Sofa Dimensions: What’s the Average Size of a Sofa?

Knowing the average size of couches or sofas can help you better plan your living area, pull together an existing space, and gauge the size of other items necessary for your living room or den.

What are standard sofa dimensions? The standard three-seat sofa is about 84” (152cm) wide, 40” (102cm) deep, and about 33” (84cm) tall. Loveseats, on the other hand, tend to be even smaller, at 52” (130cm) wide and 33” (84cm) deep, with a height that’s about equal at 33” (84cm).

In this guide, we’ll take a look at standard couch dimensions to give you a better idea of how to plan your living space. Keep reading to find out more!

What Is a Standard Sofa Size?

Let’s start by taking a look at a breakdown of standard sofa sizes: in this section, we’ll review both common three-sized sofas and standard-sized loveseats for a more comprehensive review. Specifically, we’ll take a close look at length dimensions to see what the standard size is for each option.

- So how long should a standard sofa be?

The truth is it depends.

• Standard sofas come in a general range of sizes rather than one set dimension. This range starts at around 70”(178cm) and ends at about 87” (221cm), with the most common size being around 84” (213cm).
• Loveseats, on the other hand, tend to be around 52” in length, though some larger options can be as long as a full couch (maxing out at around 71”, or cm).

For most interior design projects, you’ll be able to use couches within this standard range of dimensions, though you can always go shorter or longer depending on your unique needs.

- What is the average height of a sofa?

On average, both traditional sofas and loveseats tend to be about 33”(84cm) tall, though the specific range for most sofas of these varieties is between 30” (76cm) and 36” (91cm).

For rooms with high ceilings, you may consider sofas on the upper end (or even exceeding this range), while the opposite is true of rooms with low ceilings.

TIP: Ideally, you’ll want the heights of your two pieces to match if you plan on putting both in the same room. 

- How Deep Should My Sofa Be?

How deep your sofa should be will ultimately depend on who’s sitting on it.

Sofa depth measures both the distance from the back of the couch to the front (outside depth) and the distance from the front of the seat to the back cushion (inside depth).

The deeper the depth, the more comfortable a couch becomes—but these couches aren’t always the best for individuals below average height.

Of course, for those who don’t wish to sacrifice comfort, throw pillows can be added to a deep couch to offset some of the depth and better sit upright.

How Long Is a 4 Person Couch?

If you’ve got extra space in your living room—or a large family—a four-person couch can help you pull together your seating area and provide extra comfort for the household.

In general, four-person couches measure around 90”(229cm) of seating area alone, meaning this doesn’t cover the length of the two arms at either side of the couch. You can expect the smallest of these sofas to be around 100”(254cm) total, which is around eight foot in total length.

How to Measure Your Space for a Sofa in 3 Simple Steps

Given all this, let’s examine how to properly measure your living space to determine the size sofa you need (or can accommodate).

Failing to measure your space before purchasing your sofa can mean you choose an option that’s out of proportion with your room or doesn’t fit altogether.

With this in mind, let’s look at two quick tips that will help you find the right couch for your living space:

1. Measure Entries and Passageways

It doesn’t matter how nice a couch is—if it won’t fit through the door, you won’t be able to show it off in your living room.

For this reason, you want to make sure you start by measuring each of the doors and passageways through which you’ll need to maneuver the couch once it gets to your home.

Doing so is simple.

• Start by simply measuring the height and width of the doors, as well as the entry clearance. This means you’ll also want to measure the diagonal width of your door, as you may need to turn your sofa on its side to get it into the room.

• Additionally, you’ll want to take note of any odd corners, wall photos, light fixtures, and other potential impediments that could get in the way of transporting the sofa.

2. Measure Your Room Dimensions

Once you’ve measured your doorways, you’ll also want to measure your room.

• Start by measuring the distance from the door to the far wall—the bigger the space, the more room you’ll have to maneuver your furniture.

• You’ll also want to measure the length and width of the entire room, as well as the height of your halls—as this can affect how tall your furniture appears.

3. Measure Your Sofa

Of course, you’ll also want to measure your sofa (or tape out the space where you wish to place your sofa) to see how it will look in the space you’re trying to set up.

• To measure the length of the sofa, simply measure from one arm to the other, making sure to take the measurement at the widest point.

• Once you’ve done this, measure height by going from the tallest point of the sofa to the ground, measure the depth by going from the edge of the seating to the back cushion.

• You can also measure the diagonal depth of the sofa. To do so, simply place a straight edge at the tallest point of the sofa so that it’s facing the front arm of the couch. After this, simply go from the rear corner of the sofa with your measuring tape and determine the distance between it and the point at which the tape and edge touch.

Summary

Understanding standard couch dimensions can give you a better idea of how to set up your living space.

In this guide, we went over the average size of couches and sofas and introduced some simple methods you can use to measure your living space (and desired sofa) to find the right size furniture for you.

If you’re ready to purchase your next sofa, make sure to check back here for reference for all your sizing needs