Why use a cushion fabric calculator?

Working out cushion fabric by hand is harder than it looks. You can add up the area of every panel, but fabric is sold by length off a roll of fixed width, and the pieces never fit perfectly. Some space is always lost at the edges, and the way you arrange the panels can change the total by a metre or more.

Guessing usually goes wrong in one of two ways. Order too little and the job stops halfway, and the next roll may be a slightly different shade. Order too much and you pay for fabric that sits in a cupboard. A cushion fabric calculator removes both risks by testing the layout for you and showing the result on a diagram you can check.

It also makes comparisons easy. Switch between Sunproof and Sunbrella, enter the width of another fabric, add piping, change the border on a mesh bottom, or add more cushions, and the figure updates instantly. That means you can find the most economical option before you spend anything. For businesses quoting customers, the cushion fabric calculator turns a twenty-minute job into a few seconds, and the WhatsApp button sends the full specification to our team without retyping a single measurement.

Best of all, the cushion fabric calculator is free to use as many times as you like, on desktop or mobile.

How the cushion fabric calculator works

Every box cushion is made from three kinds of pieces: a top panel, a bottom panel, and boxing strips that wrap around the sides. The cushion fabric calculator works out the cut size of each piece, lays them out on the fabric roll, and measures how much length the layout uses.

1. Top and bottom panels. The finished length and width of your cushion, plus 2.5 cm for seams.
2. Boxing strips. Cut to the cushion thickness plus 2.5 cm, long enough to go all the way around the cushion with 5 cm extra to close the loop. Long strips are split into pieces that fit across the roll, with a seam added for every join.
3. Cutting layout. Each piece is placed on the roll, turned where the fabric allows it, and small strips are dropped into the gaps beside larger panels to cut waste.
4. Safety margin. The calculator adds 10% to the length used and rounds up to the nearest 0.5 m, so you never run short in the middle of a job.

Sunproof vs Sunbrella: why roll width changes your order

Roll width matters more than most buyers expect. Sunproof comes 150 cm wide and Sunbrella 137 cm wide. Two 60 cm seat panels fit side by side on either roll, but two 70 cm panels only fit on the 150 cm Sunproof roll. On the 137 cm roll each of those panels needs its own row.

Here is what the cushion fabric calculator shows for four cushions of each size, with full fabric on both sides:

The difference is largest on deep seats around 70 cm, where the wider roll saves about 2 m for every four cushions. On most other sizes it is half a metre to a metre. Both fabrics are stocked in cut lengths: browse colours for Sunproof outdoor fabric in Malaysia or Sunbrella fabric in cut sizes.

Using fabric from another supplier

Already have fabric, or prefer another brand? Choose Other fabric in the cushion fabric calculator and type the width of the roll in centimetres. The layout and metres are worked out for that width, and the WhatsApp button changes to a sewing quote so we can make the cushions with your fabric.

Full fabric or mesh bottom?

Many outdoor cushions are made with fabric on top and a mesh panel underneath. The bottom keeps a fabric border, usually 20 cm wide, and the centre is filled with mesh. Water drains straight through, air moves through the foam, and the cushion dries much faster after rain or a pool splash. It also helps keep mould away in our humid climate.

Choose Fabric border + mesh in the cushion fabric calculator and it will list the border strips, the mesh centre panels, and the metres of mesh to order alongside your fabric.

When a mesh bottom saves fabric

The border is a fixed width, so the saving depends on the cushion size. On small seat cushions the border covers almost the whole bottom, so there is little or no saving. On long cushions you save some fabric, but the real benefit is drainage:

Choose a mesh bottom for quick drying rather than to save money. On small cushions, a narrower border such as 10 cm leaves more room for mesh. The calculator updates instantly so you can compare.

How to measure cushions for the cushion fabric calculator

Measure the finished size

Measure the seat or the old cushion from seam to seam, not the foam on its own. Enter that finished length and width. The calculator adds the seam allowance for you, so do not add it yourself.

Measure the thickness

Measure the height of the side wall of the cushion. Typical sizes are 5 cm for chair pads, 8 to 10 cm for sun loungers and 10 to 15 cm for lounge seats.

Shaped cushions

Use the round cushion fabric calculator for round seat pads and stool cushions, and measure the finished diameter. For T-shaped, curved or angled cushions, enter the widest length and width in the main calculator for a safe estimate, then send us a photo on WhatsApp so we can check the cut.

Adding piping or welting

Piping, also called welting, is the corded trim sewn into the edges of a cushion. It gives a tailored, hotel-style finish and helps the cushion keep its shape. Tick Add piping / welting in the cushion fabric calculator and choose where it goes and which fabric it is made from.

• Top and bottom edges is the classic look. The piping runs around both edges, so the length is four times the length plus width of the cushion.
• Top edge only uses half the piping and suits softer, more relaxed seating.
• Matching fabric means the piping strips are cut from the same fabric. The calculator adds them to the cutting layout, so they can use leftover space beside the panels.
• Contrast fabric means the piping is made in a second colour from our Sunproof or Sunbrella range. The calculator shows the extra metres of that fabric separately.

We cut piping strips 8 cm wide and make the piping as one continuous run, then add 10% for corners and joins. The calculator also shows the length of piping cord needed.

Round cushion fabric calculator

Round cushions are cut differently from rectangular ones, which is why they have their own calculator on this page. Each round panel is cut from a square slightly larger than the cushion, and the boxing strip runs around the circumference, which is about 3.14 times the diameter. Enter the finished diameter, the thickness and the number of cushions, and add piping if you need it.

Round cushions can also have a mesh bottom. Choose Fabric ring + mesh and set the ring width, 10 cm by default. The ring is cut from the same square as a full bottom panel, so the fabric total barely changes, but the mesh centre lets water drain straight out of bar stool and poolside cushions.

A round cushion wider than the fabric roll needs a joined panel. The calculator will tell you when that happens so we can quote it for you.

Fabric needed for common cushion sizes

Use this quick reference from the cushion fabric calculator if you just want a ballpark figure. All amounts include the 10% safety margin and assume full fabric on both sides.

Ordering several cushions together almost always uses less fabric per piece, because the cushion fabric calculator can fit more panels side by side on the roll.

Patterned and striped fabric

Stripes and prints have a direction. If you tick the patterned fabric option, the cushion fabric calculator keeps every panel running the same way and stops turning pieces to save space. Expect to need a little more fabric. For large pattern repeats, message us before ordering so we can allow for matching.

Who uses the cushion fabric calculator?

Most people who use the cushion fabric calculator fall into one of four groups, and each one uses it a little differently.

Homeowners refreshing outdoor furniture

If your patio set or pool loungers have faded, new covers are often the cheapest way to make them feel new again. Measure one cushion, enter the number of seats, and the cushion fabric calculator gives you a figure to take to your upholsterer or to order directly from us.

Upholsterers and tailors

Quoting a customer fast matters. Instead of drawing a layout on paper, run the sizes through the cushion fabric calculator, check the cutting diagram, and add your labour on top. The cut list in the results panel shows every piece size, which helps when you brief your cutting table.

Hotels, resorts and restaurants

Hospitality projects often need dozens or hundreds of identical cushions. The cushion fabric calculator handles up to 300 cushions in one go, so procurement teams can compare Sunproof and Sunbrella costs before asking for a formal quote. Bulk layouts usually waste less fabric per cushion than small orders.

Interior designers and architects

Designers use the tool at the specification stage to budget fabric for terraces, rooftop bars and pool decks. Testing a mesh bottom against full fabric takes seconds, which makes it easy to show a client the cost difference.

Tips for an accurate result

The cushion fabric calculator is only as good as the sizes you give it. These habits keep your order right the first time:

1. Measure every different cushion. Seat and back cushions are rarely the same size. Run each size through the calculator separately, then add the totals.
2. Round up, not down. If a cushion measures 59.5 cm, enter 60 cm. Covers that are slightly tight are hard to fit over foam.
3. Check the thickness of compressed foam. Old foam flattens over time. If you are replacing foam too, use the new foam thickness.
4. Order the whole job from one roll. Fabric from different production batches can vary slightly in colour, so buy everything you need at once.
5. Keep the safety margin. It is tempting to trim the 10% to save money, but a short reorder later usually costs more than the extra half metre.

Choosing the right outdoor fabric

The right fabric depends on where the cushions will live. In Malaysia, outdoor cushions face strong UV, heavy rain and high humidity all year, so ordinary upholstery fabric fades and grows mould quickly.

Solution-dyed acrylic fabrics such as Sunproof and Sunbrella are coloured through the fibre rather than printed on the surface. That makes them highly resistant to fading and easy to clean. Both are a strong choice for pool decks, balconies and open-air restaurants.

Roll width affects cost as much as the price per metre. A cheaper fabric on a narrow roll can end up costing more for the same cushions, which is exactly what the cushion fabric calculator helps you see before you buy.

Indoor projects can use the same fabrics. Performance fabrics resist spills and stains, which is why many cafés and family homes use them on dining banquettes and lounge seating.

Caring for outdoor cushion fabric

Good care keeps cushions looking new for years. Brush off dry dirt regularly, rinse with clean water, and spot clean marks with mild soap and lukewarm water. Let cushions dry fully before storing them, and stand them on their edge after heavy rain so water drains out. A mesh bottom makes this much easier because water runs straight through the base.

Order fabric or finished cushions

Once you have your figure, tap Order the cushions now in the calculator. WhatsApp opens with your sizes, fabric choice and metres already filled in, so our team can reply with a quote quickly.

You can buy fabric only for your own upholsterer, with a low minimum order of 10 to 20 m depending on the design, or let us sew the cushions for you with no fabric minimum. We supply hotels, resorts, cafés and homeowners, and we quote export orders too. Prefer email? Write to sales@eumaisons.com. To browse colours and catalogues first, visit our Sunproof fabric page or the Urban Maisons homepage.

Cushion fabric calculator FAQ

How much fabric do I need for a 60 × 60 cm cushion?

A single 60 × 60 × 10 cm cushion needs 1 m of Sunproof or Sunbrella. Four of them need 3.5 m of Sunproof or 4 m of Sunbrella.

How many metres of fabric does a sun lounger cushion need?

One 190 × 60 × 8 cm sun lounger cushion needs 2.5 m of Sunproof or Sunbrella with full fabric. Four loungers need 9 m of Sunproof or 10 m of Sunbrella, or 12 m and 13 m with matching piping on both edges.

Why does the cushion fabric calculator add 10%?

The margin covers cutting errors, small fabric flaws and straightening the cut edge of the roll. It is far cheaper than reordering a short length later, which may come from a different dye lot.

Does the calculator include piping, zips or ties?

Piping is included when you tick the piping option, in matching or contrast fabric. Ties and zip plackets are not, so mention them when you order and we will add them to the quote.

Can I use my own fabric?

Choose Other fabric and enter the roll width in centimetres. The cushion fabric calculator works out the metres for that width, and we can sew the cushions with fabric you supply.

How do I calculate fabric for round cushions?

Use the round cushion fabric calculator on this page. Four 45 cm round chair pads, 5 cm thick, need 2 m of Sunproof or 2.5 m of Sunbrella.

Can I use it for indoor cushions?

Yes. The cushion fabric calculator works for any box cushion. Choose Indoor in the form so we know where the cushions will be used.

Is a mesh bottom good for outdoor cushions?

Yes, especially by the pool. Water drains out of the bottom, the foam dries faster and there is less risk of mould. It also saves fabric on long cushions such as sun loungers and daybeds.

How accurate is the cushion fabric calculator?

For rectangular box cushions it is very close to what we cut in production, and the 10% margin covers small differences. Shaped cushions and large pattern repeats need a manual check, so send us the details on WhatsApp.

Can I order through the cushion fabric calculator?

Yes. Tap Order the cushions now and WhatsApp opens with your sizes, fabric and metres already filled in. Our team replies with a quote for fabric only or finished cushions.