How to determine your patio cushion measurements.

We’ve put together a few tips that we hope will come in handy when you’re looking for the perfect patio cushions for your furniture. Whether you’re looking for replacement cushions, or new patio cushions, following these steps will help you get the right outdoor cushion the first time.

Measuring your patio furniture:

First off, let’s make sure that you set up correctly. This really should be easy, but it’s important to get some basics down. Always use a measuring tape with accurate measurements. We know this sounds simple, but you can’t imagine how many times people have tried to measure their patio furniture and patio cushions with rulers. A measuring tape is always a good thing to have anyway, so we suggest that you always buy any kind of measuring equipment from a reputable hardware or home store like Ace, Lowe’s or Home Depot. Your corner hardware store is great as well. Just make sure it’s a trusted brand

Next, move your patio furniture out into a clear area. Again, taking these measurements won’t be difficult at all, but it’s best to make sure that you have plenty of room to move around. Which furniture you measure first is up to you, but always do one at a time.

If your patio set has multiple pieces, it’s really only necessary to measure one of each kind. You don’t have to measure each an every chair, chaise or ottoman. Just pull them out, one by one, into a clear area where you have room to move in front, behind, to the sides, and if necessary, kneel slightly next to your furniture. Let’s go over each type of patio furniture, so you know what to expect.

How to determine your patio cushion measurements.

Measuring your patio chairs:

1. Draw out your chair to an open area
2. With a good measuring tape, measure the width of the seat, at the front of the chair, from end to end. If there are armrests in the way, measure from the inside of one arm to the inside of the other.
3. Measure the width of the seat just as before, except at the back of the chair, where the seat meets the back.
4. Now, measure the width of the back, at the top of the chair, from end to end.
5. Repeat the same for the width of the back, where the back meets the seat.
6. Now, stand in front of your chair, and measure the depth of the seat, from the edge of the seat to the end, or where the seat meets the back.
7. Now measure the height of the back, from the top edge to where the back meets the seat.
8. Add the measurements of the height of the back, and the depth of the seat. This will be your overall length.
9. The height of the back will be your break.
10. If consistent, your average width will be your width.
11. Now it’s time to order a patio chair cushion.

Measuring your patio chaise:

1. Draw out your chaise lounge to an open area.
2. With that good measuring tape you used for your chair, at the front of the chaise, measure the width from end to end. No armrests should be in the way.
3. Measure the width of the seat just as before, except at the back of the chaise, where the seat meets the back.
4. Measure the width of the back, at the top of the chaise, from end to end.
5. Repeat the same for the width of the back, where the back meets the seat.
6. Now, standing at the side of your chaise (cause you can’t lean far enough to get to the back) measure the depth of the chair from the front to the back where the seat meets the back.
7. Now measure the height of the back, from the top edge to where the back meets the seat.
8. If your chaise lounge has multiple sections, repeat the same steps for the width as before, but measure each section’s depth from break to break.
9. Add the measurements of the height of the back, and the depth of the seat. This will be your overall length.
10. The height of the back will be your break.
11. If consistent, your average width will be your width.
12. Order yourself up a patio chaise cushion.

Measuring your old cushions for replacement:

1. Pull out your old chair or chaise cushion and lie it flat on the ground, or on a wide table if you don’t want to kneel.
2. Don’t flatten out your cushion too much. Just let it rest flat. These measurements are for general purposes only. Most furniture and cushions come in standard sizes, so these measurements are to determine what standard size would best
3. Measure the complete length of the cushion from top to bottom. Don’t pull the fabric taut to make this measurement. This will be the overall length we must come close to.
4. Measure from the top of the cushion to where the back meets the seat. This will be your break.
5. Measure the basic width of the cushion at the end of the seat, and then measure the basic width of the cushion at the top of the back. If consistent, this will be the basic width we must satisfy.
6. To measure the depth of your old cushion, start at the top of the cushion, with the back first.
7. Measure the height of the flat cushion from the table top or floor at the back section.
8. Measure the height of the flat cushion from the table top or floor at the seat section.
9. If consistent, this is the basic height we must satisfy for your cushion.
10. Order yourself some replacement patio cushions.

*Some notes on measuring old furniture cushions. Remember that all cushions, of all quality types, distend and flatten over time. The measurements that we are gathering are for general information only, as new cushions might be slightly shorter and much thicker that your current cushions. Normally, a 1 inch variance, whether wider or thinner, taller or shorter, is acceptable. A cushion which is slightly wider, or slightly taller than your chair or chase will work out fine. A cushion which is thinner or shorter than your furniture should only be shorter or smaller than by no more than 1 inch overall. Cushions that are much smaller than that might feel uncomfortable, and most certainly will not look right.

Tagged as: measuring, patio chairs, patio chaise, replacement cushions