Before buying a sofa, measure three things: its footprint in the room, the space you need to use it comfortably and the complete delivery route. A sofa that fits the wall can still block a doorway, crowd a coffee table or fail to turn through the entrance.
Use the product’s actual dimensions, not labels such as compact, three-seater or apartment-size. Those descriptions are useful for browsing, but they do not establish whether a particular model will work at home.
Draw the room before choosing a size
Make a simple plan showing walls, doors and their opening arcs, windows, fixed cabinets and anything else you cannot move. Record where people walk between the entrance, seating and adjacent rooms. Include curtains and furniture that project beyond the wall.
Now mark a possible sofa footprint with removable tape that is suitable for your floor. Place a chair or boxes at the proposed corners to make the outline easier to notice. Walk through the room carrying something ordinary, such as a laundry basket. The useful question is whether your household can move naturally, rather than whether the outline technically fits.
For coordinating materials after the size is settled, see our article on solid wood furniture.
Record these sofa measurements
| Measurement | Why it belongs on your worksheet |
|---|---|
| Overall width | Defines the space occupied along the wall. |
| Overall depth | Shows how far the sofa projects into the room. |
| Overall height | Affects its relationship with windows and surrounding furniture. |
| Chaise projection | Can change the main walking route. |
| Open sleeper or recliner size | Shows the space needed during actual use. |
| Seat height and depth | Help compare how different models feel when sitting. |
| Largest delivery piece | Allows the delivery team to assess access. |
Confirm the side of a chaise using the retailer’s diagram. A description such as left-facing can be misunderstood if buyer and seller imagine different viewpoints.
Measure the route from outside to the room
IKEA’s sofa-sizing guide highlights entrances, corridors, room doors, stairs and lifts as measurements that can affect the purchase. Treat each narrow point and turn as a separate part of the route.
- Measure clear openings, taking account of fixed obstructions.
- Record corridor widths and the space available at corners.
- Include lift interiors, lift doors and stair landings.
- Photograph awkward turns for the delivery team.
- Confirm which components can be removed by the supplier.
A doorway wider than one sofa dimension is not proof of access. The package must also turn and move into position. Send your measurements and photographs to the retailer and request confirmation for the actual delivery pieces.
A footprint example
Illustrative example: a usable wall is 320 centimetres wide. A 220-centimetre sofa leaves 100 centimetres across that wall, or 50 centimetres at each end if centred. That arithmetic says nothing about a door opening beside it.
If the sofa is 95 centimetres deep, mark that full depth on the floor. Add the coffee table and a taped outline for any extended recliner or sofa bed. A narrower model with a deeper chaise may obstruct more of the route than a wider straight sofa.
Repeat the exercise with two shortlisted models. Record what changes rather than relying on memory after a showroom visit.
Mistakes to avoid
- Measuring only the wall and overlooking the sofa’s depth.
- Assuming removable legs solve every delivery problem.
- Using product dimensions when the package is larger.
- Testing a recliner only in its closed position.
Before ordering
- Keep the manufacturer’s dimension drawing.
- Approve the taped footprint with the household.
- Confirm delivery-piece dimensions and the access assessment.
- Check delivery restrictions and return conditions.
Two final questions
How much space should I leave around the sofa?
Start with the routes, doors and furniture you actually use. Tape them out and check the relevant accessibility requirements for your home; a generic styling distance is not a substitute.
Will a modular sofa solve a narrow entrance?
It may help, but check the dimensions of every module and the required assembly space. Ask the delivery team to assess the largest component and difficult turns before ordering.
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