The Ultimate Measuring Guide When Buying a New Sofa

Buying a new sofa can be a bit of a minefield. They aren’t cheap, so you want to make sure the colour, fabric and style you choose are something you’ll love for years to come. But that’s the fun bit… What isn’t fun is making sure it actually fits through your doorways and into its new home.

With front doors, tight corners and sometimes stairs to navigate, a little measuring now can save you a lot of stress later. And with customisable options like made-to-order and modular sofas, it’s easier than ever to find the perfect fit (don’t worry, the days of removing windows are behind us!).

So, grab your pen and paper and let’s get measuring…

Step 1: Take Your Key Sofa Measurements

First things first, you’ll want to know which sofa measurements are most important. These are:

• Width – how wide the sofa is (from arm to arm)
• Depth – how deep the sofa is (from front to back)
• Height – how tall the sofa is (important if it needs to fit under eaves or a window)
• Diagonal depth – determines if it’ll rotate through doors (from bottom left corner to top right corner when facing the side of the sofa)

Step 2: Measure Your Room

Use a tape measure (or handheld laser measure if you have one) and jot down the dimensions of the room your sofa will live in. This might seem excessive, but you want your sofa to be in proportion with the size of your room – not too big, not too small. 

A great way to check scale is by using the free version of SketchUp, which lets you digitally draw your room’s layout and any furniture, so you can see what size it really is. Photos can be deceiving, so you might actually need a bigger or smaller sofa than you originally thought.

If you’re not confident using online design tools, mark out the measurements of your preferred sofa using masking tape so you can physically see whether it’s the right size for the room.

Don’t forget to make a note of radiators, light switches, doors, plug sockets and other furniture. You might think your sofa will fit, but is the radiator in the way? Can you still access important sockets? Will your doors open properly? Does it leave enough room for the rest of your furniture?

Step 3: Measure the Route to Your Room

Once you’re confident your preferred sofa will fit in your room, you’ll need to measure all the places it will pass through, including:

• Front door
• Internal doorways
• Hallways and corridors
• Stairs and landings
• Gates and external access points
• Lifts

Remember to measure the narrowest point of each space. For example, if a door can’t open fully because of a radiator, measure the actual opening rather than the full width of the door frame. 

Watch out for low ceilings, light fittings, bannisters and tight corners too.

You’ll then want to compare these measurements with the sofa’s measurements. If the doorway is wider than the sofa’s height or depth, it should fit through easily. If the doorway is narrower, check the height of the doorway against the sofa’s width, as it may be able to fit through standing upright.

Diagonal depth is also useful for determining whether a sofa can be tilted to fit through a narrow doorway.

What to Do if Your Sofa Doesn’t Fit

Access issues can be a nuisance for those living in flats, cottages or Victorian terraces. 

But before giving up on your dream sofa, it’s worth checking whether you’re able to remove feet or plinths to claw back a few extra inches. 

If not, a modular sofa might be the best option, especially if you’re struggling to get a full-length sofa through doorways. 

Unlike traditional sofas that arrive in one piece, modular sofas are separated into smaller sections – making them easier to manoeuvre. 

They also allow you to customise the shape of your sofa by adding or removing sections, taking you from a 2-seater to an L-shape or U-shape as your family grows.

So, if you want to make sure your new sofa will fit, stick with the age-old advice: measure twice, order once! Okay… you’ll probably need to measure more than twice, but it’ll definitely be worth it when you’re relaxing on your new comfy sofa.

If you’ve ordered a sofa from MFI, we’d love to see it! Share your pics by tagging us on Facebook or Instagram.