Rug pad size chart

A rug pad should be a little smaller than the rug, so the rug's edges lie flat on the floor and hide the pad. Overstock's guide says about 2 in smaller in total, with the rug overlapping the pad by about 1 in on every side.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}

A long hallway with a red and blue runner rug centered on the wood floor, a few inches of floor showing on each side, a boy walking down it (AI-generated image)

The rules

Measure the rug itself, not including any fringe.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Pads can be trimmed with household scissors.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}
If your rug falls between two sizes, round up to the larger pad size.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}
Center the pad where the rug will go, then lay the rug over it.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}

Pad size chart

The same guide's chart lists the pad sizes below. Our columns show how far each pad sits inside a rug of exactly the nominal size.

Rug	Pad size	Set in per side	Set in per end
3 × 5 ft	30 × 50 in	3 in	5 in
2 × 8 ft	20 × 90 in	2 in	3 in
4 × 6 ft	40 × 60 in	4 in	6 in
5 × 8 ft	56 × 90 in	2 in	3 in
6 × 9 ft	65 × 95 in	3.5 in	6.5 in
8 × 10 ft	90 × 116 in	3 in	2 in
8 × 11 ft	90 × 128 in	3 in	2 in
9 × 12 ft	102 × 138 in	3 in	3 in
10 × 14 ft	114 × 162 in	3 in	3 in
12 × 15 ft	138 × 174 in	3 in	3 in

Note: the chart sets pads in by more than the 1 in described in the text, as much as 3 in per side on an 8 × 10. The guide also notes that rug sizes are approximate, and a rug sold as 8 × 10 may be slightly under 96 × 120 in. Measure your rug and aim for about 1 to 2 in of rug past the pad on each edge, trimming if needed.^{[1 · Oct 29, 2026]}

Runners and outdoor rugs

Bed Bath & Beyond recommends a pad under a runner to protect hardwood floors.^{[2 · Oct 29, 2026]} For outdoor rugs, check the pad is rated for outdoor use. Unverified. We couldn't confirm a reliable source for this yet.

Sources: 1. Overstock, Choosing the right rug pad size (PDF, product document). 2. Bed Bath & Beyond, The ultimate area rug size and placement guide. Checked Oct 29, 2026. Border widths, metric conversions and size picks are our own arithmetic from those rules. Trademarks belong to their owners; figures are restated in our own words and tables, not reproduced.