Outdoor Rug Sizes: Standard Sizes and How to Size One for a Patio
The sizes outdoor rugs are actually made in, in feet, inches and centimeters, and how to pick one for a patio dining set, a seating group, a pair of loungers or a balcony, with the clearances to fire pits, grills and the patio edge.
Outdoor rugs come mainly in 5 × 8 ft (152 × 244 cm), 6 × 9 ft (183 × 274 cm), 8 × 10 ft (244 × 305 cm) and 9 × 12 ft (274 × 366 cm), with fewer ranges in 10 × 14 ft and in 6 and 8 ft rounds. An 8 × 10 ft rug suits most 4- to 6-seat patio dining sets and conversation sets; under a dining table, the rug should reach 24 in (61 cm) past the table on every side.
- Most common
- 5 × 8 and 8 × 10 ft
- Largest stock size
- 10 × 14 ft (305 × 427 cm)
- Past dining table
- 24 in (61 cm) each side
- Typical thickness
- 0.1-0.4 in (3-10 mm)
On this page
Outdoor rug size chart
Outdoor rugs use the same standard sizes as indoor area rugs, but most ranges stop sooner. The middle sizes are the ones almost every collection stocks.
| Size (ft) | Inches | Centimeters | Area | Outdoor use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 3 | 24 × 36 | 61 × 91 | 6 sq ft (0.56 m²) | Door mat, grill-side mat (not under it) |
| 3 × 5 | 36 × 60 | 91 × 152 | 15 sq ft (1.39 m²) | Front step, balcony door, between two chairs |
| 4 × 6 | 48 × 72 | 122 × 183 | 24 sq ft (2.23 m²) | Bistro set, balcony, under a coffee table |
| 5 × 8 | 60 × 96 | 152 × 244 | 40 sq ft (3.72 m²) | Two chairs and a table, small porch, two loungers |
| 6 × 9 | 72 × 108 | 183 × 274 | 54 sq ft (5.02 m²) | Loveseat set, small conversation set |
| 8 × 10 | 96 × 120 | 244 × 305 | 80 sq ft (7.43 m²) | 4- to 6-seat dining, conversation set |
| 9 × 12 | 108 × 144 | 274 × 366 | 108 sq ft (10.03 m²) | 8-seat dining, L sectional |
| 10 × 14 | 120 × 168 | 305 × 427 | 140 sq ft (13.01 m²) | 10-seat dining, U sectional |
Round outdoor rugs are commonly 4, 6 and 8 ft (122, 183 and 244 cm) across, and square ones 5, 6, 7 and 8 ft. Runners for side paths and narrow balconies are usually 2 × 8 ft or 2 ft 6 in × 8 ft. European outdoor rugs are sold in centimeter sizes such as 120 × 170, 160 × 230, 200 × 290 and 240 × 340 cm, which are a few inches smaller than the nearest US size.
Outdoor rug size for a patio dining set
Under a dining table, the rug must be big enough that a chair stays on it when someone pulls back to stand up. Add 24 in (61 cm) on every side of the table, which is 48 in on both the length and the width, and round up to the next stock size.
| Table | Seats | Minimum rug | Stock size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 in round (76 cm) | 2 | 78 in across | 7-8 ft round or 8 × 8 ft square |
| 48 in round (122 cm) | 4 | 96 in across | 8 ft round or 8 × 8 ft square |
| 36 × 60 in (91 × 152 cm) | 4 | 84 × 108 in | 8 × 10 ft |
| 42 × 72 in (107 × 183 cm) | 6 | 90 × 120 in | 8 × 10 ft |
| 60 in round (152 cm) | 6 | 108 in across | 9 × 12 ft or a 9-10 ft round |
| 40 × 96 in (102 × 244 cm) | 8 | 88 × 144 in | 9 × 12 ft |
| 42 × 114 in (107 × 290 cm) | 10 | 90 × 162 in | 10 × 14 ft |
Match the rug's shape to the table: a round rug under a round table and a rectangle under a rectangle. A 9-10 ft round rug is hard to find in outdoor ranges, so a square or rectangle often has to stand in under a large round table. Table sizes by seat count are in the outdoor furniture dimensions guide.
Outdoor rug size for seating groups and loungers
For lounge furniture, the rule is looser: the front legs of every piece should sit on the rug, which ties the group together. With all four legs on, the rug needs to be bigger still.
- Two chairs and a side table: 5 × 8 ft, with the chairs' front legs on it.
- Loveseat, two chairs and a coffee table: 6 × 9 ft with front legs on, or 8 × 10 ft for all legs on.
- Sofa, two chairs and a coffee table: 8 × 10 ft. The rug should be a little wider than the sofa: an 84 in sofa on a 96 in-wide rug leaves 6 in each side.
- L sectional about 100 × 100 in: 8 × 10 ft with front legs on, or 9 × 12 ft under most of it.
- U sectional: 9 × 12 or 10 × 14 ft.
- Two chaise lounges: 5 × 8 ft placed across the foot ends, or 6 × 9 ft between and under them.
The space each set needs with its walkways is worked out in the patio furniture space guide; fit the rug inside that zone, not across the walkway.
Fitting a rug to a patio, deck or balcony
- Measure the zone, not the patio. Measure the dining or seating zone including chair clearance. The rug defines that zone.
- Leave a border. On a patio or deck, keep about 12-18 in (30-46 cm) of bare surface between the rug and the edge or wall, so the rug does not look wall to wall and water can run off.
- Check doors. A door that swings out over the rug needs clearance above it; a low-pile flat weave of under 0.25 in usually clears, a thicker rug may not.
- Keep paths clear. The main walkway from the house door should run beside the rug or fully across it, never along a rug edge where people catch a toe.
- Mark it out. Tape or chalk the rug outline and set the furniture on it before buying.
Balconies are usually 4-6 ft deep, so a 3 × 5 or 4 × 6 ft rug laid lengthwise is the most that fits with a bistro set. On decks, rugs should follow the board direction visually; a rug laid across the boards looks shorter. Deck dimensions are in the deck sizes guide.
Materials, thickness and weather
| Material | Typical thickness | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene, flat-woven | 0.1-0.25 in (3-6 mm) | The most common; fade-resistant, dries quickly, often reversible |
| Polypropylene, low pile | 0.25-0.4 in (6-10 mm) | Softer underfoot, holds more water |
| Recycled PET (polyester) | 0.1-0.25 in (3-6 mm) | Soft flat weave; similar care to polypropylene |
| Plastic straw / woven vinyl | About 0.1 in (2-3 mm) | Very light, best for beaches and camping |
| Natural fiber (jute, sisal) | 0.25-0.5 in (6-13 mm) | Covered porches only; rots if left wet |
Light rugs lift in wind. Rugs under heavy furniture stay put; for exposed balconies and roof terraces, corner grippers or weights keep the edges down.
Polypropylene and polyester melt at relatively low temperatures (polypropylene at about 320-338°F, or 160-170°C). Keep outdoor rugs at least 3 ft from a fire pit rim, away from the grill and its ash, and from under a patio heater's reflector. A fire-resistant grill mat, not a rug, goes under a grill.
For indoor rooms and runner sizes, see the main rug size chart; for small mats inside the door, the bath mat size guide covers the 17 × 24 and 20 × 32 in sizes that are also sold as indoor door mats.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes do outdoor rugs come in above 9 x 12?
The next stock size is 10 × 14 ft (305 × 427 cm), offered in many but not all outdoor ranges. A few go to 12 × 15 ft (366 × 457 cm), and some makers cut or bind outdoor rugs to custom sizes. For very large patios, two rugs defining separate dining and lounge zones usually look better than one huge rug.
What size outdoor rug for a 4-seat patio table?
Add 48 in to each table dimension. A 48 in round table needs a rug at least 96 in across, so an 8 ft round or 8 × 8 ft square; a 36 × 60 in table needs at least 84 × 108 in, which in stock sizes means 8 × 10 ft.
Can I put an outdoor rug on a wood or composite deck?
Yes, if water can drain and the deck can dry. Use a flat-woven polypropylene or polyester rug without a rubber or latex backing, lift and dry it after heavy rain, and move it occasionally so the boards weather evenly. Some composite decking makers advise against rubber-backed mats, so check your decking's care guide.
Can an outdoor rug go near a fire pit or grill?
Keep it well away. Polypropylene, the usual outdoor rug fiber, melts at about 320-338°F (160-170°C), and a spark or hot coal will melt a hole in it. Keep the rug edge at least 3 ft from a fire pit rim and out of the grill area; a fire-resistant grill mat is the right product under a grill.
How thick are outdoor rugs?
Most are flat-woven or low-pile and 0.1-0.4 in (3-10 mm) thick, so a door can swing over them and they dry quickly. Thicker, plush outdoor rugs exist but hold water longer and suit covered porches better than open patios.