Runner rugs can add colour, character and texture to any room in your house. From brightening up your hallway, leading people into your home via the entranceway or protecting floors in high-traffic areas, runner rugs are stylish and practical.

However, you must balance enhancing a space with a stylish runner without making the room feel overcrowded: this is where size matters!

If you're wondering, should a runner touch the wall? What size is a runner rug? Do I leave a gap? How big of a gap should I leave between my runner rug and skirting board? - we're here to help!

In this guide, we'll answer all your runner rug sizing questions and help you choose the best runner rug size for your home.

Table of contents

• What is the standard size of a runner rug?
• What sizes do runner rugs come in?
• What size runner rug should I buy by room?

What is the standard size of a runner rug?

Runner rugs come in many shapes and sizes, with customisable options, so there isn't one standard-size runner rug.

What is the average width of a carpet runner?

The standard, or most popular, widths of a runner rug is between 60 and 90cm.

What is the average length of a carpet runner?

A carpet runner's average or most popular length is typically between 180cm and 420cm. However, we can cut any runners to your custom length for the perfect bespoke size.

However, all homes and spaces are different, so you don't want any old average-size runner; you want one that fits your hallway or space perfectly. So measuring is crucial to finding the perfect-sized runner!

What sizes do runner rugs come in?

At Runrug, we offer various width options and almost any length. However, if you have an awkward-sized space, you can request a custom-size carpet runner by contacting our helpful team at Runrug.

Browse our carpet runner width options below.

Once you've chosen your colour, pattern and ideal width, use the length selector to choose the perfect length for your space.

What size runner rug should I buy by room?

You can get different runner rugs for various rooms, which require slightly different sizes and measuring techniques.

Hallway runners

Hallways, entryways and walkways are fantastic places for runner rugs. They protect the floorboards from frequent traffic and lead your guests from the entrance into the rest of your home. They also allow you to instil your personality and interior design flair into your home.

What size hallway runner should I buy?

As hallways are usually narrow, the placement of your runner is crucial to ensure your hallway doesn't appear cluttered and narrow, resulting in the total opposite impression that a well-fitting runner should give!

All hallways are different, so choosing the perfect size runner for your hallway depends on your unique room measurements.

How to measure for a hallway runner

Always leave a perimeter of the floor around your runner to act as a frame. We recommend a 10-15cm gap around all sides, whether from the skirting boards, furniture or doors.

Top Tips: Avoid sitting furniture on top of your runner, as this can shrink the appearance of your hallway! Also, ensure that your runner doesn't interfere with a doorway or the door opening.

To measure for your hallway runner:

1. Measure the width and length of your hallway.
2. Measure the width of any furniture in your hallway and take the number away from the room width or length measurements.
3. Measure the width of the swing of any doors that protrude into your hallway and take that measurement off the overall width or length measurement.
4. Now, subtract 10-15cm off the width and length measurement on all four sides to account for the floor border. Note that this is a recommendation, and the border size is up to you.

Now, you have the measurement for your hallway runner rug!

Now you have your width measurement, browse our selection of runner rug widths and choose one that best suits your hallway.

Stair Runners

Getting the best stair runner sizing is slightly more complicated. But, if you follow these easy step-by-step instructions, you should get a stunning effect.

First, decide how much beautiful hardwood stair flooring to leave exposed. We recommend leaving a 5-7.5cm gap on either side of the runner to reveal just enough of your stairs whilst maintaining the most coverage with your runner. For example, if your staircase is 90cm wide, we recommend purchasing any width runner between 75-80cm.

At Runrug, we stock stair runners from 57cm up to 120cm wide to fit the majority of staircases.

Select your ideal width from the selection below.

How to measure for a stair runner

To get the ideal stair runner size

1. First, measure the width of the stairs and subtract 5-7.5cm from either side to give you your width measurement. However, the gap between your stair runner and the edge of the step is up to you.

To measure the length correctly

1. You only have to measure one stair. First, measure the riser (the vertical measurement) and the tread (the horizontal measurement).
2. Add these measurements together and add 2.5cm.
3. Multiply this measurement by the number of stairs.
4. Add an extra stair measurement to get enough length at the top and bottom.

If you need more help or have an unusually shaped staircase, read our guide on How to Measure for a Stair Runner!

Kitchen Runners

The most common place for a Kitchen Runner is in front of the sink, filling narrow walkways or galley kitchens or enhancing your kitchen island. It's where we're most often stood stationary or the places that face a lot of foot traffic. As kitchens come in endless shapes, sizes, and orientations, it's best to measure your kitchen space to get the best runner size.

How to measure for a kitchen runner

We recommend leaving a 10cm gap on all sides before the runner meets the wall, island or cabinets. To measure for your kitchen runner

1. First, measure the space where you want your kitchen runner to lie.
2. Subtract 10cm from each side to get your ideal runner rug measurement.

Now you have your perfect kitchen runner measurement, choose from our selection of kitchen runner widths to get the ideal runner size for your kitchen.

Runner rugs at Runrug

Now you know the recommended sizing and measurement tips for different runner types. Remember, when measuring for any runner rug, always leave a border around the perimeter to frame your runner and prevent your space from looking cluttered!

Why not browse our hallway, stairs and kitchen runners to find the perfect carpet runner for your space?

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• Transform your hallway with a carpet runner.