What to measure before buying furniture
Published
Check the space, clearances, delivery route, and product dimensions before buying furniture. Keep a simple measurement checklist for the shop or your next site visit.
Measure the space and the way into it
Before buying furniture, record the space where it will stand and the route it must take to get there. Compare those measurements with both the assembled furniture and its delivery packaging. A shelf that fits the alcove is only half the story if the package cannot get upstairs.
Start with a tape measure and one place for your notes. Give each number a label and units. Keep the measurements for the intended space separate from the dimensions of a product you are considering.
- Available width, height and depth at the final position.
- Skirting boards, radiators, sockets, handles and other obstructions.
- Space for doors and drawers to open, chairs to move, and people to pass.
- Doorways, corridors, turns, stairs and lifts along the delivery route.
- Assembled product dimensions, package dimensions, and the retailer’s access requirements.
Record the usable space, not just the wall
Measure the part of the space the furniture will actually occupy. A skirting board may reduce the depth available at floor level. A socket or radiator can matter even when the wall itself is wide enough.
For an alcove or opening, check more than one position and write down where each reading was taken. Do not assume that opposite walls are parallel. A tape measure cannot supply fitting allowances or ventilation clearances: follow the requirements for the actual product.
Leave room for use as well as placement. Check the swing of a cupboard door, the reach of a drawer, and the space needed to sit down or walk past. These needs depend on the furniture and the room; there is no single allowance that suits everything.
An example measurement record
Here is a fictional record for a living-room alcove. It illustrates how to label a space, not a promise that a particular bookcase will fit.
Copy these labels into your own notes and add your actual readings. Keep a separate record for a doorway or a candidate product so the numbers do not get mixed together.
- Property or project: Home.
- Room or area: Living room.
- Item: Alcove beside the door.
- Dimensions: Clear width 124; usable height 210; depth to the walking route 32.
- Units: cm.
- Notes: Width checked at three heights; 124 cm is the smallest reading. Skirting board projects into the space. Check the chosen bookcase’s back profile and fixing instructions.
Check the complete delivery route
Follow the route from the building entrance to the final room. Note door openings, narrow corridors, turns, stair landings, lift openings and lift interiors. Check the retailer’s package dimensions; flat-pack furniture and assembled furniture can arrive very differently.
One doorway width does not prove that a bulky item can be carried through a turn. If access is close, share your measurements and photos with the retailer or delivery team before ordering. Confirm any required disassembly with them.
IKEA’s delivery guidance also calls out package size, entrances, corridors, lifts and stairs. Use the delivery instructions for your actual order rather than assuming all retailers handle access the same way.
Take the context with you
Keep a photo with a clear item label and a note describing the measuring points. A picture helps you recognise the space; it does not replace dimensions or establish scale.
Decorators and installers can use the same method for a client’s room. Record the property, room, item and visit date, and distinguish your site measurements from supplier specifications. Recheck the relevant readings before ordering or cutting.
Benchlist keeps measurements, notes and photos on your iPhone, ready for a shopping trip or your next site visit. It records the measurements you take; it does not measure with the camera.