The Cushion Atlas · Chairs, swings & rockers

Custom seat cushions for any seat: three numbers, one thickness, one fabric

Most people type 'seat cushion' before they know what their seat is called. That is fine. Name the seat, take three numbers, pick one thickness. Anything that isn't a rectangle gets a drawing.

Atlas entry by Nate

The Pattern Engineer of Detroit · June 18, 2026 · Updated September 24, 2026

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A boxed navy floral chair pad with matching ties, chosen to echo the blue and white china on the dresser.

The quick answer

A custom seat cushion is cut from three measurements, the width at the front, the width at the back and the depth, plus one thickness. Standard thicknesses are 2, 3, 4 and 5 in (5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 cm); 4 in (10 cm) is the listing standard, and most buyers settle on 3 or 4 in. Curved, notched or horseshoe seats need a drawing or a paper template.

Shapes to choose from

Every one is cut to your measurements. The number is how many readings the atelier has published for that shape.

Sizes & measuring

On the cutting table: what a seat cushion needs

Measure the seat itself. An old cushion has already been sat into a new shape.

How to measure Measure the front width, the back width and the depth, and mark the back posts where the ties go.

Front width	Edge to edge across the front of the seat
Back width	Across the back edge, between the posts or spindles if the chair has them
Depth	Front edge to back edge, straight, at 90° to the front
Thickness	2, 3, 4 or 5 in (5, 7.5, 10 or 12.5 cm) as standard; thinner or thicker made to order
Most chosen	3 or 4 in; 4 in (10 cm) is the listing standard
Foam	Firm 32-density foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), wrapped in polyester fiber
Zipper	Standard, along the back edge
Ties	On request, usually at the back corners and often at no charge; placed where you specify
Units	Inches or centimeters; fractions such as 57 5/8 in are fine
Handmade tolerance	Roughly ±1/2 to 1 in (1 to 2 cm)
Odd shapes	A drawing with every edge measured, or a paper template

Fabrics that work

Open a family for its swatch book, care notes and neighbors.

One word, a dozen different seats

'Seat cushion' is the phrase people type first. It covers a rattan armchair 21.25 in (54 cm) wide, a spindle-back dining chair, a 77 in (196 cm) quilt box and a window seat between two walls. Same word, different geometry.

So a custom seat cushion starts with a name, not a tape measure. Tell the workshop what the seat is: dining chair, stool, bench, window seat, armchair or built-in. The name decides where the ties go, whether there are posts to clear and whether a drawing is needed.

Then three numbers and one thickness. Width at the front. Width at the back. Depth. That is the whole system, partner. Everything else is an edge case, and edge cases are where I earn my coffee.

Thickness: 2 to 5 in, and why a 2 in pad holds up

The listing photos show 4 in (10 cm), and 4 in is the standard. Most buyers settle on 3 or 4 in. The menu runs 2, 3, 4 and 5 in, and real orders have gone thinner and thicker: 1.5 in for a tight spot, 8 or 9 in for floor seating.

Foam suppliers advise at least 2 in of firm foam on a dining seat so you don't bottom out. That depends on the foam, and here every thickness uses firm 32-density foam wrapped in polyester fiber. A 2 in chair pad compresses only slightly, which keeps you at a sensible height at the table.

Thinner generally costs the same as standard; thicker foam raises the quote. If the seat also has to meet a table, run your numbers through the seat height calculator or read how cushion thickness changes seat height. Tolerance is kindness to your future self, and so is checking knee room before the foam is cut. Why most buyers pick 3 or 4 in has the long version.

Measuring any seat in six moves

Name the seat
Dining chair, stool, bench, window seat, armchair or built-in. Write it at the top of your sketch; it tells the maker what the cushion has to clear.
Measure the front width
Edge to edge across the front, where your knees are. Record it to the nearest 1/4 in.
Measure the back width
Across the back edge, between the posts or spindles if there are any. On many dining chairs this number is smaller than the front, which is why the chair pad measurements Pattern asks for both.
Measure the depth, straight
From the front edge to the back, at 90° to the front. An angled side is always longer than the depth. If yours comes out shorter, one of the numbers is wrong.
Draw anything that isn't a rectangle
Tapered, horseshoe and barrel-back seats need a drawing with width, depth and where each curve starts. A paper template traced on the seat is the surest drawing of all. On a rattan armchair 24 in (61 cm) deep and 21.25 in (54 cm) wide, the seat pad was easy; the back cushion pressed against the curve was the real risk, so the workshop asked for a straight-on photo of it first.
Mark the extras
Ties and where they go, notches with their width, depth and position, and the zipper side. In an older house, add both diagonals so the drawing can be checked. Drawing a custom shape shows the layout.

Ties, grip, and the Velcro question

Ties are not standard. They are added on request, usually at the back corners and often at no charge, and they can be inset wherever you ask. Say where each tie goes and how long it should be. The photographs show the classic placement at the back posts: navy floral on a white cane-back, eucalyptus velvet on an oak ladder-back, mustard on a Victorian spindle-back, forest green velvet on four bentwood cross-backs. Tie placement for chairs and swings goes chair by chair.

A non-slip bottom is the other standard answer to a sliding cushion. Velcro tabs and snap fasteners are not made; a two-sided Velcro strip has been added on request at extra cost. Most buyers end up with ties or a non-slip base, and Velcro vs ties compares them.

One habit saves a remake. Put the tie request in writing, with position, length and color, not squeezed into the size box where it gets overlooked. Then check the photo before dispatch for the small extras.

A real project

A 77 in quilt box and four hinges

A returning buyer in the US, happy with an earlier patio swing cushion, came back with a 77 in (196 cm) quilt box. Hinged lid, so the cushion had to tie on without fouling the hardware.

She sent four hinge positions: 8 5/8, 29, 48 and 68 1/4 in. Good numbers. The workshop still asked two questions: which end she had measured from, and how wide each hinge was, with photos. Measured from the wrong end, every tie lands in the wrong place, and the hinges will not care how neat the stitching is.

The ties went on the hinge side only, added free. That is the whole trick with lids: record each position from a named end, and the ties clear the metal. More on lids in cushions for hinged storage benches.

Measured: 77 in (196 cm) long; hinges at 8 5/8, 29, 48 and 68 1/4 in
What it taught: For hinged lids, record hinge positions from a named end so the ties clear the hardware.

Which page fits your seat

Your seat	Usual shape and fastening	Read next
Dining or kitchen chair	Pad, often wider at the front; ties at the back posts	Dining chair cushions, chair pad measurements
Bar or counter stool	Small round or square pad with ties	Bistro chair and bar stool cushions
Entry, storage or dining bench	Rectangle; split at lid hinges	Bench cushions
Window seat or built-in	Rectangle or trapezoid between walls	Window seat cushions
Rocking chair	Shaped seat, often with a back pad	Rocking chair cushions
Armchair or accent chair	Tapered, horseshoe or barrel-back; drawing needed	Accent chair seat cushions
Piano bench	Narrow rectangle	Piano bench cushions
Angled, notched or bay seat	Trapezoid or custom shape from a drawing	Trapezoid cushions, trapezoid calculator
Sofa or couch seat	Box cushion sized to an existing frame	Sofa and couch cushions

One published size table puts dining chair seats at about 16 to 18 in and bar stools at 12 to 15 in. Useful for a sanity check; measure yours anyway.

Photographs from the workbench

Open any photograph large; each one has its own link and a Save button.

Eucalyptus green velvet chair pad tied with linen bows to an oak ladder-back chair on a terracotta tile floor — A shaped eucalyptus velvet pad with linen ties softens an oak ladder-back chair in a terracotta-floored kitchen.

Mustard yellow box seat pad tied onto a mahogany spindle-back chair beside a writing table with teacup and tulip — A mustard pad with matching ties sits square on a Victorian mahogany chair against duck-egg damask walls.

Four bentwood cross-back chairs with forest green velvet seat cushions and off-white piping around a small oak dining table — Ordering the full set keeps the piping line identical at every place, which matters most when chairs are seen together.

Mistakes that end in a remake

Trusting the dropdown size. It only sets the price bracket; the cushion is cut to the exact size you write in the personalization box.
Calling a slanted side the depth. Measure depth at 90° to the front; the angled edge is always longer.
Sending numbers that don't close. On a stepped or notched seat, the steps plus the short edge must equal the long edge.
Skipping the drawing on a gentle curve. Subtle U-shapes can come out looking almost square; draw the curve and mark where it starts.
Hiding the tie request in the size box. Put ties in the order note, with position, length and color.
Forgetting what the cushion must clear. Mark each notch's width, depth and position, and each hinge from a named end.
Treating a frame as a suggestion. If the cushion sits inside a ledge, say the size is a hard maximum; handmade cushions vary by about 1/2 to 1 in.

A seat cushion is three numbers and one thickness: front width, back width, depth. Anything that isn't a rectangle gets a drawing.
Nate Kowalski

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Buyer questions: sizes, shapes and staying put

A common question
My chair size isn't in the dropdown. How do I order it?
The workshop's answer
Choose the size bracket your measurements fall into, or the closest one, usually the next size up; the dropdown only sets the price. Then type the exact dimensions, thickness, fabric code and piping code into the personalization box, for example '36 x 11.5 x 2 in, Main: 111, Piping: 133'. The cushion is cut to what you write, and fractions like 57 5/8 x 15 3/8 in are fine. Ordering several? Add each size to the cart as its own item, and message after checkout if you'd like the details double-checked.
A common question
Four inches is too tall for my chairs. Can the pads be thinner, or a bench cushion thicker?
The workshop's answer
Yes, thickness is fully custom. Orders have gone as thin as 3/4 in (2 cm), 1 in, 1.5 in and 2 in, and as thick as 5, 6, 8 and 9 in, with floor cushions at about 6, 8 and 10 in (15, 20 and 25 cm). Select the nearest option and write the exact thickness in the personalization box or order note. Thinner usually costs the same as the 4 in (10 cm) standard; thicker foam raises the quote.
A common question
My seat is tapered with rounded back corners. How do I order a shape that isn't a rectangle?
The workshop's answer
Use the custom-shape listing, not the rectangle one. Pick the size range by the longest length and the deepest depth; that only sets the price bracket. At checkout, upload a drawing with a measurement on every edge, plus a photo of the seat if you have one, and put the thickness and fabric code in the personalization box. The cushion is cut exactly to the drawing. A simple paper sketch is fine, and if you're unsure, message the drawing first and the makers will say which options to select.
A common question
Can the cushion be notched around the legs or posts of my bench?
The workshop's answer
Yes. Mark each notch's width, depth and position along the edge and add a few wide-angle photos. The workshop redraws it as a standard template, often in centimeters, and asks you to confirm before cutting. Leg notches go through the custom-shape listing. Ties are an optional extra, so say where each one goes and how long it should be. If the notches sit on the back edge, mention it, because that is where the zipper runs.
A common question
Could you use Velcro instead of ties to keep my seat cushion in place?
The workshop's answer
Ties or a non-slip bottom are the usual answer, and Velcro tabs and snap fasteners aren't made. A two-sided Velcro strip has been added on request: one side sewn under the cushion, the matching side sent to you to fix to the seat. It costs extra, so some buyers fit their own. Write the request in the personalization box with your fabric and piping codes and wait for confirmation; for a banquette, a photo of the bench helps.

Have it made

Have your seat cushion made — ask Nate’s workshop

Send the numbers in inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angle. The workshop checks them with you, because foam has no undo button. — Nate

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.

Fabric · Foam · Pipingwhat the workshop will confirm with you

Fabric: The cover cloth: weave, color and care code.
Foam: Firm 32-density foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), wrapped in polyester fiber
Piping: The corded seam edge: matching, contrast or none.

Name

Phone Only for this request: no marketing calls or texts. Outside the US, add the country code.

Best time to call optional

What to make optional

Measurements optionalIn inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angles or cut corners.

Notes optional

* Required. A member of the workshop team will call you to talk it through; nothing is charged and nothing is made until you have agreed on every detail with them.

We use these details only to answer this request and make your cushion: your name and contact details, the cushion details and photos you send, the page you came from and the ad or link that brought you, if any. The workshop that makes the cushions receives them. We don't sell them or share them for advertising, and we delete requests after 24 months. Privacy notice for requests.

Nothing is made or charged until you approve the details.

Want to pick the shape and add photos? Use the full quote form

Seat cushion questions, measured

What foam is inside a custom seat cushion?

Firm 32-density polyurethane foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), wrapped in a layer of polyester fiber. The same foam is used at every thickness, which is why even a 2 in (5 cm) chair pad compresses only slightly under body weight.

What makes one custom seat cushion quote higher than another?

Size, thickness, shape, fabric and extras. A bigger area and thicker foam cost more, non-rectangles cost more than rectangles, natural fibers and outdoor fabric cost more than the standard charts, and tufting or add-ons such as non-slip bases and ties add to it. Piping and the zipper are included.

Which edge of a seat cushion does the zipper go on?

The back edge, as standard, so it faces the chair back or the wall. If your cushion has notches on that edge, around posts or a frame, say so when you order, because the notches and the zipper share the same side.

± 1/4 in — Nate

The Pattern Room