It can take time to find the stylish, functional sofa that’s right for your home. But when you’re looking to furnish your property, there’s another factor that’s arguably just as important that you’ll need to keep in mind. And that’s to make sure you can actually get the sofa into your home. After all, as beautiful as a sofa might be, it’ll be all but useless if there’s no way to get it into your living room without demolishing a wall or two.
So let’s make sure that doesn’t happen. Having seen plenty of perfect deliveries, near-misses, and all-out disasters, I thought it’d be a good idea to put together a comprehensive guide on how to measure a sofa for delivery so that you can begin enjoying your new sofa with as little stress as possible.
Table of Content
The Importance Of Measuring a Sofa For Delivery
A sofa can look beautiful online, but it has to go on a pretty big journey before it occupies a prime spot in your living room. Having a firm understanding of the sofa’s dimensions before you click the purchase button is beneficial for many reasons, including the following.
It Ensures You Can Get It Into Your Home
Delivery day arrives. You’re excited. The sofa arrives. It looks even better than you expected.
And then…you realize it’s also bigger than you expected, and you can’t get it into your home. This problem occurs more frequently than you might think, but it’s one that’s easily avoidable if you know how to measure a sofa for delivery (don’t worry, we’ll cover everything you need to know below!).
A Sofa That Is Too Large or Small Can Create Spatial Problems
I have full-width, fully tractable French doors and an open-plan design at my home, so getting a new sofa into my property usually isn’t an issue. But I still need to think carefully about the sofa’s dimensions.
A sofa that’s too large could overwhelm the room and make the space feel cramped.
A sofa that’s too small can leave too much empty space and look a little lost.
Having a good understanding of the sofa’s size and how it will work in your living room is vital for avoiding disappointment. Remember: even the most stylish sofa will look off if its dimensions are out of sync with the room’s needs.
It Helps Avoid Frustrating Returns
Some tips and tricks can help get an awkwardly sized sofa through a doorway, but there are no guarantees. If it’s too large, then it’s too large — and at that point, you’ll have no other option than to send the sofa back and wait for a replacement to arrive.
That’s a scenario everyone wants to avoid. By carefully measuring the access point route and understanding the sofa’s dimensions, you can ensure that your new furniture can be put in place with as little stress as possible, and without the rushed panic of having to hastily find a replacement.
How To Measure a Sofa For Delivery: Essential Tools
OK, so that’s the importance of having the right measurements out of the way.
Now let’s think about how you’ll actually do it.
You’ll need a few essential tools for this part, but none of the items are specialist. You’ll likely already have everything you need somewhere in your home.
How To Measure Sofa for Delivery: Key Tools
- Measuring tape
- Pen and paper (or smartphone notes app) to write down measurements.
- Masking tape (for floor mapping)
Having a second person can also make things a little easier, but isn’t strictly required.
Key Sofa Dimensions You’ll Need to Know For Delivery
The first step is to understand the size of the sofa you’re considering purchasing. A sofa can look one size in photos, but be completely different when it turns up at your house. The good news is that a reputable online sofa store will always list the sofa’s dimensions on the product page.
What you’ll need to know:
Dimension | What It Measures | Typical Size |
Width | Arm to Arm | 1778 - 3048 mm |
Height | Floor to Tallest Part of Sofa | 762 - 965 mm |
Depth | Back to Front | 813 - 1016 mm |
Diagonal Depth | Front Bottom Corner to Top Back Corner | Varies |
Having those details will enable you to check whether the sofa will fit through your home’s doorways and hallways, as well as allow you to visualize how much space the sofa will occupy in the room once it’s finally in place.
Note that online sofa stores often list the sofa’s width, depth, and height, but often exclude diagonal depth, which is typically the most important measurement since it tells you whether a sofa that appears to be too wide can be angled through a doorway.
If diagonal depth isn’t explicitly listed on the sofa product page, you can work it out by using Pythagorean Theorem. Forgotten your school days? Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Multiply sofa height by itself (Example: if sofa has a height of 33", multiply 33 × 33 = 1089)
- Multiply sofa depth by itself (Example: sofa’s depth is 47", multiply 47 × 47 = 2209)
- Add those two numbers together (1089 + 2209 = 3298)
- Find the square root of that number (it’s fine to use Google! Square root of 3298 = 57.42).
- That’s your diagonal depth. In the example, I’d just need 1458 mm of clearing space for the sofa to fit.
Key House Dimensions You’ll Need to Know For Sofa Delivery
- Doorways: Many people focus on the front door, but it’s often internal doors, which tend to be narrower, that cause problems.
- Hallways: Most hallways are wide enough for sofas, but tight corners can be problematic. Measuring the space between corners against the diagonal depth can reveal whether the pivot method will work.
- Staircases: Knowing banister-to-wall width and the ceiling’s lowest point is essential if delivering the sofa to an upper floor. Note that some bannisters can be removed, so that’s worth exploring if space is right.
Key Details You’ll Need to Make Sure The Sofa Works in the Room
Having the above information should tell you whether it’s possible to place a sofa in a room. With that said, just because you could, that doesn’t mean you should. Ultimately, the delivery part is only a small part of your overall experience with a sofa. On a long-term basis, it’s how suitable the sofa is for the room that influences whether it’s a success or not. Choosing a sofa that’s the wrong size for the space will impact how the room feels.
Wall Clearance
This is a big one. Many people map out sofa size based on the sofa sitting flush against the wall, but it’s usually best when there’s a bit of space between the wall and the back of the sofa. Allowing for a few inches of space can make the room feel more spacious and make it easier to clean.
Walking Space
A large sofa can be great for family movie nights, but if it’s too large for the room, then it’ll have a direct impact on people’s experience. There should be enough walking space so that you can move in between the sofa and other furniture (such as a coffee table) without feeling squeezed.
Distance from Focal Points
Looking forward to unwinding on your new sofa by enjoying evenings in front of the television? Choosing the right size and shape is key for positioning the sofa so that you’re neither too far nor too close to the television or other focal points (such as a fireplace).
In the end, the right-sized-sofa is one that can make a space feel cozy and inviting, without leaving too much empty space or feeling like it’s overly dominating the room.
Practical Tips On How to Measure Sofa For Delivery
Focus On The Tightest Point
If you can get the sofa through the tightest point in the route between the front door and its eventual destination, then you can get it into position. If time is tight, then pay attention to the doorways, hallways, or stairways where there’s the least amount of space.
Measure Twice
Having the right measurements is key for enjoying a seamless delivery. Taking the time to measure twice will ensure your numbers are correct, helping you to avoid easily preventable issues.
Use Masking Tape to Visualize Spacing
Using masking tape to map out the floor footprint of the sofa is an effective strategy for visualizing how much space the sofa will occupy once it’s in position. It’s much easier to utilize this method and check that it’s the right size for the room, rather than waiting until it arrives.
Tips for Delivery Day
Knowing how to measure a sofa for delivery is a key step for ensuring you can get your brand new sofa into the intended room.
But even if you have confidence that you’ve chosen the right size, there’ll still be a little bit of work to do before you get to enjoy a relaxing night on the sofa. Here are some of our extra tips on how you can make the sofa delivery process run as smoothly as possible.
Clear the Route
Clearing the route you’ll take from the front door to the living room doesn’t just make transporting your sofa easier. It also makes it safer. When you’re carrying a heavy sofa, your focus should be on carefully maneuvering it through your property, not thinking about potential tripping hazards!
Removing rugs, wall art, corridor furniture, and basically anything that isn’t bolted in place and which could create a little extra space when removed will make the task 5% easier — and that’s something you’ll very much appreciate.
Protect Your Home
Even if you could technically bulldoze your new sofa into position, it won’t be worth it if doing so causes damage to your home, belongings, or the sofa.
It’s best to remove any fragile items from the route you’ll take through your home. It’s also recommended to put down cardboard or blankets if you have wood or tile flooring, which could be damaged if the sofa is dropped.
Remove Sofa Legs
Struggling to get your new sofa through a doorway? Look at removing its legs. This isn’t an option with all sofas, but ones that do have removable legs can quickly remove around 102 - 152 mm of height, which can make all the difference when things are tight.
Remove Doors
And why stop at the sofa’s legs? If a doorway is proving difficult to pass, then consider removing the door. Most doors are easily removable (and reattachable) with a simple screwdriver. In doing so, you’ll give yourself an extra few inches to work with.
Let The Professionals Handle It
Many homeowners struggle to transport a new sofa through their property, even when the dimensions are correct. That’s because, sometimes, a bit of hoisting, maneuvering, and good old-fashioned experience is required to complete the task cleanly.
If you doubt your ability to put your sofa into place, then let the professionals handle it. At Homary, we offer a Room-Of-Choice Drop-Off delivery option that can put your sofa into position without you having to lift a finger.
FAQ
How Do I Measure a Sofa For Delivery?
You can measure a sofa for delivery by comparing the sofa’s key measurements, such as its diagonal depth, against the tightest points along the route from your front door to its final destination.
How Much Space Do I Need To Move a Sofa Through A Doorway?
To move a sofa through the doorway, the sofa must have a diagonal depth that’s less than the width of the doorway. For example, if a doorway has a width of 1524 mm, the sofa must have a diagonal depth of under 1524 mm.
What Is The Diagonal Depth of a Sofa?
The diagonal depth of a sofa is the measurement from the bottom front corner of the sofa to the top back corner of the sofa. You can use the following formula to calculate the diagonal depth of a sofa:
Multiply the sofa’s height by itself
Multiply the sofa’s depth by itself.
Add the two numbers together.
Find the square root of that number.
Can A Sofa Fit Through a Door That is Narrower Than The Sofa?
Yes, a sofa can fit through a door that is narrower than the sofa via the pivot method, provided the door’s width is greater than the sofa’s diagonal depth.
Should I Measure Before Buying a Sofa Online?
Yes, measuring before buying a sofa online is critical for ensuring seamless delivery and for maintaining visual balance in the room once it’s in position.