How to Make a Couch Taller with Risers and New Legs

You can make a couch taller in two ways: slide furniture risers under the existing legs for a fast, reversible lift, or swap the legs for longer ones. Risers suit renters and quick fixes. New legs give a cleaner look and last longer.

A low sofa is a common problem, and it's easy to fix. Most seats sit about 17 to 18 inches off the floor, and adding 2 to 3 inches is usually enough to make standing up easier and the sofa look better next to your tables.

Save

How high should a couch seat be?

A comfortable seat puts your hips about level with, or slightly above, your knees. Most people land between 17 and 20 inches. If you're tall, have sore knees, or are planning for aging in place, the higher end of that range makes getting up much easier.

Proportion matters too. A sofa that sits too low next to an 18-inch coffee table or a 24-inch side table looks dwarfed, and the table ends up higher than the seat, which makes reaching for a drink awkward. Measure the table height first, then decide how much lift you need. As an architect, I'd aim for a seat cushion within an inch or two of the coffee table surface.

How do furniture risers work?

Risers are blocks or cups that sit under each sofa leg. They need no tools and no changes to the furniture, which is why they work well in rentals.

Material is the thing to check. Hollow plastic can crack or deform under the concentrated weight of a leg. Solid wood blocks or steel cups with a wide base spread the load and hold up better. Check the weight rating against the sofa plus the people and dogs who will sit on it.

How to install risers safely

1. Pull the sofa away from the wall so you have room to work.
2. Ask someone to help you lift one side at a time. Don't drag a sofa once it sits on risers.
3. Center each leg in its riser cup.
4. Lower the sofa gently and repeat on the other side.
5. Press on every corner to confirm nothing wobbles before anyone sits down.

The downside is looks: risers can seem bulky. A sofa skirt, a slipcover with a longer hem, or a basket and plant beside the base will hide them.

Save

Can you replace couch legs for a cleaner look?

Yes, and on most modern sofas it takes about ten minutes. Many legs simply unscrew from the underside of the frame. Trading a 3-inch block leg for a tapered 6-inch leg changes the whole silhouette. If you like the slim look, the post on affordable hairpin legs has more options.

Match the hardware first

Before ordering, check the threaded bolt. Many American sofas use a 5/16-inch hanger bolt, while many European brands use metric bolts such as M8, and the two don't swap. Unscrew one leg and compare it against the new ones, or take it to a hardware store.

If the legs are permanently attached or the threading doesn't match, mounting plates solve it. These flat metal plates screw into the wood frame and give you a new threaded hole.

Installing mounting plates

1. Lay the sofa on its back over a rug or moving blanket to protect the fabric.
2. Remove the old legs. Glued or nailed ones may need a pry bar.
3. Position each plate over solid wood at the frame corners.
4. Pre-drill pilot holes so the wood doesn't split.
5. Screw the plates down tightly, then thread in the new legs.

Save

What can go wrong when you raise a sofa?

Check the center first. Longer sofas often have a support leg in the middle of the frame. If you raise only the outer legs, that center leg stays short and the frame can bow or the joints loosen. Raise it by the same amount as the others.

Lift the front and back equally. Raising just one end tilts the seat, and the springs and foam were designed for a level base.

Be careful with very tall legs. A longer leg works as a lever, so more sideways force lands on the attachment point every time someone drops onto the cushions. In my practice I recommend keeping the increase modest, a few inches at most, unless the frame is reinforced with corner braces. Sofas with casters also need caster cups with deep grooves, never flat risers, or the sofa can roll off.

Save

Pet and floor considerations

A taller sofa opens a gap underneath. Some dogs and cats will treat it as a hideout, which can be comforting for an anxious animal. It also collects fur, dust and lost toys, so plan to vacuum there. If you use a robot vacuum, measure its height and compare it with the new clearance.

Taller legs concentrate weight on a small footprint, so protect the floor. Felt pads suit hardwood. On vinyl, laminate or tile, rubber grips help keep a sofa from creeping when a big dog jumps up. If sliding is your issue, see how to stop furniture from sliding on laminate floors. For general protection against claws and fur, these tips to protect furniture from your pet pair well with a lift.

Finishing touches that make the lift look intentional

• Match wooden legs to your floor, trim or other wood tones, or contrast them on purpose with matte black or brass.
• Use chunky legs on heavy, overstuffed sofas and slim tapered legs on light, track-arm styles.
• Check that the front legs still sit on your area rug after the change.
• Add adjustable leveling glides if your floor isn't perfectly flat.

Moving the sofa as part of the change? This guide to arranging an L-shaped sofa covers layout once the height is right.

Save

Frequently asked questions