The Cutting Table · compared on the table
How do I measure backrest height: from the top of the seat cushion or from the bench?
Also asked as:For the backrest, how should I measure?On top of the cushion or behind it?
Two cushions against a wall make one height. Measure it the way they will actually sit, and the set looks like it grew there.
SaveThe quick answer
Measure backrest height from the top of the seat cushion, so the backrest sits on the bottom cushion; the shop usually recommends this because it looks and fits better. Remember the seat adds height: a 4 in (10 cm) seat cushion with the standard 16 in (40 cm) backrest stands 20 in (51 cm) in total, so shorten the back if wall space is tight.
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Where the tape starts, measurement by measurement
| Measurement | Where the tape starts | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Backrest height | Top of the seat cushion | 16 in (40 cm), the standard |
| Total height against the wall | Top of the bench | 4 in seat + 16 in back = 20 in (51 cm) |
| Shorter backrest | Top of the seat cushion, up to your limit | 15 in (38 cm) where wall space is short |
| Seat depth | Back wall to the bench's front edge | 22 in (56 cm), not 24 in, to avoid a 2 in overhang |
Key facts
- Backrest height is usually measured from the top of the seat cushion.
- The backrest sits on the seat cushion, which looks and fits better.
- A 4 in (10 cm) seat plus the standard 16 in (40 cm) backrest stands 20 in (51 cm) in total.
- Backrest height can be reduced; one was made 15 in (38 cm) high.
- Seat depth should fit the bench: 22 in (56 cm) instead of 24 in (61 cm) avoids a 2 in (5 cm) overhang.
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Why the back belongs on the seat
A backrest is only half a picture, my friend. Set on the seat cushion, the back and seat meet in one clean line and hold each other up. That's why the workshop usually has you measure from the top of the seat. It still depends on how you want it styled, so say so if you picture something different.
What folks forget is that the seat takes height too. A 4 in seat under a 16 in back puts the top edge 20 in above the bench. Under a window sill or a shelf, that's where trouble starts, and the fix is plain: a shorter back. The back cushion height Pattern goes further, and the bench cushion builder shows the stack before you order backrest cushions.
Four inches of seat, two inches of trouble
A buyer in the US was ordering a seat and back for a banquette and did the arithmetic out loud: 4 in of seat, 16 in of back, 20 in against the wall. Then came the depth. The size on the menu was 24 in deep, the bench only 22 in, and a 2 in overhang would have hung off the front like a lip. The answer was plain. Make the seat 22 in deep, and if the wall runs short, make the back shorter too; one was made 15 in high.
A backrest cushion should sit on the seat cushion, so measure its height from the top of the seat, not from the bench.
Harlan
Buyer questions
- A common question
Do I measure the backrest from the top of the seat cushion or from behind it?
The workshop's answerIt depends on how you want to style it, but the shop usually recommends measuring from the top of the seat cushion so the backrest sits on the bottom cushion. It looks and fits better that way.
- A common question
How tall will my seat and backrest be together?
The workshop's answerWith a 4 in seat and the standard 16 in backrest resting on it, 20 in (51 cm). The backrest height can be changed (one was made 15 in high), and the seat depth should fit the space, such as 22 in instead of 24 in to avoid a 2 in overhang.
- A common question
How tall should the back cushion be on a bench under a window?
The workshop's answerSize it to clear the sill and window hardware. With a window lever 11 in (28 cm) above the seat, a 14-16 in (36-41 cm) tall, 3-4 in (7.5-10 cm) thick loose back worked. Under a low sill, a flat short back replaces a bolster.
- A common question
Could the back cushion be the same size as the seat?
The workshop's answerYes, it can be made square like the seat or the same size. A full-size back is priced as a second mattress, though, so the set costs noticeably more than one with the standard 16 in backrest.
Questions buyers ask next
What is the standard backrest cushion height?
16 in (40 cm), measured from the top of the seat cushion. With a 4 in seat below it, the set stands 20 in (51 cm) above the bench. Shorter backs, such as 15 in (38 cm), are made when wall space is limited.
Can a backrest be wedge-shaped instead of flat?
Yes. Send the width, height, and top and bottom thickness, or a photo or diagram with dimensions, for a quote. Wedges can be split into pieces, paired with seat cushions and shaped at the bottom for angled benches.
What if the seat cushion size is deeper than my bench?
Order the seat to the bench instead. A seat 2 in deeper than the bench overhangs the front edge, so a 22 in (56 cm) deep bench gets a 22 in seat, not the 24 in (61 cm) size.
