How to Measure and Prepare for Furniture Delivery 

You found the perfect sofa. It looks right in the showroom, the colour works with your walls, and you can already picture it in your living room. Then delivery day arrives and it will not fit through the front door. 

Measuring for new furniture before delivery is the step most people skip and the one they wish they had not. Dufresne has helped thousands of Canadian families furnish their homes, and the measuring questions we hear most often are the ones with the easiest answers. This guide covers every measurement that matters, then walks through how to get your home ready before the Dufresne delivery team arrives.

Before You Shop

What Do You Need Before You Start Measuring Furniture?

A metal measuring tape (not fabric ones since they stretch and can give false readings), a notepad, and the dimensions of any furniture you are considering.

If you are shopping at Dufresne, dimensions are listed on every product page. Pull those up before you measure so you can compare on the spot.

One more step worth doing before you fall in love with anything: measure your doorways, hallways, and staircases. A sectional that fits your living room perfectly is useless if it cannot get into the living room. More on that below.

How Do You Measure Furniture Dimensions?

Every product listing shows three numbers: width, depth, and height. Width is side to side. Depth is front to back. Height is floor to top. Those are the numbers you compare against your room.

Two distinctions trip people up consistently:

What is the difference between overall depth and seat depth on a sofa?

Overall depth is the full front-to-back measurement of the frame, typically 35 to 40 inches (90 to 100 centimetres). Seat depth is the actual sitting surface from the front cushion edge to the back cushion, typically 21 to 26 inches (53 to 65 centimetres). Product listings show overall depth. If how a sofa feels to sit in matters to you, check the detailed specs or ask in-store. 

What is the difference between furniture height and clearance height?

Height tells you how tall a piece is. It does not tell you whether it clears a ceiling fan, an angled roofline, or a low overhead cabinet. Always measure floor to obstruction in the intended spot, not just floor to ceiling.

Our pick: The Fatima Power Reclining Sofa with Power Headrest in Verona Russet is a strong match for larger living rooms where you have measured for full recline depth. Made in Canada, it features power headrests, a tall panel back, and a foot extension. Keep in mind that the seated depth changes significantly when reclined, so factor that into your clearance planning before you buy.

How Do You Measure if Furniture Will Fit Through Your Home?

This is the section most people skip. The sofa fits the room on paper, delivery day comes, and nobody checked the stairwell. 

What width does a front door need to be for furniture delivery?

Most standard Canadian exterior doors are 36 inches (91 centimetres) wide. Measure the frame opening, not the door itself. That is the clearance your delivery team is actually working with. 

How do you measure a hallway for furniture?

Measure the narrowest point. That is your constraint. Everything has to get through there first. 

How do you measure a staircase for furniture delivery?

Measure the width at the narrowest point and the turning space at the top and bottom landing. The turning radius catches people more often than the width does. A piece that fits the staircase width can still be impossible to navigate around the corner. 

What elevator dimensions do you need for furniture delivery?

In a condo or apartment building, check the elevator interior before purchasing large pieces. Many elevator cabs are shallower than they look from the door.

When furniture cannot get through standard entry points, many Dufresne sofas and sectionals have removable legs or modular configurations that make delivery easier. Ask at your nearest Dufresne location or check the product detail page.

Room by Room

How Do You Measure a Living Room for Furniture?

The living room is where the most expensive measuring mistakes happen. A sofa that is six inches too wide or a sectional pointed the wrong way can make a room feel half its size.

How much space does a sofa or sectional need?

A standard two-seat sofa runs 5 to 6 feet (150 to 185 centimetres) wide. A three-seat sofa is typically 6.5 to 7.5 feet (190 to 230 centimetres). A sectional can easily reach 9 to 10.5 feet (280 to 320 centimetres) along its longest side. The video below will teach you how to properly measure a sofa:

Where should a buffet or sideboard go in a dining room?

A typical sideboard runs 16 to 20 inches (40 to 50 centimetres) deep. Place it on a wall where it will not eat into the chair clearance around the table. 

Dufresne's dining room collection includes tables, chairs, benches, and dining storage. Dimensions are on every product page.

How Do You Measure a Bedroom for Furniture?

The bedroom comes down to two things: whether the bed fits the room, and whether you can actually move around it once it is in.

What are the standard Canadian bed sizes?

• Twin: 39 x 75 inches (99 x 190 centimetres)

• Double/Full: 54 x 75 inches (137 x 190 centimetres)

• Queen: 60 x 80 inches (153 x 203 centimetres)

• King: 76 x 80 inches (193 x 203 centimetres)

Measure your room before you decide on a size. A king bed in a small room can leave almost no usable floor space on either side. Browse Dufresne's bed collection with full dimensions on every product page.

Our pick: The Stella Panel Bed in Charcoal is crafted in Canada from solid wood, with an upholstered headboard, wooden footboard, and side rails that give you defined edges to measure your bedside clearance against. If you are furnishing the full room, the Stella collection includes a matching nightstand and chest so you can plan and order everything at once.

How much clearance does a bed need?

At least 2 feet (60 centimetres) on each side where people get in and out. At least 3 feet (90 centimetres) at the foot of the bed before the dresser or wall. Less than that and opening drawers becomes a daily inconvenience. 

How do you size a dresser and nightstands for a bedroom?

Standard dressers run 18 to 22 inches (45 to 55 centimetres) deep. Add that to the 3-foot clearance at the foot of the bed, and you have the total wall-to-wall space the bed-and-dresser combination will consume.

Nightstands should sit level with or just below the top of your mattress. Measure mattress height plus bed frame height, then look for nightstands within a few inches of that total.

Getting Ready for Delivery Day 

How Do You Prepare Your Home for Furniture Delivery?

Measuring is the work you do before you buy. Preparing your home is the work you do before the truck arrives. A little effort the day before makes the whole experience faster and smoother for everyone. 

Clear the path from the street to the room

The Dufresne delivery team needs a clear, unobstructed route from the curb to the room where your new furniture is going. Move shoes, area rugs, lamps, and any small furniture out of hallways and doorways ahead of time. Roll up rugs along the path. Move your vehicles out of the driveway so the delivery truck can get as close to your door as possible.

If you are in a condo or apartment building, reserve the freight elevator in advance. Do not assume it will be available on arrival. 

Clear snow and ice before the crew arrives

For Dufresne customers across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, this step is non-negotiable for much of the year. Before your delivery window opens, shovel the driveway, front walk, and any steps the crew will use. Spread salt or sand on icy patches. A delivery team carrying a sectional over an icy front step is a situation nobody wants, and it takes five minutes to prevent. 

Plan for your old furniture in advance

If an existing piece needs to go, decide where it is going before delivery day, not while the crew is at the door. Whether that means moving it to another room, donating it, or arranging a pickup, have a plan in place ahead of time. Check your delivery confirmation or visit our delivery page to see what old item removal options are included with your service.

Protect your floors along the delivery path

Moving heavy furniture through a home is one of the fastest ways to scratch hardwood or scuff laminate. Lay down floor runners, old blankets, or moving pads along the route before the team arrives. Pay particular attention to tight corners and any sections of flooring that are more vulnerable. 

Secure your pets in another room

An open front door with strangers carrying large items through it is exactly the kind of situation that gets a curious dog or cat into trouble. Secure pets in a closed room before the crew arrives and keep them there until the delivery is complete and all doors are shut. It protects them, and it lets the team work efficiently without distraction. 

Keep children away from the work area

The same applies to young children. Delivery involves heavy pieces moving through tight spaces, often with the front door open. Keep kids in another room or supervised well clear of the work area until everything is placed and the crew has finished. 

Know exactly where each piece is going before they arrive

The Dufresne delivery team will ask where each piece is going. Have a clear answer ready for every item. If you have a freshly painted wall, a fragile section of floor, or a tight corner that needs extra care, mention it the moment the crew arrives. Clear communication at the door prevents small problems from becoming harder to fix. 

Do a walkthrough before the crew leaves

Once everything is placed, take a few minutes to inspect each piece before the team goes. Check solid surfaces for scratches or dents. Test any reclining mechanisms or moving parts. Confirm the configuration matches your order. It is far easier to catch an issue while the team is still on site than after they have left

Shop with Confidence at Dufresne

Walk into any Dufresne location with your measurements in hand and the guesswork is gone. You will know which pieces fit, which configurations work, and exactly what is coming through the door on delivery day. 

Dufresne locations across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario carry full-size floor models with detailed dimensions on every product page. If you are working with an unusual layout, the in-store team can help you plan it out. 

Browse our sofa and sectionals selection and the dining room collection and bring your numbers.