Guide · updated 2026-08-12
Will my sofa fit? How to measure furniture for delivery
A sofa fits through a standard UK internal door (about 76 cm wide) if its height OR its depth is under roughly 72 cm once the feet are off — because a sofa goes through a doorway on its side or end, not face-on. Five minutes with a tape measure answers it for certain, and this guide shows exactly what to measure.
Measure the sofa — three numbers plus one trick
Write down the sofa's width (arm to arm), depth (front of the seat to the back), and height (floor to the top of the backrest). Then take the one measurement most people miss: the diagonal depth. Run the tape from the highest point of the back frame to the front of the arm, in a straight diagonal line. This is the sofa's real 'working size' when it's tilted through a doorway.
If the feet unscrew — most do — measure without them. Losing 5–10 cm of height is often the difference between an easy carry and a stuck sofa.
Measure the route, not just the door
The doorway is rarely the tight spot. Walk the route the sofa will actually travel and measure the narrowest point of each stage:
- Front door: width between the frame's inside edges, and height. UK front doors are typically 80–90 cm wide internally.
- Hallway: width, plus the position of radiators, bannisters and light fittings that jut in.
- Internal doors: usually 70–76 cm — narrower than the front door.
- Stairs: width between wall and bannister, headroom on the turn, and the depth of any half-landing. Turns are where sofas get stuck.
- Lifts (flats): door width, and the lift's internal depth and height — a sofa often rides a lift on its end.
The comparison that decides it
A sofa passes through a gap when the gap's width is greater than the sofa's height or depth (whichever way it's turned), and the diagonal depth clears on the tilt. As a rule of thumb: if the narrowest point of the route beats the sofa's smallest of height/depth by 5 cm or more, a competent two-person crew will get it through. Under 5 cm of clearance, tell the crew in advance so they plan the carry — cushions off, feet off, door off its hinges if needed.
If the numbers say no
Don't cancel the sofa — change the route or the sofa's shape. In order of hassle: remove the sofa's feet and cushions; take an internal door off its hinges (two minutes with a screwdriver, adds ~4 cm); choose a window or balcony route on ground and first floors; or pick a sofa that disassembles — many corner units split into sections.
When you book with DropNPickUp, put the floor, lift situation and any tight turn in the job notes. Heavy and awkward items are priced with a 2-person crew included, and a crew that knows about the fourth-floor walk-up before setting off arrives with the right plan instead of discovering it on your doorstep.
Quick answers
How wide is a standard UK internal door?
Most UK internal doors are 686–762 mm (roughly 68–76 cm) wide inside the frame. Front doors are wider, typically 80–90 cm. Measure yours — older houses vary a lot.
Can the delivery crew take doors off or disassemble the sofa?
Crews will remove cushions and feet as standard on a 2-person job, and can take an internal door off its hinges with your permission. Full disassembly and reassembly is part of our white-glove and assembly services — mention it when you book so it's priced in.
What happens if it genuinely won't fit on the day?
The crew will try every reasonable route before giving up. If it truly won't go, you choose: return it to the seller, or deliver it to storage while you decide. Telling us measurements up front makes this outcome rare — it's why we ask.