Guide to Standard Sofa Dimensions (in Inches)
A sofa is probably one of the largest pieces of furniture that you´ll buy in the sense of size and price. If you bought a too-small sofa, you could forget about getting that nice afternoon nap that most of us adore. On the other hand, if you buy a too-large sofa, you will probably run out of space in your living room.
So the question you ask yourself is, how do you choose the couch that fits your living room? When you start furnishing your home, it is important to know the perfect fit. This is why we’ll talk in this guide about standard sofa dimensions. When you finish reading this article, I am sure you will be familiar with different types of sofas and their dimensions.
Table of Contents
Four Aspects of Sofa Dimensions
Here are the four main sofa dimension aspects:
- Height: measure from the highest of the rear frame to the floor
- Width: measure from the back to the front arm of the sofa
- Depth: measure from the front seat cushions to the back
- Diagonal depth: measured diagonally from the top front of the arm to the lower back corner of the sofa
One question that you can possibly have in mind is, aren´t width and depth the same? A great question to be asked. While the width and the depth are identical, they are different in some sofas as the depth measures from the front to the back while the width measures the sofa´s arms.
For depth measurement, you should begin from the bottom of the sofa at the front of cushions to the back. Make sure that you start measuring from the widest part of the sofa. For instance, if you possess a Chesterfield couch with folded arms, you should measure the couch from its widest point of the arms. This is called the diagonal depth.
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Standard Dimensions For 1 to 5-seat Sofa
There are no two identical sofa styles. Some of them mean bigger measurements. So let us take a look at some standard size dimensions, this should give you a basic idea regarding width.
- Single-seater sofa: 36 inches
- 2-person sofa: 50 inches
- 3-person sofa: 78 inches
- 4-person sofa: 90 inches
- 5-person sofa: 108 inches
Common Dimensions For Standard Sofas
The most often used dimensions for standard sofas are 70-84 inches in length x 30-40 inches in width x 30-42 inches in height.
If you would like to place a coffee table in front of the sofa, bear in mind to make at least 10 to 20 inches in between for plenty of legroom, since standard sofas are usually designed to seat 3 people.
The sofa seat height and sofa back height are two dimensions from which the sofa height is made up. Most of the time, a sofa seat height varies between 17-18 inches. 30-42 inches should be the height of the total standard sofa along with a back height, but most of the time it is between 38-42 inches.
Common Dimensions For Sectional Sofas
Sectional sofas are a great option for anyone who is looking for more seating space since they are a little bit larger than standard ones. These kinds of sofas are available in different styles, sizes, and designs, but generally, you may add as many sections as you think are needed to accommodate all your guests. Sectional measurements can differ, and the reason for that is that they come in different shapes and sizes.
Let´s take a look at the most frequent sectionals and their sizes:
L-shaped Sectional Sofas
L-shaped sectionals can be placed in any corner, having seats on both sides which can usually accommodate up to 5 people. This type of sectional has standard dimensions of 95 inches by 95 inches with depths beginning with 37 inches to 40 inches.
Three-Seater Sectionals
The three-seater sectional sofa measures mostly 78 to 87 inches in length and the depth comes from 37 inches to 40 inches. The seat height varies between 15 to 20 inches taking the measure from the floor to the top of the cushion. Still, 18 inches is the standard seat height for most sofas.
Chaise Sectionals
The chaise is considered one of the most popular types of sectional sofas, with an average depth of 37 to 40 inches with various length sizes which depend on the seat number it offers. A 7 seater chaise sectional having around 190 to 210 inches in length is not something uncommon to find.
Common Dimensions for Sleeper Sofas
For people who like to take a nap on a sofa, a sleeper sofa is considered one of the most common choices. This 2-in-1 sofa is ideal for smaller apartments where there is no space for a spare bedroom, and the reason for that is that it includes a built-in bed under the seat cushions.
Let us take a look at the standard sizes for this type of sofa:
Queen-Size Sleeper
The queen-size sleeper sofa typically measures 92 inches in width, 39 inches in height, and 40 inches in depth. The sofa’s dimensions being in a bed position are mostly 89 inches in depth, taking the measurement from the back of the couch to the front of the mattress. Regarding the mattress, 72 inches in depth, 60 inches in width, and 4.5 inches in height are the average dimensions.
Full-Size Sleeper
A full sleeper sofa’s dimensions come to 36 inches in height, 78 inches in width, and 38 inches in depth. Most of the time the dimensions are 89 inches in depth measuring from the back cushions to the front of the mattress when it is in a bed position. The dimensions of a full sleeper sofa mattress are 72 inches in depth, 52 inches in width, and 4.5 inches in height.
Twin Sleeper
A twin sleeper’s standard size is 57 inches in width, 36 inches in height, and 38 inches in depth. 89 inches in depth is the measurement when it is in a bad position. The average of the mattress is 33 inches in width, 72 inches in depth, and 4.5 inches in height.
Common Dimensions for Loveseats
Loveseats are specially made 2 seater upholstered sofas for small living rooms or studio apartments. By this being said, this kind of two-seater sofa fits in almost any space. 58 to 64 inches from arm to arm is the average seat length dimension of a loveseat. While the standard loveseat varies in length and measures up to 58 inches in width, the shallower-back loveseat is a little smaller in measurement.
Common Dimensions for Futons
Futon sofas are considered to be more comfortable to sit on them rather than sleeping on and are one of the most popular pieces of furniture. A futon sofa is a shorter and more compact in comparison to an average sofa’s height. One of the thing, why it is a great choice for any room in the house, is that it doesn´t take a lot of space.
Futons are available in 6 standard sizes: loveseat, queen, full, single, and chair. 54 by 75 inches is the standard size of a futon sofa. A depth of 35 inches and a width of 84 inches is an average size of a futon sofa.
Couches with Unique Dimensions
There are also oversized sofas that don´t fall under the standard size guidelines, these are customized for larger places. Let´s see the dimensions of these sofas:
Oversized Couches
This type of sofa is a great option in case you have an open floor plan to accommodate an oversized sofa, or in case you have a living room bigger than average. People who are in need of large seating space for their guests will find an oversized couch as an ideal choice. 90 inches in width and 40 inches in depth are considered typical measurements of an oversized sofa.
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Tips on Choosing the Right Size Sofa
- To find the right sofa, first, you need to know the size of your room. By measuring the length of your space, you will find out what the maximum length of your sofa can be. Be sure to have in mind the windows, traffic, door access, and other furnishings.
- The second tip to have in mind is to decide how many seats you want the sofa to have, after that you will know how many cushions you have to buy.
- Consider buying a sectional one if you want to seat four or more people. This sofa is a great choice especially for a bigger gathering such as movie night. You won´t have any seating problems since sectionals come in different sizes, styles, and shapes.
- Consider taking afternoon naps on the sofa? With an L-shaped sectional sofa being 90 inches minimum length, you sure can. Another great option for apartments without a guest bedroom is a sleeper sofa.
- The size of your room and your comfort as well should determine the ideal height of the sofa. For instance, if your ceiling is 8-foot, you wouldn´t like to give the feeling that the ceiling is higher than it really is, that being said always pick a low-height sofa. On the other side, choose taller sofas if your ceiling is high.
- In case you decide to put a sofa beneath a window, be sure that the view will not be blocked by its height.
- The space will look less imposing if you choose sectional sofas with a lower back. Put the sofa in the middle of the room, preferably against the wall, especially if your living room has enough space.
How to Measure Your Space for a Sofa
Ordering a sofa online can feel a little scary, especially if you’re not certain of the right size of sofa for your space to fit in. Underneath, you can find an easy and fast strategy for taking a measure of your space for a sofa.
Step 1: Measure Your Space
Measure the width and length of your room. By doing this you will find out the size of a sofa your space can accommodate. If you have a bigger room with high ceilings, it would be a good idea to think about sofas on the larger side with higher backs– the sofa will look grand and poised and will be complemented by the open space. If your room has lower ceilings or you have less space available, consider buying a compact loveseat or a shorter sofa that shouldn’t overwhelm the room.
You will also have to measure the height and width of all hallways and entry doorways that you will use to carry your sofa through after it is delivered, so make sure it fits through the door.
Step 2: Tape the Area
Choose the spot where you want to put your new sofa. Leave 30″ of walking space in front of the sofa to make sure there is enough space for the natural flow of traffic through the room. If you thought about combining your sofa with a coffee table, ensure there is a minimum of 12″-18″ between these two pieces of furniture.
Put a rough rectangle on the spot where you plan to place your sofa by using masking tape. As long as you are aware of the general dimensions of a sofa, precision isn’t a necessity, you don’t want to create the perfect outline of a sofa, but a rough guideline.
Step 3: Measure the Taped Area
After you have placed your tape in a nice position and you are satisfied with the size of a rectangle you made, measure its length and width. These measurements should be used as the maximum sofa dimensions that can fit your space.
Therefore, have that in mind while buying your sofa. Search for sofas which dimensions roughly fit or are a little smaller. One thing to have in mind while choosing the sofa height is that it fits underneath any nearby shelves or windowsills, otherwise it is up to you.
Seat depth and seat height are secondary measurements, and they don’t matter so much for positioning, but rather comfort. Choose a sofa with a longer seat depth and a taller seat if you have tall members in your household, on the other hand, if they are short, do the opposite.
