Quick answer: a 5x7 rug is 5 feet wide by 7 feet long, which is 60 x 84 inches, 35 square feet, or about 152 x 213 cm. It's a medium rug, roughly the size of a queen mattress, and suits small living rooms with a loveseat, bedrooms with a full or queen bed, home offices and entryways. It's too small for a standard sofa-plus-chairs group, a king bed or a dining table.
- Best room size: about 8x10 to 11x12 feet.
- Living room: front legs of a loveseat or apartment sofa on the rug.
- Bedroom: under the lower third of a full or queen bed.
- Too small? A 6x9 is the next real step up.
How Many Inches (and Centimeters) Is a 5x7 Rug?
| Unit | Width | Length | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feet | 5 ft | 7 ft | 35 sq ft |
| Inches | 60 in | 84 in | 5,040 sq in |
| Centimeters | 152 cm | 213 cm | 3.25 sq m |
A true 60 x 84 is less common than you'd think. Many "5x7" rugs are really 5'3" x 7'3" or 5'3" x 7'6", and the metric standard 160 x 230 cm is closer to a 5x8. Check the listed dimensions if you're fitting the rug between a bed and a dresser; our 5x7 vs. 5x8 guide explains the difference.
What Does a 5x7 Rug Look Like in a Room?
Picture a queen mattress (60 x 80 inches) plus 4 inches of length. In a 10x12-foot room it covers about 30% of the floor and leaves about 2.5 feet of bare floor on every side.
Is a 5x7 Rug Big Enough for a Living Room?
For a small living room, yes; for a standard one, usually not. The test is your sofa: run the 7-foot side parallel to it, put the front legs on the rug, and see how much shows beyond each arm.
| Seating | Rug beyond each arm | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Loveseat (58 to 64 in) | 10 to 13 in | Ideal |
| Apartment sofa (68 to 72 in) | 6 to 8 in | Works |
| Standard sofa (80 to 90 in) | 2 in to none | Too small; choose a 6x9 or 8x10 |
| Sofa plus two armchairs | β | Too small; choose an 8x10 |
With 12 to 18 inches of floor showing around it, a 5x7 fits living rooms from about 8x10 up to 11x12 feet. In a 12x14 or larger room it floats with 3 feet of floor on every side. If that's your room, read our honest take on whether a 5x7 is too small and the 5x7 vs. 6x9 comparison.
5x7 Rug in a Bedroom: Queen, Full and Twin Beds
Turn the 7-foot side across the bed and slide the rug under the lower third of the mattress so about 2 feet extends past the foot. Nightstands stay on the floor.
| Bed | Width | Rug each side | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38 in | 23 in | Generous, or run it lengthwise beside the bed |
| Full | 54 in | 15 in | Good |
| Queen | 60 in | 12 in | Works; a landing strip for your feet, not a border |
| King | 76 in | 4 in | Too small; use an 8x10 or 9x12 |
More layouts in our 5x7 bedroom guide.
Home Offices, Entryways and Dining Rooms
Home office: a 48- to 60-inch desk fits with the chair fully on the rug even when pushed back; choose a low pile so the chair rolls. Entryway: suits a foyer of about 7x9 feet or larger, long side along the walking line, 6 inches clear of the door swing. Dining: almost never. Chairs need 24 inches of rug past every table edge, which leaves room for nothing bigger than a two-seat bistro table; a four-seat table needs a 6x9. See our room-by-room 5x7 guide and the dining rug size guide.
When Not to Buy a 5x7 Rug
Skip the 5x7 if your sofa is 80 inches or longer, the room is 12x14 feet or bigger, you have a king bed or a dining table, or it's an open floor plan where a single small rug looks stranded. In each case a 6x9 or 8x10 is the better buy.
5x7 vs. 5x8, 6x9 and 8x10
| Size | Inches | Sq ft | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5x7 | 60 x 84 | 35 | Small living rooms, full and queen beds, offices, foyers |
| 5x8 | 60 x 96 | 40 | Same rooms, with a foot more length for a 72-inch sofa |
| 6x9 | 72 x 108 | 54 | Apartment living rooms with a standard sofa; 4-seat tables |
| 8x10 | 96 x 120 | 80 | Sofa plus chairs; queen and king beds; 6-seat tables |
Every standard size is on our rug size guide.
Layering and Measuring Before You Buy
Layering is the best way to use a 5x7 in a room that's too big for it: start with a flat, neutral 8x10 or 9x12 jute or flatweave, center the 5x7 on the furniture group, leave at least 12 inches of base showing on every side, and use a rug-to-rug pad so it doesn't creep. Our layering guide has pairings.
Painter's tape test: tape a 60-by-84-inch rectangle on the floor, check the sofa's front legs sit at least 4 inches inside it and the coffee table fits fully, and confirm 8 to 18 inches of floor between tape and walls. If it looks slightly small with furniture on it, buy the next size up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many inches is a 5x7 rug?
Is a 5x7 a large area rug?
Will a 5x7 rug fit under a queen bed?
Can a 5x7 rug go under a dining table?
Can I put a 5x7 rug over carpet?
Can a 5x7 rug go in the washing machine?
About RugKnots
RugKnots is a family-owned rug company in Hagerstown, Maryland, importing and selling hand-knotted rugs since 1987. We hand-inspect every order, offer free U.S. shipping and a 30-day return guarantee. Questions? Reach out and a real person will reply within one business day.
