Quick answer
A standard 3-seater sofa is 175 to 230 cm (69 to 91 in) wide, 85 to 95 cm (33 to 37 in) deep, and 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in) tall. A 2-seater is about 140 to 170 cm (55 to 67 in) wide, and a compact loveseat 120 to 150 cm (47 to 59 in). Depth stays roughly the same across sizes; width is what changes. Plan with the outer body dimensions of your own sofa, not the averages.
Sofa width is the number most people check, but depth and the space you leave around the sofa are what decide whether a room actually works. A three-seater that fits along the wall on paper can still block a walkway or crowd the coffee table once it is in place. Below are the real dimensions for each sofa type, plus the clearances to plan for.
All measurements are approximate. Actual dimensions vary by manufacturer; always verify with the product spec before buying. These figures are intended for room planning, not purchasing decisions.
Sofa dimensions by type
| Type | Metric | Imperial | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loveseat | W: 120–150 cm · D: 80–90 cm · H: 80–90 cm | W: 47–59 in · D: 31–35 in · H: 31–35 in | Compact two-seat |
| 2-seater | W: 140–170 cm · D: 85–95 cm · H: 75–90 cm | W: 55–67 in · D: 33–37 in · H: 30–35 in | |
| 2.5-seater | W: 155–185 cm · D: 85–95 cm · H: 75–90 cm | W: 61–73 in · D: 33–37 in · H: 30–35 in | |
| 3-seater | W: 175–230 cm · D: 85–95 cm · H: 70–90 cm | W: 69–91 in · D: 33–37 in · H: 28–35 in | |
| 4-seater | W: 230–290 cm · D: 90–100 cm · H: 70–90 cm | W: 91–114 in · D: 35–39 in · H: 28–35 in | |
| Corner / L-shape | Long: 240–300 cm · Return: 150–190 cm · D: 85–95 cm | Long: 94–118 in · Return: 59–75 in · D: 33–37 in | Measure both arms separately |
| Chaise sofa | Body: 200–240 cm · Chaise depth: 150–170 cm | Body: 79–94 in · Chaise depth: 59–67 in | The chaise extends the depth on one side |
| Recliner sofa (upright) | D: 95–105 cm · needs 90 cm behind when reclined | D: 37–41 in · 35 in clearance behind | Add rear clearance for the recline |
| Sofa bed (folded) | As 3-seater · extends to 190–220 cm deep | As 3-seater · extends to 75–87 in deep | Plan the extended footprint too |
Width, depth, and height: what to plan from
On a floor plan you are working from a top-down view, so the two numbers that matter are width (wall to wall along the sofa) and depth (how far it sticks out from the wall). Height only matters for windowsills, radiators, and doorways. Use the outer body dimensions in every case, including the arms, since the arms are part of the footprint the sofa occupies.
A common mistake is planning from the seat instead of the body. The seat depth, the part you actually sit on, is only 50–60 cm (20–24 in), but the sofa's total depth is 85–95 cm (33–37 in) once the back cushion and frame are included. Deep-seat and modular sofas go up to 105–110 cm (41–43 in). Always plan with the larger, outer figure.
Space to leave around a sofa
A sofa that fits against the wall can still make a room feel tight if there is no room to move around it. These are the clearances to plan for.
| Situation | Minimum | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa to coffee table | 30 cm / 12 in | 45 cm / 18 in |
| Walkway in front of sofa | 75 cm / 30 in | 90 cm / 36 in |
| Walkway behind or beside sofa | 60 cm / 24 in | 90 cm / 36 in |
| Sofa to TV (per screen width) | 2.5× screen | 3× screen |
| Gap between two facing sofas | 100 cm / 39 in | 180 cm / 71 in |
For a 55-inch TV, that works out to roughly 3.0 to 3.7 m (10 to 12 ft) of viewing distance. If the sofa doubles as the route through the room, plan the walkway in front at the comfortable 90 cm (36 in), not the minimum.
Will the sofa fit through the door?
Getting a sofa into the room is a separate question from fitting it once it is there. A standard interior door opening is 76–83 cm (30–33 in) wide, and most sofas are wider than that, so they go through tilted or on end. What matters is the sofa's height and depth against the door opening and the turning space in the hallway, not the width alone. The sofa-through-a-door guide walks through the tilt test and how to measure the real clearance.
Planning with real dimensions
Once you have the numbers, the next step is placing the sofa in your room to see what actually fits. Upload your floor plan image to Layoutr, click two points on the plan with a known real-world distance between them, and the tool sets the scale automatically. From there, drag a sofa at its real dimensions onto the plan and see exactly how much space it takes and what is left around it, before ordering or moving anything.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a standard 3-seater sofa?
A standard 3-seater sofa is 175–230 cm (69–91 in) wide, 85–95 cm (33–37 in) deep, and 70–90 cm (28–35 in) tall. Width is what changes most between models; depth and height stay in a fairly narrow band. When planning, use the outer body dimensions, not the seat area.
How deep is a standard sofa?
Most sofas are 85–95 cm (33–37 in) deep, measured from the front of the seat to the back of the frame. The seat itself (the part you sit on) is only 50–60 cm (20–24 in); the rest is the back cushion. Deep-seat and modular sofas can reach 105–110 cm (41–43 in). Plan with the full outer depth.
How wide is a 2-seater sofa?
A 2-seater sofa is typically 140–170 cm (55–67 in) wide. A compact loveseat is smaller at 120–150 cm (47–59 in), and a 2.5-seater sits in between at 155–185 cm (61–73 in). All three keep roughly the same 85–95 cm (33–37 in) depth as a 3-seater.
How much space should you leave around a sofa?
Leave 30–45 cm (12–18 in) between the sofa and a coffee table, and a walkway of at least 75 cm (30 in), or 90 cm (36 in) to be comfortable, on any side people pass. If the sofa faces a TV, allow roughly 2.5 to 3 times the screen width between them.
Will my sofa fit through the door?
That depends on the sofa's height and depth against the door opening, not just its width, because a sofa can be tilted and turned. A standard interior door is 76–83 cm (30–33 in) wide. See the sofa-through-a-door guide for the tilt test and how to measure the real clearance.
Can I plan a sofa on my own floor plan?
Yes. In a tool like Layoutr, you set the real-world scale from your floor plan image, then place a sofa at its true dimensions to see exactly how much room it takes and what space is left around it, before you buy or move it.
Put the sizes to work on your actual floor plan
Upload your floor plan, set the scale in two clicks, and place a sofa at true real-world dimensions. Free to use, no account required.
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