How to Measure Upholstery to Re-cover a Couch

Take the couch's cushions off. Unzip the fabric cover and remove the foam couch cushion. Lay the fabric out on a table or hard floor.

Measure the fabric's width from side seam to side seam. Round it up to the nearest 1/4-inch. Then measure the length from seam to seam and round that up to the nearest 1/4-inch.

Reach inside the cushion cover and hold it open, like there's a cushion inside it. Measure the fabric's height from seam to seam and round up to the nearest 1/4-inch.

Pull the couch away from the wall, if necessary. Measure the length and width of the couch's back. When measuring the couch's width, start the measurement from the top back seam and finish down at the floor. Round both measurements up to the nearest 1/4-inch.

Measure the front of the couch. If the couch is overstuffed, take measurements from the thickest portions. Start at the top back seam and measure down to the couch's seat, with the cushions still removed. Measure the couch's length from arm to arm. Round up to the nearest 1/4-inch.

Measure the couch's sides' lengths and widths. For the width, start at the seam on the top of the arm and measure down to the ground. If the couch's arms protrude a bit further than the side, take the measurement from the arm's longest point. Round up to the nearest 1/4-inch.

Measure the arms' lengths and widths. Measure each arm; do not measure one arm and assume the other arm is the same. Take the width measurement starting at the top seam and running down to the couch's seat, with the cushions still off. Then measure from the back to the front of the arm on the inner side. Round up to the nearest 1/4-inch.