Looking for a free crochet rug pattern? Here are 22 of them: easy chunky rectangles you can finish in an evening, round, mandala and flower rugs, t-shirt yarn rag rugs and doormats, bath mats and granny square rugs, plus a kids' racetrack play rug and a Santa rug for Christmas. Every full written pattern is free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. A handmade rug is a big, cozy project that you'll use every single day, and with bulky yarn or several strands held together it goes faster than you'd think.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn or material, the hook, how it starts, and the finished size where the designer gives it. A few designers also sell an ad-free PDF, but the version linked here is free to read on the page.
Before you start. Rugs need sturdy fabric, so most patterns use a bulky yarn, cotton held double or triple, t-shirt yarn, or rope, with a big hook (8 to 16mm or more). Cotton and t-shirt yarn wash well and lie flat. Acrylic is soft and cheap but can be slippery, so plan on a non-slip rug pad underneath any rug that goes on a hard floor.
Easy chunky rectangle rugs for beginners
Straight rows of simple stitches. If you can crochet a scarf, you can make one of these.
Super Chunky Rug in an Hour — Marching North. Chain 13 in super bulky acrylic on a jumbo 25mm hook, then work 20 rows of single crochet. That's the whole pattern, and the designer calls it a magically squishy rug in an hour or less. There's a step-by-step video.
Bubble Gum Accent Rug — Yarn + Chai. Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton held double on a 5mm hook, starting with 60 sc. It's rated easy and finishes 20 by 30 inches, a nice size for a bathroom or beside the bed.
Coastal Indoor Rug — Maria's Blue Crayon. Rows of half double crochet (69 per row) with open treble mesh bands and a fringe, made from three Caron Cotton Cakes on a 5mm hook. It's a light, beachy rug with a fringe video.
Plush Plus Rug — Moogly. 51 sc per row in super bulky yarn on a 9mm hook, with a raised plus-sign pattern. It finishes 22 by 32 inches. The original yarn is discontinued, so the page suggests t-shirt yarn substitutes.
Striped Hourglass Area Rug — Moogly. A textured stripe of front- and back-post double crochet over a 62-stitch base, in bulky Patons Inspired on an 8mm hook. About 22 1/2 by 38 inches before the border.
Round, mandala and flower rugs
Free Crochet Round Rug — Joy of Motion Crochet. Start with 10 dc in a magic circle and add 10 stitches every round, changing among eight colors of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton on a 5.5mm hook. It grows to 51 inches across and is rated beginner.
Easy Round Crochet Rug — Marching North. 6 sc in a magic loop, then simple increase rounds in braided macramé cord (t-shirt yarn works too) on a 16mm hook. About 24 inches across, or 29 with the fringe. Easy beginner, with a video.
Mandala Rug — Jessie At Home. A 31-inch rug of 41 rounds, starting with 8 dc in a loop and building texture with front- and back-post stitches. Berroco Vintage Chunky on a 6mm hook (about 750g). Rated intermediate, and a real showpiece.
Cosy Flower Rug — Look At What I Made. A big flower in 19 rounds, starting with 1 sc and 9 hdc in a ring and finished with a crab-stitch edge. Several strands of Scheepjes yarn held together on a 9mm hook, about 29 inches across.
Crafty Boho Rug — A Crafty Concept. A large 58-inch round rug with rings of bobbles, starting with 10 sc in a magic circle. It uses three strands of Caron One Pound on a 12mm hook, and there's a video on working with the strands.
Chunky Wool Oval Rug — Whistle and Ivy. An oval that starts with 5 dc in the third chain from the hook around a chain of 10, in three skeins of super chunky Knit Picks Tuff Puff on a P hook. About 23 by 17 inches, soft enough for bare feet.
T-shirt yarn, rag rugs and doormats
Great for using up old t-shirts and sheets, and tough enough for the front door.
Round Rag Rug — Look At What I Made. A how-to for any size: cut jersey or sheet strips about 1 inch wide, start with 6 sc, and add 6 stitches per round. The page shows how to cut and join the strips, too.
Striped Crochet Doormat — Joy of Motion Crochet. 43 half double crochet in super bulky t-shirt yarn on a 12mm hook, worked in back-loop stripes. About 30 by 26 inches, and rated easy.
Chunky Hexie Rug — My Poppet Makes. Ten t-shirt yarn hexagons on a 12mm hook, joined in rows of 3, 4 and 3, for a colorful rug about 29 by 21 inches. Written in UK terms, with a video.
Twine Door Mat — Rich Textures Crochet. Rows of single crochet in medium-duty twine on a 7mm metal hook, with a reverse single crochet border. About 21 by 34 inches, rated easy, with video tutorials. It looks like a store-bought coir mat.
Bath mats and granny square rugs
Face the Day Bathmat — Underground Crafter. Square motifs that begin with 12 dc in a ring, seamed together and bordered, in about 220 yards of Bernat Maker Home Dec on a 6.5mm hook. It finishes 19 by 23 1/2 inches, with a video of the join.
Crochet Flower Rug — GoldenLucyCrafts. Seventeen flower and leaf motifs (each starting with 24 dc in a ring) sewn together, in Lily Sugar 'n Cream held triple on a 10mm hook. About 34 by 29 inches, perfect for a bathroom or beside the bed.
Bath Rug with Rope — Mama In A Stitch. About 300 feet of cotton clothesline on a huge S/35 hook: 16 sc, then rows of (sc, 2 dc) shells until it's about 18 inches long. Thick, absorbent and fast.
Granny Square Cabin Rug — Highland Hickory Designs. Granny squares (8 sc in a loop to start, 4 3/4 inches each) in Red Heart Super Saver held double on a 9mm hook. The rug is about 23 by 33 inches, and the designer suggests it for first-time rug makers.
Kids', novelty and holiday rugs
Racetrack Play Rug — ekayg crafts. An oval racetrack about 59 by 37 inches, worked around a foundation chain (106 sc in round 1) in worsted yarn held double on a 6.5mm hook. Kids can drive toy cars right around it. There's a video of the color changes.
Watermelon Rag Rug — Elecia's Creative I. A half-circle watermelon slice made from fabric strips on a 10mm hook, starting with 7 dc in a ring. Cheerful in a kid's room or by the back door in summer.
Santa Christmas Rug — Easy on the Tongue. A Santa face in single crochet colorwork (64 rows) in red and white t-shirt yarn on an 8mm hook, about 32 by 19 inches. It doubles as a table runner. Rated beginner. The optional nose, hat and brim are only in the paid PDF, but the full rug is free on the page.
Tips for crocheting a rug that lies flat
- Watch your increases. Round rugs ruffle if you add too many stitches and cup if you add too few. If the edge waves, rip back a round and skip a few increases; if it bowls up, add a few.
- Hold strands together. Two or three strands of worsted held together make a thick, sturdy rug without buying special bulky yarn.
- Crochet tightly. A firm fabric wears better and doesn't stretch out of shape underfoot. Go down a hook size if your rug feels floppy.
- Use a non-slip pad. Put a rug gripper pad or washable gripper tape under any rug on a hard floor. Safety first.
- Block it. Wet or steam block a finished rug and let it dry flat to even out the stitches.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best yarn for a crochet rug?
Cotton, t-shirt yarn and cotton rope are the most durable and washable choices. Bulky acrylic is soft and cheap, and works well held double or triple. For a doormat, twine or jute is tough enough to scrape shoes on.
How much yarn do I need to crochet a rug?
It depends on the size and the yarn. A small 20 by 30 inch rug usually takes about 1,000 to 1,200 yards of worsted held double, or two to three cones of t-shirt yarn. Large round rugs can take five or six pounds of yarn.
Why is my round crochet rug curling or waving?
A wavy, ruffled edge means you have too many stitches, and a cupped bowl shape means too few. Follow the pattern's stitch counts closely, keep your tension even, and use stitch markers at the start of each round.
Can you wash a crochet rug?
Most cotton and t-shirt yarn rugs can go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle and dry flat. Check the yarn label first. Very large rugs are easier to hand wash in a bathtub.
More cozy crochet for your home
Finish the room with our free crochet pillow patterns, a few crochet baskets for the clutter, and a crochet blanket on the sofa. For the dining table, see our crochet table runner patterns and crochet placemats. Love round rugs? The same increase method makes lacy crochet doilies. For more winter home ideas, see our crochet winter home decor roundup.
