Will Your New Sofa Fit? How to Measure Doorways, Hallways and Stairs

A sofa will fit through your home if its diagonal depth is smaller than the narrowest opening on the route, and if it can make every turn along the way. That means measuring more than the living room. In this guide we walk through the whole journey a sofa takes, from the front gate and front door to the hallway, staircase, landing and finally the room itself. We explain how to measure the diagonal depth of a sofa, why door frames, radiators and banisters often matter more than the door width, and how to check ceiling height on stairs with a turn. There is advice for Victorian terraces with narrow halls, purpose built flats with lifts and communal corridors, and newer homes with tight landings. We also look at sofa features that make awkward access easier, such as removable feet, modular sections and detachable backs, and finish with answers to common questions....