The Best Couch Legs

Buying Guide for Couch Legs

Why buy couch legs?

Without legs, your couch will rest directly on the floor, where the bottom and hem or skirt will collect dust, dirt, and other debris. Every time you sit down on it, you’ll create friction between the couch and floor that may cause fraying. These factors can lead to permanent damage or stains on your couch. You’ll also have to lift the entire couch whenever you want to clean underneath it. Couch legs elevate your sofa or couch off the ground, protecting this not-inexpensive furniture and making it much easier to keep both it and the floor underneath it clean. If the legs are tall enough, you may even be able to use the space underneath the couch to store shorter, flatter items. A couch with legs is more elevated, which means a higher seat that makes it easier to get in and out of; this is especially useful for seniors and anyone with mobility issues. Even if your couch already has legs built-in, it may be worth your while to buy a set anyway should one or more of its current legs break.

What should you look for in couch legs?

• Material: Because you want your furniture pieces to last, look for couch legs made of sturdy materials, namely wood or steel. Steel is the strongest and is most likely not to break and have a long service life, with wood (real hardwood, not engineered wood) as a close second. Acrylic legs are also a decent option, though they aren’t quite as strong. Plastic and other lighter materials won’t be strong enough to support the combined weight of the couch and people sitting on it for very long.
• Installation: To ensure that you’ll have no problems installing your new couch legs, ensure that the set comes with screws, mounting plates, t-nuts, and anything else you might need for easy installation. You’ll also want to check that the size and type of screws that come with the legs are compatible with your couch; they won’t do you any good if they’re too tiny or too large to screw into the frame.
• Height: On average, most couch legs will be between four and six inches in height, but these are far from your only options. There are plenty of taller couch legs available, seven or eight, or nine inches in particular. You should be able to find three-inch couch legs easily, though anything shorter will be harder to come by. Consider many inches you want to elevate your couch off the ground; you may even want to measure the current height for better reference. Don’t forget that adding legs will raise the seat height as well. Some models are height adjustable, which may be the best option if you’re unsure how tall your couch and its seat are.

What are extra features worth looking for in couch legs?

Look for a set of couch legs with padded feet or similar stabilizing features to protect your floors from scratches and scuffs and ensure that your couch is level and stable. If they’re nonslip legs, all the better. You’ll also want to consider the aesthetic, even if they aren’t the first part of the couch that most people notice. This will be an easier task if your couch already has legs, as you’ll need to look for a set that matches them as closely as possible. However, if you’re adding new legs to your couch, consider whether you want round, square, tapered, or triangular legs and what color you’ll like them. Natural wood and black or silvery metal colors are the most common, but other shades are available.

Our Picks for the Best Couch Legs

Pros: The legs feature a unique, modern hairpin design and are crafted from powder-coated, cold-rolled steel, ensuring a lifetime of strong, stable, and rust-free usage and the ability to support up to 300 pounds of weight. They come with predrilled holes and screws that make installation quicker and near painless. When you purchase these legs, you’ll also get a set of rubber feet that protect your floors and act as a furniture stabilizer. Unlike many metal couch legs, you have a couple of different colors to choose from. They’re also available in eight different heights, short and tall, to make it easier to raise your couch to the height you prefer.

Cons: Handy as the rubber feet are, they don’t always stay properly attached to the legs. You may want to glue them to the legs or secure them with another strong adhesive.

Bottom Line: These furniture legs are a high-quality statement piece that perfectly blends contemporary and sophisticated. If you want to add an industrial yet modern touch to your furniture, these couch legs may be the right choice.

 

Pros: The walnut color of these legs will give your couch a mid-century modern feel that works in any room. These couch legs are crafted from real, eco-friendly rubberwood, making them an excellent option for those looking to add sustainable furniture pieces to their home. They have everything you need for easy installation: four wooden legs, four insert nut fasteners, 12+ screws, four furniture pads, and an instruction manual. Moreover, not only do the holes for the hanger bolts come predrilled for your convenience, but the bolts themselves are already installed in the legs. They’re also available in seven different possible heights.

Cons: Attractive as the walnut brown color of these legs is, it’s the only color option available.

Bottom Line: If you want a simple way to update your couch or sofa, check out these classic wooden couch legs. Wide and stable, these furniture legs will make a stylish and efficient addition to your couch.

 

Pros: These plastic legs provide a practical and cost-effective solution to address height and stability issues with various pieces of furniture. They’re great not just for sectionals and sofas but bed bases, mini-refrigerators, storage cabinets, ottomans, and more. They’re generally easy to install and surprisingly sturdy for plastic legs. Additionally, due to their shorter height, these legs will be barely visible when attached, providing a seamless look. They’re also available for purchase in two different lengths, either two or four inches in height.

Cons: Though these couch legs do come in two different heights, none of them are especially tall. Also, note that these legs may not sit flush against your couch, making it difficult to get them tight. Some also found the screws to be too long for their liking, making it a bit trickier to put them in thin wood.

Bottom Line: If you want a more understated, less eye-catching, and/or set of couch legs that are nonetheless supportive and cute, these square plastic legs are a great option. As long as the wood of your couch base isn’t too thin, they’re a great choice for most sofas.

 

Pros: Well-constructed and made of real, solid hardwood in two possible colors, these couch legs are classic round wooden models with a slightly more unique look. Rather than standing pin-straight, they’re slanted at an angle and taper slightly at the bottom. Available in six possible heights, these legs come with everything you need for installation: four mounting plates, four t-nuts, and 12 screws. Also included are four cotton felt pads for the feet to ensure these legs don’t scratch or scuff your floors.

Cons: These couch legs are pricey compared to most models. The pilot holes also don’t come predrilled, so you’ll have to create them yourself.

Bottom Line: These furniture legs will be a breath of fresh air for your couch. The slanted angle provides a modern twist on your traditional sofa legs while remaining stylish and supportive. If you’ve felt your couch needs a refresh, give these wooden legs a try.

 

Pros: If you’re after triangular or more modern-looking couch legs for your furniture, this four-pack is an ideal choice. They’re made of solid, hardy iron and treated with a special electroplating paint that makes them resistant to rust and corrosion. The holes are predrilled, and they only require a few screws to attach to your couch, making installation a simple, straightforward process. They’re available in four possible colors, including some more unique shades you’ll find hard to find elsewhere. Some are matte, and some are shiny, so you can choose how much sheen and gloss you want on your couch legs.

Cons: These triangular couch legs are only available in four different heights, all on the shorter side. And the paint may chip over time, especially the shinier, more colorful versions.

Bottom Line: These couch legs are perfect for contemporary, minimalist, and industrial-style homes. Strong and sturdy, the metal material and triangular shape are highly modern and supportive.

Final Thoughts

Couch legs are a part of that particular piece of furniture you may not have given much thought to before, but they’re undeniably useful. Whether you want to add legs to a couch resting on the ground or have replacements on hand just in case, couch legs are a worthwhile investment for any home.