How to Determine How Much Fabric You Need to Cover a Couch

Record all measurements as width by length by depth, and with a description of the piece. Width is, typically, the measurement from left to right, while length is the measurement from top to bottom; depth is the thickness. If two pieces are required, record the measurements twice -- a left and a right arm, and a cushion top and bottom, for example.

Measure the width and length of each cushion. For the boxed edging of each cushion, record the width of the piece required as equal to twice the length and twice the width of each cushion, and the length equal to the depth of the cushion.

Measure the inside back. This is the section of the sofa that's leaned against.

Measure the outside back.

Measure the deck. The deck is the portion of the sofa on which the cushions rest. If no cushions are used, it is called the seat of the sofa. This is the measurement from the far left edge of the front of the sofa to the far right edge, as the width, and the measurement from the intersection of the seat and the back to the front edge of the sofa and down to the floor as the length.

Measure the arm of the sofa width as the distance from the back of the sofa to the front of the arm. The length of this piece is the distance from the inside, where the bottom of the inside of the arm meets the deck, up and over the arm to the floor on the outside.

Measure the front of arm, side to side as the width, top of the arm to the floor as the length.

Create a to-scale pattern of 16 yards of fabric, using 1/4-inch graph paper and a scale of one square to equal 6 inches. Attach paper together to make a piece at least 96 squares long for a pattern of 16 yards of fabric. The number of squares wide is equal to the width of the fabric divided by 6. Most upholstery fabric is 54 inches wide; therefore, the graph paper should be nine squares wide.

Cut a piece of graph paper to scale for each of the pieces of fabric required. Label the pieces with the description and measurements. Be diligent that the width and length are correctly recorded.

Place the cut pattern pieces on the graph paper. All width measurements must be oriented in the same direction, according to the pattern of the fabric. For example, if the pattern of the fabric runs from one edge of the fabric to the other, as stripes might, ensure you lay all the pattern pieces in the same direction -- because the stripes need to be oriented in the same direction. Consider the position of a large pattern. If the pattern repeats only twice across the width of the fabric, for example, consider this when placing the pieces for cushions so the pattern will be centered. Add more “length” to the 16 yards if required.

When all the pieces have been positioned, count the number of squares along the long edge of the graph paper that have been “used,” then multiply this number by 6, then by 1.2 (to add 20 percent for seams and tuck allowances) and divide by 36 to produce the number of yards required.