Few things are more frustrating than a new sofa or cabinet stuck in a doorway. Most delivery problems can be avoided with ten minutes and a tape measure. This guide explains how to measure furniture for delivery: what to measure on the furniture and its boxes, how to measure doorways, hallways, stairs and elevators, and how to check ceiling height for tall pieces.
What You'll Need
- A tape measure (a 25-foot one is ideal)
- A notepad or your phone
- A helper
- The product's dimensions and package dimensions
Step 1: Find the Furniture and Package Dimensions
Note the height, width and depth of the assembled piece. Then check whether it arrives assembled or flat-packed. Many pieces ship in boxes that are smaller than the finished furniture, so the boxes are what need to fit through the door.
Product pages often list package dimensions and weights. A few examples from our Specification tables:
| Product | Packages | Largest box | Heaviest box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Wood Round Pedestal Dining Table | 1 | 96.25" L × 44.69" W × 14.96" H | 340 lbs |
| Black Walnut Solid Wood Dining Table | 1 | 91.34" L × 22.83" W × 10.83" H | 129.19 lbs |
| Nacre 6-Drawer Dresser | 2 | 61.81" L × 24.02" W × 7.28" H | 104.17 lbs |
| Tall Corner Cabinet with 4-Tier Open Shelves | 3 | 65.7" L × 19.1" W × 7.5" H | 102.5 lbs |
| Grand Arched Modular Storage Display Wall Unit | 8 | 97" L × 19.3" W × 5.8" H | 121.0 lbs |
Long, flat boxes like these usually pass through doors on edge, but they need room to turn in hallways and on stairs, and heavy boxes need two or more people.
Step 2: Measure the Front Door
- Open the door fully.
- Measure the width from the door stop (the strip the door closes against) on one side to the edge of the open door on the other. This is the real clear width, usually narrower than the frame.
- Measure the height of the opening.
- Measure the door frame diagonally, from the top corner to the opposite bottom corner. Furniture tilted on an angle can often pass through a diagonal that's larger than the width.
If it's tight, removing the door from its hinges (tap out the hinge pins) usually gains an inch or two.
Step 3: Measure the Path Inside
- Hallways: Measure the narrowest width, including radiators, railings and light fixtures.
- Turns and corners: Measure the width of both hallways at every turn. Long pieces need room to pivot, which is where most deliveries get stuck.
- Interior doors: Measure each one along the route, the same way as the front door.
- Low ceilings and light fixtures: Note anything that limits tilting a tall piece.
Step 4: Measure Stairs
- Width of the stairway between walls or railings.
- Ceiling height above the stairs, especially where a ceiling drops near the bottom.
- Landings and turns: measure their width and depth.
- Handrails that can't be removed.
Step 5: Measure Elevators
Measure the elevator door width and height, the interior width, depth and height, and the interior diagonal. Long boxes can often stand upright on an angle. In apartment buildings, ask whether you need to reserve the elevator or a loading dock, and whether there are delivery hours.
Step 6: Check the Room and Ceiling Height
Tall furniture needs ceiling clearance, and more when you stand it up after assembling it on the floor: a piece tilted upright needs room for its diagonal, not just its height. Compare the assembled height with your ceiling. The Vestia Corner Wardrobe Closet Cabinet, for example, is 101.5" tall, which is taller than a standard 8-foot (96-inch) ceiling, so it needs a higher ceiling. Plan to assemble tall pieces in the room where they'll stand.
Delivery Measurement Checklist
| Measure | Compare with |
|---|---|
| Door clear width and diagonal | Box or furniture depth and height |
| Narrowest hallway | Box or furniture depth |
| Hallway turns | Box or furniture length |
| Stair width and ceiling above | Box size when carried at an angle |
| Elevator interior and diagonal | Longest box |
| Room ceiling height | Assembled height plus tilting room |
| Final spot | Assembled width and depth plus clearances |
Sofas and Upholstered Pieces
Sofas often arrive fully assembled, so they're the trickiest. Measure the sofa's height, depth and diagonal depth, and check whether the legs come off. See our guide on how to measure a sofa.
Plan the Delivery Day
- Clear the path and protect floors and door frames.
- Remove doors if needed before the delivery arrives.
- Have the room ready, with old furniture already moved out.
- Check the box weights and line up helpers for heavy items.
- Open and inspect boxes promptly so you can report any damage.
See our guides on how to move heavy furniture, assembling flat-pack furniture and buying furniture online.
Related: see our guide to checking if a couch will fit through your door, guide to choosing a couch for a small space, and first apartment furniture checklist.
FAQ
How do I know if furniture will fit through my door?
Compare the door's clear width, height and diagonal with the furniture's or box's depth and height. If the depth is smaller than the clear width, it will usually fit.
Should I measure the furniture or the box?
Both. Flat-packed pieces need the boxes to fit through doorways; the assembled size needs to fit the room and ceiling.
How do you measure a doorway for furniture?
Open the door fully and measure from the door stop to the edge of the open door, then measure the height and the diagonal.
What if my furniture won't fit?
Remove the door or legs, try tilting the piece, or choose furniture that ships flat-packed or in multiple boxes.