How to Measure Furniture & Appliances for Your Home

“Wait… will this even fit through my front door?” It’s a question many people ask a little too late. They pick out the perfect sofa or fridge, only to wake up in a state of panic on delivery day.

Is your brand-new item destined to live on your front porch? Will it make it inside? How can you be sure? We can help! In this article, we’ll walk you through how to measure your home and your furniture or appliance to ensure that everything fits just right.

Measuring Entries for Delivery

Find the Best Entry Point

When you’re planning to get a big piece of furniture, or a large appliance delivered, you should first consider the easiest method of getting it into your home. While the front door seems like the obvious choice, it isn’t always the simplest!

A new living room couch might need to go to the backyard and through the sliding doors. A heavy, rolled-up rug might not fit through a long hallway but can easily make it into the bedroom through a big window. A little creativity when finding the best entry point can make a world of difference.

Measure the Dimensions

You’ve found the best entry point. Now, it’s time to measure the dimensions of every space the piece will pass through en route to its designated location. You’ll also want to note the clearance space — or the measurement between any immovable objects or obstacles (i.e., the door and wall). Covering all of your measurement bases before delivery can help ensure your new furniture or appliance makes it to where it needs to go.

Shop for an Appliance with the Right Dimensions

You’ve taken thorough measurements of your space and double-checked them for good measure! Now, you can compare them to the dimensions of the furniture and appliances you intend to purchase.

The width and height of all furniture and appliances should be about an inch less than the width and height of doors and halls. Keep in mind that larger furniture items may come in smaller pieces that you can assemble yourself. When in doubt, ask!

Measuring Furniture

Whenever you measure a spot for a new piece of furniture, there are three measurements you’ll want to take into consideration: length, width, and height. If you want to ensure the furniture piece you’re eying will fit into your space, a foolproof way is to map out the piece’s dimensions on the floor using masking or painter’s tape. This type of tape won’t leave marks on your floor and it’s easy to reposition.

Once you’ve gotten the furniture size outlined on your floor, make note of a couple things: are you blocking any floor vents? Outlets? Light switches? Do you have space to walk around? By physically marking where the piece will sit, you’ll confirm whether it blocks or covers anything you need.

If you measure for a piece of furniture with doors or cabinets, like a TV stand, don’t forget to take those measurements into consideration. That hutch might look fabulous against the wall in your dining room, but it’s a no-go if you hit the table every time you open the doors!

Measuring Appliances

When you measure for a new couch in your living room, being off by a quarter-inch may not be a big deal. With appliances, however, precision is key. To make sure your refrigerator can easily pop into the nook in your kitchen, or your new microwave can fit exactly where you want it, measure twice.

Measuring for a Refrigerator

When you measure space for a new refrigerator, you’ll want to measure several times for height, width, and depth.

• When measuring for width, make sure to measure toward the top, middle, and bottom of your space. The narrowest measurement should be the one you use – after all, it doesn’t matter if the base of the refrigerator fits perfectly if the top doesn’t.
• The same thing goes for height. Measure from the floor to the bottom of the upper cabinets at the back and front of the space. Again, go by the smaller measurement.
• To get the depth, measure from the back of the space to the front of your counters.
• When you’re shopping for the fridge, take note of the door measurements. You’ll want to make sure you have enough clearance space for the doors to open easily (while you stand in front!).

Measuring for a Range or Oven

A range or oven should fit into its designated space snugly, so it’s important to be extremely accurate with your measurements.

• To measure for width, measure from the left inside cabinet edge to the right inside cabinet edge. Take one measurement at the top and one at the bottom of the space.
• To measure the depth, start from the back of the opening to the front of the cabinets. Ensure that the length of the oven door has clearance space.
• To measure the height, measure from the floor to the top of the cabinets.

Measuring for a Washer & Dryer

Before collecting any measurements for your new washer and dryer, you’ll need to pick out your space and determine if you will be using a side-by-side or stacked configuration.

• To measure the width, measure from wall to wall, adding approximately one inch of space between the sides of the units and the walls. If the washer and dryer are side-by-side, add another inch between the two units.
• To measure depth, measure from the back wall to the front edge of any cabinets, if applicable. Then, add six inches (at least) for hoses and venting.
• To measure the height, measure from the floor to the bottom of any overhead countertop or counter. If you’re eying top-load washers, remember that you’ll need enough clearance space for the door to open fully. We can help you decide between a front load and top load washer, too.

Additional Furniture Delivery Tips

Clean Your Space Before the Furniture or Appliance Arrives

Once you’ve placed a large sectional couch or installed an oven, the floor underneath it will likely not be cleaned for a while. Give your space a thorough deep cleaning before your furniture or appliances arrive, and you’ll start with a clean slate (and no dust bunnies!).

Make Sure You’re Home During the Delivery Window

Your delivery person might arrive in the first five minutes, or they might come in the last ten. Either way, rescheduling furniture or appliance delivery is a much bigger headache. Block out the entire delivery window to receive your furniture or appliances, and you’ll be set.

Lock Fido or Fluffy Safely Away in Another Room

Nothing good happens when a pet is underfoot while people are carrying a heavy piece of furniture or massive appliance. Another terrible scenario? Your fur baby darts out the front door in the commotion of delivery. The best thing to do is to put your dog or cat in a separate room or crate before delivery.

Rent-A-Center Has the Furniture and Appliances You Need Today!

Now that you’ve calculated the dimensions of your space, it’s time to get down to business! Find the furniture and appliances you need at a budget-friendly price you’ll love online at your nearest Rent-A-Center. Place your order with confidence by using our Product Reservation feature to secure the item you want today!