How to Measure Up for Chaise Sofas: A Simple Sizing Guide

To measure up for a chaise sofa, you need four things: the length of the wall it will sit against, the depth the chaise will reach into the room, the walkways and clearances around it, and the size of every doorway and staircase on the way in. Decide which side the chaise should sit before you measure, mark the full outline on the floor, and compare the sofa’s depth and height with your narrowest access point.

A chaise sofa behaves much like a compact L shape, so it helps to browse our modern corner sofas UK range alongside chaise designs to see how the footprints compare.

What you need before you start

• A metal tape measure, ideally at least five metres long
• Masking tape or painter’s tape for marking the floor
• A notepad, or a sketch of the room on squared paper
• A second person, which makes measuring long walls and stairs far easier

Measure in centimetres throughout. Most sofa dimensions are listed this way, and it avoids confusion when comparing.

Step one: decide which way the chaise faces

Chaise sofas are sold as left hand facing or right hand facing, and the terms confuse a lot of people. In most cases, the side is described as you stand in front of the sofa looking at it. A right hand facing chaise has the chaise on your right as you face the sofa. Some retailers describe it from the seated position instead, so always check the product description or diagram before ordering.

Think about where the chaise is most useful. It is usually best placed away from the main entrance to the room, so it does not block the path. It also works well near a window for reading, or angled towards the television.

Some chaise sofas are reversible, allowing the chaise cushion to be moved to either side. These are useful if you rent or expect to move, and our full sofas UK sale collection notes where a design offers this option.

Step two: measure the wall

Measure the full length of the wall where the back of the sofa will sit. Then note anything that interrupts it: radiators, sockets, light switches, windows that open inwards and doorways. A sofa can sit in front of a radiator, but leaving a small gap helps heat circulate and protects the upholstery.

As a general guide, leave a little space at each end of the sofa so it does not look squeezed into the room. A sofa that fills the wall from corner to corner often feels heavier than one with breathing room either side.

Step three: measure the chaise depth

The chaise is the part that extends forward from the main seat. Its depth is usually listed as the total depth of the sofa at the chaise end. This is the measurement that most often catches people out, because it pushes much further into the room than the main seat.

Measure from the wall outwards to see how far the chaise would reach. Then check what sits in its path: a door swing, a walkway, a fireplace hearth, or a piece of furniture you plan to keep.

Step four: plan your clearances

Comfortable movement around a sofa is what makes a room feel easy to use. Some useful working distances for UK living rooms:

• Around 45 to 60cm between the front of the sofa and a coffee table
• Around 75 to 90cm for a main walkway that people use every day
• Enough space for any doors, including cupboard and French doors, to open fully

In smaller rooms you may need to compromise on one of these, but it is better to decide that on paper than discover it on delivery day.

Step five: mark the outline on the floor

Once you have a shortlist, take the listed width of the main sofa and the depth of the chaise, and mark the complete outline on the floor with masking tape. Include the full footprint, not just the seat.

Leave the tape down for a day or two and live with it. Walk around it, open the doors, carry a tray past it. You will quickly see whether the chaise feels generous or intrusive, and whether you have chosen the right side.

It is also worth checking against the other pieces in the room. A rug should ideally sit partly under the front of the sofa and chaise to anchor the seating area. Our modern rugs UK collection lists sizes clearly, which makes this easy to plan alongside the sofa.

Step six: measure the route into the room

Many sofas that fit the room perfectly still struggle to get through the front door. Measure every point the sofa needs to pass:

• The front door, including the height and the width once the door is fully open
• The hallway width, and any radiators or tables that narrow it
• Any internal doors on the route
• Stair width, the headroom above the stairs and the space at any turn or landing
• Lifts in blocks of flats, including internal depth and door width

Sofas are usually carried on their end or tilted, so the depth and height of the sofa matter more than its length. Compare the sofa’s depth with your door width. If they are close, look at the diagonal depth.

Understanding diagonal depth

Diagonal depth is the measurement that tells you whether a sofa can be tilted through a doorway. To estimate it, imagine a straight line from the top back corner of the sofa to the top front edge of the arm or seat. The diagonal depth is the distance from the bottom back corner up to that line, at a right angle.

If the diagonal depth is smaller than the width of your doorway, the sofa can usually be tilted back and carried through. Some retailers list this figure; if not, you can ask before ordering.

Sectional and modular chaise sofas

Many chaise sofas arrive in two pieces: the main sofa and the chaise unit, which join together in the room. This makes delivery much simpler in terraced houses, flats and lofts. Check the dimensions of each piece separately and measure your access against the largest part.

Product descriptions usually state whether a design arrives in sections, which is worth checking carefully if your stairs are narrow or your hallway has a tight turn.

A chaise sofa or a separate chaise chair?

If your measurements show that a chaise sofa would crowd the room, there is another route. A standard two or three seater paired with a separate chaise lounge chair gives one person space to stretch out while keeping the layout more flexible. Our modern chaise lounge chairs UK range includes designs that can sit beside a sofa or in a bay window.

This approach also suits rooms with awkward access, as two smaller pieces are easier to deliver than one large one.

Common measuring mistakes

A few small oversights account for most delivery day problems. Watch out for these:

• Measuring the seat rather than the whole sofa. Arms, back cushions and feet all add to the external dimensions.
• Ignoring skirting boards. They push the sofa a couple of centimetres away from the wall, which matters in a tight alcove.
• Forgetting door handles and door stops. These reduce the usable width of a doorway more than most people expect.
• Overlooking light fittings on the stairs. A low pendant or a wall light can block a sofa being tilted upwards.
• Choosing the wrong chaise side. Checking orientation against the retailer’s diagram avoids this entirely.

Measuring for an open plan space

In an open plan room, a chaise sofa often floats away from the walls to define a seating area. In that case the back of the sofa is on show, so check how it is finished. Leave a comfortable walkway behind it if people will pass between the sofa and a kitchen or dining area, and use a rug to anchor the arrangement so it does not feel adrift in the room.

Before you order

Run through a final check. Is the chaise on the correct side? Have you allowed for walkways and door swings? Will the largest piece pass through every doorway and up every stair? Have you lived with the taped outline for long enough to be sure?

For a broader look at construction and quality points when choosing a larger sofa, our guide to what to look for in a UK corner sofa set covers frames, cushions and upholstery in detail.

We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes. Returns are available up to 30 days. When your measurements are ready, you can browse chaise sofas and our wider range of modern furniture UK at Furniture in Fashion.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I need a left or right hand chaise?

Stand where you will face the sofa and decide which side you want the chaise on. Then check how the retailer describes orientation, as some use the seated view instead.

How much space should I leave in front of a chaise sofa?

Around 45 to 60cm to a coffee table is comfortable, with roughly 75 to 90cm for a main walkway past the chaise end.

Can a chaise sofa go in front of a radiator?

Yes, but leave a small gap behind the sofa so heat can circulate and the upholstery is not exposed to direct heat for long periods.

What if the sofa will not fit through my door?

Look for a design that arrives in sections or has removable legs, and compare its diagonal depth with your doorway width before ordering.