---
title: "How Much Fabric for a Bench Cushion: Yardage From Real Orders"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/how-much-fabric-for-custom-cushion/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Élodie Marchand, The Colorist of New Orleans"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/"
published: "2026-06-01"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "how much fabric for a bench cushion, how many yards of fabric for a cushion, customer own fabric cushion, fabric yardage for sofa, send my own fabric for cushions"
---

# How much fabric do I need to send for a custom cushion?

*Yardage is a quiet arithmetic of size, piping and bolt width. Three real orders give you the scale; a photo of your fabric gives you the exact figure.*

Also asked as: How much fabric do you need for this cushion?; How many yards should I buy?

> **The quick answer:** Yardage depends on size, piping and bolt width: about 4.4 yd (4 m) covered a 21 x 109 x 4 in (53 x 277 x 10 cm) tufted bench cushion. About 2.7 yd (2.5 m) of 45 in wide fabric covered a 60 x 14 in piped cushion, and a teddy floor sofa needs about 13 yd. Send a direct photo for an exact figure.

![Forest green bouclé cushion on a freestanding walnut bench by a window onto a Paris street, with cream and cognac pillows](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/forest-green-boucle-bench-cushion-paris-window-928.webp "A forest green bouclé cushion on a freestanding walnut bench, styled like a small study corner in a Paris apartment.")

## Key facts

- Send a direct photo of the fabric (not a screenshot), its material and your dimensions before quoting.
- About 4.4 yd (4 m) covered a 21 x 109 x 4 in (53 x 277 x 10 cm) tufted bench cushion.
- About 2.7 yd (2.5 m) of 45 in (114 cm) wide fabric covered a 60 x 14 in (152 x 36 cm) piped cushion.
- A teddy floor sofa needs about 13 yd (11.9 m).
- Your fabric must be upholstery-grade; silk is not suitable.
- Production starts once your fabric arrives at the workshop.
- Quotes with your own fabric are lower than with the workshop's fabric.

## Three real orders, three yardages

| Piece | Size | Fabric used |
|---|---|---|
| Tufted bench cushion | 21 x 109 x 4 in (53 x 277 x 10 cm) | About 4.4 yd (4 m) |
| Piped cushion | 60 x 14 in (152 x 36 cm) | About 2.7 yd (2.5 m) of 45 in (114 cm) wide fabric |
| Teddy floor sofa | Full sofa | About 13 yd (11.9 m) |

## Cloth the workshop accepted, and cloth it turned down

| Fabric | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy cotton | Accepted | Upholstery weight |
| Silk | Turned down | Suits neither upholstery nor compressed packaging |
| Velvet, linen and other upholstery cloth | Quoted from a photo | Name the material when you send the picture |

## Why the width of your bolt changes the answer

Yardage is never one number, my friends. It moves with three things: the size of the cushion, whether it carries piping, and the width of the cloth on the bolt. That's why the workshop asks before it answers.

Daylight never lies; your screen sometimes does. So the request is a direct photo of the fabric, not a screenshot from a store page, and a word on what it is: velvet, linen, heavy cotton. Silk, however lovely its luster, was turned down.

Want a starting figure first? The [fabric yardage calculator](https://cushionguide.com/studio/fabric-yardage-calculator/) and the [yardage Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/fabric-yardage-for-cushions/) will give you one, and the [bench cushion hub](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bench-cushions/) shows the shapes. How wide is the bolt you've fallen for?

## Before your fabric travels

1. **Photograph the fabric directly**: A real photo of the cloth, not a screenshot.
2. **Name the material**: Velvet, linen, heavy cotton: say which.
3. **Send your dimensions**: Length, width, thickness, and whether you want piping.
4. **Get the yardage and quote**: The workshop works out the amount and quotes, lower than with its own fabric. Production starts once your fabric arrives, and the workshop gives production and delivery times with the quote.

> **Tailor's margin:** Yardage for a custom cushion hangs on cushion size, piping and bolt width: about 2.7 yd of 45 in wide fabric covered a 60 x 14 in piped cushion.

> A teddy floor sofa takes about 13 yards of fabric, so buying your own cloth for a sofa means a real bolt, not a remnant.
>
> — Élodie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Can I send my own fabric for the cushion, and would it cost less?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes, and the quote is lower with your fabric than with the workshop's. For a 21 x 109 x 4 in tufted cushion, about 4.4 yd (4 m) was enough. Shipping your fabric in can add time and cost, so the workshop can also try to find the same or a similar fabric from a photo.

**A common question:** Can you use fabric I bought from another store?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes, and the workshop can also suggest similar in-house fabrics. For a 60 x 14 in piped cushion cut from a 45-inch-wide bolt, about 2.7 yd (2.5 m) is enough.

**A common question:** Can I send my own fabric to cover the floor sofa?

**The workshop's answer:** It depends on the cloth: it has to be upholstery-grade. Silk was turned down for both upholstery and compressed packaging, while a heavy cotton was accepted. A teddy sofa needs about 13 yards, and production starts once the fabric arrives, so count your fabric's trip in the plan.

**A common question:** Can the cushions be made in upholstery fabric I already have?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes, you can mail it in. First send a direct photo (not a screenshot) and say what the material is, velvet, linen and so on, so the workshop can quote and work out how much you need.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Does piping change how much fabric a cushion takes?

Yes. Size, piping and the fabric's width together set the yardage, so say whether you want piping before the workshop works out the amount. A 60 x 14 in (152 x 36 cm) piped cushion took about 2.7 yd (2.5 m) of 45 in wide fabric.

### Why a direct photo of my fabric and not a screenshot?

A direct photo shows the actual cloth you own. With the material named, the workshop can judge whether it is upholstery-grade and work out how much is needed before quoting.

### How soon after my fabric arrives will the cushion ship?

Production starts once the fabric reaches the workshop, and the workshop gives production and delivery times in writing. Plan your fabric's own trip to the workshop on top of that.

## Related at the atelier

- [How much fabric do you need for a bench cushion? Yardage worked out](https://cushionguide.com/guides/fabric-yardage-for-cushions/): A piped box cushion for a 48 x 18 x 3 in bench needs about 2 yd of 55 in wide fabric, counting top, bottom, boxing strip, zipper plaque and piping.
- [Do you have 100% cotton or linen fabrics, and do they cost more?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/100-percent-cotton-linen-cushion-fabric/): Yes, 100% linen cushion covers are made from a dedicated 100% linen chart, alongside 100% cotton fabrics, heavy pure linen and linen-cotton blends, viscose and terry-like fabrics; hemp isn't offered.
- [What's the Martindale or double-rub rating of the cushion fabric?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/martindale-double-rub-rating-cushion-fabric/): There is no Martindale rub count or Wyzenbeek double-rub figure for these cushion fabrics, because the workshop holds no lab test certificates.
- [Is your velvet stain resistant and easy to clean with kids around?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/velvet-cushion-stain-resistant-easy-clean/): Yes, the velvet is stain resistant and easy to clean: it's a 100% polyester high-performance velvet with good stain resistance and durability.
- [Black Mudcloth-Style Bench Cushion on an Open Wood Frame](https://cushionguide.com/readings/black-mudcloth-style-bench-cushion-floral-wallpaper/): On an open-frame bench with no lip, a custom bench cushion must match the bench top exactly, because any overhang shows.
- [Custom Bench Cushion in a Monochrome Knotted Stripe](https://cushionguide.com/readings/monochrome-knotted-weave-box-cushion-white/): On a custom bench cushion with a strong stripe, choose thickness by the seat's depth, since a patterned boxing strip shows every inch of edge.
- [Choosing cushion fabric: seven families compared for real homes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-fabric-types-compared/)

*With color and care — Élodie*

---

Written by Élodie Marchand (https://cushionguide.com/masters/elodie/) 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/how-much-fabric-for-custom-cushion/