Runner Carpets: Sizes, Placement and Whether They Work in a Kitchen

A runner carpet is the one carpet that fits where a normal carpet cannot: a narrow hallway, the gap beside a bed, the walkway in front of a kitchen counter. This runner carpet size guide gives you the sizes in feet, how much floor to leave around the edges, and an honest answer to a question many people search for: whether a kitchen carpet is a good idea.

Quick answer

• Hallway: a 2 x 8 ft to 2 x 10 ft runner, leaving 4 to 6 inches of bare floor on each side.
• Beside a bed: a 2 x 6 ft runner on each side, or one across the foot of the bed.
• Kitchen: a runner about 2 to 2.5 ft wide, stopping a few inches short of the cabinets and kept away from the sink and the stove.
• Pile height: check it before you buy. A thick pile can catch under a door and is hard to keep clean in a kitchen.

Runner carpet sizes and what they suit

Most of our runners are listed from 2 x 6 ft to 2 x 10 ft, and some designs also come longer or in a 3 ft width. Sizes vary by design, so check the product page. You can contact us if you need a different length.

How much floor should show around a runner?

Leave about 4 to 6 inches of bare floor on each long side and about 6 inches at each end. A runner that touches both walls looks like failed wall-to-wall carpet, and a runner that is too short looks like a doormat. In a kitchen, stop the runner 2 to 4 inches short of the cabinet bases so the edge does not catch on them.

Choosing a runner for a hallway

1. Measure the walking area from the first step to the last, not just the wall.
2. Choose a width that leaves 4 to 6 inches of floor on each side.
3. Choose the longest length that still leaves about 6 inches at each end.
4. Check the pile height against the gap under your doors. Our runners have a 1.5 to 2 inch pile, which is thick enough to catch a door that sits close to the floor.
5. Look for an anti-skid backing, because runners sit on tiles and marble.

Runner carpets beside a bed

The cheapest way to get warm floors where you step is a pair of 2 x 6 ft runners, one on each side of the bed. In a larger bedroom you can place a longer runner across the foot of the bed. Our bedroom carpets cover full-size options if you prefer one large carpet.

Is a carpet a good idea in a kitchen?

It can be, but only if you choose carefully. A kitchen is the hardest room for a carpet, because of spills, grease and moisture. These rules keep a kitchen carpet from becoming a problem.

• Keep it away from the sink and the stove. The walkway beside a dry counter is fine. A splash zone is not.
• Choose a low pile. Long, plush pile traps crumbs and holds spills.
• Choose water-resistant or washable material. Polypropylene, cotton and treated synthetics clean more easily than plush wool.
• Choose a dark or patterned colour. They hide small stains better.
• Use an anti-skid backing or a grip, because a sliding kitchen carpet is a safety risk.

To be straightforward about our own range: our runners are plush microfibre wool with a 1.5 to 2 inch pile, so they suit hallways, bedsides and entrances best. In a kitchen, use one only in a dry walkway and not beside the sink or stove. If you need a carpet for a splash zone, choose a low-pile, washable one.

Runners from our range

Prices run from ₹5,100 for 2 x 6 ft to ₹8,500 for 2 x 10 ft, at the time of writing. Our runner listings state an anti-skid canvas backing, and several colours are available.

Caring for a runner

Vacuum with suction only, because a rotating brush pulls at thick pile. Blot spills straight away, use cool water with a mild detergent, and rotate the runner now and then so footfall wears it evenly. Our guide on how to clean a wool carpet at home covers stains and dust.

Common mistakes

• Buying a runner that touches both walls.
• Forgetting that a thick pile can catch under a door.
• Placing a plush runner beside a sink or stove.
• Choosing a size by the wall length instead of the walking area.
• Skipping the anti-skid check on a smooth floor.

Frequently asked questions

What size runner carpet do I need for a hallway?

Most hallways suit a 2 x 8 ft to 2 x 10 ft runner. Measure the walking area, then leave 4 to 6 inches of bare floor on each side and about 6 inches at each end.

What size runner for a kitchen?

Most kitchens suit a runner about 2 to 2.5 ft wide and 6 to 8 ft long. Stop it a few inches short of the cabinets and keep it away from the sink and the stove.

Can I use a wool carpet in a kitchen?

Only in a dry walkway. Wool is durable but a plush wool pile traps crumbs and holds spills. For a splash zone choose a low-pile, washable carpet.

What is the standard width of a runner carpet?

2 ft is the most common width for hallways and bedsides, and 2.5 ft is also common in kitchens.

Do runner carpets slip?

They can on smooth floors. Choose a runner with an anti-skid backing, and check the product page before you buy.

Can I order a runner in a custom length?

Our listings note that customisation is available. Contact us with your measurements.

Ready to choose? Browse our runner carpets, hallway carpets and hand tufted carpets.