200 × 290 vs 240 × 340 – the UK size decision
By Emma Whitfield · Published 22 September 2026 · 5 min read
The two large sizes stocked deepest on Amazon.co.uk. They look 40 cm apart on paper; in a UK sitting room they read as different rugs entirely.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | 200 × 290 cm | 240 × 340 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | 5.8 m² | 8.2 m² |
| Living room fit | UK 3+2 sofa (up to 190 cm wide) with front legs on | UK 3+2 sofa (over 200 cm wide) or corner sofa |
| Bedroom fit | UK king bed (150 × 200), lower two-thirds on rug | UK super king bed (180 × 200), lower two-thirds on rug |
| Dining fit | 4- to 6-seater rectangular, table up to 160 cm long | 6- to 8-seater rectangular, table up to 200 cm long |
| Room minimum | 3.2 × 4.1 m (60 cm border each side) | 3.6 × 4.6 m (60 cm border each side) |
| Weight (hand-knotted wool) | 14–22 kg | 20–35 kg |
| Delivery box length | ~200 cm rolled | ~250 cm rolled – check stairwell and doorway |
| Price bracket (mid-range wool) | £150–£320 | £220–£520 |
The 200 × 290 mistake
The most common Amazon.co.uk return we see referenced in listing reviews is buying a 200 × 290 for a room that needed a 240 × 340. The rug is not too small for the room – it is too small for the furniture, which is the measurement that matters. A 3-seater sofa over 200 cm wide with front legs hanging off the rug reads as a shrunken rug even in a huge room.
The 240 × 340 mistake
The opposite: buying 240 × 340 for a UK terraced sitting room. Standard Victorian reception rooms are 3.4 × 4.0 m – a 240 × 340 rug leaves only 50 cm on each side of length and 50 cm each side of width. Skirting boards, radiator grilles and door swings eat into that. Result: the rug looks jammed and reads as wall-to-wall carpet, not a rug.
Frequently asked questions
Rule of thumb for the size step-up?
If the primary furniture piece (sofa or bed) is under 190 cm wide, 200 × 290 works. From 200 cm wide upward, jump to 240 × 340 – the extra 40 cm each way keeps the 60 cm exposed-floor margin around the piece.
How much heavier is a 240 × 340?
Around 45% heavier for the same construction: 8.2 m² against 5.8 m². A hand-knotted wool 240 × 340 weighs 20–35 kg – a two-person carry, and worth checking the delivery access before ordering.
Price difference?
Roughly 45–60% more on Amazon.co.uk. A £120 200 × 290 in Flair Rugs shaggy runs about £180–£200 at 240 × 340. Premium wool: a £280 200 × 290 in Asiatic wool runs £420–£500 at 240 × 340.
Our verdict
Measure the sofa, not the room. Under 190 cm sofa – 200 × 290. Over 200 cm sofa or a corner unit – 240 × 340 (only if the room is 3.6 × 4.6 m or larger). Between the two, size up rather than down: an oversized rug reads intentional, an undersized rug reads like a mistake.