaters about 140–180 cm, 3-seaters about 180–230 cm, corner sofas 280–350 cm along the long side (sofa sizes).
Corner and L-shaped sofas
Rug Kingdom lists 200 × 290 cm for a corner sofa. Fableroom says both sections need their front legs on the rug, and that 200 × 290 cm or larger is usually needed.
Border
Leave 30 to 60 cm of floor showing round the rug in most rooms, or 20 cm in a small room (Rug Kingdom). Fableroom says at least 30 to 45 cm, up to 60 cm in larger rooms. The picker uses the border you choose.
Questions
What size rug for a 3-seater sofa?
Usually 200 × 290 cm. Rug Kingdom says a 220 cm three-seater needs a rug at least 250 cm long, so 160 × 230 cm is a little short.
What size rug for a small living room?
120 × 170 cm (Rug Kingdom), or 160 × 230 cm if the front legs of the sofa can sit on it.
How far should a rug be from the wall?
About 30 to 60 cm in most rooms, or 20 cm in a small room (Rug Kingdom).
Where these numbers come from
- Rug Kingdom: standard UK rug sizes and what size rug you need
- Fableroom: living room rug size guide
- Soho Furnishing: furniture size guide
- Living Room Online: how to choose the right sofa size
Checked 21 October 2026. Makers round sizes differently, so always check the dimensions on the product you're buying.