How the sofa size calculator works
There are two tabs:
- Sofa for my room: enter the length of the wall the sofa will sit against, the depth of the room, the number of seats you want and whether you have side tables. You get the sofa length to look for, the longest sofa that fits the wall, a coffee table size and a rug size. A plan view shows the layout.
- Will it fit through the door? enter the size of a sofa you want to buy and the clear width of the door opening. It tells you whether the sofa should pass, and whether it fits the wall.
How long should a sofa be?
Allow about 22 in (56 cm) for each seat, plus about 18 in (46 cm) for the arms.
| Seats | Typical length |
|---|---|
| 2 (loveseat) | 62 in (157 cm) |
| 3 | 84 in (213 cm) |
| 4 | 106 in (269 cm) |
| 5 or a small sectional | 128 in (325 cm) |
Real sofas vary a lot. Look at the seat width, not only the overall length, since thick arms can take 10 in from each end.
How much space should you leave?
- At the ends: a sofa against a wall looks best with a side table at one or both ends. A side table needs about 24 in (60 cm).
- In front of the sofa: leave 14 to 18 in (35 to 45 cm) between the sofa and the coffee table, close enough to reach, and far enough for your knees.
- Walkways: keep at least 30 in (76 cm) clear where people walk, and 36 in (91 cm) for a main route.
- Behind a floating sofa: about 30 in, so you can walk behind it.
The coffee table
A coffee table should be about two thirds of the sofa length, 16 to 18 in high (about the height of the seat), and 20 to 24 in wide. If you have a small room, a round table or two nesting tables are easier to walk around.
The rug
The front legs of the sofa should rest on the rug. The calculator picks the smallest standard rug that is at least 12 in longer than the sofa, so that the sofa sits comfortably on it. For a 3-seat sofa, that is about 5 × 8 ft or 6 × 9 ft. Our rug size calculator gives more options.
How deep should a sofa be?
Most sofas are 36 to 40 in (91 to 102 cm) deep. A deep sofa of 40 in or more is comfortable for lounging, but it takes up a lot of floor. A shallower sofa of 32 to 35 in suits a small room and is easier to get up from.
Will a sofa fit through the door?
The smallest side of the sofa, which is usually its height or its depth, must be less than the width of the door opening. Measure the door opening, not the door, with the door open at a right angle. A 36 in door often gives only about 33 to 34 in of clear space.
- Take the legs off, if they unscrew, to gain 4 to 8 in of height.
- Take the door off the hinges, to gain about 1 in.
- Take off the back or the arms, if the sofa is made in sections.
- Check the hall, the turns and the stairs. A tight turn is often harder than the door itself.
- Measure the lift, if you have one. The diagonal is often the best fit.
Worked examples
A 14 ft wall, 12 ft deep, 3 seats
You need a sofa of about 84 in. The wall can take up to 168 in, so you have lots of room. A coffee table of about 56 in and a 5 × 8 ft rug suit it.
A short wall with side tables at both ends
A wall of 8 ft with a 24 in side table at each end leaves 48 in, which is not enough for any sofa. Remove a side table, or use the longer wall.
A sofa 84 in long, 36 in deep and 32 in high
The smallest side is 32 in. A door opening of 35 in is enough, with a margin of 3 in.
Common mistakes
- Not measuring the route. The sofa has to reach the room, not only fit in it.
- Buying the largest sofa that fits. Leave breathing space, and room to walk.
- Forgetting the arms. A deep arm takes a lot of length, and gives little seating.
- Pushing the sofa against the table. Leave 14 to 18 in for knees and cups.
- Choosing a rug that is too small. A small rug in the middle looks like a postage stamp.
Tips
- Mark the sofa on the floor with painter’s tape, and live with it for a day.
- Cut a cardboard box the size of the sofa, and walk it along the route.
- In a small room, choose a sofa with slim arms and raised legs, which looks lighter.
- Check the seat height and depth in a shop, and sit on it.
