Sofa Size Guide: How to Measure Your Room, Doors and Stairs
A three-seat sofa is usually 180 to 230 cm long and 85 to 100 cm deep. Before you buy, measure the wall, leave about 45 cm to the coffee table and 75 to 90 cm for walkways, and check that the sofa's depth fits through every door on the way in.
Key takeaways
- Typical three-seat sofa: 180 to 230 cm long (71 to 91 in) and 85 to 100 cm deep (33 to 39 in).
- Leave about 45 cm (18 in) between the sofa and the coffee table.
- Keep main walkways 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 in) wide.
- A sofa often looks best at about two thirds of the wall it stands against.
- The door test: the door opening must be wider than the sofa's depth or height, whichever way it is carried.
- Measure the whole route, from the front door through halls, turns and stairs.
What are the standard sofa sizes?
A three-seat sofa is usually 180 to 230 cm long and 85 to 100 cm deep. A two-seat sofa or loveseat is shorter, and an armchair is roughly a metre or less wide. These are typical ranges, not fixed standards, so always check the exact size of the model you like.
| Piece | Length | Depth | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-seat sofa | 180–230 cm (71–91 in) | 85–100 cm (33–39 in) | 75–90 cm (30–35 in) |
| Two-seat sofa / loveseat | 130–170 cm (51–67 in) | 85–100 cm (33–39 in) | 75–90 cm (30–35 in) |
| Armchair | 75–100 cm (30–39 in) | 80–95 cm (31–37 in) | 75–95 cm (30–37 in) |
What sizes are our living room pieces?
Here are the exact sizes of our pieces at Home Centre Green, Hamilton, Ontario, as length x depth x height:
| Piece | Centimetres | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Taupe Turkish sofa (three-seat) | 220 x 90 x 80 cm | 86.6 x 35.4 x 31.5 in |
| Taupe shell-back accent chair | 90 x 90 x 80 cm | 35.4 x 35.4 x 31.5 in |
| Black coffee table | 120 x 60 x 50 cm | 47.2 x 23.6 x 19.7 in |
| Electric fireplace TV stand | 180 x 40 x 50 cm | 70.9 x 15.7 x 19.7 in |
How long should a sofa be for your wall?
A common design guide is a sofa about two thirds the length of the wall it stands against. That leaves room at the ends for a side table, a lamp or a walkway, and keeps the sofa from looking squeezed in.
| Wall length | Sofa length |
|---|---|
| 3 m (9 ft 10 in) | about 200 cm (79 in) |
| 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in) | about 220 cm (87 in), our Turkish sofa |
| 4 m (13 ft 1 in) | about 265 cm (104 in), or a sofa plus a chair |
| 5 m (16 ft 5 in) | about 330 cm (130 in), or two pieces |
How much space do you need around a sofa?
The sofa itself is only part of the footprint. Plan these clearances, and the room will feel comfortable to use:
- Sofa to coffee table: about 45 cm (18 in), between 40 and 50 cm.
- Main walkways: 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 in), so two people can pass.
- Minor paths: at least 60 cm (24 in), for example behind a chair.
- Sofa to TV: far enough to see the whole screen without turning your head. For a 4K TV, about 1.2 to 1.6 times the screen size is a good guide, roughly 1.7 to 2.6 m for a 55 to 65 inch TV; our TV stand size guide has the full chart.
Our coffee table size guide explains the table length and height in detail, and our rug size guide shows how the rug fits under the seating.
How do you measure for a sofa, step by step?
- Measure the wall where the sofa will go, and note windows, radiators, vents and outlets.
- Mark the footprint on the floor with painter's tape, using the sofa's length and depth, and walk around it.
- Add the clearances: 45 cm to the coffee table and 75 to 90 cm for walkways.
- Measure every door on the way in, with the door fully open: the clear width and the height of the opening.
- Measure halls and turns: the hall width, and for any corner the width of both halls where they meet.
- Measure stairs: the stair width, the ceiling height above the stairs, and any landing or handrail that narrows the path.
Shop the look
How deep and how high should a sofa be?
Depth decides how you sit. A depth of about 85 to 95 cm suits upright sitting and conversation, while deeper sofas, around 100 cm or more, suit lounging and taller people. Seat height matters too: if your knees end up higher than your hips, the seat is too low or too deep for you. The best test is to sit for ten minutes in the position you normally watch TV, which our sofa set buying guide explains.
Still choosing between a set and one large corner sofa? Read our comparison of a sofa set vs a sectional.
Bring your measurements to our Hamilton showroom
Bring your room, door and stair measurements to Home Centre Green, 110 Lancing Dr, Unit 2, Hamilton, ON L8W 3A1, with free parking outside. Our team will check the fit with you, and our free design consultation can help you plan the whole room. Our furniture delivery guide explains how we bring the pieces in.
We are open Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. We are closed on Sundays. Call or WhatsApp us on (905) 253-0202, or send us your measurements.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size of a three-seat sofa?
Most three-seat sofas are about 180 to 230 cm long (71 to 91 in), 85 to 100 cm deep (33 to 39 in) and 75 to 90 cm high (30 to 35 in). Sizes vary by brand and style, so always check the exact dimensions. Our Turkish three-seat sofa is 220 x 90 x 80 cm.
How much space should be between a sofa and a coffee table?
About 45 cm (18 in) is the usual guide. It is close enough to reach a drink from the sofa and wide enough to walk past your knees. Between 40 and 50 cm works for most rooms; less feels cramped, and much more puts the table out of reach.
How do I know if a sofa will fit through my door?
Measure the clear width of the door opening, with the door fully open, and compare it with the sofa's depth and height. If either is smaller than the opening, the sofa can usually go through on its back or on its end. Check halls, turns and stairs on the same route.
What size sofa fits my living room wall?
A common guide is a sofa about two thirds the length of the wall, with space at each end for a side table or a walkway. On a 3.3 m wall that is about 220 cm, which is the length of our Turkish sofa. On a 3 m wall, about 200 cm looks balanced.
Home Centre Green Design Team
The team behind our Hamilton showroom. We help customers choose Turkish-made sofas, beds and carpets every day, and we write these guides to answer the questions we hear most in store.
