The Upholstery Forum

I am getting ready to order vinyl for my 1957 Chevy Bel Air Station Wagon and have no idea how much vinyl I will need. I understand that every project is different but is there a way figure an estimated amount? For example the average bench seat takes x amount, and the average bucket seat takes x amount. I have two bucket seats, a rear bench seat, a console, 4 door panels, and a headliner. I don't want to order too little risking having to order more that might be from a different dye lot, but also don't want to end up with way to much, although given it is my first big car/vinyl project I am planning to order extra...just in case.

If you take measurements and sketch out a layout you will be able to determine what you need. For example are you going to have your boxing be a single piece that goes all the way around with only a single seam in the back, or are you going to break out the boxing into several smaller pieces, with a seam at each corner. If you boxing is a single piece it will more than likely your longest piece. Can you fit more than 1 boxing into your layout?

@Jeanne That comes with practice. I use quick measurement and over estimate. Spending hours calculating exact yardage is a wast of time and money compared to ordering a few yards extra. At least if your are doing this on a paying job. You also want to over estimate in case of mistakes because you may be waiting a long time to get more material, more shipping costs, and a high probability that the new order may not color match exactly due to die lot variation between rolls.

Here is a rough estimation sheet that my school instructor gave me. I used to use to help guide me. However I never follow this any more because its often wrong and I can do it faster just by looking at the project.

YARDAGE

Seats: 6yds: Standard bench seat with back
5yds Open back bench seat
6.5yds Split bench seat
5yds 2 standard low back bucket seat w/ no head rest
6yds 2 High back bucket seats w/ heat rest

Complete top plate cloth
-2yds vinyl / + 3yds cloth

Inserts only cloth - less than 24” wide
-1yd vinyl / + 2yds cloth


Trim Panels: 1.5 yds 2 door panels 1 yd each for 2 material types
1 yd 2 kick panels

Headliners: 5yds sedan suspended headliner
7yds station wagon suspended headliner
.5yds 2 visors

Carpet: 5yds pick-up to back wall
7yds extended cab pick-up
5yds standard passenger car

Landau tops: 5yds full pass car
3.5yds rear half pass car
2yds front half pass car

Tonneau Covers: 3yds short bed
4yds long bed
2.5yds small truck


I hope this helps!

Thank you so much, I appreciate your response!!! I bought some inexpensive vinyl and started on my first bucket seat yesterday. I got the seat bottom nearly done. Following your great tutorials made the construction pretty simple. Getting it to fit really nice with the steamer is the goal for today.

@Jeanne That's awesome! I cant wait to see some of your future projects!