How to measure for a sofa (doorway and all)

Buying a sofa online is easy right up until it arrives and won’t go round the bend in the hall. The good news is that a few minutes with a tape measure saves all that stress. This guide shows you how to measure for a sofa properly, from the space in your living room to every doorway on the way in.

Grab a tape measure, a notepad (or your phone) and a roll of masking tape. That’s all you need.

Step 1: Measure the space in the room

Start with the wall or area where the sofa will sit. Measure the full width you have available, then decide how much room you want either side for a lamp table, a radiator or simply space to walk past.

Next, measure how far the sofa can come out into the room. Leave around 45cm between the front of the sofa and a coffee table so people can get in and out comfortably, and roughly 75cm to 90cm for main walkways through the room.

Mark the sofa’s footprint on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day. It tells you far more about the size than any number on a screen.

Step 2: Measure the way in

This is the step most people skip, and it’s the one that causes the most returns. Walk the route the sofa will take, from the front door to the room, and measure:

• The width and height of every doorway (inside the frame, not the door itself)
• The width of hallways and landings
• The height and width of the stairwell, including the lowest point of the ceiling above the stairs
• Any tight corners or turns, and the space you’d have to pivot the sofa

A standard UK internal door is roughly 76cm wide and 198cm high, but older homes vary a lot, so always measure your own.

Step 3: Check the sofa’s dimensions

Every sofa listing should give you three main measurements: width, depth and height. On our product pages we point you to them before you buy.

The figure that matters most for getting a sofa through a doorway is usually its depth and height, not its width. Sofas are normally carried in on their side or end, so compare the sofa’s depth and height against your door widths.

Diagonal depth

If the sofa’s depth is a little more than your doorway, check its diagonal depth. Measure from the top of the backrest to the front edge of the seat at an angle. If that’s smaller than the door width, it can usually be tilted through.

Step 4: Seat height and depth

Size isn’t just about fitting the room. Seat height affects how easy a sofa is to get up from, and seat depth decides whether you sit upright or sink right back.

• Seat height of around 42cm to 48cm suits most people
• A seat depth of 50cm to 60cm feels upright and supportive
• Deep seats of 60cm or more are great for lounging, but shorter people may need cushions behind them

Step 5: Corner sofas and chaise ends

For a corner sofa, measure both walls from the corner outwards and note which side you want the long end on. Stand facing the sofa: if the long side or chaise is on your left, it’s left-hand facing. If it’s on your right, it’s right-hand facing.

Most corner sofas arrive in two or more sections, so check the size of the largest piece against your doorways rather than the whole sofa.

Standard sofa sizes

Sizes vary between makers, but these are typical ranges to help you shortlist:

Sofa type	Typical width	Typical depth
2 seater	140cm to 180cm	85cm to 95cm
3 seater	190cm to 230cm	85cm to 100cm
4 seater	230cm to 260cm	90cm to 100cm
Corner sofa	200cm to 300cm per side	90cm to 100cm

Do sofa measurements include the feet?

Usually yes, the height listed includes the feet. Many sofas have screw-off feet, which can buy you a few precious centimetres when getting through a tight door. Check the listing or the questions section on Amazon if you’re not sure.

Compact sofas for smaller rooms

If your measurements are tight, these compact picks are worth a look. They’re smaller than average or arrive in pieces, which makes delivery easier.

The most common measuring mistakes

• Measuring the room but not the hallway, stairs or doorways
• Forgetting radiators, skirting boards and sockets behind the sofa
• Not allowing extra space behind a recliner so it can lean back
• Choosing the wrong hand on a corner sofa

Take ten minutes now and your new sofa will slide into place on delivery day. When you’re ready, browse our corner sofas or 2 seater sofas, with sizes on every pick.