A standard corner sofa with an ottoman in the UK usually measures between 240cm and 290cm along its longest side, with a return arm of roughly 170cm to 220cm and a depth of about 90cm to 100cm on the seating sections. The ottoman itself typically adds an extra 100cm to 160cm when positioned at the open end, and around 60cm to 90cm when used as a separate movable footstool.
Those figures cover most designs sold here, but the useful number is not the sofa size alone. It is the total floor area the arrangement occupies once you add clearance for walking and sitting. This guide explains both.
Every corner sofa is described by three dimensions: overall width, overall depth and height. On a corner unit, width and depth refer to the two arms of the L rather than a single straight line.
Overall width is measured along the longer arm from the outside edge of one arm to the outside edge of the corner. Overall depth is the same measurement taken along the shorter return. Height is measured from the floor to the top of the back cushion, usually between 80cm and 95cm.
Seat depth is a fourth figure worth finding. It measures from the front edge of the seat to the face of the back cushion and typically ranges from 55cm to 65cm. This is what determines how comfortable the sofa feels, and it is often omitted from listings, so check the specification carefully.
Compact corner sofas start at roughly 180cm to 210cm on the long side, with a return of 140cm to 160cm. These suit terraced living rooms and flats where the seating needs to fit into a single corner without blocking a doorway.
Medium corner sofas, which cover the majority of the market, run from about 220cm to 260cm with a return of 160cm to 190cm. These comfortably seat four to five people and fit most semi detached living rooms.
Large corner sofas extend from 270cm to 320cm or more, with returns beyond 200cm. These need a generous room or an open plan space, and they usually require the seating group to be positioned away from the walls rather than tucked into a corner.
Our full range of modern corner sofas UK sale lists each of these figures per model, which makes it straightforward to compare across size bands.
Ottomans come in two forms and they affect space very differently.
A fixed ottoman section, sometimes called an ottoman end, is attached to the sofa and extends the line of the seating. It behaves much like a chaise and typically projects 100cm to 160cm from the main body. Because it is part of the unit, you must include it in the overall width or depth when planning.
A separate ottoman footstool is a movable box, usually 60cm to 90cm square or 100cm to 120cm rectangular, and 40cm to 45cm high. Its advantage is flexibility. Push it against the sofa to create a lounger, pull it into the room as extra seating, or slide it aside entirely when floor space is needed. If you prefer this flexibility, our modern foot stools UK sale covers a range of sizes and storage options.
A sofa that fits on paper can still make a room unusable. Add these clearances to the sofa dimensions when planning.
Allow 60cm to 75cm for any walkway that people use regularly. Allow 40cm to 45cm between the front edge of the seat and the coffee table, which is enough to pass through sideways and to reach a cup comfortably. Allow 90cm in front of a door so it can open fully. If the sofa sits in front of a radiator, leave a gap of at least 10cm behind it so heat can circulate.
Add these together and a 240cm corner sofa with a 120cm ottoman end realistically needs a wall run of around 300cm and a clear area of roughly 300cm by 250cm for the whole group.
Back height rarely causes a physical problem, but it affects how large the room feels. In rooms with ceilings under 2.4m, a back height of 80cm to 85cm keeps sightlines open. Taller backs of 95cm and above suit rooms with higher ceilings or period proportions.
If the sofa sits under a window, measure the sill height. A back that rises above the sill blocks light and looks awkward from outside as well as inside.
Corner sofas almost always arrive in separate sections, which makes access easier, but the largest single piece still has to get in. Measure the narrowest point of the route: the front door opening, the hallway width, the turn at the bottom of the stairs and any internal doorway.
Compare that against the largest section dimensions listed in the product specification rather than the assembled size. Remember that a section can often be tilted diagonally, which gives extra clearance, but a tight 90 degree turn in a narrow hall is harder to solve than a low door frame.
The most reliable planning method costs nothing. Use masking tape to mark the full outline of the sofa and ottoman on the floor, including the projection of the ottoman end.
Then live with it. Walk the routes you use daily, open the doors, sit on a dining chair placed at the seat position and see whether the coffee table distance feels right. Most sizing mistakes reveal themselves within an hour of doing this.
As a rough guide, allow 55cm to 60cm of seat width per adult. A 240cm corner sofa with a 170cm return offers roughly 340cm of usable seating once arms are deducted, which seats five adults reasonably and four comfortably.
The corner seat itself is the least comfortable position on most units because the back cushions meet at an angle, so do not count it as a full place when planning for guests. An ottoman adds one informal perch, not a proper seat.
If the ottoman includes storage, check the internal depth rather than the external height. A 45cm high ottoman may offer only 25cm of usable space once the frame and lid are accounted for.
Deeper compartments take bedding and larger items. Shallow ones suit throws, remote controls and games. In smaller homes this can be the difference between the living room staying tidy and needing another storage unit. Pair it with a low cabinet from our modern storage furniture UK range if the living room doubles as a family space.
Standard sizes assume a rectangular room with clear walls, which describes very few homes here. Chimney breasts, bay windows, alcoves and awkward radiator positions all reduce the usable wall run.
Measure the wall at skirting level rather than at waist height, since skirting boards, pipe boxing and picture rails all change the available space. Where a chimney breast projects, decide whether the sofa will sit across it or tuck into the alcove beside it, and measure the alcove depth carefully because it is often shallower than it appears.
Bay windows create a different problem. A corner sofa placed against a bay rarely sits flush, which leaves a wedge of dead space behind it. In that situation a smaller unit positioned away from the bay usually works better than forcing a larger one into the recess.
Write down the room dimensions, subtract the clearances, and only then look at sofa sizes. Check the return arm as carefully as the main length, since that is where most fitting problems occur. Decide between a fixed ottoman end and a movable footstool based on how flexible the room needs to be. Confirm the delivery route against the largest section, not the assembled unit.
Every product page at Furniture in Fashion lists full dimensions so you can plan accurately before ordering, and we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Most corner sofas measure between 220cm and 260cm on the longest side with a return of 160cm to 190cm, and a depth of around 90cm to 100cm.
Allow 60cm to 75cm for walkways and 40cm to 45cm between the seat front and the coffee table. Doors need around 90cm to open fully.
A fixed ottoman end is included in the overall measurement. A separate footstool is measured independently and can be moved out of the way when needed.
A medium sized unit seats four comfortably and five at a push. The corner seat is the least comfortable position, so do not count it as a full place.
Usually yes, because these sofas are delivered in sections. Measure the narrowest point of the route and compare it with the largest individual section rather than the assembled size.
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