Quick answer
To check if a sofa fits through a door, ignore the sofa's width and compare its depth and height to the door's clear opening. A standard interior door gives about 720 to 740 mm (28 to 29 in) of clear width. Most sofas fit if the depth is under that and you can tilt the sofa, as long as the hallway is wide enough to turn it. When it is tight, remove the door from its hinges to gain 25 to 40 mm (1 to 1.5 in).
The three measurements that decide it
A sofa does not go through a door flat and upright. You tilt it, so the numbers that matter are not the ones on the product page. Measure these three:
- Door clear opening: the actual gap with the door open, measured edge to edge. This is usually 20 to 40 mm (about 1 in) narrower than the door leaf.
- Sofa depth: front of the seat cushion to the back of the frame. This is the dimension that has to clear the door width.
- Sofa diagonal: bottom-front corner to top-back corner. Compare this to the door height to see whether tilting will work.
Standard door and sofa sizes
| Item | Typical size |
|---|---|
| Standard interior door (clear opening) | 720 to 740 mm (28 to 29 in) wide |
| Wide interior door (clear opening) | 800 to 850 mm (31 to 33 in) wide |
| 2-seater sofa (width) | 1.5 to 1.8 m (5 ft to 5 ft 11 in) |
| 3-seater sofa (width) | 2.0 to 2.4 m (6 ft 7 in to 7 ft 10 in) |
| Typical sofa depth | 850 to 1000 mm (33 to 39 in) |
| Typical sofa height | 800 to 900 mm (31 to 35 in) |
The tilt test
Most sofas go through a doorway on their side or tilted back. To estimate whether yours will:
- Check the sofa depth against the door clear width. If the depth is smaller, the sofa passes on its side.
- If the depth is larger, check the sofa height against the door clear width instead, since you can carry it upright on one end.
- Confirm the hallway is wide enough to rotate the sofa into that angle before it reaches the door. A tight corridor or a turn at the door is what usually stops a move, not the door itself.
For a typical 3-seater that is 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) wide, 950 mm (37 in) deep, and 850 mm (33 in) high, the 850 mm height clears a 720 mm door only when tilted, and the 950 mm depth does not. So this sofa goes through upright on one end, tilted back, with room to turn in the hallway.
What to do when it will not fit
- Lift the door off its hinges to gain 25 to 40 mm (1 to 1.5 in) of clear width.
- Unscrew the sofa feet or legs to lose 50 to 100 mm (2 to 4 in) of height.
- Check whether the sofa is modular or knock-down; many split into sections or unbolt at the arms.
- Look for a larger opening: a patio door, French doors, or a balcony often beats the front door.
- As a last resort, a removal company can hoist a sofa through a window.
Check the room too, not just the door
Getting a sofa through the door is only half the question. Upload your floor plan to Layoutr, set the scale, and place the sofa at its real size to see whether it also leaves room to live. Free to use, no account required.
Try Layoutr freeFrequently asked questions
How wide is a standard interior door?
A standard interior door is around 762 mm (30 in) wide, but the clear opening is narrower once you account for the stop and an open door leaf, usually about 720 to 740 mm (28 to 29 in). Always measure the clear opening, not the door itself.
Will a 3-seater sofa fit through a 30-inch door?
Usually yes. A 3-seater sofa is 2.0 to 2.4 m (6 ft 7 in to 7 ft 10 in) wide, but width is not what matters at the door. What matters is the sofa's depth and height. If the depth is under about 900 mm (35 in) and you can tilt the sofa, most 3-seaters pass through a 762 mm (30 in) door with enough hallway room to turn.
Can you take a door off to move a sofa?
Yes, and it is the easiest quick win. Lifting the door off its hinges typically adds 25 to 40 mm (1 to 1.5 in) of clear width, which is often enough. Removing the sofa's feet or legs can free up another 50 to 100 mm (2 to 4 in) of height.
What if the sofa does not fit through the door at all?
Options in order of effort: remove the door and door stop, remove the sofa feet, unbolt a modular or knock-down sofa, bring it through a larger opening such as a patio door or balcony, or hire a company that hoists furniture through a window. Measure every option before you buy.
How do I measure a sofa for a doorway?
Record four numbers: overall width, overall depth (front of cushion to back), overall height (floor to top of back), and the diagonal depth from the bottom-front corner to the top-back corner. The diagonal depth is what decides whether tilting the sofa through works.