The Pattern Room · a measuring pattern
Papasan cushion size: how to measure the bowl for a round cushion
Papasan questions are rare; round cushions are not. Here is how I'd measure that big rattan bowl on your porch before anybody cuts a circle.
SaveThe quick answer
Measure a papasan straight across the top of the bowl, rim to rim, then add about 2 to 3 in for the finished cushion diameter. Most single frames take a round cushion of about 44 to 48 in; double mamasan frames run larger. Choose 4 to 6 in of tufted fill so it stays even, and measure your own frame, because published guides disagree.
A bowl on a stand, and why that changes the math
The cushion in a papasan chair is always bigger than the bowl it sits in.
The chair is a rattan bowl on a ring base, about 35 to 45 in (89 to 114 cm) across, with the seat 14 to 18 in (36 to 46 cm) off the floor. The two-seat version is a mamasan. The cushion has to drape over the rim and settle into the bowl, so it's cut larger than the frame.
I'll be honest with you, neighbor: papasan questions are rare. Round cushions are not. This Pattern leans on what buyers ask about rounds and says plainly where chair makers disagree. Finished rounds live in the papasan cushion Atlas.
Seven steps from a bare frame to a round you can order
Empty the bowl
Take the old cushion out and measure the frame bare. A cushion in the bowl hides the rim you need to find.
Measure rim to rim, twice
Run the tape straight across the top of the bowl, rim to rim, through the center. Measure again at a right angle. If the two numbers differ, keep the bigger one.
Cross-check the old cushion
If the old cushion still holds its shape, measure it seam to seam across the top. One chair maker adds 3 in to that figure. Treat it as a check on your frame number, not a replacement for it.
Add 2 to 3 in for the drape
Published guides disagree: one adds 2 in to the frame diameter, another 3 in. Most single frames land at a cushion about 44 to 48 in (112 to 122 cm) across; doubles run up to about 52 in, and one maker calls 54 in standard. Your own tape settles it.
Pick 4 to 6 in of even fill
Papasan cushions run 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) thick. Fiber fill is softer and molds to the bowl; high-density foam holds its shape longer. Tufting keeps the fill spread across the round instead of drifting to the edges.
Write it as a round
Round cushions are specified by diameter and thickness, so write "round, diameter 46 in, 5 in thick." Two numbers like 46 x 46 read as a square.
Photograph the tape, then type the numbers
Take one photo from above with the tape across the rim, and type the numbers under it; tape photos get misread. Every cushion is measured after sewing, and you can ask to see that photo before it ships.
Have it made
Measured it? Have Rosa’s workshop make it
Every good cushion I know started with a long porch chat. This is the short version: leave your number and the workshop will call. — Rosa
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.
Papasan, mamasan, egg chair: what each one needs
| Chair | What to measure | Typical cushion | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papasan (single) | Rim to rim across the bowl, plus 2 to 3 in | Round, about 44 to 48 in (112 to 122 cm) | 4 to 6 in, tufted |
| Mamasan (double) | Rim to rim at the widest point, plus 2 to 3 in | Round, up to about 52 in; one maker quotes 54 in | 4 to 6 in, tufted |
| Egg or hanging chair | A paper template of the seat, widest width and depth written on it | Shaped seat pad cut to the template | 2 in (5 cm) is the recommended minimum for seating |
| Cafe stool | The seat's diameter | Round; 16 in (41 cm) rounds made | 4 in, or 3.5 in |
Egg chairs and hanging chairs: trace, don't guess
An egg chair or hanging chair has a shaped seat, not a bowl, so its cushion is a seat pad cut from a template. Trace the seat on paper, cut it out, write the widest width and the depth on it, and photograph it flat beside a tape measure. No need to mail it. The paper template Pattern shows the pencil work.
Pull up a chair while you trace. A child makes a fine paper-holder.
How big a round the workshop will cut
Rounds are made to custom diameters up to about 49 in (125 cm). A 59 in (150 cm) round isn't possible, a 75 in round was turned down, and the tufted and corner floor cushions stop at 48 x 48 in (122 x 122 cm).
That matters for a mamasan. If your double frame needs more than 49 in, send measurements and a photo before you order. Against a flat wall, two corner floor cushions can make a half circle instead.
What does your bowl measure, rim to rim?
Four floor seats, four rounds and one honest quote
A buyer in the US wrote to the workshop planning a floor-seating corner: four tufted linen floor seats, 28 x 64 in (71 x 163 cm) each, in mixed colors, plus four round cushions 18 in (46 cm) across.
The rounds were the surprise. Four little 18 in cushions came in close to what the big rectangles cost, and the buyer found that hard to swallow. I understand. A handmade tufted round takes the same hand-closing as a rectangle, plus a curved seam that never lets you relax.
The lesson: if rounds are in your plan, ask their price before you fall in love with the layout.
Where round cushions go wrong
- Measuring the old cover when you only want a new one. Measure the bare insert.
- Leaving out the fill type. A soft fiber insert should be about 1 in larger than its cover.
- Forgetting to say "cover only" or "with foam." Say it in every message.
- Writing two numbers for a round. 46 x 46 is a square to anyone cutting fabric.
- Expecting a tufted round to land on the quarter inch. Fully tufted cushions can vary by 1 to 2 in.
- Setting a round floor cushion on bare hardwood. A rug or grip mat stops it wandering.
Write "round, diameter 46 in, 5 in thick" on a papasan cushion order, because two numbers like 46 x 46 read as a square.
Rosa
Buyer questions: questions about rounds
- A common question
Do you make round cushions, and what do you need from me to order one?
The workshop's answerYes. A round cushion is ordered by its diameter and thickness, so send both with a drawing or reference photo and the workshop tells you how to order. Past rounds include 16 in bar-stool cushions made 4 in thick for a cafe and a 41 in round for a play tent.
- A common question
Can I get a big round floor cushion in my own diameter?
The workshop's answerYes, up to about 49 in (125 cm) across, the largest round the workshop makes; 59 in (150 cm) isn't possible. Choose the nearest listed size and write your exact diameter in the note. A 42.5 in round for a play tent went through the 40 x 40 in option.
- A common question
Could you make a 75 in round, or a corner cushion 56 in on each side?
The workshop's answerNo. The tufted floor cushion tops out at 48 x 48 in and the corner floor cushion at 48 in, so neither size can be made. For a bigger footprint against a flat wall, two corner cushions can be made into a half circle. Send measurements and a photo of the space first.
- A common question
How close to my number will a handmade tufted cushion actually come out?
The workshop's answerSizes are cut exactly as written, never rounded. Handmade foam cushions can still vary by roughly 0.5 to 1 in (about 1 cm), and fully tufted ones by 1 to 2 in. Piping adds a little to the outside edge, so say so if your finished size has to include it.
Papasan cushion questions, answered short
Is a papasan cushion the same size as the frame?
No. The cushion is larger than the bowl's rim, because it has to drape over the edge and sink into the bowl. Published guides add about 2 to 3 in to the rim-to-rim measurement, which puts most single frames at about 44 to 48 in.
How thick should a replacement papasan cushion be?
Most run 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) thick. Fiber fill feels softer and shapes itself to the bowl, while high-density foam holds its shape longer. Tufting through the cushion keeps either fill from drifting toward the edges.
What size cushion fits a double papasan, or mamasan?
Double frames take larger rounds: up to about 52 in by one maker's chart, with 54 in called standard by another. Measure your own frame at its widest point, and note that the largest round the workshop makes is about 49 in (125 cm).
Why are papasan cushions tufted?
Tufting stitches through the cushion at intervals, which keeps the fill spread evenly across a big round instead of sliding to the rim. The trade-off is care: a tufted cover can't be unzipped and machine washed, so spot cleaning becomes the routine.
How much floor space does a papasan chair need?
More than the frame's base suggests. The cushion is wider than the base, so a 46 in papasan needs roughly a 48 in square of floor, plus room to sit down and stand up. Measure the bowl's diameter for the cushion, then tape a square of that size plus a couple of inches on the floor to check the room.
