The Cutting Table · a common question
The floor sofa seat is too low. How can I make it higher?
Also asked as:How tall is it off the ground?I'm a taller guy and would like to raise the couch.
Right, then. A floor sofa is low on purpose, but low and too low are two different things, and the second one can be fixed.
The quick answer
A floor sofa seat that feels too low can be raised by stacking an extra seat cushion or a pair of flat base mattresses, or by adding a custom 4-5 in (10-13 cm) layer. The seat starts about 13.5-14.5 in (34-37 cm) off the floor; one custom layer brought a seat to about 19 in (48 cm), near standard couch height.
SaveKey facts
- The seat sits about 13.5-14.5 in (34-37 cm) off the floor.
- The convertible 39 x 75 in (99 x 190 cm) modular couch is 24 in (61 cm) from floor to top of backrest.
- An extra 78 x 39 x 6.5 in (200 x 100 x 17 cm) seat cushion can be stacked on top.
- Flat base mattresses are sold on their own through a link.
- Extra padding took one set from 16 to 20 in (41 to 51 cm), floor to top of backrest.
- A custom 4-5 in layer brought one seat to about 19 in (48 cm).
- In one order, the custom layer took 4-5 days to make, plus 3-5 days of delivery.
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Three ways to raise a floor sofa seat, side by side
| Option | What you add | Where it lands |
|---|---|---|
| Extra seat cushion | One more 78 x 39 x 6.5 in (200 x 100 x 17 cm) cushion on top of the two | About 6.5 in higher than now |
| Pair of base mattresses | Two flat base mattresses, sold on their own through a link | A higher seat for a tall sitter |
| Custom thinner layer | A 4-5 in (10-13 cm) layer made through a custom listing | About 19 in (48 cm), near standard couch height |
| Padding and back pieces | Extra padding, or extra cushion pieces behind you | One set rose from 16 to 20 in, floor to top of backrest |
The 19-inch fix
A buyer in the US wrote that the seat felt low and asked for something closer to a standard couch, about 18-19 in. Two answers went back. Stack a full extra seat cushion on the two standard ones, or have a thinner 5 in layer made through a custom listing. The thinner layer did the job: the seat came out at about 19 in. It took 4-5 days to make and 3-5 days to arrive. Sensible, and not a stitch wasted.
Why a floor sofa stays low, even raised
I'll confess, dear, my first instinct with a floor sofa was to measure it for legs. Old habits. But a modular floor sofa is built low, and even raised it won't behave like a standard 20 in seat for every guest. Anyone who needs that height to sit down and stand up may still find it low.
The back can come up too. If the backrest cushions feel short once the seat rises, extra cushion pieces can be added behind you. Run your numbers through the seat height calculator and read the Pattern on raising a floor sofa seat before you order.
How tall is the person who'll sit there most?
Raising a floor sofa is a stacking job: an extra 78 x 39 x 6.5 in seat cushion or a pair of base mattresses goes right on top.
Maggie
Buyer questions
- A common question
Could I add padding or an extra seat cushion so the floor sofa sits higher?
The workshop's answerYes. An extra 78 x 39 x 6.5 in seat cushion or extra padding can be added at extra cost. On one set, padding raised the floor-to-top-of-backrest height from 16 to 20 in. A floor sofa stays low, so it may not suit guests who need a standard 20 in seat.
- A common question
I'm tall and the seat is too low. Is there a way to raise it?
The workshop's answerYes: buy an extra pair of base mattresses and stack them for a higher seat. The flat mattresses are sold on their own through a link, and extra couch covers are possible too.
- A common question
How high off the floor is the seat, and how tall is the sofa to the top of the back?
The workshop's answerThe seat is about 13.5-14.5 in high. For the convertible modular couch (39 x 75 in), the shop first said 39 in overall, then corrected it: it is 24 in from the floor to the top of the backrest.
- A common question
What if the backrest cushions turn out too low for me?
The workshop's answerThe shop couldn't estimate return costs, but suggested adding extra cushion pieces if the back feels too low.
Questions buyers ask next
How much higher does one extra seat cushion make the sofa?
The extra seat cushion is 6.5 in (17 cm) thick, the same as each of the two standard base layers, so stacking one lifts the seat by roughly that much from its 13.5-14.5 in starting height.
How long does a custom raising layer take to arrive?
The custom 4-5 in layer in one order took 4-5 days to make and 3-5 days to deliver. If you already know the seat will be too low, order the layer together with the sofa.
Can a floor sofa ever sit like a standard 20-inch couch?
Not quite, by design. Floor seating is built low, and even with extra layers it may not suit guests who need a standard 20 in (51 cm) seat. About 19 in is the practical target the workshop has reached.
