What a wrong-size sofa really costs in Canada
· 4 min read · Ashley Wong
A sofa that doesn't fit costs more than its price tag. It can cost a restocking fee. It can cost a second delivery, because delivery fees are often not refunded. It costs weeks: the wait for the first piece, then the wait for the replacement. And if the piece was custom or on clearance, it may be final sale, and it stays with you.
The rules differ a lot between retailers. Here is what five Canadian retailers say on their own pages, as of November 2026. Policies change, so check the page again before you order.
Return windows by retailer
| Retailer | Return window for furniture | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| IKEA Canada | 365 days new and unopened; 90 days opened | Opened and assembled items must be unused and re-saleable |
| EQ3 | 7 days from delivery or pickup | Accessories: 30 days from purchase |
| Structube | 7 days from delivery or pickup | Original receipt; original condition, free from damage, stains, odours or excessive wear |
| Canadian Tire | 90 days for unopened items in original packaging, with a receipt | No furniture-specific rule on the page; ask the store |
| Home Depot Canada | 90 days with the original receipt | Special orders are treated separately (see below) |
Two of these windows are seven days. That is one weekend to unpack, place the sofa, and decide. If you think a piece might not work, you need to know almost at once.
IKEA's window is the longest. Even there, an assembled piece that shows signs of use is refunded to an IKEA refund card, not your original payment.
Restocking fees
A restocking fee is a share of the price the retailer keeps when you return something. As of November 2026:
- EQ3: 20% on items returned without original packaging or not in sellable condition. Delivery and assembly fees are non-refundable once the service has taken place.
- Home Depot Canada: some Special Order returns carry a 15% restocking fee, and cancellations may too. The page sends you to the service desk for details.
- IKEA Canada, Structube and Canadian Tire: their return pages don't name a restocking fee.
The packaging rule matters more than it looks. Most people break down the boxes on delivery day. On a large sofa, 20% can be a real sum, and that is before the delivery fee you don't get back.
What's usually final sale
Final sale means no return, and often no exchange. The usual categories:
- Custom pieces. At EQ3, custom upholstery and commercial upholstery are final sale. IKEA Canada won't take back custom-cut fabric or custom countertops.
- COM upholstery. EQ3 lists upholstery in customer's own material as final sale. Once your fabric is on the frame, it can't go back.
- Floor models. EQ3 lists floor models as final sale.
- Clearance and outlet. EQ3 lists clearance merchandise and items bought at a designated outlet. Canadian Tire lists clearance, final sale and AS-IS merchandise as non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
IKEA is the exception on as-is items: they can come back within 90 days, but only for an IKEA refund card.
The pattern is simple. The more a piece was made or cut for you, or discounted to move, the less likely it can go back. These are often the pieces people choose with the most care, and they carry the most risk if a measurement is wrong.
Made-to-order and cancellation windows
Made-to-order pieces are built after you order. That makes the lead time long and the exit short.
At EQ3, as of November 2026, stocked and custom orders can be cancelled or changed for a full refund within 48 hours of purchase. After that, custom upholstery is final sale. At Home Depot Canada, cancelling a special order may carry the 15% fee.
So the real decision happens in the first two days, not on delivery day. If the size is wrong, you may not find out until the piece arrives, weeks after the cancellation window closed. EQ3 also asks you to report damage or defects within 72 hours of receiving the product, so inspect on arrival.
How to avoid paying for a wrong size
Measure the room and the delivery route
Measure the wall, the floor space and the walkways around the piece. Then measure the delivery route: the building entrance, the elevator, every hallway, every door and every turn between the truck and the room. A sofa that fits the room but not the hallway corner still doesn't fit.
Check W×D×H and diagonal depth
Read the full W×D×H on the spec sheet, not only the width. Then find the diagonal depth: the measurement that tells you whether the sofa can tip through a doorway on its side. If the spec sheet doesn't list it, ask the retailer before you order. Check whether the legs come off, and whether the piece ships in one part or several.
See the pieces together at true size before ordering
A sofa can fit on its own and still crowd the room once the coffee table, rug and chair are in. Lay the pieces out together at their real sizes, with tape on the floor or a scaled plan, and walk the paths between them. Good Here builds a client's room in 3D, true to size, with the real products a studio proposes, so the studio and the client can see it before anything is ordered. You can read more about how we work.
The cheapest return is the one you never make. Measure twice, check the windows and the fees, and decide before the cancellation window closes.
Questions about a project? Talk to us at hello@goodherestudio.com.