How to Measure Outdoor Furniture for a Custom Cover

Custom outdoor furniture covers begin with a simple idea: the cover must follow the item you actually own, in the position you actually store it. A good measurement set gives the fit team a clear picture of that item’s outside dimensions, shape, and details. It also gives you a useful moment to decide what you want the cover to include.

Start with the furniture in its stored position

Set up the furniture as it will be when covered. For a dining set, that may mean chairs pushed under the table. For a sectional, it may mean the final arrangement rather than one individual module. For a grill, it may mean side shelves in their normal position. Then open the current product page for the selected shape and use its exact diagram, fields, and units.

Remove loose items you do not want included, such as throw pillows or serving pieces. Keep permanently attached parts in place. If a shelf, handle, arm, control panel, wheel, rail, or other fixed feature projects beyond the main silhouette and you want it covered, it needs to be part of the record.

Record the overall outside dimensions

Use a tape measure and write down the outside length, width, and height that the selected cover’s product page asks for. Measure the widest, longest, and tallest points of the finished item—not an approximate furniture-category size and not the inside dimensions between legs or arms.

For a straightforward chair, ottoman, table, or grill, those overall dimensions may be the core of the request. A more complex piece often needs more context. Sectionals can have returns and uneven backs; dining sets can have a tabletop that extends beyond the chair footprint; outdoor kitchens can have hardware or attachments that change the outline. Do not try to convert an unusual shape into a formula. Use the specific product’s diagram and fields, then describe what the diagram does not show.

Look for the details that change the outline

Walk around the item once before you finish. Note unusual contours, openings, and fixed projections. If the item has a cutout, a curved edge, a connected side table, a built-in shelf, or a feature that must remain accessible, add it to your notes. These details help describe the outline that basic dimensions alone cannot show.

A helpful note is plain and specific: “right-side shelf stays open,” “rear handle projects beyond the back,” or “two chaise sections remain connected.” Add a brand or model number when you have one, but treat it as supporting information. The measurements and photos describe the exact piece in front of you.

Take photos that make the measurements easier to understand

Take a clear front view, a side view, and a view that shows the feature most likely to affect fit. For complex pieces, include a close-up of the contour, opening, or hardware you noted. Keep the furniture fully in frame and use good light. If a product asks for a completed measurement sheet or reference photo, attach both when available; together they make the fit request easier to review.

Use the product-specific worksheet when available

Laguna Covers offers made-to-measure covers across outdoor living categories, with a process that starts by choosing the item’s shape and then adding measurements and fabric. The product page is the best place to find the fields and diagram for your selected shape. Some shapes need a fitted pattern or photo review, so a basic length-by-width-by-height note may not be sufficient.

If you cannot tell which product shape matches your furniture, or a required field does not make sense for your item, pause before ordering. Send photos, the dimensions you do know, and a short description through the site’s measurement-help or contact route. It is better to clarify a shape than to guess at a measurement.

Final check before you submit

• Confirm every measurement is in inches.
• Check that you measured the outside of the item in its stored position.
• Make sure the widest, longest, and tallest points include the fixed details you want covered.
• Match your measurements to the selected product’s current diagram and fields.
• Attach the completed sheet and reference photos when the product page provides that option.

Ready to start? Explore the Laguna Covers custom-cover process, choose the furniture category that fits your item, and use the live product page as the final source for its measurement instructions. If the shape or fields are unclear, contact Laguna Covers with your photos and notes before ordering.