How to Measure a Sofa for Reupholstery

If your couch is old or needs a new look, reupholstery is one option because it makes the sofa look new again. To reupholster means to replace all the fabric on the sofa with whatever fabric you wish. Getting a sofa reupholstered can cost a lot of money, but you can save a bundle if you do it yourself. The first step in reupholstering your sofa is to correctly measure it to see how many yards of fabric you will need.

Measuring tape
Notepad

Instructions

- 1
  Measure each part of the sofa individually with a tape measure, and record the measurements on a notepad. Areas that need to be measured are the inside and outside of the back, inside and outside of the arms, the front of the arms, the seat and the front gusset. The front gusset is the outside facing area that runs beneath the cushions and connects the armrests. If any part of your sofa is curved, like the back and the arms, measure and record the widest and highest points of each piece to ensure there will be enough fabric.
- 2
  Add 2 1/2 inches to each measurement to allow room for seams.
- 3
  Add up the total inches for each measurement, and divide the sum by 36. This will be the number of yards of fabric you will need to reupholster the sofa.

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Couches