Sofa Dimensions & Measuring Guide: Ensure Your Sofa Fits Your Space

A sofa is one of the most important pieces of furniture you’ll buy. It’s a place to relax after a long day, catch up on your favourite TV shows and socialise with friends and family. Without a sofa, your living room would just look, to put it bluntly, odd. 

When it comes to buying a new sofa, there are plenty of things to take into consideration. It has to be comfortable as you’ll no doubt be spending a lot of time on it. It needs to suit your personal style and taste. And, it has to fit the room perfectly. To help you make sure that your chosen sofa is the right match, we’ve put together this handy guide full of everything you’ll need to know about sofa dimensions and all the necessary measurements.

What is the Standard Size of a Sofa?

First of all, we’ll answer the question on everyone’s lips…what is the standard size of a sofa? Well, it should come as no surprise when we say that the size of the sofa varies depending on the type and style. Generally though, sofas can measure anywhere between 177cm and 243cm long.

Two-Seater Sofa Dimensions

If you’re working with a smaller area, you’ll want to maximise the space and go for a more minimalistic style, so a two-seater sofa would be ideal. For example, our Model 1 two-seater sofas have a width of 175cm, a height of 83cm and are 85cm deep. This range is perfect if you’re wanting something sleek, clean and simple. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a flat owner the Model 1 offers a modern and convenient option for your small living space.

Three-Seater Sofa Dimensions

If you’re looking for a durable sofa with ample seating, then a three-seater sofa will most likely be the best option for you. At 205cm wide, 82cm high and 85cm deep, the Model 2 three-seater sofa will provide plenty of room while still being compact enough to fit in a tight spot. With a classic, mid-century style this range will add a touch of character to your home.

Corner and Chaise Sofa Dimensions

For something a little more unique, corner and chaise sofas are a fantastic option but are a little more complicated to measure up for as you’ll need to take note of more dimensions. Once you see the ultra-modern corner or chaise sofa in your home though, all of your efforts would have been worth it. 

Our corner sofas can be built to your preference. You choose if there are 2, 3, 4 or even 10 seats, whether you want a right or a left corner and with or without an ottoman. So, the dimensions for these types of sofas will vary depending on how you design. However, typically the corner sofa is a combination of one left arm, one right arm, two single seats and one corner seat.

The arms of the Model 3 are 92cm wide, 92cm deep and 71cm high. The dimensions of the middle seats are 70cm wide, 92cm deep and 71cm high. And, the corner seat dimensions are 92cm wide, 92cm deep and 71cm high.

The chaise sofas work in a similar fashion in that you have complete control on how to design them. For the chaise sofas, you’ll have one right arm, one left arm, either 1 or 2 single modules and an ottoman.

The dimensions of the arms for this style of sofa are 92cm wide, 92cm deep and 71cm high. The middle seats are 70cm wide, 92cm deep and 71cm high. And the dimensions of the ottoman are 70cm wide and 70cm deep, leaving plenty of room for you to put your feet up.

All of our modular sofas also offer you the flexibility of movement so you can transform them to fit your space simply and easily.

Sofa Bed Dimensions

Practical and stylish, our range of modern sofa beds can provide an ultra-comfortable night’s sleep for any guests and then turn back into a sofa in no time. At 86cm high, 208cm wide and 94cm deep, our sofa beds are marginally bigger than our 3-seater sofas. When pulled out the bed depth is 135cm and is roughly the size of a small double that can easily sleep two people.

How to Make Sure Your Sofa Will Fit

Now you know the dimensions of your chosen sofa, it’s time to make sure it will actually fit in your home. Here are the key areas you’ll need to measure before hitting the ‘buy now’ button.

How to Measure for a Sofa

If you’re wanting to buy a traditional style 2 or 3-seater sofa, then you’re in luck as measuring for it should be fairly quick and simple to do. First, get the width, depth and height of the sofa you're buying, if you’re buying a sofa from Sywft, you’ll find all the dimensions above, or on our individual sofa pages. Once you have those measurements, you’ll then need to take a tape measure and ensure it’ll fit in the space where you want it to go.

How to Meaure for a Corner Sofa

Measuring corner sofas is a little tricker as you’ll have to take note of more dimensions, such as the width and height of the arms, the depth of the corner seat and the other seats too, as well as the height and the width of both sides. Depending on the type of corner sofa you’re planning on buying, you may also need to find out whether it’s a right-hand or left-hand corner sofa if it’s an L-shape, as this will make a big difference.

How to Measure for a Sofa Bed

As a sofa bed has two compartments to consider, you’ll need to be extra careful when measuring and don’t forget to account for how deep it will be when turned into a bed. You’ll need to think about how it will fit in your space, both as a sofa and a bed, and whether it will look right. 

You'll also want to make sure there's enough clear space around where you want the sofa bed to go, so you know you can easily convert it when needed without bumping into other pieces of furniture. Find the dimensions of the sofa itself, and then the dimensions of when it’s been pulled out as a bed too.

Measure the Space

The first, and most obvious place to start measuring, is the space you’re planning on putting the sofa. This is where having all the dimensions required will come in handy. You’ll want to make sure that the sofa will definitely fit where you intend it to go, as well as there being a little extra space to allow for manoeuvring. You may find it beneficial to map out where your sofa will go with masking tape to help you envision it.

Measure the Front Door

As sofas typically arrive fully assembled you’ll also need to measure the front door to make sure it’ll fit through smoothly. The last thing you want is your brand new sofa getting stuck! Make sure to measure both the width and the height of the door frame to ensure you have a couple of options to carry it through, either upright or horizontally. Thankfully, with Swyft, all of our contemporary sofas arrive in a series of light boxes that can be liftable by one person. Meaning they are always guaranteed to fit through a door which makes it a stress-free and much more manageable experience.

Measure the Hallway and Internal Doors

If the living room isn’t the first room you enter through the front door, you’ll also need to measure any hallways and internal doors at their narrowest points to allow for room to move. It’s also a good idea to take note of any obstructions along the way such as side tables, mirrors, shelving or radiators.

Measure the Stairs

If you live in a flat or a townhouse, chances are you’ll need to transport the sofa upstairs. So, you’ll need to measure the width of your stairs at their narrowest points. You’ll also need to make sure that there’s enough room for the sofa to be potentially lifted over the bannister. And if there are any landings don’t forget to measure the depth, width and height of those to make it as easy as possible for you.

Measure the Lift

If your building has a lift first of all, congratulations, you won’t have to try and battle the stairs! But, you will still need to measure the open-door height, width and depth of the lift to make sure it can fit inside. It’d also be worth measuring the diagonal height of the lift just in case the sofa needs to go in at an angle.

Place the Sofa and Adjust if Needed

Once the sofa has made it to the correct room, all that’s left to do is place it in the already measured spot and adjust it to your liking.

How are Swyft Sofas different?

Does all of the above sound too stressful? If you’re looking for an easier, hassle-free way of buying a new sofa, you’ve come to the right place. Our flat packed sofas can be assembled in just 5 minutes and come in several compact boxes that are easy to lift, so measuring doors, stairs and lifts are a thing of the past. When you get your Swyft sofa, first open the boxes in order, each one is labelled to make it as easy as possible. Screw the feet into the base. Slide the back into place and push it firmly to engage. Slide both arms into place. Add the seat cushions and then add the back cushions and you’re done!

For more help and interior advice take a look at our guide on buying a sofa for small spaces to help you select the perfect piece for your home. Also, be extra prepared and read our 7 easy steps to assemble a flat-pack sofa before your sofa arrives.