What you need
- A tape measure of at least 5 m (16 ft)
- Masking tape to mark the floor
- The product's specification sheet with closed and opened dimensions
- A note of the narrowest door, turn and stair on the way in
Room clearance with the bed open
The opened length of a pull-out is measured from the back of the sofa to the foot of the bed. Mark it on the floor with masking tape and walk around it.
| Measurement | Typical range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Opened length, pull-out sofa bed | About 215 to 240 cm (85 to 95 in) | From the sofa back to the foot of the bed |
| Opened length, click-clack | About 190 to 210 cm (75 to 83 in) along the sofa, depth about 110 to 140 cm | The bed runs along the wall, not out into the room |
| Walkway beside and at the foot | About 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 in) | To get in and out of bed and pass by |
| Gap behind the sofa | Often a few centimetres; some mechanisms need more | Some click-clacks need room to recline before flattening |
These are typical ranges only. Use the opened dimensions printed for the exact model, and allow for skirting boards, radiators and anything that has to stay in the room, such as a coffee table.
Plan for the rest of the room
- Decide where the coffee table goes when the bed is out. A table on castors or a nest of small tables is easier to move.
- Check that doors in the room can still open with the bed extended, including cupboard and wardrobe doors.
- Leave access to a power socket near the head if guests need a lamp or a phone charger.
Doorways
Standard interior doors in the US are usually 30 to 36 in (76 to 91 cm) wide and about 80 in (203 cm) tall. In the UK, internal doors are commonly 686, 762 or 838 mm wide, and the clear opening is smaller once the door and stops are accounted for. Measure the clear opening yourself rather than assuming a standard.
- Measure the door's clear width with the door open, from the stop to the edge of the door.
- Measure the clear height.
- Compare with the sofa's depth and height, not its length. Sofas usually go through on their back or on end.
- Check the diagonal depth (from the top of the back to the front of the seat, measured at an angle) if it's listed. A sofa that is too deep can sometimes pass tilted.
Hallways, stairs and lifts
- Hall turns: measure the width of the hallway at any turn and the distance to the next wall. Long sofas get stuck at right-angle turns more than at doors.
- Stairs: measure the width between handrails, the headroom at the lowest point, and any landing turns.
- Lifts: measure door width, internal depth, width and height. A sofa standing on end needs the internal height, and the diagonal of the car may be the only way it fits.
If it won't fit
Look for sofas with removable arms and legs, modular sections, or a frame delivered flat and assembled in the room. Sleeper sectionals often arrive in pieces. Ask the retailer which parts come off before you order, and see questions about delivery.