What Size Rug Should Go Under a King Bed

Essentially, you’ll want at least the foot of the bed to be under the rug. But, with nightstands and benches, it’s all or nothing — you don’t want any legs floating off as it will look imbalanced. The rug should also be out of the way of doors; as doors open, you’ll want to leave clearance so the rug doesn’t get caught underneath. Additionally, the rug shouldn’t touch outer furniture like dressers. It’s helpful to leave at least two to three inches between these outskirt items and the area rug.

How to Find the Perfect Rug Size for Your King-Size Bed, According to Pro Designers

Our free weekly newsletter delivers curated home decor and furniture picks, expert design advice, and more. Join 4,000+ subscribers.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

If you’re enjoying the comfort of a king-size bed, then you already know just how much visual real estate a bed this size commands. And a larger-than-life bed deserves a gorgeous area rug to match. Not only can the right area rug take your interior design to the next level, but it can also keep your feet warm during cold mornings while minimizing noise for anyone on the next floor.

But despite king-size beds being roughly the same size, different area rug sizes work best for different style preferences and room dimensions. Here, we share everything you need to know to find the perfect right rug size for your unique space and style.

Meet the experts

To create this guide we consulted with interior design experts for tips on how to find the perfect rug for your king size bed. In this guide, you’ll hear from:

• Amy Hoban, Chief Creative Officer at Parachute
• Megan Hersch, Co-founder and Interior Designer at roomLift
• Amber Lewis, Founder of Amber Interiors
• Kim Emery, Owner and Designer at Clipper City House
• Lucy Small, Founder of State and Season Home Design and Supply
• Maria DeCotiis, founder of Maria DeCotiis Interior Design

The Best Rug Size for a King Size Bed in a Small Room

If you’re working with a king-size bed in a small bedroom, it’s helpful to consider functionality in addition to aesthetics.

Amber Lewis suggests that you, “outline the area where you want your rug, and consider the location of doors and how they will open.” In other words, make sure that if you add a rug to your space it won’t cause the doors to stick. This is an especially important consideration if you’re in the market for a large rug — especially of it’s a fluffy, high-pile rug.

The rug’s design can also affect the right size area rug for your space. If you’re opting for a bold color or pattern, you might want to stick to a smaller rug so the design doesn’t overwhelm your space. Meanwhile, soft, neutral colors make it easier to get away with larger rugs since these hues are on the quieter side.

Finally, take a moment to consider how much floor space you have. Covering all of your floor space with an area rug can make a small bedroom feel even smaller. Amber Lewis recommends keeping, “at least 18 inches of bare floor space exposed by the rug’s edges. I’m not the biggest rule follower, but this is a classic rule that works for almost all rooms.”

And while the right area rug size will heavily depend on the exact dimensions of your space, Amy Hoban recommends a 5’x8’ area rug for small bedrooms. But of course you can go bigger or smaller depending on your needs and preferences.

The Best Rug Size for a King Size Bed in a Large Room

Larger bedrooms have more floor space to fill, so they can easily rock some of the largest area rugs available.

According to Megan Hersch, “For a king-size bed, you will likely want a 9’x12’ or 10’x14’ area rug, depending on the size of your room. My absolute rule of thumb is that the rug width must be at least as wide as the distance from edge to edge of the bedside tables on either side of the bed.” Maria DeCotiis agrees, “if space allows a 9×12 would be the minimum,” explains the Vancouver-based interior designer.

“For a king-size bed, you will likely want a 9’x12’ or 10’x14’ area rug, depending on the size of your room.”

Large bedrooms also lend themselves well to multiple rugs or rug layering. For instance, if you have a large master bedroom with space for a sitting area and coffee table, you could add a 9’x12’ rug under your king-size bed and a smaller area rug under your coffee table to help define the two separate living spaces.

You can also layer one small area rug on top of a larger area rug. This is an easy way to add more texture to your design while increasing the coziness factor of your bedroom. And this approach is a particularly great fit for hardwood floors in apartment complexes since it can make your steps much quieter for your neighbors down below.

Shop this article

How to Position a Rug Under a King Size Bed

There are nearly infinite rug placements you can use around a king-size bed, but some are better for enhancing a design than others. According to Amy Hoban, “A classic placement in a bedroom is under the bed, about three-quarters of the way down from the headboard so the rug comes out from the sides and the end of the bed.”

But if you want a little more usable rug space around your bed, Amber Lewis recommends that you, “lay the rug perpendicular to the bed and pull it halfway under the bed frame, stopping before your side tables. This maximizes the amount of usable rug space and gives you a soft surface to step onto when getting out of bed.”

If you’re not sure where to begin, consider practicing this advice from Megan Hersch: “I like to start the edge of the rug at the front of the nightstands so you can see some of the floor space behind them and so a smaller area rug will cover more ground when it rolls out past the foot of the bed.”

However, these are only guidelines; not rules. “Starting the rug at the wall that the bed is up against is also 100% ok and can create a cozier vibe in your space,” says Hersch. “As I always say, there isn’t a wrong or a right way, there is the best way for you.”

An Alternative: Use Runners on Either Side

Standard area rugs aren’t the only way to elevate a king-size bed. You can also use runners on one side or both sides of the bed to get a similar effect. According to Lucy Small, “You can forego extending past the bed and invest in a long runner that’s slightly shorter in length than your king-size bed”

Runners are also a simple and stylish way to add definition to certain areas. For instance, if you have a bench or a trunk at the foot of your bed, you could place a runner beneath it to help define the space while enhancing it with texture and color.

Want to Create Your Dream Home?

Get the Inside Look, our free weekly newsletter that delivers curated home decor and furniture picks, expert design advice, and more. Join 4,000+ subscribers.

What Size Rug Should Go Under a King Bed?

Shagun Khare is a freelance writer covering interior design, lifestyle, and culture. She is a true design enthusiast, always keen to dote on beautiful spaces, furnishings, and architecture.

Area rugs offer a slew of benefits stylistically and functionally. They provide an extra layer of comfort, texture, and color. They define areas of a room and make elements feel more cohesive. Plus, rugs are much easier to clean than wall to wall carpeting. In the bedroom, they are particularly covetable — no one likes cold floors right of bed, and area rugs provide a warm, soft landing for your feet.

If you have a king-size bed, though, it can be tricky to find the perfect fit. The key is a rug that is well-proportioned and complements your existing aesthetic. One that’s too big can make a room feel crowded, whereas one that’s too small can look out of place. Here are tips for how to choose the best sized rug for your king bed.

What Should Go on the Area Rug?

The first step in sizing is to decide what you’re actually going to put on your rug. Key items to keep in mind are the bed frame, nightstands, and bench that might sit at the foot of your bed. It’s often said that all key furniture pieces in a room should fit under the area rug. But, since king-size beds are so large, there are some exceptions when it comes to this rule. There are several options for what to include on an area rug in a king bedroom:

• Only the bed frame goes on the area rug.
• The bed frame, nightstand, and bench all fully sit on the rug.
• The lower two-thirds of the bed and the bench sit on the rug. This leaves the head of the bed and the nightstands on bare floor.
• The lower third of the bed and the bench go on the rug. This option is great for longer rooms and shows off more of the rug’s design.

Essentially, you’ll want at least the foot of the bed to be under the rug. But, with nightstands and benches, it’s all or nothing — you don’t want any legs floating off as it will look imbalanced. The rug should also be out of the way of doors; as doors open, you’ll want to leave clearance so the rug doesn’t get caught underneath. Additionally, the rug shouldn’t touch outer furniture like dressers. It’s helpful to leave at least two to three inches between these outskirt items and the area rug.

How to Choose the Right Size

To choose the right size rug, consider the dimensions of your room along with furniture placement. Here are some points of reference to keep in mind:

• King-size beds generally measure out to be 76 inches wide by 80 inches long
• California king-size beds are slightly longer, at 72 inches wide by 84 inches long.
• A rule of thumb is that the rug should extend 18 to 24 inches beyond the sides of a king-size bed.
• Keep 10 to 20 inches of bare floor between the sides of the rug and the walls.

Tip

To test out the size of a rug in your room before buying, mark out the dimensions on your floor using painter’s tape. This helps to visualize if the rug size will work well and look balanced in your space.

When all calculations are said and done, this means that the ideal area rug for a king bed should be around 10 feet wide and eight feet long at a minimum. However, there are sizes outside of this mold that work, too. Here are some options to choose from based on your preferences:

• An 8-foot by 10-foot rug works best for small to medium size rooms. The bed frame can sit fully on it, but the nightstands have to stay off or be slim to fit on the rug. This size can also go under the bottom two-thirds of the bed frame for a longer look, leaving the head of the bed and nightstands on bare floor.
• A 9-foot by 12-foot rug works best for larger rooms. The bed frame and nightstands can completely sit on the rug. You can situate a bench at the foot, as well. It makes a room feel more spacious and vast.
• A 12-foot by 15-foot rug works best for a California king-size bed. The bed frame, nightstands, and bench can all fit on top while still looking balanced.
• A 5-foot by 8-foot or 6-foot by 9-foot rug works best for the end of the bed. Place it lengthwise with two inches underneath the footboard to show off the rug design.

Tips for Non-Standard Rooms and Layouts

Of course, every room is different. It’s not always the case that one has hardwood floors or a centered bed. Here’s what to do if you have a unique layout or non-standard circumstance:

• If one side of your bed is against a wall: Opt for a 5-foot by 8-foot rug and tuck about two inches of it lengthwise under the open side of the bed. It gives the illusion of a bigger room while allowing you plenty of plush comfort on the floor to enjoy.
• If your room already has carpeted floors: Layer a 5-foot by 8-foot or 6-foot by 9-foot rug under the end of the bed lengthwise. Place two inches underneath the footboard, allowing most of the rug’s design to pop out and add flair to your space. You’ll have a soft landing for your feet in the morning regardless, since the floor is already carpeted.
• If you just want just some rug under your feet: Keep two 8-foot long runners on either side of the bed, maintaining two inches of bare floor between the sides and the bed. Use a rug pad or tape to avoid slippage.