---
title: "Wedge Back Cushion, Made to Order: The Four Numbers to Send"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/custom-wedge-back-cushion-measurements/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Harlan Pruitt, The Elder of High Point"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/"
published: "2026-09-11"
updated: "2026-09-11"
keywords: "wedge back cushion, custom wedge backrest, wedge back cushion measurements, reading nook wedge cushion, angled bench back cushion"
---

# Can you make wedge-shaped back cushions?

*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.*

Also asked as: A back cushion thicker at the bottom; Backrest thinner at the top, thicker at the bottom

> **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.

![Burnt orange seat and back cushions on a limewashed plaster banquette with oak table, wine glass and terracotta tile floor](https://cushionguide.com/media/banquette-cushions/burnt-orange-banquette-cushions-plaster-built-in-1600.webp "Burnt orange seat and back cushions warm a plaster built-in banquette. Terracotta tiles and an olive tree finish the Mediterranean mood.")

## Key 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.

## 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](https://cushionguide.com/guides/back-cushion-fill-shredded-foam-vs-wedge/) 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](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/backrest-cushions/) or try the proportions in the [bench cushion builder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/bench-cushion-builder/). What does your old wedge measure at its base, my friend?

> **Tailor's margin:** Before you accept a wedge back quote, check that the filling is included; one garden-set price changed once the backs needed filling too.

> 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 answer:** Yes. 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 answer:** Send 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 answer:** Yes. 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 answer:** Their 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.

## Related at the atelier

- [Should my back cushion be foam, or soft like a pillow?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/foam-vs-pillow-back-cushions/): A back cushion can be foam or pillow-style, and the choice comes down to shape versus softness.
- [Can you make banquette seat and back cushions for a built-in breakfast nook?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/banquette-seat-and-back-cushions-breakfast-nook/): Yes, banquette seat and back cushions for a breakfast nook are both made to measure: send the size of each seat run and each back section.
- [How can I attach a back cushion to the wall?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/attach-back-cushion-to-wall/): Attach a back cushion to the wall with hook-and-loop fastener: the workshop sews one side onto the back of the cushion, and you fix the matching strip to the wall with strong adhesive, or screws for…
- [How tall should a back cushion be? Sizing backrests to your seat](https://cushionguide.com/guides/back-cushion-height-sizing/): A standard back cushion is 16 in (40 cm) tall and 4 in (10 cm) thick, made the same length as the seat, with its height measured from the top of the seat cushion.
- [Bench Seat and Back Cushion in Jacquard and Terracotta Bouclé](https://cushionguide.com/readings/geometric-backrest-terracotta-boucle-seat-closeup/): For a bench seat and back cushion in two fabrics, put the forgiving cloth on the seat and the pattern on the back.
- [Reading Wedge Backrest in Charcoal for a Bed Shared with a Dog](https://cushionguide.com/readings/charcoal-reading-wedge-dark-green-bedroom-whippet/): A firm triangular reading wedge gives upright back support in bed without replacing your pillows, and it lasts when the finishing is right: piping that follows the slope, side panels that stand flat…
- [Replacement cushions for a nursery glider, piece by piece](https://cushionguide.com/guides/glider-rocker-replacement-cushions/)

*Sit well. — Harlan*

---

Written by Harlan Pruitt (https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/custom-wedge-back-cushion-measurements/