What size suzani do I need? Wall, bed, sofa and table
A suzani is sold by its measurements, not by a size label, and the right piece depends on where it will go. The short answer: a wall above a sofa or bed takes a medium or large panel of about 100–160 cm wide; a double or queen bed takes a large piece of roughly 200 × 220 cm or more; a dining table takes a medium panel of 100 × 130 to 100 × 180 cm as a centre cloth, or a 50 × 145 cm runner; and a hallway, cupboard door or small wall takes an 80–110 cm panel or a 90 cm square. Below are the measurements that matter for each place, with the sizes we actually hold in small, medium and large.
Start with the surface, not the suzani
Measure the wall, bed, sofa or table first and write down two numbers: the width you want covered and the height or length. Then decide how much border you want to see. A hanging looks best with 15–20 cm of bare wall on each side; a bed cover needs the mattress top plus the drop you want down the sides; a table cloth should stop 10–15 cm short of the edge or hang 20–25 cm over it, not sit exactly at the edge.
Every suzani is embroidered by hand on a cloth that was cut and joined by hand, so the measurements on our listings are the piece measured flat, to the nearest centimetre, and two pieces of the same nominal size are never identical. Allow a few centimetres either way and buy by the stated dimensions, not by the word “small” or “large”.
What the three sizes mean at Alesouk
| Section | Typical measurements | What it fits | Price now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small suzani | Squares of about 88–94 cm; panels of 80–110 × 90–110 cm; one 50 × 145 cm runner | A cushion front, a small wall, a chest or bedside table, a narrow table | $43–195 |
| Medium suzani | About 100 × 130 up to 100 × 180 cm, with a few near-squares of 126–138 cm | A dining-table centre cloth, a console or chest cover, a wall panel above a sofa or a single bed | $54–320 |
| Large suzani | From 120 × 195 cm up to 294 × 216 cm | A bedspread, a wall piece for a whole bed head or hallway, a throw over a large sofa | $124–495 |
The stock changes, so treat the ranges as a guide and the figures on each product page as the truth. Most pieces are new, embroidered in silk thread on cotton; the vintage ones say so in the name and the listing, and vintage means decades old, not antique.
On a wall
A suzani is lighter than a rug and hangs from its top edge. For a wall above a sofa, choose a piece about two-thirds of the sofa’s width: a 180 cm sofa takes a 110–140 cm wide panel, which is the medium section. Above a double bed, a large piece hung sideways — the 200 × 160 cm and 234 × 174 cm cloths — fills the width of the bed head; above a single bed, a medium 100 × 130 cm panel is enough. In a hallway or on a door, a small 80–110 cm panel or a 90 cm square reads well at close range, where the stitches are the point.
Hang the centre of the piece at about 145–155 cm from the floor, eye height for most people, unless it sits above furniture, in which case leave 15–25 cm between the furniture and the bottom edge. Our listings give the width first and the height second; a piece that is wider than it is tall can be hung either way, because the design is usually a central medallion or an all-over field with a border.
To hang it: sew a cotton sleeve along the back of the top edge and pass a flat wooden batten or a rod through it, or use a row of clips on a rail. Avoid pins through the embroidery and avoid nails through the cloth. A new suzani is robust enough for this; a fragile vintage piece should be mounted on a backing cloth first.
On a bed
Decide whether the suzani covers the mattress top only, like a quilt, or drops down the sides. Mattress tops are roughly: UK single 90 × 190 cm, UK double 135 × 190 cm, UK king 150 × 200 cm; US twin 97 × 191 cm, US full 137 × 191 cm, US queen 152 × 203 cm, US king 193 × 203 cm. A 20 cm drop on each side adds 40 cm to the width and 20 cm to the length.
- A single or twin bed, top only: a medium 100 × 180 cm piece.
- A double, full or queen bed, top only: a large piece around 150 × 200 cm, such as the 150 × 225 cm or 140 × 160 cm cloths with the embroidered frame sitting at the mattress edge.
- A double or queen with a drop: 190–220 × 220–240 cm — the 200 × 160, 204 × 144, 220 × 135 and 234 × 174 cm pieces cover the top with a short drop; the 294 × 216 cm cloth covers a king with a drop on three sides.
- As a folded runner across the foot of the bed: any medium panel folded once lengthways.
A suzani on a bed takes wear: fold it back at night, keep it out of direct sun, and dry-clean rather than wash. The product page carries the care line for that cloth.
On a sofa or armchair
Thrown over the back of a two-seater, a medium 100 × 130–140 cm panel covers the back and one arm; over a three-seater, a 100 × 180 cm piece or a large cloth. Over an armchair, a 90 cm square or a small panel across the back. If you want the whole sofa covered, measure from the floor at the front, over the seat and back, to the floor behind, and add the width across the arms; that is almost always a large piece.
On a table
- A runner down the middle: the 50 × 145 cm runner suits a table up to about 120 cm long with 10–15 cm hanging at each end, or a longer table with the runner stopping inside the edges. A sideboard of 120–150 cm takes the same piece.
- A centre cloth: a medium panel of 100 × 130 to 100 × 180 cm on a 160–200 cm dining table leaves the table’s own edge showing, which is the usual way a suzani is used on a table in Uzbekistan.
- A full cloth: a large piece of 200 × 160 cm or more covers a six-seat table with a short overhang; a round table of 120 cm takes a 140 × 160 cm cloth with the medallion in the centre.
- A chest, console or bedside table: a 90 cm square or an 80–110 cm panel, which is what the small section is for.
On a table, protect the embroidery from hot dishes with a plain runner or mats on top; the silk thread marks before the cotton ground does.
If you are between two sizes
Go larger on a wall and smaller on a table. A hanging that is too small looks lost; a table cloth that is too big drags on laps and chairs. For a bed, measure the mattress rather than guessing from the bed name, because UK and US sizes with the same name differ by up to 15 cm.
If you tell us the surface and the measurements through the contact page, we will suggest the pieces in stock that fit. For what a suzani is and how to read one, see What is a suzani?, and for the embroidery itself, how suzani is made. Cushion-sized pieces are a different product: the suzani cushion covers are 50 × 50 cm and sold as covers.
Common questions
What size is a typical Uzbek suzani?
Most are between one and four square metres. Small panels and squares run 80–110 cm; medium pieces about 100 × 130 to 100 × 180 cm; the large dowry cloths 120 × 195 cm to nearly 3 × 2.2 m.
What size suzani for a queen bed?
For the mattress top only, about 150 × 200 cm. With a drop down the sides, 190–220 cm wide by 220–240 cm long, which means the largest pieces in the large section.
How big should a suzani wall hanging be above a sofa?
About two-thirds of the sofa’s width: 110–140 cm wide for a 180 cm sofa. Hang its centre at 145–155 cm from the floor, with 15–25 cm clear above the sofa back.
How long is a suzani table runner?
Ours are 50 × 145 cm, which suits a table or sideboard of 120–150 cm. Longer tables take a medium panel as a centre cloth instead.
Can I cut a large suzani down to size?
Yes, but it is a one-way decision, and the border is what gives a piece its finish. If you want cushion-sized pieces, buy the cushion covers, which are already cut and backed; if you want a smaller hanging, buy a small or medium panel rather than cutting a large one.