Measure the room first
Start with the space the sofa will occupy. Use a tape measure and write every number down.
- Measure the wall the sofa will sit against, from corner to corner or to the nearest obstacle such as a window, radiator or door swing.
- Measure the floor space in front of it, from the wall to the nearest furniture or the edge of the walkway.
- Note anything that sticks out: baseboard heaters, vents, outlets and low windowsills.
Then compare against the sofa's overall width and depth. Width is the widest point, usually from the outside of one arm to the outside of the other. Depth is the full footprint from back to front. Our sofa dimensions guide explains each measurement and gives typical sizes by type.
A simple test helps. Mark the footprint on the floor with painter's tape, using the maker's width and depth. Walk around it. Put a chair where a side table would go. If it feels cramped in tape, it will feel worse in fabric.
Measure the way in
A sofa that fits the room can still fail at the door. Measure each of these along the route from the street to the room:
- The doorway: the clear opening, with the door open and hinges counted. Measure width and height.
- Hallways: the narrowest point, including corners and radiators.
- Stairs and landings: the width of the stairwell, the headroom and the space to turn.
- Elevators: the inside width, depth and height, and the door opening.
- The final turn into the room.
Write down the narrowest and lowest number on the route. That is the number to compare against the sofa.
Compare against the box, not just the sofa
Most online sofas ship in a box, and the box is larger than the finished sofa in some directions. Brands publish box sizes on their product pages. Here are real examples, with the sofa width for comparison:
| Model | Sofa width | Largest box | Boxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlery Pebble Loveseat | 73.2 in | 74 x 36 x 19.3 in, 105.8 lb | 1 |
| Castlery Adams Loveseat | 72 in | 72.6 x 37.2 x 20.5 in, 74.1 lb | 2 |
| Castlery Adams Sofa | 84.6 in | 85.4 x 37.2 x 20.5 in, 132.3 lb | 2 |
| Castlery Isaac Sofa | 74.8 in | 76 x 38.6 x 24.4 in, 139.6 lb | 1 |
| HERNEST Polaris 82" Sofa | 82.7 in | 84.2 x 37 x 23.8 in, 171.9 lb | 1 |
| HERNEST Natten 85" Sofa | 85 in | 85.8 x 37.7 x 26.7 in, 158.2 lb | 1 |
| HERNEST Skansen 91" Sofa | 91.3 in | 91.7 x 38.9 x 28.9 in, 198.3 lb | 1 |
| HERNEST Solace 88" Sofa | 88.2 in | 44.8 x 38.9 x 28.7 in, 92.5 lb | 2 |
| Acanva Dori Sofa | 77.2 in | 77.2 x 37.4 x 28.3 in, 140.9 lb | not stated |
| Castlery Ollie Storage Small Chaise Sectional Couch | 73.8 in | 66.3 x 38 x 27.6 in, 133.4 lb | 4 |
Look at the Castlery Isaac Sofa. The sofa is 74.8 inches wide, but the box is 76 inches long, so the box is the longer measure. A box can also be deeper than the sofa itself. The same is true for the Skansen, whose box is 91.7 inches long against a 91.3 inch sofa.
Some sofas split into smaller parts. The HERNEST Solace 88" Sofa ships in two boxes, the largest 44.8 by 38.9 by 28.7 inches, so it can go through a narrow stairwell that a single box could not. The Castlery Ollie Storage Small Chaise Sectional ships in 4 boxes, the largest 66.3 inches long. If your route is tight, a multi-box sofa is the safer choice. If a model does not list box sizes, ask the maker before you order.
Weight matters on stairs
Box weight is listed too. The Skansen's largest box weighs 198.3 pounds. The Castlery Adams Loveseat's largest box weighs 74.1 pounds. If you carry it up stairs yourself, the weight of one box and the number of boxes both matter. Shops here deliver by parcel, with white glove service, or both, so check which your shop offers before you order.
Measure a sectional twice
A sectional has two lengths. Measure both walls, and the corner between them, then mark the L on the floor. Our small sectionals list gives real sizes. The Castlery Isaac Reversible Sectional is 85.8 by 65 inches, and the Castlery Madison Chaise Sectional is 100 by 66.9 inches.
Models sold in several widths
Some brands let you choose the width. The Joybird Hughes Sofa runs from 66 to 96 inches, and the DreamSofa Augusta Sofa from 61 to 100. The price changes with the size, so measure first and pick the width that fits, rather than the cheapest one.
Before you order
- Write down the narrowest point on the route and the sofa's box size.
- Check the return window. Brands here range from 0 days to 100 days, and our price guide lists each.
- Compare your numbers with a few lists: under 72 inches, apartment sofas and over 90 inches.
Prices on this site are as of November 9, 2026.
