How to Move a Sofa Through a Narrow Doorway

A sofa that won't fit through the doorway is one of the most common moving headaches. Before you panic — or start removing windows — work through these steps in order. Most sofas that "won't fit" actually do, with the right angle.

1. Measure first

Measure the sofa's height, width and diagonal depth, then the doorway's width and height. The key trick: a sofa can often go through on the diagonal or stood vertically even when it won't fit flat. Compare the door's diagonal opening to the sofa's smallest profile.

2. Strip it down

• Remove all cushions and pillows.
• Unscrew the feet or legs — this alone often gains the inch or two you need.
• If the arms are bolted on (common on modular and some fabric sofas), removing them can dramatically slim it down. Check under the covers for bolts or clips.

3. Use the "hook and pivot" technique

Stand the sofa on its end, then "hook" it through the doorway: lead with the top back corner going up and through, pivoting around the door frame as you go. Two people — one guiding the leading end, one controlling the base — can walk most sofas through this way.

4. Take the door off its hinges

A door and its hinges can steal 4–5cm. Lifting the door off (and even unscrewing the hinge plates) is quick and often the difference between fitting and not.

5. Last resorts

If it still won't go: try a different doorway or a patio/French door, or move it through a ground-floor window. For upper floors, some specialists hoist large items through windows or over balconies — but that's a job for experienced movers with the right equipment.

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