How to Measure a Room for a Corner Sofa (Step by Step)
By Alex at SOFGO ·
Ordering a corner sofa without measuring the room is how sofas end up blocking a door, pinching a walkway or sitting half a metre short of the wall you planned. The fix is simple: measure the walls, mark the footprint on the floor, and — if you want a sofa bed — allow for the bed when it is open.
This step-by-step guide covers tools, walls and obstacles, masking-tape layouts, walkways and door swings, the open-bed footprint, and how to read a product page’s dimensions. Worked examples use live SOFGO sizes checked on 3 October 2026.
A note on the photos. The pictures in this guide show corner sofas from our Exclusive Designer Collection: made to order, delivery 12–15 weeks, and fixed corner sofas, not sofa beds. They are included as real examples of how a large corner sits in a room, and none has a bed or under-seat storage listed. Every sofa bed we recommend is named in the text and linked to its own product page.
Tools you need
You do not need a laser measure. A short kit is enough:
- A tape measure of at least 5 m (ideally 8 m)
- A notepad for widths, depths and clearances
- Masking tape to mark the sofa outline on the floor
- Optional: a second person to hold the tape
Measure in centimetres to match SOFGO product pages. Keep one note for the closed sofa footprint and a second for the open bed if you are buying a sofa bed.
Measure the walls and obstacles
Start with the two walls that will meet the corner (or the long wall and the return for a floating layout).
- Main wall width. Measure along the wall that will take the longest run of seats. Use the clear width, not the wall behind a radiator or cupboard.
- Return / depth wall. Measure how far the chaise or short arm can project into the room.
- Obstacles. Note radiators, skirting, window sills, sockets, TV units and fireplaces. Deduct anything that sticks into the sofa’s space.
- Low ceilings. Sofa heights here run about 72–87 cm; check sloping ceilings or window seats if relevant.
For scale, three SOFGO corner sofa beds from the live pages (sizes checked 3 October 2026, prices re-checked 6 October 2026):
| Model | Overall width × depth × height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Verity M84 | 222 × 133 × 72 cm | Compact L-shape; chaise width 70 cm, chaise depth 91 cm; £779 (£978 Easy Clean) |
| Fairhaven M84 | 275 × 205 × 87 cm | Larger L-shape; sleeping area 123 × 193 cm; £1,199 (£1,398 Easy Clean) |
| U Shape Goldcrest | 352 × 152 × 76 cm | U with chaise both ends; sofa-bed seat width 120 cm; £999 (£1,198 Easy Clean) |
If your main wall is under about 230 cm clear, start with a compact L such as Verity. For wraparound seating on a long wall, check the U Shape Goldcrest’s 352 cm width first.
Mark the footprint with masking tape
Numbers on a page are easier to trust once they are on your floor.
- Pick the corner (or floating position) you prefer.
- Using the product’s overall width and overall depth, tape an L (or U) outline on the floor. Overall size on SOFGO pages already includes the arms.
- Walk the outline and place a coffee table inside it. If the tape already feels tight, a larger model will feel tighter once delivered.
- For a reversible corner, tape both left- and right-hand layouts if you are unsure. See left or right hand corner sofa.
Leave the tape down overnight if you can — morning traffic is the best test of a forgotten walkway.
Walkways and door swings
A sofa that fits the wall can still fail the room.
Walkways. Aim for about 60–80 cm clear past the chaise and coffee table. Mark the path with tape as well as the sofa.
Door swings. Open every door into the room and check the swing does not hit the taped outline. French doors and bifolds need their full arc clear.
Delivery route. Also measure the front door, hallway turns and stairs. A sofa that fits the lounge may not fit the bend on the stairs. See will a corner sofa fit through my door. Free UK mainland delivery and free room-of-choice assembly with packaging removed are included when you choose that option; the piece still has to negotiate the route.
Allow for the bed when it is open
If you are buying a corner sofa bed, the closed footprint is not enough. You need a second measurement: the floor the bed occupies when open.
- Read the sleeping area on the product page where it is listed (width × length).
- Tape that rectangle in the direction the bed extends — usually forward from the main seats.
- Confirm tables and rugs can move aside, and that a path past the open bed still reaches the door.
Worked example — Fairhaven M84. Closed size 275 × 205 × 87 cm; sleeping area 123 × 193 cm. Tape both. Price on 6 October 2026: £1,199 (£1,398 Easy Clean). In stock; delivery 1 to 21 days; click-clack and pull-out on the page; pay on delivery available alongside card, Klarna or Clearpay (subject to eligibility).
Verity M84 lists 222 × 133 × 72 cm and a pull-out sleeping area for two adults, but no full sleeping-area W×L pair. Ask us if overnight space is tight. Price: £779 (£978 Easy Clean).
U Shape Goldcrest lists 352 × 152 × 76 cm and sofa-bed seat width 120 cm (“extends into a generous double bed”). Full sleeping length is not listed, and click-clack / pull-out lines are not on this page — message us before you commit floor space. Price: £999 (£1,198 Easy Clean).
For compact rooms, see small corner sofa beds with storage.
Reading a product's dimensions correctly
SOFGO product pages use consistent labels — read them as written:
- Overall width / depth / height — closed outer box, including arms
- Seat height / seat depth — the sitting surface
- Chaise width / chaise depth — the chaise end (on a U, check each end)
- Sleeping area width / length — the open bed, where listed
- Sofa-bed seat width — sometimes used instead of a full sleeping-area pair (U Shape Goldcrest)
- Arm width — useful beside a radiator or door frame
Left- and right-handedness does not change overall width; the chaise swaps side. Confirm the hand before ordering a fixed-hand model.
If you want a fixed corner without a bed
The corners pictured here are from our Exclusive Designer Collection: fixed corners with no bed or storage listed, made to order (12–15 weeks). The four pictured run from £1,399 (Cranmere) to £3,599 (Milbourne); Easy Clean is a fixed £199 more. Pages show Klarna at checkout, subject to eligibility. For a bed and under-seat storage, start with Verity, Fairhaven or the U Shape Goldcrest, or browse corner sofa beds with storage.
FAQs
How much space do I need around a corner sofa?
About 60–80 cm clear past the chaise and coffee table where people pass through. Also check door swings and the delivery route.
Do I measure for the bed as well as the sofa?
Yes. Tape the closed overall size and the sleeping area (or sofa-bed seat width). Fairhaven M84 lists 123 × 193 cm; Verity and the U Shape Goldcrest need a check with us for full open length.
What if my wall is only just wide enough?
Prefer a compact L-shape such as Verity M84 (222 cm) over a U at 352 cm. See small corner sofa beds with storage.
Left or right hand — does it change the measurements?
Overall width and depth stay the same; the chaise swaps side. Guide: left or right hand corner sofa.
What about radiators and skirting?
Measure the clear wall in front of them and deduct the projection so the sofa does not sit proud of a valve or block a thermostat.
Is delivery and assembly free?
Free UK mainland delivery is included on the models named above. Choose free delivery to the door, or free delivery plus assembly in the room you choose with packaging removed. 14-day returns from delivery as described on the site.
Can I get Easy Clean?
Yes — fixed £199 upgrade (for example Verity £779 → £978; Fairhaven £1,199 → £1,398). Water- and pet-resistant; wipes clean.
Need a second pair of eyes on your measurements? Message our team with your wall width, room depth and whether you need the bed open — or email support@sofgo.co.uk. Start with Verity M84, Fairhaven M84 or the U Shape Goldcrest, browse corner sofa beds with storage, or read will a corner sofa fit through my door.
Alex at SOFGO