Rugs come in a range of sizes, from small mats to palace-size carpets. Modern machine-made rugs follow standard sizes such as 5 × 8 or 8 × 10 feet, but handmade rugs, especially older Persian rugs, follow traditional sizes that do not always match. Knowing the common sizes and their names helps when searching for a rug and reading a description.
| Small | About 2 × 3 to 3 × 5 feet |
|---|---|
| Medium | About 4 × 6 to 6 × 9 feet |
| Room size | About 7 × 10 to 10 × 14 feet |
| Oversized and palace | About 10 × 16 feet and larger |
| Runner | About 2½ to 3½ feet wide, 6 to 20 feet or more long |
| Measuring | Width first, then length, excluding the fringe |
Standard sizes
| Size (feet) | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 2 × 3 | Doormats, beside a bed or bath |
| 3 × 5 | Entrances, small spaces, beside a bed |
| 4 × 6 | Entrances, under a desk or coffee table |
| 5 × 8 and 6 × 9 | Small living rooms, bedrooms, under a small table |
| 8 × 10 | Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms |
| 9 × 12 | Larger living and dining rooms |
| 10 × 14 and up | Large rooms, open-plan spaces |
Traditional Persian sizes
Persian rug sizes were traditionally based on the zar, a measure of about 3½ feet (104 centimeters). Some size names you may see:
- Zaronim ("one and a half zar"): about 3 × 5 feet.
- Dozar ("two zar"): about 4 × 6 to 4½ × 7 feet.
- Kenareh: a runner, about 2½ to 3½ feet wide and much longer.
- Kelleh: a long rug, about 5 to 7 feet wide and twice as long or more.
- Ghali: a room-size carpet, about 6½ × 10 feet and larger.
Traditional Persian rooms often had a central carpet with runners and a kelleh around it, which is why long formats are so common in older rugs. See Rug Glossary.
Runners and wide runners
Runners are long, narrow rugs for halls, stairs and beside beds. Lengths vary widely, from about 6 to more than 20 feet. Wide runners, about 4 to 5 feet wide, suit wider hallways and long, narrow rooms. Many village types, such as Sarab, Hamadan and Heriz, are well known for runners. See Sarab Rugs.
Round, square and oversized rugs
Round and square rugs are less common in traditional weaving and are often made to order or cut from larger rugs. Palace-size or oversized rugs, about 12 × 18 feet and larger, are made for large rooms and are relatively rare in older pieces.
How handmade rugs are measured
Rugs are usually measured width first, then length, and the fringe is not included. Because handmade rugs are not perfectly regular, their measurements are often given to the nearest inch, and a rug described as "9 × 12" may actually measure 8 feet 9 inches by 11 feet 8 inches. Always check the exact measurements before buying.
See also Choosing the Right Rug Size.
