The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Should I give my exact measurements or make the cushion a bit smaller?
Also asked as:Exact measurements or a little smaller?Should I deduct half an inch?
Half the folks who write in want to shave a little off, just in case. Put the pencil down. The true number is the one that fits.
SaveThe quick answer
No, don't make the cushion smaller than the bench: give the true, exact size of the space, end to end, without subtracting half an inch or a centimeter. The shop builds to the numbers you write and never shortens them itself; its production team handles any fitting allowance. Piping sits on the seams, so it doesn't change the cushion size either.
Get a quote for a bench cushion
What to send, and who handles the rest
| Your question | What to send | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Take off half an inch so it slides in? | The exact size, nothing deducted | The production team, as fit allowance |
| End to end, or a bit short? | End to end, wall to wall | You measure; the shop builds to it |
| Subtract for the piping? | The bench size, such as 48 x 21 in | Nobody; piping sits on the seams |
| Inches or centimeters? | Whatever your tape read, labeled | The shop; centimeters skip a rounding step |
Key facts
- Give the exact end-to-end measurements of the space.
- Do not deduct half an inch or a centimeter.
- The shop builds to the measurements you give and does not shorten them.
- Fitting allowance is handled by the production team.
- Piping sits on the seams and does not change the size: a 48 x 21 in (122 x 53 cm) bench gets a 48 x 21 in cushion.
- Measuring in centimeters avoids rounding from inch conversion.
Have it made
Have Rosa’s workshop cut this for you
Swings sway, rockers rock, dogs circle three times. Tell the workshop what your seat goes through, and they will plan for it. — Rosa
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.
Why shaving it yourself backfires
Pull up a chair. When you take off half an inch at home and the workshop also allows for fit, you risk taking that allowance off twice, and now there's a gap at the end of the bench where crumbs and dog toys go to live.
The shop makes exactly what you write. It doesn't second-guess your numbers downward, so the only safe number is the real one. On bench cushions and window seat cushions alike, fit allowance is the workshop's job. Yours is a straight tape. What does your bench really measure, end to end?
The nook that lost a centimeter a side
A buyer messaged the workshop with a nook measuring about 34 1/4 x 28 1/4 in (87 x 72 cm) and a plan to order 33¾ x 28 in (86 x 71 cm), one centimeter off each side for a snug fit with piping. The workshop's advice didn't budge: send the real measurements and subtract nothing, because allowance is handled in production. Some folks still trim a little, and that's their call. But if you ask this porch, the tape measure already told the truth.
Measuring for an honest number
Measure end to end
Full length wall to wall, then depth from the back to the front edge. The bench measuring Pattern shows where the tape goes.
Write the true number
No deductions for piping, fabric or wiggle room.
Label the unit
Inches or centimeters, on every measurement. If your tape read centimeters, send centimeters.
Approve the drawing
The shop sends a drawing of your dimensions and builds exactly to the approved layout.
Don't subtract half an inch for fit: a custom cushion is built to your exact numbers, and the workshop handles the allowance itself.
Rosa
Buyer questions
- A common question
Should I give the exact seat size or a little smaller so the cushion fits?
The workshop's answerGive the exact size of the seat, end to end; there's no need to go smaller. The shop produces to the measurements you write and does not shorten them, so it fits properly.
- A common question
Do I take half an inch off my measurements?
The workshop's answerNo. Send your true, exact measurements; the shop handles all fitting allowances during production.
- A common question
For my window seat, should I knock off about a centimeter to allow for variation?
The workshop's answerNo. Give the exact measurements of the space and don't reduce them. The shop reviews your diagram and decides any allowance or adjustment with its production team.
- A common question
Do my measurements need to include the piping?
The workshop's answerNo. Give the exact bench measurements, for example 48 x 21 in (122 x 53 cm). The cushion is cut to your bench size and the piping sits on the seams, so it doesn't change the size.
- A common question
My walls aren't square and the numbers don't add up. Now what?
The workshop's answerThe shop draws your cushion to scale and checks that it closes. If it doesn't, you'll be asked to re-measure, check both diagonals or fill in a lettered outline. A gap within 1/4 in is accepted, and nothing is cut until you confirm.
Questions buyers ask next
Will a cushion made to my exact bench size be too tight to fit?
It shouldn't be. The shop builds to your numbers, and its production team reviews your diagram and handles any fitting allowance. Subtracting your own margin on top of that can leave a gap at the ends.
Do centimeters or inches give a more accurate cushion?
Either works if every measurement is labeled. Centimeters skip the conversion step, so if your tape reads in centimeters, send those numbers as they are rather than rounding them into inches.
Does the workshop pick the final cushion size for me?
No. It builds strictly to your numbers and won't choose the final size for you. It does send a drawing of your dimensions for approval and makes the cushion exactly to that approved layout.
