The Pattern Room · a measuring pattern
Bar stool cushions sized to round, square and saddle seats
The smallest cushion in the house is the one most likely to end up on the kitchen floor. Measure the seat's shape first, then decide how the pad stays put.
SaveThe quick answer
Size bar stool cushions from the seat, not the stool: measure a round seat's diameter twice, a square seat on all four edges and trace a saddle seat on paper. Stock pads run 13 to 14 in (33 to 36 cm) round, 12 x 12 in (30 x 30 cm) square and 17 x 10 in (43 x 25 cm) saddle, 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) thick.
A small seat with two ways to fail
Bar stool cushions fail in two ways, dear: the pad is the wrong size, or it slides off when someone swings a leg over. Both are settled before the order goes in, and both start with the shape of the seat.
Three shapes cover most kitchens. Round seats, flat or dished. Square seats, common on farmhouse and metal stools. And saddle seats, scooped at the sides with a ridge up the middle. Each measures differently and each holds a pad differently. Tapered and odd seats belong with custom seat cushions; circles of any size with round and geometric cushions. For color ideas, the bistro chair and bar stool Concept Sketch is a gallery of real small-seat orders. The sizing lives here.
What shape is the seat under your elbow right now?
Round, square or saddle: what to measure
| Seat | Measure | Stock pad size | Thickness | How it stays on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round, flat or dished | Diameter edge to edge, twice at right angles; the widest point on a contoured seat | 13 to 14 in (33 to 36 cm) across | 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) | Four ties to the legs or rungs; ties at the back posts if the stool has a back |
| Square | Front width, back width, depth and both side edges | About 12 x 12 in (30 x 30 cm) | 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) on a hard seat; 1 in pads come without piping | Corner ties or a non-slip base |
| Saddle | A paper template, with the widest width and the front-to-back depth written on it | About 17 in wide x 10 in deep (43 x 25 cm) | 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm) | Ties to the legs, or a non-slip base |
Stock sizes are one long-running US chair-pad maker's published sizes, shown for comparison. The workshop cuts any size and thickness, and round cushions to any diameter.
Measuring a stool seat, step by step
Take the old pad off
Measure the wood, not the pad. An old pad has spread, shrunk or slumped, and it will mislead you. While it's off, photograph the stool from the front, from the side and straight down.
Round seat: measure the diameter twice
Run the tape edge to edge through the center, then again at right angles. On a dished or contoured seat, take the widest point. If the two numbers differ by more than 1/4 in (6 mm), the seat is an oval, and an oval wants a template.
Square seat: four edges and a depth
Measure the front width, the back width and the depth, then both side edges. Plenty of 'square' seats taper toward the back; if front and back differ, write both. Tapered pads are routine, and the workshop checks that your numbers close before anything is cut.
Pattern sheet A 12 x 12 in (30 x 30 cm) square stool pad from above: front, back and depth, ties at the back corners, zipper on the back edge. Saddle seat: trace a template
Tape a sheet of paper over the seat, press it into the scoop and trace the edge. Cut it out, write the widest width and the front-to-back depth on it, and photograph it flat from directly above beside a tape measure. No need to mail the paper; the paper template Pattern has the details.
Pattern sheet A saddle seat traced on paper: about 17 in (43 cm) at the widest, 10 in (25 cm) front to back, photographed flat with a tape in the shot. Decide how much wood should show
A pad within about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) of the seat's width and depth sits comfortably, and a little wood showing looks deliberate. The workshop cuts exactly the size you write, so if you want a margin of wood, take it off your numbers yourself.
Choose thickness for the person, not the pad
Counter or bar height is settled by the stool and whoever sits on it; the pad only adds its own thickness. Sit down, measure from the seat to the underside of the counter, and keep room for your thighs once the pad is on. 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) is the usual range on bar and counter stools; 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) does on a hard square seat.
Pick the hold-down
Four corner ties to the legs or rungs for a backless stool, ties at the back posts for a stool with a back, a non-slip base for a smooth seat. Ties are never added unless you ask.
Write it all in one note
Shape, every measurement, thickness, quantity, fabric, and the ties: how many, where and how long. A round pad needs only its diameter and thickness. For anything that isn't a rectangle, attach the drawing; the workshop sends it back redrawn and waits for your yes. More on custom chair and stool sizes.
Have it made
Measured it? Have Maggie’s workshop make it
Numbers first, fabric second, piping last. Jot down what you have, and the workshop will go down the list with you, item by item. — Maggie
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.
Keeping a pad on a backless stool
Right, then: the sliding problem. On a backless stool there's nothing for the pad to lean on, so it has to be tied down or made to grip.
Ties. Four ties, one at each corner, knot around the legs or the rungs below the seat. Give each tie's position and a length long enough to reach; test the length first with a piece of string. On a stool with a low back, ties at the back posts do the job, as in the striped rooftop photo on this page, where small gingham bows hold each round pad to its stool. Tie placement for chairs and swings has the diagrams.
Drawstring skirts. Some ready-made round pads have a gathered skirt pulled tight under the seat edge. Whether the workshop can sew one for your stool, ask the workshop.
Grip underlay. Rubber shelf liner or a silicone mesh pad under the cushion grips smooth wood, stone and metal. Rubber loses its grip with age; replace it rather than repair it.
The workshop's non-slip base. The whole bottom panel is made from a grippy fabric that holds by friction, not glue, so it leaves nothing on the wood. It costs extra and goes in the order note. Ask how that panel should be washed before it meets a machine. More in how the non-slip base works.
Five round pads for a coffee shop counter
Café owners wrote to the workshop about five bar stools in a new coffee shop. They wanted round seat pads like a reference photo: 16 in (41 cm) across and 3.5 to 4 in (9 to 10 cm) thick, built to take heavy daily use.
Two numbers per pad, diameter and thickness, and that was the whole specification. The workshop quoted the 4 in (10 cm) version for commercial wear.
Then they asked whether the stools could come too, in steel or gunmetal. They couldn't. The workshop makes the cushion and the foam, not metal frames or bases, so the frames had to be found elsewhere. Better to hear that at the quote than at the delivery.
- Measured
- 5 round pads, 16 in (41 cm) diameter, 3.5 to 4 in (9 to 10 cm) thick
- What it taught
- For round seats, the diameter and the thickness are the whole order; the stool frames come from somewhere else.
Stool-pad mistakes, mended
- Measuring the old pad instead of the seat. Everyone does it once; aim for zero.
- Measuring a round seat once. Seats are often a touch oval.
- Putting a round pad on a saddle seat, where it rocks on the ridge.
- Assuming ties come standard. They're sewn on only when you ask.
- Typing the tie request into the size box, where it can be missed. Put it in the order note and confirm it by message.
- Choosing 4 in (10 cm) for a stool that already sits right at the counter.
- Putting a cover with a non-slip bottom in the dryer without asking how that panel should be washed.
A bar stool cushion is sized from the seat, not the stool: the diameter twice for round, four edges for square, a paper template for a saddle.
Maggie
Buyer questions: stools, rounds and ties
- A common question
Do you make cushions for bar stools, or only for chairs and benches?
The workshop's answerChair, bar stool and even wheelchair cushions are made to any size and thickness. Send length, width, thickness and quantity for a quote, or order the closest size and write your exact size and thickness in the order note. They're filled with firm 32 kg/m³ high-resilience foam that holds its shape.
- A common question
Can you make round seat cushions to my own diameter?
The workshop's answerYes. Round cushions are specified by diameter and thickness, so send a drawing or photo with both. Past orders include 16 in (41 cm) café bar stool pads at 4 in (10 cm) thick, with 3.5 in (9 cm) also possible, and a small round outdoor seat about 11.5 in (29 cm) across. The workshop makes the cushion and foam, not stool frames or bases.
- A common question
Can you sew ties onto a custom cushion so it doesn't fall off?
The workshop's answerYes, on any made-to-measure cushion, chair pads and odd shapes included. Say in the order note how many ties you want and where they go: the corners, the back edge or one side. They're sewn into the seam. Ties are never added unless you ask, so state it, and give a length if they have to wrap around a frame.
- A common question
What is a non-slip base, exactly? Is it a separate mat?
The workshop's answerIt's built into the cover: the whole bottom panel is made from a grippy non-slip fabric instead of the regular fabric. It works by friction, not adhesive, so it holds on smooth painted or wooden seats without sticking or leaving residue, and it doesn't show once the cushion is in place. It always covers the entire underside, never just strips.
- A common question
Can you make seat pads with ties for my kitchen chairs, and can they be round?
The workshop's answerYes. Chair pads are made to measure with ties at the back for spindles or ladder-backs. For shaped seats, send a photo and a simple diagram with every edge measured, left and right sides as well as front and back, plus quantity and thickness. Round seats work too, such as a 12 in (30 cm) pad, 4 in (10 cm) thick, with a zip cover and ties or a loop.
Bar stool cushion questions, briefly
Are counter stool cushions a different size from bar stool cushions?
The pad is sized the same way on both: from the seat's shape. The difference is the stool's height, which is chosen for the counter and the person. Pick thickness from the gap between the seat and the counter's underside; 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) is usual on either.
Can I order only new covers for the stool pads I already have?
Yes. Covers without foam are sewn to the exact length, width and thickness of your foam, and small bar stool pads around 14 x 14 in (36 x 36 cm) have been made that way. Write the foam's size and your fabric in the order note. The covers unzip and wash at 86°F (30°C) on a delicate cycle.
How thin can a bar stool pad be?
The thinnest standard foam is 2 in (5 cm). A 1¼ in (3 cm) pad can still take piping; a 1 in (2.5 cm) pad is made only without piping. Published guidance warns that pads under about 2 in compress quickly with daily use.
What drives the price of a single stool cushion?
Size, thickness, fabric and extras such as a non-slip base set the quote. A small cushion can't be priced below the smallest size option, because shipping makes up a large part of the cost of small items. Ordering a set of stool pads together brings the price per pad down.
