The most common sofa mistake isn't the color or the fabric. It's the sofa that won't fit through the front door, or fits but swallows the room. Measuring takes 15 minutes and a tape measure. Here's how to measure a sofa, how to check that a couch will fit through your door, hallway and stairs, and standard sofa dimensions to plan around.
Standard Sofa Dimensions
| Size | Typical length | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Loveseat | about 52–72 in | 2 |
| Apartment sofa | about 68–80 in | 2–3 |
| Standard 3-seat sofa | about 78–90 in | 3 |
| Large sofa | about 90–100+ in | 3–4 |
| Sectional | often 95–130 in per side | 4–7 |
- Overall depth: about 35–40 in for most sofas; deep-seat sofas run about 38–44 in or more.
- Overall height: about 30–36 in to the top of the back; low-profile sofas sit under 30 in.
- Seat height: about 17–19 in from the floor.
- Seat depth: about 21–24 in for standard seats; 25 in or more for deep seats.
- Arm height: often 24–26 in.
How to Measure a Sofa: The Key Dimensions
- Width (length): from the outside of one arm to the outside of the other, at the widest point.
- Depth: from the front of the seat or arm to the back of the frame, at the deepest point.
- Height: from the floor to the highest point of the back.
- Seat depth: from the front edge of the seat to the back cushion.
- Seat height: from the floor to the top of the seat cushion.
- Diagonal depth: the measurement that decides whether it fits through a door (below).
Most product pages list width, depth and height. If you're measuring an existing sofa, use a metal tape and measure at the widest points, including any legs or rolled arms.
How to Measure the Diagonal Depth
The diagonal depth tells you how narrow the sofa becomes when it's tipped back to go through a doorway.
- Remove the cushions. Stand at the side of the sofa and lay a straightedge (a yardstick or broom handle) from the top back corner of the frame to the top front of the arm.
- Measure from the bottom back corner of the sofa straight up to the straightedge, at a right angle to it. That's the diagonal depth.
- Compare it with the door's clear opening: if the diagonal depth is smaller, the sofa can usually be tilted back and angled through. When it's tilted, also check its length against the door height.
Many retailers list the diagonal depth on the spec sheet, so check before you measure.
Will a Couch Fit Through My Door?
Measure the path, not just the room
- Doorways: measure the width of the opening between the door stops, not the door itself, and the height. Remove the door from its hinges for an extra inch or two.
- Hallways: width, ceiling height and any tight turns, radiators or light fixtures.
- Stairs: the width, the ceiling height over the stairs and any landing or turn.
- Elevators: the door width, the interior depth and height, and the diagonal from floor to the opposite top corner.
The basic rule
The clear door opening must be larger than at least one of the sofa's height, depth or diagonal depth. Then check every door, hallway and stair on the route: the narrowest point decides. Exterior doors are typically 36 in wide and 80 in tall. Interior doors are commonly 28–32 in (32 in is the most common; 28 in is common for tight spots), and that's where problems usually start. Treat all of this as a guide, not a guarantee.
What if it's a tight fit?
- Remove the cushions and unscrew the legs, which often saves 2–5 in. On some sofas, the arms or back detach too.
- Take the door off its hinges (an inch or two), and remove the door stop trim.
- Carry the sofa in on its end and pivot it, or angle it through the doorway.
- Choose a modular or sectional sofa that arrives in pieces, or a sofa that ships compressed or in a box.
How to Measure Your Room for a Sofa
- Measure the wall or zone where the sofa will go.
- Leave walkways: about 30–36 in for main paths.
- Leave room for a coffee table: 12–18 in, ideally 14–18 in, between the sofa and the table.
- Allow space for side tables: about 6 in to the side of each arm, plus the table width.
- Check the TV viewing distance if the sofa faces a screen.
- Tape it out: mark the sofa's footprint on the floor with painter's tape, and live with it for a day or two.
For coffee table sizing, see our coffee table and couch pairing guide.
Measuring a Curved or Sectional Sofa
- Curved sofas: measure the width end to end (the chord) and the depth at the deepest point of the curve. A one-piece curved sofa often has to be carried through doors on its end. The Freya Curved Sofa is 86.6 in W × 40.5 in D × 27.5 in H. See curved sofa ideas.
- Sectionals: measure each side and the chaise length, and check the size of each piece for delivery.
Before You Buy: Checklist
- Sofa width, depth and height, and the seat depth and height
- Diagonal depth
- Door, hallway, stair and elevator measurements
- Room footprint taped out, with 30–36 in walkways
- Coffee table and side table space
- Whether the legs or back come off
FAQ
What size sofa fits through a 29 in door?
One whose diagonal depth, height or depth is under about 28 in. A low-profile sofa about 27–28 in tall can often be carried through on its end, but measure the door opening and turns first. Removing the door and its stops can add space.
How do I know what size couch I need?
Leave walkways of about 30–36 in and room for a coffee table, then choose the longest sofa that still fits. For balance, the sofa usually shouldn't take up the whole wall.
What is a standard sofa size?
There's no formal standard, but a typical three-seat sofa is about 78–90 in long, 35–40 in deep and 30–36 in tall.
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