Transform Your Space with the Perfect Rug

Refreshing a room or starting from scratch? You’ve carefully chosen the furniture, art, and lighting. Now, it’s time for those final touches to make your space truly shine.

You need a rug.

Whether you want a soft neutral to blend in, a bold statement piece, or something cozy, we’ve got you covered. Have kids or pets? No problem. Whether your budget is sky-high or just a few hundred bucks, we have options for you.

Explore our curated selection of 10 area rugs, featuring a range of styles and materials. We continuously add more stunning choices as we discover them. Plus, get expert advice on which rugs work best in high- and low-traffic areas and what size to buy.

Browse through our picks and transform your space effortlessly. This is the fun part—enjoy!

What to Consider When Choosing a Rug

Materials: Natural fibers like good-quality cotton, wool, and jute, along with nylon, offer a balance of comfort and durability.

Thickness: A higher pile provides a cozier feel but is harder to clean.

Dimensions: To unify a room’s look, opt for a rug large enough to fit all the furniture on top.

Function: Choose features that accommodate your space’s needs, such as high traffic or food spills.

Why You Should Trust Us

Jackie Reeve, a senior staff writer on the home decor team, covers bedding and textiles, including sheets, throw blankets, towels, and comforters. For this guide, we built on the research and testing of previous writers Shannon Palus, Gregory Han, and Daniela Gorny. They consulted several experts, including Lisa Wagner, a second-generation rug cleaner and blogger at Rug Chick, and Jessica Probus, a former interior designer and author of “Home Decor Cheat Sheets: Need-to-Know Stuff for Stylish Living.”

Our thorough research included sifting through reviews and websites of big-box stores and discount rug sellers, comparing the finer details of over 150 rugs. We also made trips to stores like IKEA and Target to examine and touch several rugs in person.

In line with Wirecutter’s standards and to avoid any conflict of interest, we don’t own stock or have any financial interest in the companies we cover. Like all Wirecutter journalists, we review and test products with complete editorial independence and are never influenced by the business implications of our recommendations. Read more about our

How We Picked and Tested Rugs

We’ve meticulously researched hundreds of rugs from direct-to-consumer brands, big-box stores, Amazon, and retailers like Crate and Barrel, Target, West Elm, and IKEA. Here’s what we consider when selecting the best rugs:

• Materials: We test rugs made from nylon, cotton, wool, polypropylene, polyester, and blends. Polypropylene rugs are less durable but more affordable compared to other materials.
• Weave: We’ve tested flatwoven, low-pile, and high-pile rugs. Flatweaves are smooth and easy to clean, perfect for high-traffic areas, while rugs with piles offer more padding, ideal for living rooms and bedrooms.
• Size: A primary rug should be large enough for all the room’s furniture to at least partially sit on, according to interior designer and author Jessica Probus. We look for rugs available in larger sizes.
• Price: Most of our top picks are under $600 for an 8-by-10-foot rug, but some splurge-worthy options can go up to $1,600.
• Design: We explore a wide range of styles, from neutrals to statement pieces. Experts often suggest layering a neutral base rug with smaller accent rugs.

We update this guide regularly, drawing on insights from four different writers. For our original guide, we tested 38 rug samples. In subsequent years, we’ve tested additional full-size rugs, following a consistent test plan: eliminating some based on the look and feel, walking on them (with and without shoes), and taking notes on feel, style, and materials.

We also conduct cleaning tests using various methods, such as sprinkling a mixture of dry quinoa, cinnamon, and crumbled toast, and smearing swatches with wine and chocolate ice cream. Most recently, we tested washable rugs by setting them up in a kitchen during a marathon soup-making weekend, spilling everything from pureed butternut squash to wine on them before washing.

Additionally, we involve pets and kids in our testing to evaluate durability and comfort. Cats roll on rug samples before vacuuming, and kids test how rugs feel while playing. Our thorough testing ensures we recommend only the best rugs for your home.

Everything we recommend