The most beautiful hides & pelts

Excellent service

Free shipping on orders of 100,- or more (NL, BE, DE) – fast delivery throughout the EUFast delivery(EU wide)

30-day cooling-off period

9.8WebwinkelKeur

Added to cart

I'm going to order Continue shopping

What size cowhide fits your space?

0 comments read minutes

You choose a cowhide based on color, but whether it really looks good depends mainly on the size. If it’s too small under a large sofa, it looks lost; if it’s too large in a small room, it curls up against the wall. In this blog, I’ll show you which size cowhide works best for each situation, with simple rules of thumb that you can check at home in just a few minutes.

Think of this as a guideline, not a rule. Do you prefer a little more leather to be visible, or a little less? Feel free to choose a size larger or smaller. The important thing is that it feels right in your space.

In short: which size where?

Where	Situation	Size
Living room	Only under the coffee table; the couch remains clear	S or M/L (for a large coffee table)
Living room	Front legs of a two-seater sofa covered in hide	M/L (± 220 × 205 cm)
Living room	Front legs of a 3-seater sofa covered in hide	XL (± 235 × 220 cm)
Living room	Corner sofa or entire seating area	XXL (± 250 × 235 cm)
Bedroom	Left out in the room or partially under the bed	Same sizes as in the living room: S, M/L, XL, or XXL
Free in space	Without furniture on top, as an eye-catcher	S, M/L, XL, or XXL, depending on the free floor space
Hall or entrance	Depending on the width of the aisle	XS or S
Accent	Corner, fireplace, over a chair	XS or mini cowhide

Sizes in length × width. Each hide is unique: the exact size is listed for each one. And feel free to choose a size larger or smaller if you prefer.

Living room: under the coffee table or under the seating area

The living room is by far the most popular place for a cowhide. There are roughly three ways to lay it out.

1. Only under the coffee table: size S or M/L

The coffee table sits in the center of the hide, and the sofa remains unobstructed. Around the table, you’ll see about 40 cm of hide. This works for a coffee table up to about 110 cm. Do you have a larger coffee table (130 cm or more)? Then choose M/L; otherwise, the hide will disappear under the table.

Illustration: cowhide, size S, under the coffee table; the sofa remains unobstructed

There’s a cowhide in Carla’s sitting area.

2. Front legs of the bench on the hide: M/L or XL

This is the most popular arrangement. The front legs of the sofa rest on the hide, and the coffee table is placed in the center. In this way, the hide connects the sofa and the table to form a single seating area.

2-seater sofa (± 160–180 cm): choose M/L. This is also the most commonly chosen size.
3-seater sofa (± 200–230 cm): choose XL. Do you want to see more leather on the sides? Then choose XXL.

Illustration: cowhide, size XL, with the front legs of the couch resting on the hide

The front legs of the sofa rest on the hide, with matching cowhide cushions
The front legs of the bench are upholstered in cowhide, with matching cowhide cushions.

3. Under a corner sofa or entire seating area: XXL

For a corner sofa or an open seating area with a sofa and armchairs, choose the largest size, XXL. A cowhide is approximately 250 cm at most. For a large corner sofa, place it in the center of the seating area, with the coffee table in the middle and the sofa’s legs on either side resting just on the hide.

Illustration: XXL cowhide under a corner sofa

A large cowhide in Sandra’s living room.

Bedroom: loose in the room or partially under the bed

The same guidelines apply in the bedroom as in the living room. You can simply lay the cowhide out freely in the room. A fun, playful way to use it is to tuck part of it under the bed: that way, you step right onto a soft, warm hide first thing in the morning.

± 2 × 2 meters of open floor space: size S (± 190 × 185 cm)
± 2.2 × 2.1 meters: size M/L (± 220 × 205 cm)
± 2.4 × 2.2 meters: size XL (± 235 × 220 cm)
± 2.5 × 2.4 meters or more: size XXL (± 250 × 235 cm)

If you slide it partially under the bed, measure the space between the bed and the wall or closet. Leave about 10 cm of floor space free on that side; this will prevent the hide from curling up against the wall.

Illustration: cowhide in the bedroom, partially under the bed

A champagne-colored cowhide by Rebecca’s bed.

Free-standing: as an eye-catcher

You don’t always have to place furniture on a cowhide. Placed freely on the floor—for example, in the middle of the room or in front of a cabinet—it’s a real eye-catcher. Choose the size based on the available floor space:

± 2 × 2 meters of open floor space: size S (± 190 × 185 cm)
± 2.2 × 2.1 meters: size M/L (± 220 × 205 cm)
± 2.4 × 2.2 meters: size XL (± 235 × 220 cm)
± 2.5 × 2.4 meters or more: size XXL (± 250 × 235 cm)

Illustration: cowhide floating freely in space

Dining room: preferably not

A cowhide rug under the dining table looks nice, but I don’t recommend it. Dining room chairs slide back and forth with every meal. That friction damages the hide: the hairs wear away and bald spots form. It’s better to place it in the living room or bedroom, where it will look its best and last much longer.

Hall, workplace, and as an accent

Hall or entryway: Measure the width of the hallway and leave about 10 cm of floor space free on both sides. An XS or S size often fits. Be mindful of doors that need to swing past the hide.
As an accent: in a corner, in front of the fireplace, or draped over a chair or sofa. Choose an XS or mini cowhide.

Cowhide in the lobby at Ben’s — *A cowhide in the lobby at Ben’s.*

XS or mini cowhide?

An XS sounds small, but it’s still a substantial hide measuring approximately 155 × 160 cm. A mini cowhide, at approximately 90 × 60 cm, is much smaller—ideal for a chair, a table, a narrow hallway, or next to the bed. On the same scale, an XS is more than four times as large.

Illustration: XS cowhide next to a mini cowhide at the same scale

A mini cowhide on the table at Constance’s.

Here’s how to check the size at home in 2 minutes

Check the exact dimensions (length × width) of the hide you like.
Lay out a sheet, some newspapers, or tape on the floor in that size.
Arrange the furniture as it will eventually be placed and walk around it a few times.
Check doors: Does a door swing over the hide? If so, leave enough space.

Keep in mind that a cowhide is not a rectangle. Because of the legs and the neck, the flat central section is smaller than the outer dimensions. You can read exactly how I measure in the blog post about how I measure hides and pelts.

Still unsure? Send me a photo

Every hide is unique, and so is every room. Not sure which size to choose? Send me a photo of your space via WhatsApp, and I’ll give you personalized advice on size and color—free of charge and with no obligation. I respond every evening between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average size of a cowhide?

Most cowhides are between 190 and 240 cm long. At Leatheroverstock, the most popular size is M/L, approximately 220 × 205 cm.

What size cowhide fits under a coffee table?

If the sofa is freestanding, an S (± 190 × 185 cm) fits a coffee table up to about 110 cm, and an M/L (± 220 × 205 cm) fits a larger coffee table. If you want the front legs of the sofa to rest on the hide, choose M/L for a 2-seater sofa and XL for a 3-seater sofa.

How do I lay out a cowhide in the bedroom?

Left out in the room, or playfully tucked partly under the bed. The same sizes apply as in the living room: choose an S, M/L, XL, or XXL based on the available floor space.

Can a cowhide fit under the dining table?

I don’t recommend that. The chairs keep sliding across the hide, and that friction damages the hairs. In the living room or bedroom, a cowhide lasts much longer.

How big is a mini cowhide compared to an XS?

A mini cowhide is approximately 90 × 60 cm. An XS is approximately 155 × 160 cm, so more than four times as large.