Short answer: We sell one runner size, 2.5 by 8 feet (30 x 96 inches), and you can buy it directly from our washable rug collection. It suits a hallway, an entryway or a galley kitchen that is wider than the runner with some floor left visible on each side. Yes, a runner can be washed: the rug layer lifts off its pad and goes into a standard home washing machine.
A long, narrow space is the hardest place to pick a rug, because the walls leave little margin for error. A few minutes with a tape measure tells you more than any rule of thumb. This guide gives the real size of our runner, what it leaves around it in different widths of space, and the checks that matter before you order. For the full set of sizes and rooms, see our room-by-room rug size guide.
On This Page
- What size is our rug runner?
- What runner size fits a hallway?
- Where does a runner work in a long or narrow room?
- Can rug runners be washed?
- Will a runner stay put in a hallway?
- Our recommendation
- Explore our washable rugs
What size is our rug runner?
Our runner is 30 x 96 inches, listed on the product page as 2.5 x 8 Runner. Every one of our washable rug designs comes in it, subject to stock. It is one of five washable rug sizes, and it is the only long, narrow one.
- Rug layer: polyester chenille, 0.3 inches thick.
- Pad: a cushioned modular pad is included with the runner and slides into the pockets on the rug, 0.1 inches thick. The rug and pad together measure approximately 0.5 inch.
- Delivery format: the runner arrives folded in one box, with the pad pieces inside.
Because the pad is included, you do not buy anything else to finish the set-up. The pad is slightly smaller than the rug, so the chenille hides its edge. For how the rug and pad are built, see how we design our washable rugs.
What runner size fits a hallway?
Width is the number that decides it. The runner is 30 inches wide, so the floor left visible on each side is half of what remains after you subtract 30 inches from the width of the hallway. We suggest leaving some visible floor on both sides rather than running the rug to the walls, and the table below shows what that looks like. These are worked figures from the runner size, not a product specification.
What runner size fits a hallway?
| Hallway or space width | Visible floor on each side of the runner | Our read |
|---|---|---|
| 36 inches | 3 inches | Tight but possible. The runner is nearly wall to wall. |
| 42 inches | 6 inches | A comfortable border. |
| 48 inches | 9 inches | A clear border of visible floor on both sides. |
| Narrower than 30 inches | Not applicable | The runner does not fit. Look at the 3 x 5 foot size instead, or no rug. |
Length works the same way. In a hallway that is 10 feet long, an 8 foot runner centered on the space leaves about 12 inches of bare floor at each end. In a hallway shorter than 8 feet, the runner will not fit lengthwise.
Then check the doors. A rug that looks right in an empty hall will not be practical if a door catches on it. With the rug layer and pad together at approximately 0.5 inch, open each door fully over the runner and look at the gap underneath before you commit. Keep the runner flat, away from thresholds, and well clear of any door that swings over it.
Where does a runner work in a long or narrow room?
Our rug size guide names hallways, entryways and galley kitchens for the runner, and bedside spaces for the smaller 3 x 5 foot size. The table adds what to check in each place.
Where does a runner work in a long or narrow room?
| Space | How the runner fits | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hallway | Runs the length of the hall, centered, with floor visible on each side | Width table above, door swing, and where the hall turns |
| Entryway | Lies along the path from the door inward | That the door opens without catching and that there is room to take off shoes |
| Galley kitchen | Lies along the main work area or in front of the counter | That it does not block appliance doors or sit where you cannot step around it |
| Long, narrow living room | Lines the walking path beside the seating, or sits behind a sofa in an open layout | Keep paths at least 30 inches wide, 36 inches is more comfortable |
| Beside a bed | Fits a gap along one side of the bed | A single runner suits a gap wider than 30 inches; otherwise use the 3 x 5 foot size |
The kitchen placement, and the 3 x 5 foot size for bedside spaces, come from our rug size guide. Placing a runner along the path in a long living room or beside a bed is general design practice rather than something we have tested. For the seating group itself in a long room, a larger rug usually does the work: our 5 x 8 foot and 8 x 10 foot sizes are covered in the sofa rug size guide. We have not tested layering a runner over another rug, so we do not give layering advice here.
Can rug runners be washed?
Yes. Only the soft polyester chenille layer is washed, and the runner is one of the three sizes that fit a standard home washing machine, together with the 3 x 5 foot and 5 x 8 foot sizes. Our care guide has the full steps. In short:
1. Slide the pad out of the pockets on the rug.
2. Wash the rug layer on a gentle cycle in cold water with a mild, bleach-free detergent.
3. Dry it on low heat or air-dry it, then slide the pad back into the pockets.
The pad does not go into the machine: clean it with mild soap and water and let it dry completely. A hallway runner takes more footsteps than most rugs, so vacuum it regularly. We do not recommend a beater bar, but you can still vacuum the rug; avoid the edges. Some shrinkage is possible, which is one reason we recommend cold water and low heat. Our washable rug guide explains the machine sizes for every rug.
Will a runner stay put in a hallway?
Each runner comes with the included modular pad, which slides into the pockets on the rug, which has an EVA cushioning core and TPR grip material on both sides, and the rug layer has reinforced TPR corners. We have no formal slip-resistance rating, so we make no promise that any of our rugs will never move. Performance depends on your floor and how the space is used, so test the runner where people walk fastest, such as near an entry door. Our rug guide for busy homes covers everyday use in more detail.
Our recommendation
Pick by the width of the space, not the room name.
- Hallway or entryway 42 inches wide or more: the 2.5 x 8 foot runner, centered, with the door check done first.
- Galley kitchen: the runner along the main work area, as long as it clears every appliance door.
- Hallway of 36 inches or less: measure twice. The runner leaves 3 inches each side at 36 inches, so decide whether that looks right to you by taping the size on the floor first.
- Space under 30 inches wide, or shorter than 8 feet: the runner will not fit, so choose a 3 x 5 foot rug or leave the floor bare.
Tape the 30 x 96 inch outline on the floor, walk along it and open every door. The tape shows you the size before you order.
Explore our washable rugs
Product specifications can change. Check the current dimensions on the product page before ordering.