The Cutting Table · a common question
Can you make wedge-shaped back cushions?
Also asked as:A back cushion thicker at the bottomBackrest thinner at the top, thicker at the bottom
A wedge leans the way a tired man leans on a fence post: thick where it bears, thin where it rests. The workshop makes them often, and it needs four numbers to begin.
The quick answer
Yes, wedge back cushions that are thicker at the bottom and thinner at the top are made to order often. For a quote, send the width, the height, and the thickness at the top and at the bottom, or a reference photo or diagram with those dimensions. Wedges can be split into several pieces, paired with seats, and shaped along the bottom edge for angled benches.
SaveKey facts
- A wedge backrest is specified by width, height, and top and bottom thickness.
- A reference photo or diagram with dimensions also works for a quote.
- Wedge backrests can be split into several pieces; one lounge bed had four.
- Wedge backs can be made with or without piping.
- For an angled bench, the back cushion's bottom edge can be shaped to sit better on the seat.
- Old wedge cushions can be replaced from their measurements.
Have it made
Have Harlan’s workshop cut this for you
Old upholsterers will tell you the real cutting happens in the conversation, long before the shears come out. Tell the workshop what you sit on, and they will talk it through with you. — Harlan
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Four measurements for a wedge back cushion quote
- Width, straight across the back.
- Height, measured from the top of the seat cushion, since the back rests on it.
- Thickness at the bottom, the heavy end.
- Thickness at the top, the thin end.
- Or a photo or diagram with those four sizes written on it.
- Piping or none, and one piece or several.
Wedges that have crossed the cutting table
| The job | Wedge back | Paired with |
|---|---|---|
| Reading nook | 25 1/2 in wide x 27 1/2 in tall, about 8 in thick at the base (65 x 70 x 20 cm) | One seat, 36 1/2 x 25 1/2 x 2 3/4 in (93 x 65 x 7 cm) |
| Single wedge pillow | 28 x 24 in (71 x 61 cm), tapering from 9 in (23 cm) at the base to 4-5 in (10-13 cm) at the top | On its own |
| Patio set | Two backs, 32 x 13 in (81 x 33 cm), thicker at the bottom | Two seats, 33 x 30 x 4 in (84 x 76 x 10 cm) |
| Outdoor sofa | Two backs, 39 3/8 x 15 3/4 in (100 x 40 cm), no piping | Two piped seats, 39 3/8 x 27 1/2 x 6 in (100 x 70 x 15 cm) |
Why a wedge stands where a flat back slumps
A flat back cushion leans. A wedge stands. The thick bottom plants on the seat and the slope does the leaning for you, which is why foam wedges stay put where a soft pillow drifts. The back cushion fill pattern weighs foam against pillow backs.
For a dining bench set at an angle, the shop has shaped the bottom edge of the back so it sits better on the seat. Replacing tired old wedges is simpler still: send their measurements. Browse backrest cushions or try the proportions in the bench cushion builder. What does your old wedge measure at its base, my friend?
A wedge back cushion is quoted from four numbers: width, height, thickness at the bottom and thickness at the top.
Harlan Pruitt
Buyer questions
- A common question
Could you make a reading nook seat with a wedge backrest behind it?
The workshop's answerYes. The wedge needs width, height and the thickness at top and bottom. One nook got a 36 1/2 x 25 1/2 x 2 3/4 in (93 x 65 x 7 cm) seat and a wedge 25 1/2 in wide, 27 1/2 in tall and about 8 in thick at the base, quoted together.
- A common question
I have a picture of the wedge I want for my bench. Is that enough?
The workshop's answerSend the reference photo or a diagram with the dimensions written on it, and the shop quotes the wedge together with the seat cushion.
- A common question
My dining bench is angled. Can the back cushion be thicker at the bottom and shaped to sit right?
The workshop's answerYes. Wedge-style backs thicker at the bottom were quoted in a patio set of two 33 x 30 x 4 in seats and two 32 x 13 in backs, and for an angled dining bench the shop agreed to shape the back's bottom edge so it sits better on the seat.
- A common question
I need to replace old wedge cushions on an outdoor sofa. What do you need?
The workshop's answerTheir measurements. One outdoor sofa got two piped 39 3/8 x 27 1/2 x 6 in (100 x 70 x 15 cm) seats and two unpiped 39 3/8 x 15 3/4 in (100 x 40 cm) wedge backs in outdoor fabric, and a lounge bed got its wedge backrest in four pieces.
Questions buyers ask next
How thick should the base of a wedge back cushion be?
It depends on the seat and how far you like to lean. Real orders have run from about 8 in (20 cm) at the base on a reading nook wedge to 9 in (23 cm) tapering to 4-5 in (10-13 cm) at the top.
Can a wedge back cushion be made in outdoor fabric?
Yes. An outdoor sofa set was made with wedge backs in outdoor fabric over piped seats. Foam backs also suit outdoor use better than soft pillow backs, because foam holds its shape.
Does a wedge backrest need a wall behind it?
Yes, a standard backrest leans against a wall or cabinet for support. For floor cushion sets with no wall behind, the shop can add metal frames, or build a wooden back frame on request.
