How to Estimate Auto Upholstery

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure

  • Pencil

  • Paper

The principle for estimating the amount of fabric needed to upholster the interior of an automobile is the same as estimating the amount of material needed to upholster a piece of furniture. The only difference is the width of the upholstery fabric. Most automotive upholstery fabric is 62 inches wide compared to 54 inches for furniture upholstery fabric. This means that one lineal or running yard of automotive upholstery fabric 62 inches wide is equivalent to 15.5 square feet or 1.72 square yards.

Advertisement

Step 1

Measure the width, length and depth of each cushion. Convert the measurements to inches. Write the answer for each cushion on a different line.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Add the depth of the area to the length. Add four inches to the answer. Write it down to attain total length measurement.

Advertisement

Step 3

Double the depth of the area. Add the answer to the width of the area. Add four inches to the answer to attain total width measurement. Write it down.

Step 4

Multiply the total length measurement in inches by the total width measurement in inches to find the square inch measurement of the surface.

Advertisement

Step 5

Add the square inch measurement for each surface area together. Divide the answer by 1296 inches to determine the total estimated square yards.

Step 6

Divide the total estimated square yards by 1.72 which is the running square yard total of 62-inch-wide automotive upholstery fabric to ascertain how many yards of automotive upholstery fabric to purchase.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references