MR HOME GUY USA · MASTER TECHS SINCE 2008
What Should I Measure Before Moving Furniture Into My New Home?
Measure the furniture as it will be carried, the full route into the home, and the space where it will sit. Check the clear openings at doors and elevators, then measure stairs, landings, and tight turns. A sofa can fit the living room and pass through the front door but still get stuck where the hallway turns.
Furniture delivery measuring checklist
1. Measure the largest piece the crew will carry
Record the width, depth, and height of each bulky item. Include arms, handles, and anything else that sticks out. If legs, backs, or sectional pieces are designed to come off, ask the crew whether it can remove them and record the dimensions of the largest remaining piece. For new furniture, ask for the carton dimensions and whether the retailer delivers it boxed.
2. Measure the doors and elevator
Follow the actual delivery route from the loading area to the room. Measure the usable width and height of each doorway with the door open. If there’s an elevator, record both the door opening and the cabin’s width, depth, and height. Photograph the space outside the elevator so the crew can judge how much room it has to line up the piece.
3. Check stairs, landings, and hallway turns
Measure stair width between obstructions, the usable space on each landing, and any low overhead clearance. At a tight corner, measure the hallway on both sides and photograph the turn from both directions. Give those measurements to the crew so it can assess the route as a whole.
4. Mark the footprint in the room
Use a floor plan or mark the furniture’s footprint with removable painter’s tape if the floor finish allows it. Check that you can still open doors and drawers, pull out chairs, and walk around the piece. For a sectional, confirm which side the chaise will sit on before ordering.
Example — The sofa clears the doorway, but the hall turns right away
Say the sofa is 86 inches long and 36 inches deep. The front door has a 38-inch clear opening, but the hallway turns just inside the entrance. The doorway width tells you only part of the story. Measure the space before the turn, the hallway beyond it, and the ceiling height near the corner. Send those measurements and photos to the delivery crew and ask whether it can make the turn with the sofa as delivered.
If the crew needs the legs off or the carton removed, ask who can do that and where. Get the answer before the truck arrives.
What to send before delivery day
- Item details: Product model, dimensions, and whether it will arrive boxed, assembled, or in sections.
- Route measurements: The narrowest openings, elevator dimensions, stair landings, and any tight turns.
- Photos in route order: Start at the loading area and end at the room. Include a wide shot and a close-up of each pinch point.
- Building and delivery instructions: Confirm the approved entrance, any elevator reservation, and what happens if the crew cannot bring the item in.
Not sure whether your furniture will make the turn?
Bring the item dimensions, photos of the route, and measurements of the tightest spots. We’ll help you identify what’s missing and put together the details your mover or delivery crew needs to assess the fit.
$39 · 20-minute virtual appointment · Book online 24/7 · Available nationwide — Mr. Home Guy USA
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Check out our How to Measure the Full Furniture Delivery Route blog