How to Choose a Sofa: Size, Depth, Frame and Fabric Guide
Quick answer: to choose a sofa, measure the room and every door on the delivery path first, then pick a seat depth that fits your height (21 to 24 inches suits most adults), a kiln-dried hardwood or thick multi-layer plywood frame, cushions with foam of at least 1.8 lb per cubic foot, and a fabric rated 15,000 double rubs or more with a cleaning code you can live with. Style comes last; a sofa that doesn't fit the door or your legs is the wrong sofa.
How to choose a sofa: the 6 checks in order
- Measure the room. Mark the sofa footprint on the floor with painter's tape, leaving 30 to 36 inches of walkway and 14 to 18 inches to the coffee table.
- Measure the delivery path. Door height and width, hallway turns, stairs and elevator.
- Pick the seat depth and height. Match seat depth to your height and how you sit.
- Check the frame and springs. Kiln-dried hardwood or 11 to 13 layer plywood, with corner blocks.
- Check the cushions. Foam density of 1.8 lb per cubic foot or more for seats that last.
- Check the fabric. Double-rub rating and cleaning code, based on kids, pets and spills.
What size sofa do you need?
Start with clearances, then see what width is left. The Chicory coffee table guide gives three rules that also decide sofa size:
- 14 to 18 inches between the sofa front and the coffee table.
- 30 to 36 inches of walking space around the table.
- A coffee table about two-thirds the length of the sofa (sofa length × 0.67).
Example: a 70-inch sofa pairs with a coffee table of about 70 × 0.67 = 47 inches. With a 36-inch-deep sofa, 16 inches of gap, an 18-inch-deep table and 30 inches of walkway, you need 36 + 16 + 18 + 30 = 100 inches (about 2.5 m) from the wall behind the sofa to the next obstacle.
| Type | Width examples in our catalogue | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Loveseat | 47.5 in | Studios, bedrooms, a second seat facing the sofa |
| Compact sofa / sofa bed | 66 to 70.5 in | 3½ and 4½ apartments, condos |
| Standard 3-seat sofa | 71.5 to 79 in | Most living rooms |
| U-shaped sectional | 107.5 × 83.1 in | Corners and large open rooms |
Not sure between one piece and a sectional? Count who sits there every night, then add one seat. For the coffee table that goes with it, see our coffee and corner tables.
Will the sofa fit through the door?
A sofa that fits the room can still get stuck at the door. Use the method from the Baer's measuring guide:
- Measure the height and width of every door and hallway on the way in, and the depth just past the door. Repeat at each turn.
- Measure the sofa's diagonal depth: run a straight edge from the top of the back frame to the front of the arm, then measure from the bottom back corner up to that edge.
- The sofa's width must be less than the door height (it goes in on end), and its diagonal depth must be less than the door width.
In walk-ups with tight stair turns, check for removable legs and a back that lifts off. Sectionals and futon-style sofa beds arrive in smaller pieces.
What seat depth and height is most comfortable?
Seat depth is the distance from the front edge of the seat to the back cushion. It decides whether your feet reach the floor. The ranges below come from Castlery's sofa depth guide.
| Your height | Seat depth | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 ft 4 in | 18 to 21 in | Upright, feet flat |
| 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 10 in | 21 to 24 in | Balanced: sit or lounge |
| Over 5 ft 10 in | 24 to 28 in | Deep, casual lounging |
- Seat height: 17 to 19 inches is standard. 15 to 17 inches looks casual but is harder to get out of; 19 to 21 inches is easiest to stand up from, which matters for older family members.
- Knee test: sit all the way back. The seat edge should stop about two to three inches before the back of your knees.
- Back and arms: back height is usually 30 to 36 inches, arm height 24 to 26 inches.
- Mixed heights at home: pick the standard 21 to 24 inch depth and add a back pillow for the shorter person, rather than buying a deep sofa nobody's feet reach from.
How do you know if a sofa frame is good quality?
The frame is the part you can't replace. House & Home recommends kiln-dried hardwood such as maple, oak or ash, because kiln drying helps prevent warping and cracking, with joints that are double-doweled, corner-blocked, screwed and glued.
- Plywood: fine at lower prices if it's thick. Baer's recommends 11 to 13 layer plywood over 5 to 7 layer.
- Springs: eight-way hand-tied coils are the top tier. With sinuous (S-shaped) springs or webbing, the gaps between springs or bands should be two inches or less (House & Home).
- Showroom test: lift one front corner. If the other front leg rises with it, the frame is stiff; if it stays on the floor, the frame twists.
- Weight capacity: read it on the spec sheet. In our catalogue, one compact sofa bed is rated 330 lb total and one U-shaped sectional 250 lb per seat.
Which sofa cushions last longest?
Seat cushions flatten before anything else wears out. Density, in pounds per cubic foot, is the number to ask for. It measures durability, not firmness (House & Home).
| Fill | Density / feel | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| High-density foam | 1.8 lb/ft³ or more, firmer | Holds shape; can feel hard at first |
| High-resilience foam | 2.5 lb/ft³ or more | Springs back best; costs more |
| Medium / low-density foam | 1.5 lb/ft³ or less, plush | Soft at first, sags sooner |
| Down blend over foam core | Soft top, foam support | Needs plumping |
| Pocket coils wrapped in foam | Medium to firm | Heavier cushion |
Sources: House & Home (1.8 and 2.5 lb thresholds) and the Baer's cushion guide (1.5 lb and below, fill types). Real example: one U-shaped sectional in our catalogue lists foam at 1.56 lb/ft³ over pocket springs. That is below the 1.8 high-density mark, so expect a softer seat and flip the cushions often if they are removable.
What sofa fabric is best for kids and pets?
Look for two things on the tag or spec sheet: the abrasion rating and the cleaning code.
Abrasion (double rubs). The Wyzenbeek test (ASTM D4157) rubs the fabric back and forth until it wears; each pass is one double rub (Sailrite). House & Home calls about 15,000 durable and 30,000 heavy-duty, and says fabric under 15,000 is not suitable for upholstery.
Cleaning codes. From Sailrite's cleaning code guide:
| Code | What you can use | Good for kids and pets? |
|---|---|---|
| W | Water-based cleaner or foam; don't soak (not machine washable) | Yes, easiest |
| W/S | Water-based cleaner or mild dry-cleaning solvent | Yes |
| S | Solvent only, in a ventilated room | Harder for juice and accidents |
| X | Vacuum or light brushing only | No |
With pets, a tight weave or smooth faux leather catches fewer claws than a loose, loopy weave. Choose a rug that hides the same mess: our guide on what colour rug goes with your sofa covers grey, beige and brown.
In stock now: sofas and sofa beds
How much does a sofa cost, and is open box worth it?
Prices from our catalogue on October 18, 2026:
- Loveseats: from $210.00 to $223.99 for a 47.5-inch model.
- Full-size sofas: $496.99 for a 71.5-inch chenille sofa, $559.99 for a 79-inch faux leather sofa.
- In stock that day: a 70-inch sofa bed at $429.99 instead of $599.96 (1 − 429.99 ÷ 599.96 = 28% off), a 70.5-inch futon sectional at $300.99 instead of $429.99 (30% off), and a U-shaped sectional at $849.99 instead of $3,499.99 (76% off) because it is sold with 2 seats missing. That last one shows why you read the condition note before the price.
Open-box checklist for a sofa:
- Read the condition note: missing pieces, scuffs, or a repacked box.
- Sit on every seat. Listen for creaks and feel for a dip in the middle.
- Do the corner-lift test and check that the legs screw in straight.
- Unzip a cushion if the cover is removable and look at the foam.
- Check the fabric tag for the cleaning code.
- Bring your door and stair measurements to the showroom.
Our complete guide to open-box furniture explains condition grades, and the FAQ covers returns and delivery. For a tighter budget, browse furniture under $500. Once the sofa is chosen, size the rug under it with our rug size guide.
In stock now: armchairs and loveseats
FAQ: how to choose a sofa
What is the most important thing when choosing a sofa?
Size comes first: measure the room and every door, hallway and stair on the delivery path. A comfortable, well-built sofa is still the wrong one if it doesn't fit through the door or blocks the walkway.
What seat depth is best for a sofa?
For most adults between 5 ft 4 in and 5 ft 10 in, a seat depth of 21 to 24 inches works for both sitting and lounging. Shorter people do better with 18 to 21 inches, and people over 5 ft 10 in with 24 to 28 inches.
How can you tell if a sofa is good quality?
Look for a kiln-dried hardwood frame (maple, oak or ash) or 11 to 13 layer plywood, joints that are corner-blocked, screwed and glued, and seat foam of at least 1.8 lb per cubic foot. Lift one front corner: if the other front leg rises too, the frame is stiff.
What is the best sofa fabric for pets and kids?
Choose a fabric rated 30,000 double rubs or more with a W or W/S cleaning code, so you can spot clean with water-based cleaners. Avoid X-code fabrics, which can only be vacuumed.
How far should a coffee table be from a sofa?
Leave 14 to 18 inches between the sofa front and the coffee table, and 30 to 36 inches of walkway around the table. The table should be about two-thirds the length of the sofa.
How do I know if a sofa will fit through my door?
The sofa's width must be less than the door height so it can go in on end, and its diagonal depth must be less than the door width. Measure at every turn, including stairs and elevators.
By Awais Zahid, WanAyra Meubles, Montréal
Sit on our sofas before you buy at our showroom, 433 Rue Chabanel O, Montréal, or browse the living room furniture collection online.