Upholstery: Welting Cord Yards For Cushions

All versions

Welting runs around both the top and bottom edge of a box cushion. This recipe computes the inches around one face, doubles it for two faces, multiplies by the cushion count, adds waste for joins and cuts, and converts to yards.

Quick formula: Four times width plus depth is the trim per cushion; times count and waste, over 36:

=ROUNDUP(4*(B2+C2)*D2*(1+E2)/36,0)

6 cushions at 22 x 22 inches with 10% waste need 33 yards.

Functions used (tap for the full reference guide):

ROUNDUP

The example

Three sets of cushions with different sizes and waste. Larger cushions and bigger sets add yards fast.

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G
1	Case	Width in	Depth in	Cushions	Waste %	Yards	Feet
2	Sofa set	22	22	6	10.0%	33	99
3	Dining chairs	20	24	4	15.0%	23	69
4	Window seat	24	26	3	5.0%	18	54

The formula

The perimeter of two faces, scaled by count and waste, converted to yards:

=ROUNDUP(4*(B2+C2)*D2*(1+E2)/36,0) // yards; feet = yards * 3

How it works

Here is the logic, one piece at a time:

B2+C2 is half the perimeter of one face; doubling it gives the face, doubling again gives two faces, hence the factor of 4.
Multiplying by the cushion count D2 scales to the full set.
(1+E2) adds waste for joins and cutting.
Dividing by 36 converts inches to yards, and ROUNDUP orders whole yards.

Welting cord is cut on the bias, so the cord length and the fabric needed to cover it are different numbers.

Try it: interactive demo

Interactive

Enter the cushion size, count and waste percent.

Cushion width (in)

Cushion depth (in)

Number of cushions

Waste percent

Variations

Welting on the top face only

Use a factor of 2 instead of 4 when only the top edge is trimmed.

=ROUNDUP(2*(B2+C2)*D2*(1+E2)/36,0)

Fabric for the bias strips

Convert yards of welting to square yards of fabric at an assumed strip width.

=ROUNDUP(F2*36*2.5/1296,1)

Pitfalls & errors

Cushions with rounded corners have a slightly longer perimeter than the rectangle formula shows.

Leaving out the factor of 2 for the second face leaves you with half the welting you need.

Buy a little extra cord from one dye lot for repairs.

Practice workbook

📊

Download the free Upholstery: Welting Cord Yards For Cushions practice workbook

Edit the yellow size, count and waste cells; yards and feet recalculate.

Frequently asked questions

Why 36?

There are 36 inches in a yard.

How much waste should I add?

Plan 10–15% for joins and mistakes on a first project.

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Function references: ROUNDUP