How To Measure For New Furniture

3rd April 2014

For proud homeowners there are few tasks more satisfying than shopping around for new furniture to spruce up your living spaces. But selecting the stunning pieces that will turn your friends and neighbours green with envy is just one part of the process. Ensuring the furniture is in proprotion with its surroundings and, more importantly, actually fits in its new home is a key consideration when purchasing new items.

Read our step-by-step guide and learn how to successfully measure up for new furniture.

Be prepared!

Don’t worry, there’s nothing specialist here, but arming yourself with the right tools in advance could be the difference between getting that new corner sofa through the front door or it sitting on the drive!

You will need...

• tape measure (a 5m tape such as the Stanley Powerlock 5m/16ft is more than sufficient)
• pencil or pen
• paper

Top Tip: remember to take the tape measure, pen and paper with you when you visit the store to select your furniture. Alternatively, use your smartphone to make a note of the measurements in store.

An optional (but very useful) tool would be a laser measure such as the Leica DISTO D2. Whilst a little on the expensive side, these tools allow the user to measure floor areas and wall lengths at the touch of the button. They are ideal when working alone.

Measuring for new furniture

1. With the pen and paper make a rough sketch of the room you plan to furnish. Now use your tape measure to measure the actual space you want to put the furniture in. Make a note of these measurements on your room plan.
2. Obtain the measurements of the furniture you want to purchase. Do this by either going to the store to measure it yourself or look up the product details online. Most furniture stores provide comprehensive product descriptions on their websites, including dimensions. However, we strongly recommend you view the furniture you want to purchase.
3. Once you’ve established the item will fit in your room you must also check it will fit through doorways for delivery. Make sure the width and diagonal depth of the furniture is less than entry dimensions (measure all doorways to be certain) in case an item needs to be brought in on its end.
4. To work out diagonal depth you must first measure the furniture from the top of the back to the front of the arm. Find the mid point of the measurement then measure from mid point to the lower back leg.
5. Don’t forget to take into account obstacles too! As well as doorways measure the height and width of stairs, including banisters and turns, and features such as radiators and ceiling lights.

General considerations

All furniture - It’s common sense but a lot of people forget in the excitement of buying new furniture! Make sure you allow enough space to move around the item, open its drawers, doors etc. when measuring up.    

Dining tables and chairs - With dining tables remember to allow 60cm clearance for the chair when it’s away from the table. This will allow you to sit comfortably.  

Beds - If you have ordered a storage or divan bed with drawers allow enough space for the drawers when they are open. Be sure to check that any bedside tables/chests do not block the divan drawers or underbed storage boxes from being pulled out.

Wall display units - To ensure the right fit measure the wall you wish to place it against from floor to ceiling.

Pre-assembled or bespoke furniture - Be extra careful when measuring for pre-assembled or specially commissioned items as there is no margin for error here.

Written by Ian Johnson