How to Measure for Custom Cushions in Inches: A Canadian Buyer's Guide

Quick answer: Measure the seat or frame, not the old cushion, with a metal tape in inches. Take the length and depth at the front, middle and back, round to the nearest quarter inch, and note the thickness you want. Covers are measured seam to seam and foam edge to edge. For curves and angles, send a paper template. If your tape is metric, divide centimetres by 2.54.

Canada went metric in the 1970s, but walk into any lumber yard or furniture store and you will still hear inches. Sofas, patio sets, window seats and lumber are all sized in imperial, and so is our cushion builder. That makes measuring in inches the easiest way to get a cushion that fits. This guide walks you through it, step by step, whatever you are measuring: a deck sofa, a kitchen bench, a bay window or a boat seat.

What you need

• A metal tape measure. Cloth tapes stretch and give you a slightly long number.
• Your phone, for notes and photos of each seat.
• Kraft paper or an old roll of wrapping paper, a marker and some painter's tape for any curved or angled seat.

Most Canadian tapes show both inches and centimetres. Read the inch side. If you only have a metric tape, measure in centimetres and divide by 2.54 to get inches. For example, 152.4 cm is 60″.

Measure the seat, not the old cushion

Old cushions flatten, shrink and lose their shape, especially after a few seasons outside. If you copy them, you copy the problem. Measure the frame, platform or seat base where the new cushion will sit. The one exception is a cushion that sits on its own, such as a free-standing floor cushion or a pillow insert. Then measuring a good original is fine.

The three measurements every cushion needs

1. Length (or width)

Measure side to side across the seat. On a seat between two arms or two walls, measure from the inside of one to the inside of the other. Take the number at the front, the middle and the back. Walls and arms are rarely perfectly square, so if the numbers differ, write them all down.

2. Depth

Measure from the back of the seat to the front edge. On a sofa or deep seat, measure from the back frame, not from the back cushion. Again, take the depth at both ends and in the middle.

3. Thickness

Thickness is a choice rather than a measurement. Most seat cushions are 3″ to 5″ thick. Dining benches and banquettes sit best at 2″ to 3″ so you are not too high for the table, while a deep-seat sofa or daybed can go to 5″ or more. Our builder goes up to 8″, and up to 12″ on double chaise and daybed cushions.

Rounding and tolerance

Round each measurement to the nearest quarter inch. When the three numbers differ by more than about half an inch, tell us both the largest and smallest, or choose a tapered shape. A cushion that sits between two arms or walls should not be squeezed in, so it is worth taking a quarter inch off the length to let it drop in without bowing.

We cut every cushion to within ±0.5″ of the size you give us. If we miss that, we remake it free under our fit guarantee. Measuring mistakes on your side can't be returned, so it is worth a second pass with the tape before you order.

Covers, foam and complete cushions

How you measure depends on what you are ordering.

• Complete cushions: measure the seat or frame, as above, and we size the foam and cover together.
• Covers only: measure your existing foam from seam to seam, or edge to edge if the foam is bare. The cover is made to that size so it fits snugly.

A Dacron wrap around the foam adds about 1/4″ and rounds off the edges. Don't reduce your measurements to allow for it.

Common shapes

Rectangles and squares

Length, depth and thickness are all you need. This covers most dining chair pads, bench cushions and deep-seat cushions.

Trapezoids and tapered seats

Chairs that are wider at the front than the back, bay window ends and boat seats are often trapezoids. Measure the back width, the front width and the depth. Our guide to Muskoka chair cushions shows how this works on one of the most common tapered seats in the country.

Chaise lounges

Measure the seat length and the back length separately, then add them together for the total length. Note where the hinge sits and how wide the lounger is.

L-shapes and corners

For an L-shaped banquette or sectional, let one cushion run all the way into the corner. Measure the second wall, then subtract the depth of the first cushion. That is the length of the second piece. We explain this in detail in our guide to kitchen banquette and breakfast nook cushions.

Curves, notches and odd shapes

Don't try to measure a curve with a straight tape. Lay paper on the seat, tape it down, trace the outline and cut it out. Mark which edge sits at the back and write "top" on the side facing up. Then photograph the template on the floor with the tape measure laid across it and send the photo with your order. Custom shapes from a template take 5–6 weeks to make, compared with 2–3 weeks for standard shapes.

Back cushions

For a separate back cushion, measure from the top of the seat cushion to where you want the back to stop. That is the height. Match the width to the seat, or to each section of a long bench. Back cushions are usually 2″ to 4″ thick. Super Soft foam is made for back cushions only, so choose a firmer seat foam for anything you sit on.

Ties and fixings

Ties in matching fabric come standard. Note where the posts or slats sit so the ties land in the right place. Velcro is available on request. Cushions that sit between walls or arms usually need neither.

Double-check before you order

1. Every number is in inches, not centimetres.
2. You measured the seat or frame, not an old cushion.
3. Each cushion has a label (A, B, C) that matches a photo or sketch.
4. L-shapes have one piece running into the corner.
5. Templates are labelled and photographed with a tape in the shot.

Our measuring guide has diagrams for every common shape, and the cushion size and foam guide helps you choose thickness and firmness. When you order, we email a spec sheet so you can check every number before we cut. Complete cushions ship with free delivery across Canada, duties and GST/HST paid, so there is nothing to pay when the box arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Should I measure in inches or centimetres?

Inches. Our builder works in inches, and most Canadian furniture is sized that way. If you only have a metric tape, divide centimetres by 2.54 and round to the nearest quarter inch.

Should I measure my old cushion or the seat?

The seat or frame. Old cushions flatten and shrink, so copying them carries the problem over to the new cushion.

How accurate will my cushion be?

Every cushion is cut within ±0.5″ of your measurements. If we miss that, we remake it free. Measuring errors on your side can't be returned.

How do I measure a curved or angled seat?

Make a paper template, label the back edge and top side, and photograph it with a tape measure in the shot. Custom shapes take 5–6 weeks.

How do I measure for a cover only?

Measure your existing foam from seam to seam, or edge to edge if it is bare, and give us the thickness. The cover is made to fit that foam.