How to Calculate Yardage for Furniture Reupholstering

Record the width measurements as the distance from the left to the right and the length as the distance from the top to the bottom. For example, the width of the seat cushion is the measurement from left to right, the length is the measurement from the back of the seat to the front. Record the measurements in the upholster’s standard of “width” by “length”; this removes any confusion about pattern placement when cutting the fabric.

Identify the pieces to measure starting with the back. Measure at the widest and longest points. Measure the inside back. Measure the deck, which is the portion that supports the seat cushions, or is bare if the design is cushionless. Measure the inside arm is the area where the arm meets the deck up and over to the outside edge, or curl, of the arm as the length, the width is the measurement from the front of the arm to the back. Measure the width of the outside arm as the measurement from the back of the piece to the front. The length is the measurement from the bottom edge up to the seam joining the inside and outside arms. Measure the arm front as a rectangle, the width equal to the widest part of the front of the arm, and the length as the measurement from the top of the arm to the top of the leg. Record the front of deck width as the distance from the inside arm on the left to the inside arm on the right, and the length as the measurement from the front edge to the bottom of the piece.

Add 4 inches to the width and length of each piece.

Use a scale of 4 inches to equal one square on 1/4-inch graph paper and cut scale rectangles for each pattern piece. For example, if the back measures 80-by-32-inches, cut a rectangle to represent 84 by 36; or 21 squares wide and 9 squares long. Indicate the name of the pattern piece on the graph paper representation and draw an arrow to indicate the direction of pattern placement. Cut two pattern representation pieces for duplicate sections, such as inside and outside arms.

Fasten full sheets of graph paper together with tape, representing the fabric. Start with a representation of 10 yards; this would be equal to 90 squares long and 13 squares wide. Upholstery fabric is typically 54 inches wide; adjust your fabric representation as necessary.

Lay the graph paper pattern pieces on the fabric representation, minimizing spaces between the pieces wherever possible. Ensure that the arrow on each piece is pointing to one long edge of the fabric representation

Calculate the amount of fabric required as 4 inches for each square along the long edge of the fabric representation used. Add 15 percent for pattern matching. For example, if the pattern requirement is equal to 85 squares, the amount of fabric required is 85 times 4 to equal 340 inches, plus 15 percent to equal 391 inches. Divide this figure by 36 for the number of yards of fabric required (11).