Measuring for Your New Sofa: A Step-by-Step Guide

Buying a new sofa is exciting—but nothing’s worse than finding out it doesn’t fit your space. Before you fall in love with a style, you’ll want to make sure the dimensions work in your room. Careful measuring ensures your sofa not only fits through the door, but also looks great and functions well once it’s inside.

Why Measuring Matters

A sofa is often the largest piece of furniture in a room. Proper measurements help you:

• Avoid returns or delivery hassles
• Maximize walking space and flow
• Ensure compatibility with doors, hallways, and elevators

Step 1: Know Your Sofa Dimensions

On every product page, you’ll find:

• Overall dimensions: width (L), depth (D), and height (H)
• Seat depth: key to comfort
• Clearance: if you’re considering a sleeper or recliner, check how much room it needs fully extended

Pro Tip: Use painter’s tape to mark out the sofa’s footprint on your floor. Live with it for a day—walk around it, see how it feels with your other furniture, and check the flow of the room.

Step 2: Measure Your Room

• Length & Width: Measure wall-to-wall and confirm your taped area works with the room’s proportions.
• Pathways: Leave 30–36" clear for walkways.

Other Furniture: Make sure there’s space for side tables, coffee tables, and rugs without feeling cramped.

Step 3: Measure Entryways

• Doorways & Hallways: Check the height and width of all entry points.
• Staircases & Elevators: Account for tight corners and low ceilings.

Delivery Angle: Remember, your sofa will arrive fully boxed—measure for both the box and the sofa itself.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to leave space behind a reclining sofa?

Traditional recliners need about 6–8 inches of clearance from the wall.

Q: What about Coddle’s “wall hugger” designs?

Many of our sofas are designed as wall huggers, which means you don’t have to move them around to convert from sofa to lounger or sleeper—super convenient for everyday living.

Q: What if I live in a small apartment?

Consider a loveseat, sofa bed, or modular sectional that ships in pieces and adapts to tighter layouts.

Final Thoughts

Measuring might feel like an extra step, but it saves you time, stress, and frustration. By checking your sofa’s dimensions, taping the footprint, and confirming entryways, you’ll feel confident your new piece fits perfectly—and looks right at home.

At Coddle, our mission is to design furniture that adapts to real life. From sleeper sectionals with storage to modular sofas built for small spaces, we make it easier to bring comfort home—without the guesswork.