How much piping cord do you need?
Underestimating piping cord is the most common reason a reupholstery project stalls halfway — here’s how to work out exactly how much to buy before you start.
Piping cord is measured by the metre, and the amount you need comes down to one thing: the total length of seam you’re going to pipe. For a simple cushion, that’s the perimeter — go round all four sides once.
Always buy more than the bare number. Piping cord is sewn in short runs and joined at seams and corners, and every join costs you a few extra centimetres. A 10% allowance covers this comfortably for most projects — the calculator below already includes it.
Piping cord calculator
2.0m
of piping cord needed, including a 10% allowance for joins and corners
A few things that change the number
- Piping on both the top and bottom seams of a cushion doubles the length you need.
- Curved edges (rounded arms, scroll backs) use slightly more cord per centimetre of seam than a straight edge — round up.
- Buying in bulk (a 500m+ reel) works out significantly cheaper per metre than short lengths if you’re piping a whole sofa rather than one cushion.