Will the sofa fit through the stairwell?
Narrow front doors, tight spiral staircases, a small lift: particularly in older Berlin buildings, the access route can prevent delivery. Measurements and photos help identify tight spots early. However, a single door width or diagonal measurement is no guarantee that the sofa will fit through.
Sofastil Berlin · Published on
The sofa measurements you need
- Width: from armrest to armrest at the widest point.
- Depth: from the back to the front edge of the armrest or seat.
- Height: from the floor to the highest point of the backrest.
- Transport dimensions: Have the dimensions of each packaged module and the parts the manufacturer permits you to remove confirmed.
A diagonal measurement can help with the assessment. Whether the sofa can be turned or tilted also depends on its shape, length, the door height and the space on both sides of the opening. Check the whole route, therefore.
The route measurements you need
- Doors: the building entrance, flat entrance and room door – measure the actual clear width and height with each door open.
- Hallways: the width, and at each corner also the width of the corridor you turn into.
- Stairwell: the width between wall and handrail, the width and depth of landings, and the clear ceiling height. For spiral staircases, the narrowest point is what matters.
- Lift: the width, depth and height of the cabin, its diagonal, and the width and height of the lift door; also check the permitted load.
- Obstacles: radiators, lights, handrails, window sills and door fittings.
Length is crucial at corners and landings
At a corner or stair landing, the sofa has to turn with its full length. Standing it upright may help, but requires enough ceiling height and room to manoeuvre. Measure the landings carefully and photograph the stairwell from several positions.
When space is tight
- Removable feet can reduce the height, provided the model is designed for this.
- Taking a door off its hinges may create space; arrange permission and professional handling beforehand.
- Corner sofas are often delivered in separate modules and assembled inside the home. Check the dimensions of each module.
- For a made-to-measure sofa, we can adapt the dimensions and, depending on the model, the module layout to the access route.
- Another option may be a furniture lift through a balcony or window. Access, suitability, costs and any necessary permits must be clarified in advance.
Our tip: send measurements in advance
Before ordering, send us measurements and photos of the building entrance, stairwell and flat entrance. We will review the access route with you and suggest a solution if needed. In Berlin, we can deliver made-to-measure furniture into your home and assemble it on request; the scope and costs are stated in the quote.
Printable checklist
| Item | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Sofa: width × depth × height | ________________ |
| Packaged modules and removable parts | ________________ |
| Building entrance: clear width × height | ________________ |
| Staircase: width at the narrowest point | ________________ |
| Landing: width × depth, ceiling height | ________________ |
| Lift: cabin dimensions, door opening, load limit | ________________ |
| Flat entrance: clear width × height | ________________ |
| Hallway: width before and after the corner | ________________ |
| Room door: clear width × height | ________________ |
| Floor, lift available: yes or no | ________________ |