How Much Fabric Do I Need to Reupholster an Ottoman?

If you're planning to recover an ottoman, one of the first questions is how much fabric do I need to reupholster an ottoman?

Quick answer: Most small to medium ottomans require approximately 1 1/2 to 3 yards of 54-inch-wide upholstery fabric. A small footstool may need only about 1 yard, while a large rectangular or fully upholstered ottoman can require 3 to 4 yards or more.

The exact amount depends on the ottoman's length, width, upholstered height, and construction. A removable cushion, tufting, skirt, welt cord, or large pattern repeat can also increase the amount of fabric you'll need.

Use the quick chart below for a starting estimate, then measure your actual ottoman before ordering.

Quick Ottoman Fabric Yardage Chart

These estimates assume approximately 54-inch-wide upholstery fabric. The exact amount depends on the ottoman's height and construction. Tufting, skirts, boxed cushions, large patterns, and directional fabrics may require additional yardage.

Already know approximately how much you need? Browse our Upholstery Fabric by the Yard for discounted designer fabrics suitable for ottomans, chairs, benches, sofas, and other furniture projects.

How to Measure an Ottoman for Upholstery Fabric

For a more accurate estimate, measure the actual upholstered sections of your ottoman instead of relying only on its overall dimensions.

For most ottomans, record:

• Top length: Measure from one end of the upholstered top to the other.
• Top width or depth: Measure from front to back.
• Upholstered height: Measure from the top edge down to where the upholstery ends.
• Cushion thickness: Measure separately if the ottoman has a removable cushion.
• Skirt height: Measure the finished height and perimeter if your ottoman has a skirt.

Also look closely at how the ottoman is constructed. A simple padded top over exposed wooden legs requires much less fabric than a fully upholstered storage ottoman with fabric covering the top and all four sides.

What Parts of an Ottoman Need Fabric?

A fully upholstered ottoman may require separate pieces for:

• Top panel
• Front panel
• Back panel
• Left side
• Right side
• Boxing around a removable cushion
• Wrapping and stapling allowance
• Welting or piping
• Skirt, if present

A simple footstool with exposed wooden sides or legs may need fabric only for the padded top.

This is why two ottomans with identical top dimensions can require very different amounts of fabric.

How Much Fabric Do I Need for a 24-Inch Square Ottoman?

A 24-inch square ottoman commonly requires approximately 1 1/2 to 2 yards of 54-inch-wide upholstery fabric for a straightforward upholstered design.

If only the top is upholstered and the fabric simply wraps underneath for stapling, you may need considerably less. If the top and all four sides are upholstered, you'll need material for each of those surfaces.

Tufting or a large pattern repeat can also increase the requirement.

How Much Fabric Do I Need for a 30-Inch Square Ottoman?

A 30-inch square ottoman will typically require approximately 2 to 2 1/2 yards for a straightforward fully upholstered design.

The height of the upholstered sides matters. A low-profile 30-inch ottoman with exposed legs requires less fabric than a tall storage ottoman with the same 30-inch-square top.

How Much Fabric Do I Need for a 36-Inch Square Ottoman?

A 36-inch square ottoman generally requires approximately 2 1/2 to 3 yards of 54-inch-wide upholstery fabric.

At this size, cutting layout becomes increasingly important. The top panel may fit within the width of standard upholstery fabric, but the side panels, seam allowances, and pattern placement still have to be considered.

For a heavily tufted or large-patterned 36-inch ottoman, plan on additional material.

How Much Fabric Do I Need for a Rectangular Ottoman?

Rectangular ottomans vary considerably in size. A common 48-inch-long by 24-inch-wide ottoman generally requires approximately 2 1/2 to 3 yards for a basic fully upholstered design.

A larger 60-inch by 30-inch cocktail ottoman may require approximately 3 to 4 yards or more.

Length matters because a long top panel can consume a large continuous section of the fabric roll.

If your fabric has a directional design, you may not be able to rotate the top or side panels to create a more efficient cutting layout.

How Much Fabric Do I Need for a Round Ottoman?

A round ottoman approximately 24 to 30 inches in diameter will often require approximately 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 yards of upholstery fabric.

The top requires a circular piece, while the upholstered sides usually require one or more long strips of fabric.

For example, a 30-inch-diameter ottoman has a circumference of approximately:

30 × 3.14 = 94.2 inches

That means the side boxing must cover approximately 94 inches around the ottoman, plus seam allowance.

The side does not necessarily need to be cut as one continuous 94-inch piece. Multiple sections can often be sewn together, allowing the fabric to be used more efficiently.

Does Ottoman Height Affect Fabric Yardage?

Yes. Height is one of the most commonly overlooked measurements when estimating ottoman fabric.

Consider two ottomans that both have a 30-inch-square top.

One may have only 6 inches of upholstered side surface before reaching exposed wooden legs. Another may have 16 inches of upholstered sides extending almost to the floor.

The second ottoman requires considerably more fabric even though both have exactly the same top dimensions.

Always measure the actual upholstered height, not simply the overall height of the furniture.

Simple Upholstered Top vs. Fully Upholstered Ottoman

A simple footstool or bench-style ottoman may have a padded top attached to a wooden frame with exposed legs.

For this type of project, the fabric may simply wrap over the top, around the padding, and underneath the seat board for stapling.

A fully upholstered ottoman is different. Fabric covers both the top and the vertical sides, so several separate pieces may be required.

When using any general upholstery yardage chart, make sure you're comparing your project with an ottoman of similar construction.

What If My Ottoman Has a Removable Cushion?

A removable boxed cushion requires more fabric than a simple padded top because it generally needs:

• Top panel
• Bottom panel
• Front boxing strip
• Back boxing strip or zipper panel
• Side boxing strips
• Welting or piping, if used

If the cushion is reversible, both the top and bottom are normally made from the primary upholstery fabric.

Remember to calculate the upholstered ottoman base separately from the removable cushion.

How Much Extra Fabric Does Tufting Require?

Tufted ottomans generally require more fabric than smooth upholstered tops because material is pulled down into the tufts.

Deep diamond tufting can consume substantially more material than shallow button tufting.

The exact amount depends on the number, spacing, and depth of the tufts, so don't calculate a deeply tufted ottoman using only the flat dimensions of the finished top.

For a heavily tufted project, plan the tufting layout before determining your final fabric yardage.

How Much Fabric Does an Ottoman Skirt Need?

A skirt can add significant yardage, especially when it extends around all four sides of a large ottoman.

Measure both the perimeter of the ottoman and the finished height of the skirt.

A straight tailored skirt uses less material than a gathered or heavily pleated skirt. Corner pleats and pattern matching can also increase the amount required.

If you're removing an existing skirt and exposing the ottoman's legs, your new upholstery project may require considerably less fabric than the original design.

Pattern Repeat Can Increase Ottoman Yardage

The quick yardage chart works best for solid colors, textures, and small non-directional designs.

A large floral, geometric, plaid, stripe, or medallion pattern can require additional material.

On an ottoman, you may want a prominent motif centered on the top. If the ottoman has upholstered sides, you may also want the pattern to align or appear balanced around the furniture.

Large repeats can therefore create unusable sections of fabric between individual upholstery pieces.

Don't simply add a fixed percentage for a large pattern. Check the fabric's actual horizontal and vertical repeat and plan the cutting layout accordingly.

Directional vs. Non-Directional Fabric

A non-directional fabric provides more flexibility because individual upholstery pieces can often be rotated to make better use of the fabric width.

A directional design has a recognizable top and bottom, so visible pieces normally need to face the same direction.

Examples include:

• Florals with obvious stems
• Scenic patterns
• Animal designs
• Some geometric patterns
• Stripes
• Patterns containing recognizable objects

Directional fabrics can therefore require more yardage even when the ottoman itself is relatively small.

Should I Buy Extra Fabric for an Ottoman?

For a solid or small non-directional design, purchasing approximately 1/4 to 1/2 yard beyond a tight calculated minimum can be worthwhile.

Extra material provides room for:

• Trimming
• Minor measuring errors
• Positioning pieces
• Making welt cord
• Unexpected construction differences
• Keeping fabric for a future repair

For fabric with a large pattern repeat, calculate the additional yardage from the actual repeat instead of automatically adding a fixed amount.

Worked Example: 30-Inch Square Ottoman

Suppose you have a fully upholstered ottoman measuring:

• 30 inches long
• 30 inches wide
• 12 inches of upholstered height
• No skirt
• No tufting
• Solid 54-inch-wide upholstery fabric

The top panel needs to cover approximately 30 × 30 inches plus the necessary seam or attachment allowance.

The four sides also require fabric approximately 12 inches high plus seam and attachment allowance.

Those side pieces can often be arranged efficiently across the width of the fabric.

For a project like this, approximately 2 to 2 1/2 yards is a reasonable starting amount.

If you add deep tufting, a skirt, or a large directional pattern, the required yardage increases.

Worked Example: 48 × 24-Inch Rectangular Ottoman

Now consider a rectangular ottoman measuring:

• 48 inches long
• 24 inches wide
• 12 inches of upholstered side height
• Exposed legs
• No skirt
• Small non-directional pattern

The top requires a piece approximately 48 × 24 inches plus working allowance.

The long front and back panels each need to span approximately 48 inches, while the end panels cover the 24-inch sides.

With 54-inch-wide upholstery fabric, approximately 2 1/2 to 3 yards is a practical starting range for this type of construction.

Can I Use an Upholstery Remnant for an Ottoman?

Yes. Ottomans can be excellent projects for upholstery remnants because many require much less fabric than a full-size chair or sofa.

However, don't look only at the total yardage of the remnant. Make sure it is both wide and long enough to cut your largest individual upholstery piece.

For example, a large square ottoman may require a continuous top panel that cannot be pieced together without creating an unwanted seam.

You should also check the pattern direction and repeat before deciding whether a particular remnant will work.

Browse our Upholstery Fabric Remnants for smaller furniture and DIY upholstery projects.

What Is the Best Fabric for an Ottoman?

Ottomans often receive more wear than people expect. They may be used as footrests, extra seating, coffee tables, or everyday family-room furniture.

For frequently used ottomans, choose a fabric intended for upholstery rather than a lightweight decorative fabric.

Good choices include:

• Performance upholstery fabric for busy homes
• Crypton and other performance fabrics for stain resistance
• Textured woven upholstery for everyday furniture
• Chenille for softness and texture
• Velvet for decorative or formal furniture
• Vinyl for easy cleaning
• Designer upholstery fabrics for statement pieces

Browse our Upholstery Fabric by the Yard to find discounted designer fabrics for ottomans, chairs, benches, headboards, sofas, and other upholstery projects.

Common Ottoman Fabric Yardage Mistakes

• Measuring only the top. Fully upholstered ottomans also need fabric for the sides.
• Ignoring the ottoman's height. Taller upholstered sides require more material.
• Forgetting a removable cushion. Boxed cushions need top, bottom, and side pieces.
• Forgetting tufting. Deep tufting consumes more fabric than a flat upholstered top.
• Ignoring a skirt. Skirts can add significant yardage.
• Ignoring pattern repeat. Large patterns may need additional material for centering and matching.
• Assuming pieces can always be rotated. Directional fabrics limit cutting-layout options.
• Buying the exact minimum. Extra fabric can be useful for trimming, corrections, and future repairs.

Related Upholstery Fabric Yardage Guides

Working on another upholstery project? Use these Fabric & Supply guides to estimate how much fabric you'll need before ordering:

• How Much Upholstery Fabric Do I Need? Complete Yardage Guide – Start here for general upholstery fabric yardage estimates for different types of furniture.
• How Much Fabric Do I Need to Reupholster Dining Chairs? – Learn how to estimate fabric for dining-chair seats and other upholstered dining-chair styles.
• How Much Fabric Do I Need for Bar Stools? Complete Yardage Guide – Includes yardage estimates and measuring instructions for round and square bar-stool seats.
• How Much Fabric Do I Need for a Headboard? – Calculate fabric for common headboard sizes and learn how height, width, and fabric direction affect yardage.
• How Much Fabric Do I Need to Reupholster a Bench Seat? – Includes yardage estimates for common bench lengths, measuring instructions, and pattern-repeat tips.
• How Much Fabric Do I Need to Reupholster a Wingback Chair? – Learn how wings, cushions, skirts, chair size, and fabric patterns affect yardage.
• How Much Fabric Do I Need for a Pillow? – Calculate fabric for common square and lumbar pillow sizes.

Ready to start your project? Browse our Upholstery Fabric by the Yard for discounted designer upholstery fabrics, or check our Upholstery Fabric Remnants for smaller upholstery projects.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ottoman Fabric Yardage

Shop Upholstery Fabric for Your Ottoman

Once you've measured your ottoman and estimated your yardage, you're ready to choose the fabric.

Shop our Upholstery Fabric by the Yard for discounted designer upholstery fabrics suitable for ottomans, footstools, chairs, benches, headboards, and sofas.

For smaller ottomans, also check our Upholstery Fabric Remnants. An appropriately sized remnant can be an excellent choice for a smaller furniture project.

Before ordering, remember to measure the actual upholstered surfaces, check the fabric width and pattern repeat, and round up if your calculation falls close to the minimum.