How to Measure for Patio Furniture Covers?

To measure for patio furniture covers, take the width, depth and height of the item at its widest points, then add roughly 5 to 10 centimetres to each figure. That small allowance lets the cover slip on without stretching the seams and leaves space for air to move underneath. Measure the assembled item exactly as it will be left outdoors, including cushions if you plan to cover them in place, and always work from the outermost edge rather than the frame.

Covers only work when they fit. Too tight and you will tear a seam or give up wrestling it on after a fortnight. Too loose and wind gets under it, rain pools on the slack fabric, and the whole thing behaves like a sail. Ten minutes with a tape measure prevents both problems.

The Three Measurements You Need

Start with width. Measure the full horizontal span across the front of the item at its widest point. On a dining table that is the tabletop, not the base. On an armchair it is across the outside of both arms, not the seat. On a corner sofa it is the full length of the longest side.

Next take depth, which is the front to back measurement, again at the widest point. Chairs are frequently mismeasured here because people measure the seat rather than including the back rail, which often projects further. Tables with an overhanging top need the top measurement, not the frame beneath.

Finally measure height from the ground to the highest point. Include the feet, since the cover needs to reach down past them to protect the legs. If you intend to leave seat cushions in place, measure to the top of the cushion rather than the frame, as cushions add anywhere between 8 and 15 centimetres.

Write all three down in centimetres and keep them somewhere you can find them. A note on your phone saves repeating the exercise next season.

How Much Allowance to Add

Aim for 5 to 10 centimetres of extra room on each measurement. This is enough for the cover to go on easily and for a little airflow, which matters more than most people realise. A cover pulled drum tight against damp fabric traps moisture, and trapped moisture is what causes musty smells and mildew rather than the rain itself.

Do not go beyond about 15 centimetres of extra room unless the cover has strong drawcords and straps. Excess fabric collects water in dips, and standing water is heavy enough to distort a frame over a winter. If the only available size is considerably larger than your item, look for a design with adjustable hems so you can pull the surplus in.

Measuring Different Types of Furniture

Dining sets present a choice. You can cover the table and chairs separately, or use one large cover over the whole set with the chairs tucked in. Separate covers give a better fit and are easier to handle alone. A single set cover is quicker to deploy but needs measuring with the chairs pushed fully under the table, then measuring the total footprint of that arrangement. Take the height to the top of the table rather than to the chair backs if the chairs sit lower, and check that the chair backs actually clear the table apron before you commit to this approach.

Corner sofas need care because they are rarely symmetrical. Measure each leg of the L separately: the length of the long side, the length of the short side, the depth of each and the back height. Many corner covers are sold as left hand or right hand facing, so establish which way yours turns while standing in front of it looking at the seat.

Sun loungers should be measured flat rather than reclined. If the lounger has a wheel at one end, include the wheel in the length. For stacked loungers, measure the height of the whole stack, since stacking and covering together is a sensible way to get through winter. If you are buying loungers and covers at the same time, take the figures from the product specification of our modern garden sun loungers UK sale and confirm them once the item is assembled.

Parasols are measured closed. Take the height from the base to the top finial and the circumference of the closed canopy at its thickest point, which is usually around the middle where the ribs bunch. Freestanding cantilever parasols usually need a cover sized for the whole unit including the weighted base.

Egg chairs and hanging seats need the widest point of the shell plus the frame height, and the frame usually extends further back than the shell does, so measure the footprint of the frame separately.

Choosing the Right Cover Once You Have the Figures

With measurements in hand, look at the cover specification rather than the marketing description. A cover labelled for a six seater set means nothing until you compare its stated dimensions with yours. Sizes vary considerably between manufacturers.

Look for a few features that make a real difference. Air vents let moisture escape and stop the cover ballooning in wind. A drawcord hem or buckle straps hold the cover down through a gusty night. Reinforced seams and a taped finish keep water out at the stitch lines, which is where cheap covers usually fail first. A darker underside resists sunlight degradation better over several seasons.

Weight matters too. Very light fabric flaps and abrades against the furniture, wearing the finish it was meant to protect. A heavier cover sits still. If you are choosing covers for our modern garden furniture UK sale, note the assembled dimensions from the product page as a starting point, then verify them with a tape measure once the item is built, because cushions and feet can shift the real figures.

Fitting and Storing the Cover Properly

Always cover furniture that is dry. Putting a cover over damp cushions or a wet frame seals the moisture in and creates exactly the problem you were trying to avoid. Wait for a dry spell or wipe the surfaces down first.

Raise the item slightly if it stands directly on grass or bare soil. Feet sitting in permanently damp ground will suffer regardless of what covers the top. A couple of paving slabs or a hard standing area solves it.

Fasten every strap. An unfastened cover in a February gale will end up in a neighbour’s garden, and the friction of it flapping loose does more damage to a finish than the weather would have. Check the cover after strong winds and re seat it if it has ridden up.

Cushions are better stored inside a box than left under a cover. Even a good cover allows some humidity, and foam holds damp far longer than a frame does. A storage box also means the cushions are ready to use the moment the sun appears, which is the point of having them, and our modern garden storage UK includes boxes sized for full cushion sets.

When a Cover Is Not the Answer

Some pieces are better brought inside. Lightweight folding chairs, small side tables and anything with electrical components should overwinter in a shed, garage or utility space rather than under a cover. Timber furniture that has been oiled will generally cope outdoors, though it benefits from a cover that breathes rather than a fully sealed plastic sheet, which can lift the finish.

Metal framed furniture with a powder coated finish handles British winters well when covered. Check for chips in the coating before covering, since bare metal under a cover will still corrode where water finds it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much bigger should a patio furniture cover be?

Around 5 to 10 centimetres larger than the item on width, depth and height. That is enough for easy fitting and airflow without leaving loose fabric where rainwater can collect.

Should I measure furniture with the cushions on?

Yes, if you intend to cover the cushions in place. Cushions typically add 8 to 15 centimetres to the seat height, so leaving them out of the calculation is the most common measuring error.

Do I measure a parasol open or closed?

Closed. Take the height from base to top and the circumference of the bunched canopy at its widest point, usually around the middle of the ribs.

Can one cover fit a whole dining set?

It can, provided you measure the full footprint with the chairs pushed under the table and check the chair backs clear the table edge. Separate covers usually fit better and are easier to put on single handed.

Why is my covered furniture still getting damp underneath?

Either the furniture was covered while wet, or the cover has no vents and is trapping humidity. Cover only dry furniture, choose a vented design, and lift the cover on dry days to let air through.