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Calcimator

Upholstery Spring Calculator

Calculate spring count, layout grid, spring twine, and upholstery fabric yardage for furniture seat and back construction.

Inputs

Results

Seat springs needed

25

Upholstery fabric (yards)

2.1

Spring rows (front-to-back)5
Spring columns / strips5
Back springs needed0
Total springs25
Recommended spring height (in)6
Spring twine needed (ft)57
Spring Gauge11 gauge (medium)
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the Seat Frame Width and Seat Frame Depth in inches (inside dimensions).
  2. Select Spring Type (4" coil, 6" coil, or sinuous/zig-zag) and Spring Spacing in inches.
  3. Enter Cushion Height and Number of Seat Cushions; optionally include back springs.
  4. Review Seat Springs needed, Spring Rows and Columns, and Recommended Spring Height.
  5. Check Spring Twine length for 8-way hand tie and Upholstery Fabric yardage for purchasing.

How the result changes with Spring spacing (in)

Spring spacing (in)Seat springs neededUpholstery fabric (yards)
3.3362.1
4.05252.1
4.95162.1
5.7162.1

What each input means

Seat frame width (in)
Inside width of the seat frame (between rails).
Seat frame depth (in)
Inside depth of the seat frame (front rail to back rail).
Spring type
Coil springs for traditional upholstery; sinuous (zig-zag) for modern.
Spring spacing (in)
Center-to-center distance between springs. 4" is standard.
Edge setback (in)
Distance from frame edge to first spring center.
Cushion height (in)
Desired finished cushion thickness.
Number of seat cushions
1 for bench cushion, 2-3 for sectional seating.
Include back springs
Whether to calculate sinuous springs for the chair back.
Back frame height (in, if included)
Inside height of the back frame. Only used if back springs are included.

What each result means

Seat springs needed
Number of coil springs or sinuous strips for the seat.
Spring rows (front-to-back)
Number of spring rows. 0 for sinuous type.
Spring columns / strips
Columns of coil springs or number of sinuous strips.
Back springs needed
Sinuous springs for the chair back (if included).
Total springs
Combined seat and back spring count.
Recommended spring height (in)
Free height for coil springs based on cushion thickness.
Spring twine needed (ft)
Feet of spring twine for 8-way hand tie (coil springs only).
Upholstery fabric (yards)
Estimated yards of 54"-wide fabric including 15% waste.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Seat frame width (in) = 22, Seat frame depth (in) = 22, Spring type = 0, Spring spacing (in) = 4 = 9 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Seat springs needed
    25 = 25
  3. Calculate Upholstery fabric
    Upholstery fabric = totalYardage * 1.15
    2.1 = 2.1
  4. Calculate Spring rows
    5 = 5
  5. Calculate Spring columns / strips
    5 = 5

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