Sofa buying · Delivery access
A sofa can suit the lounge beautifully and still leave you with an awkward delivery question at the front door. The useful next step is to make a clear record of the furniture and the route, so the seller or delivery provider can assess the same information you are looking at.
This guide turns that job into a labelled worksheet: what arrives, where it travels, which photos belong to each measurement and what still needs an answer before you book.
Start a record for each delivered piece
Ask the seller for the dimensions of each piece as it will arrive, rather than copying only the assembled sofa’s overall width. IKEA Australia specifically directs shoppers to package details when checking delivery access. IKEA Australia
Give every component a simple label: A, B, C and so on. Beside each one, record its length, depth, height and whether those figures include packaging. Keep the model name and selected configuration on the same sheet. A chaise, an end module and a corner unit should not share one unexplained measurement.
Add a separate line for anything the seller says can be removed for delivery. Ask for the resulting dimensions and who is permitted to do the work. Do not deduct a leg height from the advertised sofa height unless the maker confirms both the removal and the remaining dimensions. A zip, join or visible screw is not an assembly instruction.
For a second-hand sofa, ask for current measurements and the original model information where available. Keep uncertain dimensions marked unconfirmed rather than substituting a similar-looking model’s specifications.
Give every part of the route a name
Sketch the journey from the unloading point to the intended room. It can be a rough pen drawing: the purpose is to connect observations, not produce an architectural plan. Label the first door D1, a hallway H1, a turn T1, stairs S1 and a lift L1. Add further labels as needed.
Write the route in order beside the sketch: entry D1 → hallway H1 → turn T1 → lounge door D2. This is an example of a recording system, not a description of a particular home. If there is an alternative entrance, draw a separate route rather than combining its measurements with the main one.
King Living’s Australian access-check guidance identifies doorways, turns, low ceilings and lift size as matters for assessment, along with parking and unloading logistics. King Living Australia
On your plan, circle the parts you cannot confidently describe. “T1 needs review” is more useful than “access should be fine”. Numbering these points gives the delivery provider something specific to discuss with you.
Record usable openings, with matching photos
For each door, record the clear width and clear height available with the door open. The usable space can be affected by the door leaf, handles and other projections. Poltronesofà’s fitting guide also emphasises narrow points and the extra clearance needed when furniture is tilted. Poltronesofà UK (formerly ScS)
Use one unit throughout your record, such as millimetres, and write the unit on every sheet. Note where you placed the tape. If the opening changes at a threshold or another level, record that separately rather than replacing the smaller observation with a more favourable one.
Pair the opening with two photos: a straight-on view and a view showing the space on the far side. Label them D1-front and D1-beyond, for example. Keep handles and the opened leaf visible. A tightly cropped photograph of the tape does not show the approach or the room available beyond it.
In the notes, distinguish a moveable household item from a fixed restriction. Record a console table as “currently in route; removal to be arranged” and a built-in cupboard as “fixed”. Do not base the plan on removing a door, handrail or building fixture without the appropriate agreement.
Describe a turn before trying to calculate it
For T1, record the hallway widths on both sides of the bend and sketch the available turning area. Photograph the turn from both directions. Include nearby doors, projecting joinery and overhead restrictions in the views so the assessor can connect the plan to the actual space.
A sofa’s diagonal depth and a doorway’s diagonal opening are different measurements. Furniture Village describes upholstery diagonal depth using a line from the back of the frame to the front of the arm. If the seller requests a diagonal, ask for their measurement diagram so you record the intended points. Furniture Village
Put that measurement alongside the other component information; do not treat it as a replacement for the route survey. Ask the delivery provider which orientation they are assessing and whether the spaces before and after T1 have been considered. A single encouraging comparison does not document the whole movement.
Leave any unresolved result in the question column of your worksheet. You do not need to test a tight turn with the sofa to show someone where the uncertainty lies.
Make separate stair and lift records
DFS’s delivery measuring guidance covers the narrowest stair width, turning space at landings, lift entrances, the lift interior and weight limitations. These are separate checks: measuring only the entrance to a lift misses the space inside it. DFS
For S1, note the flight arrangement and record the accessible width, landing dimensions and any low overhead section. Mark where each observation belongs on the sketch. Use a photograph taken from a normal standing position to show a restriction you cannot measure safely; flag it for the delivery team rather than climbing or leaning to reach it.
For L1, record the clear door opening and the car’s internal width, depth and height. Photograph the capacity information for the provider to review. Ask the building manager about the suitable lift, booking arrangements and any protection or access requirements. A goods lift elsewhere in the building should not become part of the plan until its use is confirmed.
Keep an alternative stair route separate from the lift record. The delivery provider needs to know which route you are proposing, not just that the building has both.
Copy this delivery access worksheet
Use the following as a blank record in your notes app or on paper. Duplicate a row for every component, opening or turn. The ID ties the measurement to the route sketch and its photographs; it is not a score or a pass mark.
| Record ID | Information to enter | Photo and open question |
|---|---|---|
| Component A / B / C | Model and configuration: ____ Length × depth × height: ____ Unit: ____ Packaging included: ____ |
Seller’s diagram or specification: ____ Unconfirmed detail: ____ |
| Door D1 / D2 | Location: ____ Clear width: ____ Clear height: ____ Door position and restrictions: ____ |
Front photo: ____ Beyond-door photo: ____ Question: ____ |
| Hall H1 / turn T1 | Approach width: ____ Exit width: ____ Turning area and overhead notes: ____ |
Photos in both directions: ____ Fixed or moveable obstruction: ____ |
| Stairs S1 | Flight arrangement: ____ Width and landings: ____ Headroom restriction location: ____ |
Overview and restriction photos: ____ Needs provider measurement: ____ |
| Lift L1 | Door width × height: ____ Interior width × depth × height: ____ Capacity information recorded: ____ |
Door, interior and notice photos: ____ Building booking confirmed: ____ |
| Access review | Proposed route: ____ Provider and review date: ____ Assumptions or required changes: ____ |
Outstanding questions: ____ Written reply saved at: ____ |
On a phone, swipe the table to see each column.
Finish with the date and your name so another household member knows which version to use. If a dimension is approximate or a space was inaccessible, say so. An empty or qualified entry gives the assessor a question to resolve; an unsupported guess can hide it.
Send the record with a specific review request
Send the component specifications, labelled route sketch, worksheet and matching photos together. Start the message with the sofa model, configuration and proposed destination. Refer to the uncertain point by its label instead of asking only, “Will this fit?”
A useful enquiry is: “Please assess this sofa in its delivery configuration along the attached route. T1 is the point I am unsure about. Are any dimensions or photos missing, and what conditions would your delivery plan rely on?” This is a suggested message you can adapt, not a quotation from a customer.
Ask the provider to clarify:
- Which component dimensions and packaging state they used.
- Whether any maker-approved parts must be removed, and who handles that work.
- Whether the photos are sufficient or an on-site access check is needed.
- The route and room included in the review.
- Any building arrangements or changes that must be completed beforehand.
- What happens if delivery cannot proceed, including applicable charges or rebooking terms.
Save the reply with the record. If it relies on a change you cannot arrange, return to the provider before booking. A review of a different configuration, entrance or room does not resolve the plan in front of you.
Keep delivery arrangements and cover sizing separate
Confirm where the booked service ends: at an entry, inside a nominated room, or after assembly. IKEA Australia, for example, distinguishes delivery to the door from delivery into the home. Its options illustrate why the service description matters; they do not describe another retailer’s booking. IKEA Australia
Once access is resolved, clear the agreed route and keep the relevant building arrangements in place. Tell the provider if anything changes, such as a different lift allocation or work blocking an entrance. Have the current record available when discussing a last-minute question.
After the sofa is assembled and positioned, measure it again for any decorative cover. Delivery component sizes describe a different task from the fabric coverage you want across seats, backs and arms. Our sofa cover measuring guide explains those formats.
A loose throw can be a styling option once the furniture is in place; it is not a fitted transit cover or a substitute for the delivery provider’s handling materials. Compare the dimensions and the intended drape before choosing.
For room planning, see our guide to sofa dimensions and seat depth. If you are moving an existing set of covers, keep the pieces organised with our sofa cover moving inventory.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the sofa’s assembled dimensions for the whole check?
Keep those for the finished furniture record, then ask what will arrive at the property. The seller should identify the individual components, packaging and any approved delivery configuration. Do not assume a modular sofa’s largest piece is its longest assembled side.
Does a room outline prove the sofa will get inside?
No. It helps you visualise the final position, but does not record the openings and turns between the unloading point and that position. Keep room planning and the delivery route as separate parts of the decision.
Should I remove the legs before the delivery?
Ask the maker or seller first. Confirm whether the specific legs are designed for removal, who should do it and which dimensions apply afterwards. Leave the access question unresolved until that information is supplied.
What if I cannot measure a high or awkward restriction?
Mark its location on the route plan and provide an overview photo taken safely. Tell the provider which dimension is missing and ask whether they need an on-site check. Do not invent the number or climb to obtain it.
Sources and care guidance
Researched on 20 October 2026. The blank worksheet and illustrations organise an access enquiry; they are not scaled plans or a guarantee that furniture can pass. Confirm the actual sofa, route and delivery service with the responsible provider. The featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration of generic furniture; the body diagrams are original explanatory illustrations.
- Delivery service — package details and delivery options — IKEA Australia
- Shipping and Delivery — access checks — King Living Australia
- Sofa fitting guide — Poltronesofà UK (formerly ScS)
- Your guide to measuring a sofa — DFS
- Your furniture measuring guide — Furniture Village
