Measure the item in three dimensions
Write down height, width and depth for the item itself, and measure at its widest point rather than its average. For sofas, that usually means across the arms. For wardrobes, it is the diagonal that matters most, because a tall wardrobe has to tilt to get through a standard doorway.
Take the measurements with any feet or castors attached if they cannot be removed easily. A sofa that fits at 80cm often does not fit at 88cm once you add the legs.
Measure every opening on the route, not just the front door
The narrowest point on the journey determines whether the item gets in. Measure the front door, any internal doors, the hallway width, the turn at the bottom and top of the stairs, and the stairwell width itself.
In flats, measure the lift interior and its door opening separately. A lift can be deep enough and still have an opening too narrow for a mattress to enter at an angle.
Account for the turn, not just the gap
A doorway 5cm wider than your sofa is only useful if you can approach it straight on. Where a hallway forces a 90-degree turn, you need clearance in both directions at once.
As a rough rule, allow at least 10cm of margin on the narrowest dimension, and more if the approach involves a turn or a low ceiling.
Tell us what you found
When you book with PORTR, use the access notes to describe anything tight. A driver who knows there is a narrow half-landing arrives with a plan; a driver who discovers it on the day loses time.
If a measurement is genuinely borderline, say so in the notes. It is much better to discuss it before the collection date than on the doorstep.
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