Usually, yes. Standing a sofa on its end is one of the best ways to save floor space in a unit, and with a sturdy frame and enough headroom it’s a smart way to fit more into a smaller space.
Will your sofa take it?
Standing up puts the sofa’s weight through one arm and the frame behind it, so check the frame can bear it first.
- A standard two or three-seater with a fixed frame is usually the easiest. Take off the feet and loose cushions first.
- Sofa beds, recliners and anything with a mechanism: follow the maker’s instructions. If they don’t cover it, keep it on its feet.
- Flat-pack sofas and futon frames: take them apart where they come apart, and tape any small parts, in a labelled bag, to the frame.
- Antique or delicate frames: keep them on their feet.
Will it fit standing up?
On its end, a sofa stands as tall as it is long. Tipping it up inside the unit needs a little more headroom still, because the corner swings through the diagonal as it rises. A sofa 2m long and 90cm deep, for example, needs about 2.2m of clear height to tip up.
Heights vary between our sites and units, so the easiest way is to measure your sofa’s length, depth and height and send us all three before you book. We’ll check them against the unit and its door. Our guide to how high our units are explains more.
How to stand it up safely
- Clean and dry it first. Trapped moisture is what leads to mould, so avoid packing it on a wet day.
- Cover it. A furniture cover or blanket keeps off dust and scratches. You’ll find sofa covers and furniture blankets in our Box Shop.
- Lift, don’t drag, and tip it up slowly with one person at each end.
- Stand it on a level floor, with a folded blanket under the arm it rests on.
- Load it early, against a back or side wall. It needs to stand steadily on its own, because nothing can be fixed to the unit walls. That keeps every unit in good order for the next customer.
- Keep boxes off it, and leave a small gap around it so air can move.
If the sofa is heavy or the arm it would stand on isn’t flat, it’s fine to keep it on its feet and book a little more floor space instead. We can also recommend local removal firms if you’d like help with the lifting.
Not sure what size you need?
Tell us what you’re storing and we’ll suggest a unit size. Get a price online, or call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll help you find the right fit.
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