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Last updated: March 2026

How Wide Do Stairs Need to Be for a Couch?

Building code requires 36" stair width, but handrails reduce clear space to 31". See if your couch can make it — including landing turns.

STAIR WIDTHCOUCHLANDING

Whether it fits depends on measurements most people get wrong.

Key Measurement

Stair clear width (31" typical after rails) vs. sofa depth (32–36" on side). Landing length vs. sofa length (84–96").

Standard Dimensions

Item: Standard sofa: 84"L × 36"D × 34"H. On side: 84"L × 34"H × 36"W.

Space: Standard stairs: 36"W (31" clear). Landing: typically 36"×36" to 42"×42".

Actual clear openings are usually 1–2″ smaller than the labeled size.

Your exact dimensions probably aren't "standard." Small measurement errors cause big problems — 1 inch can be the difference between fitting and getting stuck.

Verdicts are calculated by comparing all 6 item orientations against the space dimensions using verified building code standards. See our methodology

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What to Measure

1Stair clear width — measure between the handrails (or wall and handrail), not wall-to-wall; handrails reduce width by 3–5" per side
2Landing dimensions — L-shaped and U-shaped stair landings must be wide enough for the sofa to pivot; measure length × width
3Ceiling height above the stairs — low ceilings at the top or bottom of the staircase limit how much you can tilt
4Sofa dimensions — depth (32–36") is the critical measurement for straight stair width; length (84–96") matters for landings

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Measuring wall-to-wall instead of rail-to-rail — handrails project 3–4" from the wall, reducing a 36" stairway to 28–31" clear
Forgetting the landing turn — a sofa that fits on the straight sections may be too long to pivot around a 90° or 180° landing
Not tilting the sofa — standing the sofa on end and angling it up the stairs is the standard technique; measure the diagonal clearance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum stair width for a couch?

You need at least 28" of clear width (between handrails) for a standard sofa on its side. With a 36" wide staircase (31" clear after handrails), most sofas fit. The landing is usually the bottleneck, not the stair width.

How do you get a couch around a stair landing?

Stand the sofa on end, slide it to the landing, then pivot it around the corner. For L-shaped stairs, you need landing depth ≥ sofa width (84"+) or enough ceiling height to tilt over the railing. U-turn landings are the hardest — often impossible for sofas over 84".

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