The dimensions table
All 28 rows below. Read the clearance column before the size column — that is the one that decides whether a layout works.
| Item | Standard size (in) | Height (in) | Clearance needed | Note for Mumbai flats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single bed | 36 x 75 | 18–24 to mattress top | 24 on the access side | 78 in length if anyone is over 5 ft 10 in |
| Queen bed | 60 x 78 | 18–24 | 24 both sides, 30 at the foot | The most common bed that actually fits a 10 x 11 ft room |
| King bed | 72 x 78 | 18–24 | 24 both sides | Needs an 11 ft wall minimum, or the wardrobe will not open |
| Bedside table | 18 x 16 | 22–26 | Aligned to the mattress top | Wall-hung saves 4 in of usable floor |
| Wardrobe — hinged | Depth 22–24 | 84–96 | 36 in front for the shutter and you | Shutter width kept to 18–24 in to avoid sag |
| Wardrobe — sliding | Depth 25–27 | 84–96 | 24 in front | Track eats 3 in; you lose a third of the opening always |
| Study desk | 48 x 24 | 29–30 | 36 behind for the chair | A 42 in desk works; 36 in does not once a monitor lands |
| Dining table — 4 seat | 36 x 48 | 30 | 36 pull-back behind each chair | A 4-seater needs a 9 x 8 ft room to be comfortable |
| Dining table — 6 seat | 36 x 72 | 30 | 36 pull-back | Round 48 in diameter seats 4 in less space than a rectangle |
| Dining chair | 18 x 20 | 18 seat, 34 back | 24 width per person at the table | Armless chairs tuck in and save 4 in each |
| Sofa — 2 seat | 60 x 34 | 16–18 seat | 30 to the coffee table | Check the lift diagonal before ordering anything over 72 in |
| Sofa — 3 seat | 84 x 36 | 16–18 seat | 30 to the coffee table | Knock-down frames are the practical choice above the 8th floor |
| Coffee table | 42 x 22 | 16–18 | 18 to the seating, 30 walkway | Lower than the sofa seat by 1 to 2 in |
| TV unit | Depth 16–18 | 18–24 | Screen centre at 42 from floor when seated | Viewing distance of 1.6 x the screen diagonal |
| Crockery unit | Depth 16–18 | 72–84 | 36 in front if drawers are used | Glass shutters need a 2 in shadow gap to look right |
| Shoe unit | Depth 12–14 | 30–48 | 24 in front | 14 in depth takes a men's size 11 flat; 12 in does not |
| Kitchen base unit | Depth 24 | 33–36 counter | 36–42 aisle, 48 for two cooks | Counter height set to the person who cooks most |
| Kitchen wall unit | Depth 12–14 | Bottom at 54–56 | 18 backsplash gap | 14 in depth hits the head of anyone working at the counter |
| Kitchen tall unit | Depth 24 | 84–96 | 36 in front | Coordinate the top with the false ceiling drop |
| Island | 36 x 60 minimum | 33–36 | 42 all round, 48 on the working side | Rarely fits a Mumbai flat under 1,200 sq ft carpet |
| Breakfast counter | Depth 15–18 | 36 counter, 42 bar | 12 in knee space, 24 in per stool | Overhang of 12 in minimum or knees hit the carcass |
| Vanity | Depth 18–21 | 32–34 | 30 in front | Wall-hung reads larger and lets you clean under it |
| Shower zone | 36 x 36 minimum | — | Door swing out, not in | 42 x 36 is the smallest that is genuinely comfortable |
| WC | 28 deep | 16–17 seat | 18 from centre to any wall, 24 in front | Rough-in distance varies; confirm against the model |
| Pooja unit | Depth 14–18 | Idol at 42–48 | 36 in front to sit | Doors should not open into a bedroom or bathroom wall |
| Bookshelf | Depth 10–12 | Shelf gap 12–14 | 30 walkway | Anything deeper becomes two rows and you lose the back row |
| Walkway — main | — | — | 36 minimum, 42 comfortable | Below 30 in, two people cannot pass |
| Walkway — secondary | — | — | 30 minimum | Applies between a bed and a wall, or a sofa and a unit |
All dimensions in inches. Where a range is given, the lower figure is the minimum that still works.
How to use it
- Tape the footprint on your floor before ordering anything large, and walk around it.
- Add the clearance to the size when you check a layout. A 7 ft sofa needs 9 ft 6 in of wall once you allow for circulation at each end.
- Check the lift diagonal before ordering anything over 72 inches long, and ask about knock-down construction.
- Use the walkway minimums as hard limits. Below 30 inches, two people cannot pass.
Three layout failures it prevents
- A king bed in an 11 ft room. It fits, and then the wardrobe shutters will not open.
- A dining table with 24 inches of pull-back. Chairs hit the wall and nobody can leave the table.
- A 12 in deep shoe unit. A men's size 11 shoe does not lie flat in it, and every pair goes in at an angle.
Try the furniture arrangement planner or start from a sample 2BHK layout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum walkway in a flat?+
Thirty-six inches on a main route and thirty on a secondary one, such as between a bed and a wall. Below thirty inches two people cannot pass, and below twenty-four a single person turns sideways. In a small Mumbai flat these are the numbers that decide the plan, not the furniture sizes.
Will a king bed fit my bedroom?+
A king is 72 by 78 inches and needs 24 inches on both sides, so it wants an 11 ft wall as an absolute minimum and 12 ft to be comfortable. In a 10 by 11 ft Mumbai bedroom a queen is the right answer, and the extra circulation is worth more than the extra 12 inches of mattress.
How much space does a dining chair need behind it?+
Thirty-six inches of pull-back from the table edge to the nearest obstruction. Armless chairs tuck in further and save about four inches each. A 6-seat table therefore needs a room about 9 ft wide, which is why compact flats are better served by a breakfast counter.
What TV size for my living room?+
Work backwards from the seat: viewing distance of about 1.6 times the screen diagonal. At 10 ft from the sofa that is a 75 inch screen; at 8 ft, a 60 to 65 inch one. Screen centre at about 42 inches from the floor when seated on a 17 inch seat.
Why does the lift diagonal matter so much?+
Because a 7 ft sofa cannot enter a lift with a 6 ft 2 in diagonal, and the staircase turn in most older Mumbai buildings is worse. Measure both before ordering, and ask furniture makers for knock-down frames. It is the most common and most avoidable delivery failure in the city.