Rug size & curtain height calculator
Enter your measurements and get the right rug size, rod height, rod width, curtain length and number of panels.
How the rug calculation works
A rug should frame the furniture, not float in the middle of the room. In a small room, leave 8–12 inches of bare floor between the rug and the walls; in a room wider than about 12 feet, leave 12–18 inches. The calculator subtracts that border from your room size and picks the largest standard rug that fits: 3×5, 4×6, 5×7, 5×8, 6×9, 8×10 or 9×12 feet.
Then it checks your layout. With front legs on the rug — the best option for small living rooms — a 5×7 is the minimum for most sofas. For all legs on the rug you need an 8×10 or bigger, so in a small room the calculator will tell you when that layout doesn't fit and to switch to front legs. For a queen bed, an 8×10 placed sideways is ideal; a 5×8 or 6×9 under the lower two-thirds of the bed works when space is tight, and two runners on either side are the fallback for tiny bedrooms.
Outside the US, rugs are often sold in metric sizes such as 160×230 cm and 200×290 cm. Use the centimeter result and pick the closest size that is not bigger than the maximum.
How the curtain calculation works
Rod height: the calculator measures the gap between the top of your window frame and the ceiling. If the gap is 10 inches or more, it puts the rod 3 inches below the ceiling. If it's smaller, it goes halfway up the gap — never right on the frame. If there's almost no gap, use ceiling brackets.
Rod width: window width plus 9 inches on each side (the middle of the 8–10 inch designer range), so open curtains sit on the wall and you keep all the daylight.
Curtain length: rod height minus half an inch, so the fabric just kisses the floor, rounded up to the next standard length: 63, 84, 96, 108 or 120 inches. If the standard size is more than an inch and a half longer than you need, the calculator reminds you to use clip rings or hem tape to raise it.
Panels: for a full, expensive look, the total fabric width should be about 2.25 times the rod. With 52-inch panels (the standard 50–54 inch range), the calculator rounds up to the number of panels you need.
How to measure without mistakes
- Use a metal tape measure, not a sewing tape.
- Measure the room wall to wall at floor level, ignoring baseboards.
- Measure the window from the outside edges of the trim, not the glass.
- Measure ceiling height in two places: older apartments often aren't level.
Common mistakes this fixes
The two most common reasons small rooms look smaller are a rug that's one size too small and curtains hung right on top of the window frame. Both are cheap to fix: a washable 5×7 rug and a pad cost about $75, and a long rod with two 96-inch panels about $65. Step-by-step guides: rug size guide for small rooms and how to hang curtains high and wide.
Quick answers
What size rug do I need for my living room?
Measure the room, subtract 8–12 inches of bare floor on every side in a small room (12–18 inches in a bigger one), and pick the largest standard size that fits. In most small living rooms that is 5×7 or 6×9.
How high should a curtain rod be?
At least halfway between the top of the window frame and the ceiling. If the gap is 10 inches or more, mount the rod 2–4 inches below the ceiling.
How wide should a curtain rod be?
The window width plus 8–10 inches on each side, so the open curtains rest on the wall instead of covering the glass.
How many curtain panels do I need?
The total width of the panels should be about 2 to 2.5 times the rod length. With standard 50–54 inch panels, most windows need 2 to 4 panels.
Does the calculator work in centimeters?
Yes. Switch to cm at the top and enter everything in centimeters. Results show both units.
