Australia
How to Measure for Custom Cushions (in mm): A Simple Guide
A step-by-step guide to measuring bench, window seat, chaise and daybed cushions in millimetres, so your made-to-measure cushion fits the first time.
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Quick answer: Measure the seat or frame, not the old cushion, with a steel tape in millimetres. Write down length, depth and thickness, measure each twice, and send a paper template for angled or curved seats. Fabrica Kraft cuts cushions to within ±13 mm of your measurements.
A made-to-measure cushion is only as good as the numbers you send. The good news: measuring takes about ten minutes with a steel tape and a notepad. This guide walks through what to measure, in millimetres, for the most common seats in Australian homes, plus the mistakes we see most often.
What you need
- A steel tape measure marked in millimetres (a soft sewing tape stretches and bends)
- A notepad, or your phone's notes app
- For angled or curved seats: a large sheet of paper or cardboard to make a template
Rule 1: measure the seat, not the old cushion
Old cushions sag, shrink and spread. Measure the frame or base the cushion sits on, inside any arms or raised edges. If you are replacing only the cover and keeping your foam, measure the cover seam to seam instead, and measure foam edge to edge.
Rule 2: write down length, depth and thickness
- Length (width): left to right, the longest side.
- Depth: front to back.
- Thickness: how tall the cushion should be. Most seats suit 76–127 mm. Dining benches and chairs feel right at 51–76 mm so you stay at table height; sofas and daybeds usually take 102–152 mm.
Measure each side twice, and measure the front and back separately if the seat might not be square. Older window seats and built-ins are often a few millimetres out.
Measuring guide by seat type
Bench and window seat cushions
Measure the full length wall to wall (or end to end) and the depth from the wall to the front edge. For a bay window, measure each section and the angle where they meet, or make a paper template. Start your order on the window seat cushions or bench cushions page.
Chaise lounge and sun lounger cushions
A hinged chaise cushion is measured as seat length + back length. Lay the lounger flat, measure from the foot to the hinge, then from the hinge to the top, and note where the hinge falls. Measure the width at the widest point. See chaise lounge cushions.
Daybed and swing bed mattresses
Measure inside the frame, not the outside of the rails, and allow for any lip the mattress tucks under. Daybeds usually take 102–152 mm. See daybed cushions.
Outdoor chairs and deep seat sofas
Measure the seat and the back separately. For a curved front or tapered sides, measure the front width and the back width, or send a template. See deep seat outdoor cushions and outdoor chair cushions.
Small details that change the fit
- Piping adds about 6 mm around the edge. Leave it out if the seat is tight.
- Dacron wrap adds about 6 mm and gives a softer, rounder look.
- Ties: note where any posts or slats are so ties land in the right place.
- Zips: on chaise cushions the zip sits on the hinged side; on benches it can run edge to edge.
How accurate are made-to-measure cushions?
We cut every cushion to within ±13 mm of the measurements you send. If we cut outside that, we remake it free. Because each cushion is made to order, a cushion made to the wrong measurements can't be returned, so it is worth checking your numbers twice before you order.
Unusual shapes: send a template
For L-shapes, curves, cut-outs around posts or boat seats, trace the seat onto paper or cardboard, mark which side faces the front, and send us a photo with a ruler in shot. Template-based orders take 5–6 weeks; standard shapes take 2–3 weeks to make. Shipping within Australia is free.
Quick checklist
- Steel tape in mm, measure the frame not the old cushion
- Length, depth and thickness, each measured twice
- Note angles, curves, posts and tie positions
- Decide on piping, Dacron wrap and zip position
- Order fabric swatches if you are unsure of the colour
Ready? Start building on custom cushions and the price updates as you enter your sizes. Getting ready for the warmer months? Read our summer checklist for outdoor cushions.
Frequently asked questions
Should I measure the old cushion or the seat?
Measure the seat or frame the cushion sits on. Old cushions sag and spread, so their size is rarely the size you need. If you are replacing only a cover, measure the cover seam to seam.
What thickness should a cushion be?
Most seats suit 76–127 mm. Dining benches and chairs work best at 51–76 mm so you stay at table height, and sofas and daybeds usually take 102–152 mm.
How do I measure a hinged chaise or sun lounger cushion?
Measure seat length plus back length. Lay the lounger flat, measure from the foot to the hinge and from the hinge to the top, and note where the hinge falls.
How accurate are made-to-measure cushions?
Fabrica Kraft cuts every cushion to within ±13 mm of the measurements you send, and remakes it free if the cut is outside that.
