How to take measurements for changing or moving your sofa

At first glance, this probably seems like it’ll be quite a short post. The measurements you need are just height, width, depth, job done. Right? Well, yes and no. While that is indeed a great way to get the measurements of the sofa itself, you’ll probably need a few more numbers than that if you’re trying to work out how to move or rearrange your sofa in the room it’s currently in, or you’re planning on moving it to a different area within your home, or even getting a new one altogether.

Moving a sofa in, out, or around your home can be a hard enough job as it is, made all the more difficult when you’re not 100% sure exactly which spaces it can physically get through. So, to save you some time, stress and hassle, here’s how to utilise that trusty tape measure to its full potential.

(Quick note here – if you’re just getting the dimensions for your sofa so that you can measure it up for a new loose sofa cover, you’ll be glad to hear that we’ve already detailed exactly how to do that over on our How It Works page, and there’s even a useful PDF guide.)

Measuring the sofa itself

OK, so let’s start right at the very beginning – taking the measurements of the sofa itself. You’ll need the width, the height, and the depth; in other words, how tall it is, how long it is, and how far it extends out into the room when it’s got its back right up against the wall.

Along with your tape measure, it’s also a good idea to have some good old-fashioned pen and paper handy, so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting whether it was 56.7cm, or a 65.7cm. That can end up making all the difference as to whether or not you accidentally get it wedged somewhere or not!

And of course if you’re worried about getting your sofa stuck somewhere, then it might be a good idea to consider whether you’re able to temporarily remove some bits. Its feet for example, or maybe even its arms. Some sofas are constructed in such a way that you’ll be able to do this, whereas others categorically are not – so make sure you don’t force anything if it’s resisting you!

Measure the destination

Once you’ve got the measurements of your sofa, the next stage is to size up the space you’re planning to put it, to make sure that it’s definitely going to fit. You can map it out with masking tape or newspaper to give yourself a better idea of exactly how it’ll slot into the space (or even if it can).

It’s also a good idea to have a look around the area, and try and visualise exactly how you’re going to get it into its intended space. Are there any tall or delicate ornaments or possessions that might stand to get knocked or damaged? If so, consider zipping around the room quickly to scoop all those up into a far corner, so that you’ve got a bit more wiggle room to work with.

Taking measurements for the journey

This is arguably just as important as measuring up the final destination. After all, it doesn’t matter how well it fits into the final location, if you’re not able to get it there. When you’re measuring up for delivery, the first thing you’ll need to look at is the width of your door frame. If the height of the sofa is smaller than the width of the door frame, there’s nothing to worry about – you’ll be able to slot it through no problem. But if it looks like there may be any issues of obstruction, then you’ll need to open the door as widely as it goes, and then take the measurement of its narrowest point.

So, if your sofa doesn’t look like it’s going to fit through that gap horizontally, then you may have to think about vertically. If you’re planning on putting the sofa through the door upright, then you’ll need to measure the height of your door frame to check that it exceeds the width of your sofa. Ideally it will, but if not then it might not necessarily be the end of the world – you might be able to get your furniture through it by tilting it slightly diagonally. It’s worth taking the time in advance to check out our recent post I wrote on how to get a sofa through a door.

Once you’ve managed to identify a suitable entrance point for your sofa, then you’ll next need to think about the exact route it’s going to take through the house. Take the measurements of all hallways and doors you’re planning on taking it through, and again, don’t forget about possible obstructions. You’ll need to ensure that you’ve got plenty of room to manoeuvre along the way, if you don’t want to end up re-creating your own Ross-from-Friends moment by desperately shouting PIVOT at each other in a too-tight hallway.

And of course, once your sofa is finally, safely installed exactly where you want it to be, there’s a good chance that you’re planning to keep it there for a good few years. That may mean you need to think carefully in advance whether it’s exactly the right colour you want it to be, so that it continually suits its surroundings. Or, of course, you could simply choose to switch up its appearance at will with one of our fitted sofa covers.

Here at Cover My Furniture, we take care to provide a comprehensive range of sofa covers, chair covers and more in a wide variety of colours to choose from, encompassing everything from red and orange to blue and yellow – and plenty more! And if you’re having trouble making a decision, or you’re looking for something in particular, don’t hesitate to let one of us know. You can get in touch using the contact form on our website, or through our Facebook or Instagram. We’re always happy to hear from you!