Few things are more frustrating than ordering a beautiful sofa bed only to discover it won't fit through your front door—or that it overwhelms your living room when deployed. Proper measuring before purchase prevents these disappointments and ensures your new furniture works perfectly in your space. This guide walks you through every measurement you need to take.
Key Takeaway
Measure twice, order once. You need to consider three distinct measurement categories: the room where the sofa bed will live, the delivery path to get it there, and the furniture dimensions in both sofa and bed configurations.
Tools You'll Need
- A measuring tape at least 3 metres long
- A notepad and pen (or your phone)
- A helper for longer measurements
- Painter's tape to mark floor positions (optional but helpful)
Part 1: Room Measurements
Floor Space for the Sofa
First, determine where the sofa will sit when in its standard position. Measure the wall length where you plan to place the sofa, noting any obstructions like radiators, power points, or window frames that might limit positioning.
Don't assume a three-seater will fit just because it looks like enough space. Standard three-seater sofa beds range from 190cm to 230cm in width. Measure the actual available wall space and note it down.
💡 Buffer Zone
Leave at least 10-15cm on each side of the sofa for visual breathing room and to prevent the arms from hitting walls or adjacent furniture. A sofa crammed tight against walls looks cramped and makes accessing power points or retrieving dropped items difficult.
Floor Space for the Bed
This is where many buyers make mistakes. When your sofa bed is extended, it takes up significantly more floor space.
For pull-out mechanisms: The bed extends forward into the room. A standard pull-out adds 120-180cm to the sofa's depth, meaning a sofa that's 90cm deep in seating mode might require 250-270cm of total depth when the bed is deployed.
For click-clack mechanisms: The bed extends backward. While this preserves floor space in front, you need clearance behind the sofa for the backrest to fold down—typically 10-20cm between the sofa back and any wall.
Traffic Clearance
With the bed deployed, you still need to move around the room. Allow at least:
- 60cm for the main walkway past the bed
- 50cm on at least one side of the bed for getting in and out
- Clear access to room exits—you should never have to climb over the bed to leave
Door and Window Clearance
Check that the deployed bed won't block interior doors. Measure the door swing arc and ensure the bed edge stays clear. Also confirm that the bed won't obstruct access to windows you might need to open at night for ventilation.
✅ Floor Plan Test
Use painter's tape to mark the footprint of the sofa bed on your floor—both in sofa mode and bed mode. Live with this tape for a few days, walking around it naturally. You'll quickly discover if the size works or if you need to consider a smaller option.
Part 2: Delivery Path Measurements
Getting the sofa bed into your home often presents more challenges than fitting it in the room. Measure every point along the delivery route.
Front Door
Measure the door opening with the door fully open—not just the door frame, but the actual clear opening. Note both height and width. Most standard doors are around 80cm wide and 200cm tall, but this varies considerably, especially in older Australian homes.
Internal Doors
Measure every door the sofa must pass through, including any room doors along corridors. Internal doors are often narrower than front doors.
Hallways and Corridors
Hallway width matters, especially at corners and turns. Measure the width at the narrowest point. For L-shaped or T-shaped hallways, measure the corner turning space—this is often the limiting factor.
A long sofa navigating a tight corner may need to be tilted, lifted, or manoeuvred creatively. Professional delivery teams are skilled at this, but there are physical limits.
Stairs
For upper-level deliveries, stairs present the greatest challenge. Measure:
- The width of the staircase (measure between handrails if present)
- The ceiling height above the stairs
- The landing dimensions at any turns
- The height and width of any windows on landings (sometimes used for furniture access)
⚠️ Apartment Buildings
For apartments, also measure lift dimensions (height, width, and crucially, the depth from door to back wall). Check stairwell dimensions as a backup. Contact your building manager about any delivery restrictions or preferred access routes.
The Diagonal Rule
Furniture doesn't just slide through openings—it often needs to be tilted diagonally. Calculate the diagonal clearance of doorways using this formula:
Diagonal = √(height² + width²)
For example, a door that's 80cm wide and 200cm tall has a diagonal of about 215cm. This means furniture up to 215cm in its smallest dimension can potentially fit through diagonally (assuming there's room to manoeuvre it).
Part 3: Furniture Dimensions
When reviewing sofa bed specifications, pay attention to all three key dimensions in both modes.
Sofa Mode Dimensions
- Width: The total length across the front, including arms
- Depth: From front edge to back, including any back cushions
- Height: From floor to the top of the backrest
- Seat height: From floor to the top of the seat cushion
- Seat depth: The seating surface from front to back
- Arm height: Important for side tables and trays
Bed Mode Dimensions
- Mattress size: Usually described as single, double, queen, etc.
- Extended depth: The total space required when fully deployed
- Mattress height: Distance from floor to sleeping surface (relevant for getting in/out)
Package Dimensions
Many sofa beds are delivered in packaging that adds 5-10cm to each dimension. If delivery access is tight, confirm the packaged dimensions with the retailer. Some sofa beds can be delivered with legs or arms removed and reassembled on-site, which can help with difficult access.
Common Measurement Mistakes
Measuring to the Door Frame, Not the Opening
Door frames are often 5-10cm wider than the actual opening. Always measure the clear opening—the space you can actually walk through.
Forgetting About Handles and Hinges
Door handles, hinges, and locks reduce effective doorway width. Note whether doors open inward or outward and how far they can open.
Ignoring Ceiling and Light Fixtures
Low ceilings or pendant lights can prevent furniture from being tilted for manoeuvring. Check for any overhead obstructions along the delivery path.
Not Accounting for Existing Furniture
Will you need to move existing furniture to get the sofa bed in? Measure paths assuming current furniture is in place unless you're prepared to rearrange before delivery.
📋 Measurement Checklist
Create a simple list: Front door (W × H), hallway width, turn/corner dimensions, room door (W × H), final room (floor space + ceiling height), and stairs/lift if applicable. Take photos alongside measurements for reference.
When to Consult the Professionals
If your measurements suggest a tight fit, contact the retailer before ordering. Most reputable furniture sellers have experience assessing delivery feasibility and can advise whether a particular piece will work in your space.
For very challenging access (narrow Victorian terraces, multi-story walk-ups, or unusual floor plans), consider asking about:
- White glove delivery services with access assessment
- Furniture that can be disassembled for delivery
- Window or balcony delivery options
- Modular sofa beds that arrive in sections
Taking time to measure properly isn't the exciting part of buying new furniture, but it's the difference between a smooth delivery day and an expensive, stressful experience. Measure carefully, record everything, and you'll avoid the all-too-common "it won't fit" disappointment.