How much fabric to recover a sofa or chair?

A small or medium sized high-back chair will, typically, require about 6-7 metres.

A single lounge chair - part of a suite for instance - will need about 7-9 metres.

A two seater sofa will typically need 14 metres.

A three seater will generally require 16-18 metres and a four seater 20-22 metres.

The lengths suggested are based on average sized chairs and sofas and the use of plain fabric.

To get a more accurate figure measure each surface of the sofa and add these areas together.

Measure each section separately

Break the sofa down into parts:


Backrest (inside and outside)

Seat cushions

Armrests (inside and outside)

Base/seat platform

Scatter or back cushions (if applicable)


Measure the width, height, and depth of each piece. Always measure the widest and tallest points, allowing for curves.

Add extra for fitting

Upholstery fabric needs a little give. Add at least 5–10 cm (2–4 inches) to each measurement to allow for tucking, pattern matching, and errors.

Consider fabric pattern repeat

If you’re choosing a patterned fabric, check the pattern repeat. You may need extra fabric to ensure the design lines up neatly across cushions and panels.

Calculate the total

Once you have all your measurements, add them together and convert into square metres. (If you have made the total area measurement in square centimetres you need to divide that number by 10,000 to get the area in square metres.) Divide your total area (in sq metres) by the fabric width (usually 1.4 metres) to estimate how many linear metres you’ll need.

If you are still unsure please feel free to send us an email (info@loome.co.uk) with a photograph or two of your project, specifying which fabric(s) you had in mind to use, and we will give you our best opinion of the length required.

Our general advice is to order a bit more than you think you will need. We will take back and refund up any whole metres of fabric if it turns out to be unnecessary for your reupholstery project. Beyond that, any fabric left over can be used to make spare cushions, arm covers, or throws, or simply kept for future use.

Please note that, through our fabric estimator or email advice, we are only giving estimates and Loome Ltd cannot guarantee specific measurements.