How to Measure Before You Buy Furniture

Most furniture returns come down to one thing: it didn’t fit. A few minutes with a tape measure can save weeks of hassle.

Measure the room

Measure each wall at floor level, and note the positions of windows, doors, radiators, vents and outlets. Sketch a simple floor plan — even on paper — and mark everything that can’t move.

Measure the path in

Measure every doorway, hallway, stairway and elevator the piece will travel through. Record the width and height of each opening, and note tight turns. Compare these with the item’s smallest dimension, usually its depth or diagonal depth for sofas.

Leave room to move

Comfortable clearances to plan around:

• 30–36 inches for main walkways.
• 14–18 inches between a sofa and coffee table.
• 36 inches behind dining chairs so people can pull them out.
• 24 inches at the side of a bed for getting in and out comfortably.

Mock it up

Use painter’s tape on the floor (and on the wall, for height) to outline new pieces. Live with the outline for a day or two. It’s the easiest way to discover that a sofa blocks a door or a table makes a walkway too tight.

Check the details

Look at listed seat height, arm height and overall height, not just width. A sofa may fit the wall but sit awkwardly under a window; a desk may fit the corner but clash with a chair’s arms.

Measure twice, tape it out, and you’ll buy with much more confidence.