Guides
How to Measure Your Own Space
Updated 2 min read
The short answer
You do not need to measure before a consultation — we will do it properly. But if you want a more accurate conversation beforehand, measure width in three places, height at both ends, and photograph everything. The three-places rule matters because walls are almost never parallel.
Taking useful measurements
- Width, in three placesAt floor level, at mid height and near the ceiling. Record all three, not an average. The smallest is what governs.
- Height, at both endsFloors slope and ceilings sag. A 20mm difference across a wall changes how a unit is built.
- Depth availableHow far into the room can the unit come before it interferes with circulation or a door swing?
- Everything on the wallOutlets, switches, vents, thermostats, radiators — with their heights and distances from a corner.
- ObstructionsBaseboard height, window sills, bulkheads, chimney breasts, exposed pipework.
- Door swingsWhere every door in the room opens to. This is the constraint people most often forget.
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What to photograph
- The whole wall, straight on
- Stand as far back as the room allows.
- Each corner
- Where the wall meets adjacent walls, floor and ceiling.
- Existing trim, close up
- Essential if new work needs to match. A photo of the end profile is best.
- Anything unusual
- A duct chase, an odd angle, an old repair, exposed services.
- The room from the doorway
- Shows how the wall relates to the rest of the space and where the eye lands.
- The view out any window
- Relevant if a screen or seating is being positioned.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to measure before a consultation?
- No. It can make the initial conversation more productive, particularly if you are getting quotes from several trades, but it is entirely optional. The measure that matters happens on site.
- Why measure the width three times?
- Because walls are rarely parallel, especially in older homes. A difference of ten or fifteen millimetres between the top and bottom of an alcove is normal, and a unit built to the larger figure will not fit.
- What is the most commonly forgotten measurement?
- Door swings. A cabinet run that works perfectly on a plan can be blocked by a door that opens into it. Note where every door in the room opens to, including closet and entry doors.
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We offer free consultations and fixed written quotes across Calgary.