Sofa Size Guide
A standard sofa is 72–96 in long, typically 84 in. Get a suggested length for your wall, or compare sofa and doorway measurements. Check the full delivery route separately.
Reference table
Standard Sofa Sizes by Type
Typical ranges from US retailers and dimensions.com, with 84 in the most common couch length. Brands vary, so check the listing.
| Type | Length | Depth | Height | Seats | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loveseat | 48–72 in · 122–183 cm | 30–36 in | 30–36 in | 2 | Walls of 5 ft 4 in to 9 ft |
| Apartment sofa | 68–80 in · 173–203 cm | 30–34 in | 30–36 in | 2–3 | Walls of 7 ft 7 in to 10 ft |
| Standard sofa | 72–96 in · 183–244 cm | 35–38 in | 30–36 in | 3 | Walls of 8 ft to 12 ft |
| Large sofa | 90–118 in · 229–300 cm | 35–40 in | 30–36 in | 4 | Walls of 10 ft to 14 ft 9 in |
| L-shaped sectional | 95–130 in · 241–330 cm | 36–40 in | 30–36 in | Varies | Walls of 10 ft 7 in to 16 ft 3 in per side; comes in pieces |
Length runs arm to arm, the W on a listing. A sectional's length is per side; its short side is 60–85 in.
Room planning
What Size Sofa for Your Wall
About two-thirds of the wall, and no more than three-quarters, leaves room for end tables and walking past.
| Wall length | Sofa length | In feet | Left at each end | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 ft | 56–63 in | 4 ft 8 in – 5 ft 3 in | 10–14 in | In range: loveseat |
| 8 ft | 64–72 in | 5 ft 4 in – 6 ft | 12–16 in | In range: loveseat, apartment sofa, standard sofa |
| 10 ft | 80–90 in | 6 ft 8 in – 7 ft 6 in | 15–20 in | In range: apartment sofa, standard sofa, large sofa |
| 12 ft | 96–108 in | 8–9 ft | 18–24 in | In range: standard sofa, large sofa, sectional |
| 14 ft | 112–126 in | 9 ft 4 in – 10 ft 6 in | 21–28 in | In range: large sofa, sectional |
| 16 ft | 128–144 in | 10 ft 8 in – 12 ft | 24–32 in | In range: sectional |
Lengths round inward to the inch. A rule of thumb, not a standard: doors and windows on the wall can change the answer.
Delivery
Door Widths and What Fits Through
Standard US doors are 80 in tall. An open door, its stop and hinges take a couple of inches out of the width, so measure the clear opening.
| Door | Where it’s used | Clear opening | Clears, with 1 in to spare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | Closets and utility spaces | about 21–22 in | up to 20 in | Too narrow for a standard sofa |
| 28 in | Closets and utility spaces | about 25–26 in | up to 24 in | Diagonal depth 24 in or less |
| 30 in | Closets and utility spaces | about 27–28 in | up to 26 in | Diagonal depth 26 in or less |
| 32 in | Standard interior door | about 29–30 in | up to 28 in | Diagonal depth 28 in or less |
| 36 in | Front and accessible doors | about 33–34 in | up to 32 in | Sofas up to 32 in tall, on their back |
Measure with the door open, from the face of the door to the stop; hinges and stops vary. "Clears" is the smallest of the sofa's depth, height and diagonal depth, with 1 in to spare.
Plan a Sofa That Fits Your Room and Door
Size a Sofa to Your Wall
Enter the wall the sofa will sit against. You get a length of about two-thirds of the wall, the space left at each end and the standard sofa types in that range. Add the room depth to check the coffee table and walkway.
Size a Sofa to Your WallMeasure the Diagonal Depth
Diagonal depth decides most tight deliveries. Lay a straightedge from the top of the back to the front of the arm, then measure from the bottom back corner to it. Many listings print it; if it is under the door opening, the sofa can usually tilt through.
Add the Diagonal DepthFind the Best Way Through
Enter the sofa's depth, height and diagonal depth, then the clear door opening. The check tries the sofa upright, on its back and tilted, picks the way that leaves the most room and calls anything under 1 in to spare very tight.
Check Your DoorPlan the Turn Into a Hallway
A door that opens onto a narrow hallway is where many deliveries stall. Add the sofa length and the hallway width to see whether it turns carried flat or has to stand on end. Stairs and railings are not modelled, so treat it as a first check.
Check a Hallway TurnHow to Get a Sofa Through the Door
Measure once, then pick the way through.
- 1
Measure the sofa
Take the length from arm to arm, the depth from front to back and the height to the top of the back. Use the listing’s diagonal depth, or measure it with a straightedge.
- 2
Measure the door and the path
Measure each door opening with the door open, from the face of the door to the stop, and note its height. Then check the narrowest hallway and any turn right after a door.
- 3
Choose the way through
Enter the numbers and carry the sofa the way that leaves the most room. If it is tight, remove the legs, take the door off its hinges and wrap the sofa before moving it.
When Measuring Pays Off
Buying a sofa online
Check the listing’s size against your wall and your front door before you order, so the delivery does not end at the doorstep.
Moving to a new home
Older buildings often have narrow doors and tight hallway turns. Measure them before moving day to decide whether the old sofa comes along.
Rearranging the living room
Before swapping in a bigger sofa, check that a coffee table and a comfortable walkway still fit in front of it.
FAQ
Sofa and Couch Questions
A standard three-seat couch is 72–96 in long, typically 84 in (213.4 cm), about 35–38 in deep and 30–36 in tall. Loveseats run 48–72 in and apartment sofas 68–80 in. Sizes vary by brand, so check the listing's dimensions before you buy.
Aim for about two-thirds of the wall the sofa sits on, and no more than three-quarters: 80–90 in on a 10 ft wall, 96–108 in on a 12 ft wall. In front, leave 14–18 in to the coffee table and 30–36 in for walkways. These are rules of thumb, not standards.
In a 10 × 12 ft living room, a sofa on the 12 ft wall can be 96–108 in long, or 80–90 in on the 10 ft wall. With 10 ft of depth, a 38 in deep sofa leaves 82 in, room for a coffee table and a 36 in walkway. A 12 × 14 ft room takes 112–126 in on its long wall.
Measure the door opening with the door open, from its face to the stop, and compare it with the sofa’s depth, height and diagonal depth. Carry the sofa whichever way needs the least width: upright, on its back or tilted. Removing the legs and taking the door off its hinges both buy extra room.
Usually, if its depth, height or diagonal depth is at least 1 in less than the clear opening. A 36 in front door opens to about 33–34 in, and a 32 in interior door to about 29–30 in, so many sofas need to tilt through. Enter both above to check yours.
The distance from the bottom back corner of the sofa to a straightedge laid from the top of the back to the front of the arm. It is the narrowest the sofa’s side profile gets, so the door only has to be wider than it. Pottery Barn notes that armless pieces use the back height instead.
Turning flat takes a lot of room: through a 34 in opening into a 36 in hallway, a sofa 33 in thick turns only if it is under 32.8 in long. Movers stand long sofas on end instead, which needs a ceiling taller than the sofa is long. Stairs and railings aren’t modelled here.
Large four-seat sofas run about 90–118 in long and 35–40 in deep. L-shaped sectionals are about 95–130 in per side, with a short side of 60–85 in, and 36–40 in deep. Sectionals arrive in pieces, so check the largest piece against your door.