Understanding sofa dimensions is essential before you hunt for a new sofa. Not only does the sofa need to fit your living space, but it also needs to accommodate your chosen number of people and have dimensions that work with the size of people in your home to provide ultimate comfort.
The standard sofa dimensions are explored below, as well as the different types of sofas available and the size considerations you need to be aware of when sofa shopping.
Standard sofa dimensions in inches are 70 to 84 inches in length by 30 to 40 inches in width and 30 to 42 inches in height. Standard sofa dimensions in cm are 178cm to 213cm in length, 76cm to 102cm in width, and 76cm to 107cm in height.
Standard Sofa Dimensions
Sofas come in a huge range of sizes, from very small sofas to suit compact living spaces to oversized corner sofas and sectionals. The vast availability of different sizes is good news for everyone, becomes it means you’ll be able to find the perfect sofa to fit your room with ease.
However, this does mean that there is no set standard size for a sofa. That being said, there is a range of sofa dimensions that the majority of sofas will fall into, which means we can confidently say that this range encompasses standard sofa sizes.
The standard sofa length is between 70 and 84 inches, and the standard sofa width is between 30 and 40 inches. The standard sofa height is between 30 and 42 inches. The sofa arm heights usually range from 6 to 10 inches or more depending on its purposes – for lounging, offices, or personal uses.
Once you start looking more specifically at certain types of sofas, you can get a clearer picture of standard sofa dimensions.
Standard Dimensions For 1 to 5-seat Sofa
No two sofa style is the same. Some styles mean bigger measurements. But to give you a basic idea, take a look at the following standard size dimensions in width:
- Single-seater sofa: 36 inches
- 2-person sofa: 50 inches
- 3-person sofa: 78 inches
- 4-person sofa: 90 inches
- 5-person sofa: 108 inches
Sectional Sofa Dimensions
Sectional sofas are a little larger than average, making them an excellent choice if you need additional seating or you have a larger living space to fill.
Sectional sofas come in various sizes, styles, and designs, allowing you to add as many sections as you like to accommodate all your guests. Since sectionals come in a huge range of shapes and sizes, their measurements can differ.
Let’s take a look at the most common sectionals and their sizes:
L-shaped Sectional Sofas
L-shaped sectionals fit perfectly into the corner of a room and have seats on both sides that can typically accommodate up to 5 people.
The standard dimensions of L-shaped sectionals are 95 inches by 95 inches, with depths starting from 37 inches to 40 inches.
Three-Seater Sectionals
The three-seater sectional sofa typically measures 37 inches to 40 inches in depth, and the length comes to 78 to 87 inches.
The seat height ranges from 15 to 20 inches measuring from the floor to the top of the cushion. The standard seat height for most sofas, however, is 18 inches.
Chaise Sectionals
The chaise sectional is one of the most popular types of sectional sofas, taking the shape of a regular sofa with the addition of extended leg space at one end. This creates an angle that means the sofa works well in the corner of a room.
Chaise sectionals have an average depth of 37 to 40 inches, with varying lengths depending on the number of seats it offers. If you have a small space, you can find compact chaise sectionals with just two seats, or for a larger living space; you could get a 7-seater chaise sectional with measurements of around 190 inches to 210 inches in length.
Sofa Sleeper Dimensions
A sofa sleeper, also known as a sleeper sofa or a sofa bed, is the perfect space-saving option if you live in a small space such as a studio apartment and your sofa needs to double up as your bed.
It’s also a great multifunctional piece of furniture if you lack a spare bedroom because it means you can accommodate guests by transforming your sofa into a bed at night time.
Sofa sleepers come in a range of standard sizes, just like mattresses. These include:
Queen-Size Sleeper Sofa
The queen-size sleeper sofa’s standard dimensions come to 92 inches in width, 39 inches in height, and 40 inches in depth.
When a queen-size sleeper sofa is in bed position, the dimensions are typically 89 inches in depth, measuring from the front of the mattress to the back of the couch.
A queen-size sleeper sofa mattress will have an average width of 60 inches, 72 inches in depth, and 4.5 inches in height.
Full-Size Sleeper Sofa
A full sleeper sofa’s dimensions are 78 inches in width, 36 inches in height, and 38 inches in depth. When it is in bed position, the dimensions are typically 89 inches in depth, starting from the front of the mattress to the back cushions.
The mattress of a full-size sleeper sofa measures 52 inches in width, 72 inches in depth, and 4.5 inches in height. A full-size sofa bed will be able to accommodate two people, though they will have slightly less room compared to the queen-size sleeper.
Twin Sleeper Sofa
The twin sleeper sofa is 57 inches in width, 36 inches in height, and 38 inches in depth. When it’s in bed position, the depth measurement will be 89 inches in depth. The twin sleeper sofa mattress is, on average 33 inches in width, 72 inches in depth, and 4.5 inches in height.
Loveseat Sofa Dimensions
Loveseats are types of very small sofas that usually accommodate two people. They work well for compact living spaces such as studio apartments or small living rooms, or they can work well as a luxurious alternative to an armchair if you have lots of space to work with.
Loveseats are smaller than two-seater sofas but bigger than armchairs. They fit somewhere in between these two types of seating, creating a space that’s perfect for two people to snuggle up on. Loveseat dimensions include a length range of 58 to 64 inches from arm to arm.
Futon Sofa Dimensions
Futon sofas are a type of sofa that can fold out into a sleeping space. However, they tend to be quite uncomfortable for sleeping and so should be reserved for very occasional use.
Futons are usually lower in height than regular sofas, giving them a laidback, casual look that works well with bohemian-style spaces. Futon sofas also tend to be more compact overall, making them a popular choice if you have a small space to work with. Futon sofas have an average length of 53 to 75 inches and an average depth of 35 inches.
Oversized Sofa Dimensions
Oversized sofas are a good choice if you have a generously proportioned room because they help to fill the space and make it feel more inviting, and they also have the benefit of seating a larger number of people.
An oversized couch is ideal for people who need a large seating space to accommodate their guests. You can expect an oversized sofa to have dimensions of around 90 inches in length and 40 inches in depth.
How to Measure a Sofa
If you already have a sofa that fits perfectly in your living space, then you should measure this to get an idea of the size of sofa you are looking for.
Knowing the dimensions of a sofa is pretty useless if you don’t understand how these correspond to your living space. To know how to measure a sofa, you need to be familiar with the elements of sofa sizing, which explain the parts of the sofa that should be assessed.
There are five aspects to consider when measuring a sofa.
- Width: from the front arm of the sofa to the back.
- Height: from the floor to the top of the back cushions.
- Depth: from the front seat cushions to the back.
- Diagonal depth: measured diagonally from the lower back corner of the sofa to the top front of the arm.
- Seat Height: from the floor to the top of the seat cushion.
Is Sofa Depth the same as Sofa Width?
You might be wondering if the width measurement of a sofa is the same as the depth measurement of a sofa, as these measurements are both taken from the front of the sofa to the back. However, though they will be very similar, they are usually not the same.
The width measurement will consider the entire width of the sofa, which will include any protruding armrests or legs. Meanwhile, the depth measurement of the sofa will only go from the front of the seat pad to the back, giving you a clear idea of how deep or shallow the seating position will be.
For this reason, you should use the width measurement to judge if the sofa is going to fit comfortably into your living space, and the depth measurement should be used as a gauge for comfort.
Is Sofa Seat Height Important?
The sofa seat height takes into account the measurement from the floor to the top of the sofa seat cushion. Standard sofa seat height measures between 17 and 18 inches, which will suit the average-sized person.
The sofa seat height will be pivotal in ensuring comfort because it dictates how far you have to bend to get up and down from the sofa, and it also affects how your legs will rest when seated. Your knees should bend at a 90-degree angle, with your feet comfortable resting on the floor.
If your knees are bent at an angle smaller than 90 degrees, this is an indicator that your sofa seat height is too low. The seat depth of a sofa is similarly important for comfort.
If you are taller than average, then a deep sitting couch will be more comfortable and help to reduce back pain, while if you are shorter than average, then you will benefit from a more shallow sofa seat depth.
How to Choose the Right Sofa Size
Room Size
The sofa dimensions are only relevant if you also know the size of your room. By knowing the size of your room, you can find the sofa that fits your space perfectly.
To figure out what the maximum length of your sofa should be, start by measuring the length of your available space.
Seat Space
The amount of people you want to accommodate on a sofa is going to impact its size. This might be dictated by the number of people living in your home or if you frequently have guests over to visit. When you know how many people you need your sofa to seat, you can rule out the sofas that don’t offer the right number of seats.
If you wish to seat four people or more, consider a sectional. Sectionals are available in various sizes, shapes, and styles, so you won’t have any seating issues for your friends. For small spaces, very small sofas can offer seating for two people.
Room and User Height
The ideal-sized sofa should not only take into account the size of the room but also the size of the users. By balancing out these two factors you can find a sofa that is both comfortable and also looks appropriate for the living space.
For example, if you have a low ceiling, this will appear even lower if you choose a high-backed sofa. In a room with high ceilings, choose a high-backed sofa to make the room appear well-proportioned and prevent the sofa from looking overwhelmed in the space.
If you have members of your family who are taller than average, then you’ll want a sofa with a generous sofa seat height, and you should also consider a deep sitting couch to improve their level of comfort.
Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are fixed in place, so the sofa will need to work around them. Consider where the windows and doors are when measuring your room to fit a sofa so that you don’t end up blocking the view of access points.
You should also consider the flow of foot traffic from one room to another so your sofa isn’t blocking the natural route. If you have a lot of windows and doors in your living room, then you can position a sofa in the middle of the room. Low-backed sectional sofas work well for this because they appear less imposing in the living space.
