Sofa Size Calculator

What size sofa fits your room?

1Your room

Wall widthmRoom depthm

How many people should seat?

What's the arrangement?

A single sofa against the longest wall — the arrangement that suits most sitting rooms.

2Getting it in

The measurement most people skip. A sofa that fits the room but not the hallway goes back on the van.

Narrowest doorwaycmDoorway heightcm

Does it turn a corner on the way in?

Any stairs on the way?

Estimates only — sofa dimensions vary by maker, and arm width differs enormously between styles. Always check the listed measurements before ordering.

How to measure

How to measure for a sofa

What size sofa fits comes down to three measurements — and the one that catches people out is the doorway, not the wall.

Measure the wall

Measure the wall the sofa will sit against, then take 15 to 20cm off each end. A sofa wedged wall to wall looks built in, and never in a good way.

Check the clearances

Leave 40 to 45cm between sofa and coffee table — close enough to reach a cup — and at least 75cm for a walkway behind it.

Measure the way in

Every doorway, turn and stairwell between the front door and the room. A sofa goes through on its side, so the depth is what has to clear.

The method

What size sofa fits a room?

A sofa is sized by the wall it sits against and the space it leaves in front, not by the room's floor area. We start from your wall, hold back the margins a room needs to breathe, then check the result will physically get through your door.

Take the wall the sofa will sit against and deduct 15 to 20cm at each end.
Check the room depth still leaves 75cm to walk past and 40cm to the table.
Divide the length by the seats you need — 55 to 60cm each is comfortable.
Measure the doorway and the turn, then confirm the depth will clear.

When in doubt, go shorter and deeper. A sofa that is slightly too small reads as considered; one that is slightly too big makes the whole room look like a mistake.

Two seats, three seats

A two-seater runs 140 to 170cm, a three-seater 180 to 220cm. The label is optimistic — a "three-seater" at 180cm seats three only if nobody minds touching.
Depth decides the sit

Under 90cm is upright and formal. Around 100cm suits most rooms. Beyond 110cm you are buying a lounging sofa, and anyone under 5'6" will need a cushion behind them.
Arms cost you seat

A rolled arm can take 25cm off each end. Two sofas of identical length can differ by half a seat, so compare seat width rather than overall length.

Sofa sizes

Standard sofa sizes

Every size checked against the wall and doorway you entered above.

Type	Size	Notes	For your room
Loveseat	140 × 90 cm	Snug pairs, flats, and the second sofa in a bay.	Fitsroom and doorway
Two-seater	170 × 95 cm	The standard small-room sofa. Comfortable for two adults.	Fitsroom and doorway
Three-seaterRecommended	200 × 100 cm	The default. Seats three properly at 200cm and above.	Fitsroom and doorway
Large three-seat	230 × 105 cm	Generous sit, deep cushions. Wants a wall of 260cm or more.	Fitsroom and doorway
Four-seater	260 × 105 cm	Open-plan rooms and long walls. Rarely fits a terraced sitting room.	Fitsroom and doorway
Corner / chaise	250 × 170 cm	Wraps a corner. Measure both walls — the return is what catches people out.	Fitsroom and doorway

A deep linen sofa in a bay window — "Measure the doorway before you fall in love with the sofa. The hallway decides, not the showroom."

Frequently Asked Questions

What size sofa fits my room?

Measure the wall the sofa will sit against and take 15 to 20cm off each end. For a 3.6m wall that gives a maximum of about 320cm, so a three-seater at 200 to 230cm sits comfortably with room to breathe.

How much space do you need around a sofa?

Leave 75cm for any walkway behind or beside it, 90cm where it is the main route through the room, and 40 to 45cm between the sofa and the coffee table.

How do I measure for a sofa?

Three measurements: the wall it sits against, the room depth in front of it, and every doorway, turn and stairwell between the front door and the room. The third is the one people skip.

How deep should a sofa be?

Around 90cm is upright and formal, 100cm suits most rooms, and beyond 110cm you are buying a lounging sofa. Deep seats need deep rooms — every extra centimetre of depth is one less in your walkway.

How much seat width does one person need?

55 to 60cm each is comfortable. Divide the sofa length minus the arms by that figure and you have the honest seat count, which is often one less than the label claims.

What if the sofa will not fit through the door?

Look for a knock-down frame, where the back and arms unbolt, or a modular design delivered in sections. Removable legs alone can buy you 15cm. Ask for the packed dimensions before ordering, not after.

How far should a sofa be from the television?

Roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen diagonal. A 55 inch television wants 2 to 3.5 metres. Closer than that and you see the pixels; further and you lose the detail.

What is the most durable sofa fabric?

Look at the rub count: 20,000 Martindale is fine for a spare room, 30,000 or more for a family sitting room. Tight weaves in wool or performance linen wear best; loose bouclé and pure linen look wonderful and pill quickly under daily use.

How wide is a three-seater sofa?

Typically 180 to 220cm overall. Anything under 190cm seats three only if they are friendly — the arms take 25 to 30cm before anyone sits down.

Will my sofa fit through the door?

A sofa goes through a doorway on its side, so what has to clear is the depth, not the length. Allow 4cm of hand room. A standard 76cm internal door takes most sofas up to about 100cm deep.

What size sofa for a small living room?

A two-seater at 150 to 170cm, or a compact three-seater at 180cm with slim arms. Choose raised legs and a low back — seeing floor beneath the sofa makes a small room read larger.

Is a corner sofa a good idea in a small room?

Rarely. A corner sofa fixes the layout permanently and eats two walls. In a small room, a sofa plus one armchair gives the same seating with far more flexibility.

Should the sofa be against the wall?

Not necessarily. Floating a sofa 10 to 15cm off the wall makes a room feel more considered, and in a large or open-plan space a sofa with its back to the room defines the seating zone.

How long should a sofa be compared to the rug?

The rug should be at least as wide as the sofa, and ideally wider than the whole seating group. Our rug size calculator works this out alongside your furniture.

How much does a good sofa cost?

A frame that lasts starts around £1,200 and rises steeply with hand-tied springs, feather fill and heavier fabrics. Below about £700 you are buying a stapled softwood frame and foam that will flatten within a few years — fine for a rental, false economy for a home.

Once you know the size, choose the sofa

Filter by brand, colour and style.

Browse all sofas

A linen corner sofa in an open-plan room

Brands

The sofa brands we love

The brands we love

Heal's

A British design institution, pairing more than two centuries of heritage with beautifully made contemporary sofas.
Shop Heal's
Holloways of Ludlow

A destination for design-led sofas, bringing together modern icons and leading names in contemporary furniture.
Shop Holloways of Ludlow
Sofa Club

Soft silhouettes and generous proportions define its contemporary aesthetic, with relaxed sofas designed around everyday comfort.
Shop Sofa Club