“What size chair cushion do I need?” has one honest answer: it depends on the chair type. A dining seat, an office task chair and a bar stool do not share a number — each sits in its own tight cluster. This chair cushion size chart collects those clusters in one place: real seat width × depth ranges and thickness bands for dining, office, outdoor and bar chairs, plus the documented seat blocks for IKEA Ektorp and Kivik. Pick your chair type below, read your numbers, then order cushions cut to those exact measurements.
Chair cushion size chart, by chair type
Every row below is a measurement cluster, not a rule — a real deck that falls between two numbers still needs its own reading. Width × depth refers to the seat platform you are covering, measured seam to seam.
| Chair type | Seat width × depth | Typical thickness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor dining chair | 16–18″ × 16–17″ | 1.5–3″ | The tightest cluster of all chair types |
| Wooden kitchen chair | 15–18″ square | 1.5–3″ | Mid-teens to 18″ is normal |
| Outdoor dining chair | 17–19″ × 16–18″ | 2–3″ | Slightly larger than indoor seats |
| Deep-seat lounge chair | 22–28″ depth | 4–6″ | Its own category — depth drives the build |
| Adirondack chair | 19–21″ × 17–19″ | 2–4″ | Fan-back frames vary by series |
| Rocking chair | 17–19″ × 16–18″ | 2–3″ | Keep the profile low so the rock stays smooth |
| Wicker chair | 17–20″ × 17–19″ | 3–4″ | Extra loft bridges the weave |
| Glider rocker | 18–22″ × 17–20″ | 2–4″ | Measure the deck, not the arms |
| Office / task chair | 17–20″ × 16–19″ | 1.5–3″ | Thin-firm ergonomic band |
| Bar stool, round deck | 13–17″ diameter (stock: 12, 13, 14, 15″) | 2–4″ | Round vs square bar stool pads |
| Bar stool, square deck | 12–15″ square (stock) | 2–4″ | Nominal squares are rarely true squares |
| Folding chair | 15–17″ × 15–16″ | 1.5–2.5″ | Fold gap caps the thickness |
| Chiavari / event chair | ~16″ square | 1.5–2.5″ | The one true industry standard |
| IKEA Ektorp armchair seat | ~24 × 22 7/8″ core | Rebuild tier | Full Ektorp size chart |
| IKEA Kivik seat block | ~24 × 23 5/8″, seat H 17 3/4″ | ~3″ core, 45–60D HR foam | Full Kivik size chart |
Quick check: pick your chair type
Use the selector to jump straight to the size band and thickness that matches your chair — the same numbers as the chart above, filtered to one row.
Bar stool decks at a glance
Bar stool decks are the one place where stock sizes almost work — and mostly miss. Nominal round pads step through 12, 13, 14 and 15 inches, but real decks land anywhere between whole inches; a nominal square is rarely a true square. The detail is in the round vs square bar stool breakdown.
Cushion thickness chart: the six-step ladder
Thickness is not a free-entry number — it is a ladder of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 inches, each tier matched to a density that holds it. The full reasoning lives in the cushion thickness and seat height guide.
| Thickness tier | Density that holds it | What it feels like | Typical duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 in | 50D–60D | Firm, low platform | Lowering tall seats; dining chairs |
| 3 in | 50D–60D | Standard dining-firm | Default dining and bench build |
| 4 in | 50D minimum, 60D daily | Supportive with give | Raising low seats; lounge dining |
| 5 in | 60D | Deep but structured | Deep seats; rise-assist builds |
| 6 in | 60D–65D | Tall and solid | Daybeds; heavy users; low frames |
| 8 in | 65D or layered | Near-mattress | Floor lounging; swing beds; RV dinettes |
Match thickness to your table height
The thickness you pick has to land the seated surface at the right height for the table or counter — with a 10–12 inch thigh gap left over. Measure from the floor to the top of the old pad before you change tiers.
| Seating scenario | Table / counter top | Target seated surface (cushion included) | Gap to keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining table | 28–30 in | 18–19 in | 10–12 in |
| Counter height | 34–36 in | 24–26 in | 10–12 in |
| Bar height | 40–43 in | 28–31 in | 10–12 in |
IKEA chair cushion sizes: Ektorp and Kivik
Two IKEA lines dominate replacement-cushion questions, and both are fully charted on their own pages. The Ektorp armchair seat rebuilds around a ~24 × 22 7/8″ core, with the 2-seat bench run at 70 1/2 × 22 7/8″. The Kivik seat blocks run ~24 × 23 5/8″ per position at a 17 3/4″ seat height — most owners rebuild the long deck as separate blocks and rotate them. Measure each deck; the two ends of a chaise module are not interchangeable.
From chart to custom cushion
When your deck lands between the bands — most real chairs do — the fix is not to force a stock size. Custom cushions are cut to the numbers you measure: width, depth, thickness tier and foam density. Every cover closes with a zipper and comes off for washing — the foam is never sewn shut. We build clean knife-edge cushions: no ties, no non-slip backing, no welt piping, no rounded corners, no quilting — what you measure is what you get. Standard builds ship in 4–7 days (rush in 3–5), delivery in 4-7 business days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size for a chair cushion?
There is no single industry number — the clusters run by chair type. Dining seats cluster at 16–18″ wide by 16–17″ deep, outdoor dining at 17–19″, office chairs at 17–20″, and bar stools by deck diameter. The chart above lists every band.
How thick should a chair seat cushion be?
1.5–3″ for dining and office chairs, 2–3″ as the bar stool default (3″ if your legs still clear the counter), and 3–4″ for wicker and lounge duty. Match the tier to your table height — the thickness and seat height guide has the full ladder.
What size cushion fits IKEA chairs?
The Ektorp armchair seat takes a ~24 × 22 7/8″ core; Kivik seat blocks run ~24 × 23 5/8″. Both lines are charted piece by piece on the Ektorp and Kivik pages.
Do the cushion covers come off for washing?
Yes. Every cover closes with a zipper and removes fully for machine washing — covers are standard on all builds, never sewn shut.
Keep measuring
For the full picture beyond chairs — benches, window seats, daybeds and loungers — the standard cushion sizes chart covers every common dimension, and the dining chair reupholstery walkthrough shows where these seat numbers come from.