What Size Rug Goes Under a Queen or King Bed?
For a queen bed, the most comfortable choice is usually a 9 x 12 ft rug (274 x 366 cm), with 8 x 10 ft (244 x 305 cm) as the smallest size that still frames the bed. A king bed needs 9 x 12 ft as a working minimum, and 10 x 14 ft (305 x 427 cm) if the room allows. What you are buying is the strip of rug your feet land on when you get out of bed.
Here is how to check that against your own bedroom.
The goal: soft floor on both sides of the bed
Under a bed, most of the rug is hidden. The part that matters is what shows: the band on each side and the stretch past the foot of the bed. Designers commonly aim for at least 18 in (46 cm) of rug on each open side, and 24 in (61 cm) or more in a larger room. Less than about 12 in (30 cm) and the rug reads as an afterthought.
Standard US mattress sizes, for reference:
| Bed | Mattress (in) | Mattress (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Full | 54 x 75 | 137 x 191 |
| Queen | 60 x 80 | 152 x 203 |
| King | 76 x 80 | 193 x 203 |
| California king | 72 x 84 | 183 x 213 |
Which rug size for which bed
| Bed | Smallest that works | Most comfortable | Large room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 6 x 9 ft (183 x 274 cm) | 8 x 10 ft (244 x 305 cm) | 9 x 12 ft |
| Queen | 8 x 10 ft (244 x 305 cm) | 9 x 12 ft (274 x 366 cm) | 10 x 14 ft |
| King | 9 x 12 ft (274 x 366 cm) | 10 x 14 ft (305 x 427 cm) | Custom, to the room |
Why sideways? Because the width of the room is usually where the rug is needed. A 9 x 12 ft rug turned so that its 12 ft side runs across a queen bed leaves about 3 ft 6 in (107 cm) of rug on each side of a 5 ft wide bed. Turned the other way, it would leave 2 ft (61 cm).
Three ways to place it
Two-thirds under the bed
The most common layout. Push the rug up to just in front of the nightstands, so it starts under the lower two-thirds of the bed and runs out past the foot. The nightstands stay on the bare floor and stand level.
Under the whole bed and the nightstands
The most generous look, for large rooms. The rug reaches the wall behind the bed and the nightstands sit on it. This usually means 10 x 14 ft or a size made to the room.
Two runners, one on each side
A good answer when the room is narrow, the bed is low to the floor, or you prefer to see the floor. Use a runner on each side, the length of the bed or a little less, about 2 ft 6 in x 6 to 8 ft (76 x 183 to 244 cm). Keep the two identical, and start them at the same distance from the headboard.
Runners that work beside a bed
How much rug past the foot of the bed
Aim for 18 to 24 in (46 to 61 cm) past the foot of the bed. If there is a bench or a chest at the foot, the rug should reach beyond it, so that it stands on the rug with all four legs, not half on and half off.
A worked example
A bedroom of 12 x 13 ft (3.66 x 3.96 m) with a queen bed against the 12 ft wall, nightstands 20 in (51 cm) wide on each side:
- 9 x 12 ft, sideways, two-thirds under the bed: 3 ft 6 in (107 cm) of rug on each side of the bed, but the rug runs wall to wall across the room. That is a little too much. A rug of 8 ft 6 in x 11 ft keeps 3 ft (91 cm) of rug on each side and leaves 6 in (15 cm) of floor at each wall.
- 8 x 10 ft, sideways: 2 ft 6 in (76 cm) on each side, 12 in (30 cm) of floor at each wall. A comfortable, standard fit.
- Two runners of 2 ft 6 in x 6 ft: the lightest option, and the easiest to lift and clean.
Because our made-to-order rugs are woven to the width and length you enter, an in-between size such as 8 ft 6 in x 11 ft is no harder to order than a standard one: you type it on the product page, and the price and the delivery estimate follow.
Which rug suits a bedroom
This is the one room where a deep, soft pile makes the most sense: the traffic is light and the rug is felt barefoot. A Beni Ourain style rug, ivory with dark lines, is the classic bedroom choice. If the bedding is plain, a rug with color can carry the room on its own.
Rugs for a bedroom
Quick checks before you order
- Measure the bed frame, not the mattress.
- Decide whether the nightstands sit on the rug or off it.
- Tape the outline on the floor and step out of bed onto it.
- Check that the bedroom door and any wardrobe doors swing clear of the rug.
For the other rooms, see our guides to living room rug sizes and rugs under a dining table. Ready to order a size of your own? Read what to know before ordering.
