Will it Fit? The Furniture Measuring Guide

Buying a new sofa or chest of drawers? Here's how to make sure the furniture you buy fits into your home

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If you've ever had the experience of ordering a new piece of furniture and then having to return it as it doesn't fit, then you'll know exactly how frustrating it can be.

So how do you make sure that furniture fits into your home? The first golden rule is to know how much room you've got to work with, so always measure up first. Think about doors opening and closing, clear access to windows and leaving enough space for other items.

Step one: measure your space

Doors

Measure the height from the floor to the top of the door frame and then the width at the narrowest point of the doorway. Then measure diagonally from the top right to the bottom left of the door frame (often tilting a piece of furniture is much easier than trying to take it through straight).

Hallways and corridors

Measure the width at the narrowest point, taking into account any fixtures on the walls that stick out such as sockets and light fittings.

Make sure you have enough room for a 'turning circle', so furniture can be pivoted to fit through the doorway.

Stairways and landings

Measure the width of the staircase (including any handrails) and also the height from the bottom step to the ceiling directly above it. Similarly, measure the ceiling height of the landing.

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Step two: choose the right size furniture

Now you know how much room you have to play with, you can start to choose furniture that will fit comfortably into the space.

Before you buy an item, map out the height, width and depth in masking tape on the walls and floor (or sketch out a floor plan), so you get a sense of how it fits into the room. Make sure there’s enough space around it and that it feels in proportion.

Using the widest measurement, check that your item can fit through any doors or hallways it needs to be carried through. Measure the length too, as it might have to be carried in vertically if space is tight.

Factor in five-to-ten extra centimetres for height clearance and for turning corners in hallways and up stairs.

Remember to allow for added width and height due to packaging and if space is really tight, think about choosing furniture with removable arms or that's partially assembled.

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Published 1.8.2026

Will it Fit? The Furniture Measuring Guide

Step one: measure your space

Step two: choose the right size furniture

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