How Much Fabric Needs to Make a Bean Bag? – With Calculations
Bean bags are the most trending furniture in this decade. Most people love to decorate their places with this comfy sac. However, some people tend to make bean bags instead of buying them from the market.
Yes, making a bean bag yourself is a fantastic thing. Because then you can customize its size, color, shape, and filling material according to your preferences.
Moreover, it is a very cost-effective thing. Thus, most people want to make their bean bags. However, when making a bean bag, the first question pops up in their minds: How many fabrics do I need to make my bean bag?
Then they ask for replies from friends, family members, and experts. But sometimes, they also do not know the exact fabric amount that needs for bean bag preparation.
That’s why I am here to share my expertise knowledge with you! Go ahead! You will have perfect answers to all your questions within the next few minutes!
Table of Contents
Amount of Fabric Needed for Bean Bag
The amount of fabric needs to make a bean bag depends on its size, shape, and design. Therefore you should clarify your requirement first.
Three yards are enough for the outer cover if you need to make a toddler’s bean bag with a basic shape. But if you want to make an adult bean bag, generally, you need six yards.
Rather than the basic sizes, you need more fabric to make a giant bean bag. Moreover, if you want to make the inner or lining cover, you should multiply that amount by two.
Let’s see this with examples.
Determine Fabric Amount Needed for a Bean Bag
To make a customized bean bag, first, check how much fabric you need. The surface area is the main thing that determines the required fabric amount for a bean bag.
Now you may ask, how should I know the surface area of the bean bag? Let me ask you a question.
Have you studied surface area calculation of cylinder, ball, or cone in school? You might have used these calculation equations more than a hundred times in school.
Do not worry! Here I have included essential parts that need to calculate the surface area of different shape bean bags. Let’s go step by step.
Identify your Requirement First
What type of bean bag do you need? Is it a Giant bean bag? Round shape one or teardrop shape one?
Decide the Size of your Bean Bag
Here mainly, you should have a clear idea about your bean bag’s length, width, and height. It is the main factor that helps to determine the fabric amount.
Calculate the Required Fabric Amount
To get the exact fabric amount, you should calculate the bean bag area using length, height, and width measurements.
Let’s check how to determine the surface area of the bean bag from different shapes.
Cylindrical Shaped Bean Bag
Cylindrical bean bags do not have a backrest. Mainly these are used for casual seats. When considering the cylindrical shape, these bean bags generally consist of circular upper and bottom surfaces and rectangular side surfaces.
How much space do you need to sit? Is it enough to have 32 inches? Or do you need more space? Generally, cylindrical adult bean bags have 32 inches (80 cm). But this can differ with the manufacturer.
However, as an example, here, I calculate the fabric amount for a 32-inch wide cylindrical shape bean bag. 32-inch width means the diameter of the cylindrical shape chair.
Further, when calculating, we need to extract radius first. To get the radius of the circular piece, divide the diameter by two.
Radius (r) = (Diameter / 2)
= 32/2
= 16 inches or 40 cm
Here I apply width measurement from centimeters. It is easy to calculate!
Material required for top and bottom circular shape parts: (π r2) x 2
= 3.14 x (40) 2 x 2
= 10,048 cm2
Material required for rectangular shape part: Bean bag perimeter x Bean bag height
= (2π r) x h
Assume this bean bag has 1.5 feet in height. It means the height of this bean bag is 45 cm. Lets’ see how to calculate the fabric amount.
Material required for rectangular shape part = 2 x 3.14 x 40 x 45
= 11,304 cm2
Total material requirement: 10,048 cm2 + 11,304 cm2
= 21, 352 cm2
Now you got the measurements in square centimeters. Do not panic! You can convert it to yards.
1 square yard = 8361 square centimeters
So, Total material amount: 21352 cm2 / 8361 = 2.5 yards
So to make a 32-inch wide bean bag, you need 2.5 yards of fabric.
But we know some fabric gets removed when we cut the circular shape. Therefore, here you may need 3 – 4 yards.
Your requirement will differ from these measurements. So, apply your data and calculate.
Rounded Shape Bean Bag
The rounded shape is the most common shape for bean bags. Most giant bean bags are also made with rounded shapes. So, if you also need to make it, follow the below guidelines.
As I mentioned above, you should know the area of your bean bag. Then it is easy to assume the required fabric amount.
Let’s see how to check it.
What is the width you need for your round shape bean bag? Is it 32 inches or more than it?
Do you need a giant bean bag to lay down your whole body? Then you need at least five feet width. Assume you need five feet or 150 cm wide bean bag. Then how much fabric needs to make it?
Area of the round shape bean bag: 4 π r2
Fabric need to prepare giant bean bag: 4 x 3.14 x (150/2 )2
= 70,650 cm2
1 square yard = 8361 square centimeters
So, if we convert this amount into a yard, you need 8.5 yards. However, do not take the exact calculated amount when making a bean bag.
Because while you are cutting the fabric according to the relevant shape, some fabrics parts will get removed from the main structure. So here, take 1 or 2 extra yards. It depends on removing portions while cutting the shape.
Cone Shaped Bean Bag
This is common among the person who looks upright sitting, also mainly used for reading books and watching TVs. This bean bag comes in different shapes.
Whether the bean bag is made for adults or toddlers, you can calculate its area using the following equation.
It is a bit complex formula. So, please do not waste time by solving it. Click here and get your calculation within two seconds. In that formula, you should enter the radius and required height.
As an example, assume you need 100 centimeters wide bean bag. Then enter radius value as 50 cm. And if you need three feet height, enter it as 90 cm.
Now you may get your bean bag’s surface area from square centimeters. Divide it from 8361 to convert it to the yard.
Always keep in mind, do not purchase fabrics with the same calculation. Take one or two extra yards. On the other hand, if you need an inner cover, multiply the calculated amount by two.
Final Words
Everything has a specific method to determine its surface area. So, according to your bean bag type, it will vary. Therefore, define its shape if you need a bean bag rather than the shapes mentioned above. Then you can get a rough idea from that and buy extra yards for that.
I hope now all your doubts are filled with perfect answers. So, go back to your work and share your results with us!
