How Thickness is Measured for Different Constructions
Our quick guide details how thickness is measured for our various cushion construction options. The thickness for different cushion constructions is measured in different ways, so we explain how your thickness selection will affect your cushion designs. This will help you determine which cushion construction best suits your needs.
Waterfall/Knife Edge Cushion Thickness
Waterfall/knife-edge cushions have a rounded (convex) shape that gets thinner toward the edges. Because the edges sit lower than the center (called the crown), the cushion’s official thickness is measured only at the crown. This is the vertical distance from the bottom surface straight up to a flat guide, like a light piece of cardboard, laid across the top, measured at the very middle.
That center (crown) measurement, not the thinner edges, is the listed cushion thickness.
Boxed Edge Cushion Thickness
Boxed-edge cushions have a flat top and bottom connected by a vertical side panel (the gusset). The cushion’s height is defined by the seam-to-seam distance across that gusset. Decorative elements, such as welt, piping, or twist cord, sit outside the stitch line and are not part of the height; only the stitched seam-to-stitched seam span determines the cushion’s thickness.
