If you want to spruce up your patio and make it feel more welcoming, an outdoor rug is a great way to do that. But what size rug for patio should you get?
I recently helped my neighbor figure that out for her new patio. And I realized that lots of people probably have the same question about patio rug sizes and dimensions.
So in this complete guide, as a professional custom rugs manufacturer, I’ll cover everything you need to know to choose the right outdoor area rug size for YOUR patio, including:
- How big of a rug you need for different patio layouts and furniture configurations
- The most popular patio rug sizes
- Tips for getting the proportions right
- Examples of good patio rug sizes for small, medium and large patios
I’ll also explain why going too small with your outdoor rug defeats the purpose (and share pictures of ugly undersized rugs to drive the point home).
Let’s start by looking at…
How To Choose The Right Patio Rug Size
Choosing an outdoor area rug size comes down to two main considerations:
- The dimensions of your patio
- What furniture (if any) you want the rug to go under
Here’s a look at outdoor rug sizes for some common patio layouts:
Rugs Under Patio Furniture
If you want to put a rug under a patio seating area, here are some good guidelines for figuring out patio rug sizes. You want enough rug poking out around the edges so chairs don’t slip off when people are sitting down or getting up.
For the legs-only layout, you want about 18 inches of rug sticking out on all sides. And for the all-in layout, you want at least 24 inches of overhang for easy chair maneuvering.
Some examples:
- A 5′ x 8′ rug would work for a small patio conversation set
- 7′ x 9′ rugs are ideal for sectionals and deep seating sets
- Large 9′ x 12′ rugs pair great with big patio furniture collections
Rugs Under Patio Dining Sets
Trying to figure out what size rug goes under a patio dining set?
Use this formula:
Rug width = Table width + 24 inches
Rug length = Table length + 24 inches
So for a 48-inch round patio table, an 8′ x 8′ (96-inch x 96-inch) rug leaves you with 24 inches of space all around.
And that gives chairs enough wiggle room to slide in and out without slipping off the rug.
Some pairs for common patio dining set sizes:
- 48-60″ round tables → 8′ x 8′ rugs
- 6-8 ft rectangular tables → 8′ x 10′ or 9′ x 12′ rugs
- Large 10+ person sets → 11′ x 14′ rugs
Standalone Patio Rugs
If you just want an outdoor area rug to define a space—without needing to fit furniture on top of it—you have more flexibility.
Some patio owners also use two smaller rugs to break their space into separate areas. Like one under the seating and another under the dining set.
Overall, medium-sized rugs tend to look best for these freestanding layouts.
Rugs in the 6’x9′ to 9’x12′ range leave you plenty of bare flooring space around the edges to “frame” the rug.
Some options:
- 6’x9’ rugs for small to medium areas
- 7’x10’ or 8’x10’ rugs for larger patios
- 9’x12′ rugs make a nice statement in big outdoor living rooms
5 Most Common Patio Rug Sizes
Now that you know how to calculate patio rug dimensions for your space, here is a cheat sheet of standard sizes to choose from:
1. 5′ x 8′ Patio Rugs
The 5’ x 8’ outdoor rug size hits the sweet spot between too big and too small for many patios. These medium-sized rectangular rugs work well in layouts where you float furniture on top of the rug.
2. 8′ x 10′ Patio Rugs
For larger patio sets, an 8′ x 10′ outdoor area rug brings everything together visually. These generously-sized rugs pair nicely with sectional seating or dining sets with 8+ chairs.
3. 7′ x 9′ Rugs
At 7’ x 9’, these patio rugs give you plenty of wiggle room all the way around furniture groupings. Many patio owners also use two 7′ x 9′ rugs to designate separate living room and dining spaces.
4. 9′ x 12′ Rugs
For sizable outdoor living rooms, a 9’x 12’ patio rug brings everything together. These XL outdoor rugs also leave you lots of bare floor space around the borders to highlight the rug itself.
5. 6′ Round Rugs
Standard 6’ diameter round rugs (about 28 square feet) gracefully match the shape of common 4-6 person bistro tables. These circular rugs work especially well for second seating zones and as accents in outdoor living rooms.
Larger 8’ to 10’ diameter round rugs pair well with big dining sets.
Patio Rug Size DON’Ts
Rugs that are too small make everything look cramped and awkward. They also constantly get kicked up because people step on the edges with their heels.
Not good.
Here’s another one.
I feel bad for that chair couple trying to hang out on 4 square feet of fabric 🙂
So yeah… avoid going too small with patio area rugs. Get a rug that fits at least under the full front feet of seating furniture.
Choosing the Best Outdoor Rug Material For Your Patio
Once you’ve zeroed in on the right dimensions, the next decision is material.
Outdoor rugs come in all different types of materials with unique benefits.
Polypropylene is by far the most popular.
These all-weather rugs stand up to rain, sun, snow and temperature swings. And they’re virtually stain proof. So wine spills and messy cookouts are no big deal.
The only downside is that polypropylene rugs lack the plushness and luxury feel of naturals fibers like wool. But that’s a tradeoff most patio owners are happy to make for durability.
Polyester is another synthetic rug material that balances affordability with decent softness.
Rugs made from sisal, seagrass and jute add lots of earthy texture. Although most need to be kept in covered areas protected from moisture.
Nylon outdoor rugs are quite durable, although somewhat pricey. And olefin rugs offer vibrant colors that won’t fade for years.
So consider where your new outdoor area rug will live when deciding on the right materials for your patio.
What’s the Best Size Rug For a Small Patio?
Wondering what size rug you need for a tiny patio or balcony?
On compact patios, you obviously can’t fit large furniture groupings. So use the rug itself to define a small seating or dining zone.
For a bistro table and two chairs, 4 foot round rugs work nicely.
Here’s another small patio layout idea with rectangular rugs.
A 3’ x 5’ rug floats nicely under a loveseat. And you get plenty of bare floor space around the edges.
Some other good small patio rug size options:
- 3’ x 4’ rugs for patio chairs/table
- 4’ x 6’ rugs for two-person seating
- Entryway runners 2-3 feet wide
The key is leaving at least 12 inches between the rug perimeter and walls or railings. Otherwise things start looking (and feeling) cramped.
How Large Of a Rug For Big Patios?
On spacious patios, an outdoor area rug helps define different zones—whether it’s dining, lounging or an outdoor kitchen.
But with so much space, you have to be careful not to go too small.
Here area couple layouts with big patio rugs.
A 9’ x 13’ rug makes a strong statement on this patio. And it’s large enough to center the furniture on top and still have room to roam.
For much bigger patios (20’ x 20’+), large rugs anchor the main living zones. While separate medium rugs break the space into a dining room, sitting area, etc.
Recommended rug sizes for big patio spaces:
- 12’ x 15’ rugs for wide open layouts
- 13’ x 18’+ rugs center massive conversation pits
- 9-12 foot dining and lounge rugs divide rooms
What’s the Best Patio Rug Shape?
Patio rugs come in all sorts of shapes. But four, in particular, show up on lots of home renovation blogs and interior design shows.
Let’s compare patio rug shapes.
Rectangular rugs are versatile picks that flow nicely under sectionals and elongated dining tables.
Round patio rugs make conversation areas feel more relaxed and laid-back.
Square rugs look great layered on top of each other. And strategically placed squares help zone off different activity areas.
Runners stretch across narrow spots to recreate walking paths and define entryways.
All of these shapes (and more) can look fantastic as part of big, multi-rug patio layouts. So don’t hesitate to mix and match shapes that play off each other.
Final Thoughts
So that wraps up this outdoor rug size guide!
I want to reiterate that “too small” almost always looks and feels bad.
Whereas going big makes spaces feel welcoming and pulled-together.
To quickly recap:
- Measure your patio’s dimensions and furniture
- Use 24-30 inches of overhang around tables and 18-24 inches around seating
- 7’x9’, 8’x10’ and 9’x12’ are popular medium patio rug sizes
- Materials like polypropylene and polyester stand up to outdoor exposure
- Square, rectangular, round and runners all work depending on your layout
And if you’re ever unsure about patio rug sizing, go up a size rather than down.
Your future self (and guests) will thank you!
Alrighty, that wraps things up. Now I’d love to hear your favorite tips for decorating patios in the comments!