Futon Covers Buyers Guide

Futon Cover Buyer's Guide
Buying a futon cover seems as though it should be simple enough yet the number of websites and stores who sell futon covers offer hundreds of choices which can make it feel overwhelming! You don’t need to get frustrated or confused. We created this futon cover educational page to make it easy. We have been in the bedding industry for over 30 years so we understand what the customer needs and expects.

Quality vs. appearance:

The key component to any product is quality. Futon covers are not complicated products to manufacture; however there are a few key differences you need to understand:

The first is the fabric construction itself. Though many retailers sell the exact same products, not all offer the best possible fabrics. Our solid color futon covers for example are made from durable muslin broadcloth. Many retailers will use just light weight poly cotton and ultimately it will tear more easily and or fray just after a few washings. Many retailers offer 100% cotton which has been imported from China. Always remember you get what you pay for. Any retailer selling a cotton futon cover is doing so because it is cheaper for them. Typically these covers are very thin and tear easily and or shrink. Remember a futon is a bed and a couch which means it receives a lot of abuse. Just because it says “100% cotton” doesn’t mean it is better. You can bet that any cotton futon cover which is made in China, India or Pakistan will not be worth the money. It is almost always better to buy a futon cover with a blend of polyester and cotton. This will insure it can take the wear.

Sewing specifications is the other important aspect of a well made futon cover. All our covers use a 5 thread safety stitch rather than just a single needle machine. This is an enormous difference between our covers and most others. Using the 5 thread with 12 stitches per inch creates a much better seam. This in turn, will be much less likely to fray and open. Even on the few covers we import from our factory overseas, we implement the same specifications. You should always ask this question from the seller to know if the futon cover will stand the test of time.

Zipper construction is the third component to review. Many futon covers sold by futon retailers use inexpensive plastic zippers that are not only cheaply made but are often too small. All our zippered use #5 zippers made with nylon teeth to reduce the damage to the zipper itself. Our zipper pull is a large metal unit which will not bend or break. Most futon covers use a #3 style zipper whose width is one half the size and thus often rips from the fabric as the user opens and closes it for laundering.

At futoncoversforless.com we offer a wide array of futon covers made with a fabric to suit every taste and budget. Almost all our products are not only made in the USA, but are offered at factory direct prices.

How do choose the best futon cover for you:

As we have discussed with quality, the fabric content are not as critical in deciding which to purchase. Since all our futon covers are produced in the same manner, they will all stand the test the time. The questions to ask would involve whether this was going to be a high traffic situation or is this where people may be eating and drinking regularly. Do you have young children or pets?

If you answered yes to the above then you may prefer our Leather Look futon cover group. Since this product can be clean with just a damp cloth, it reduces the need to launder after any soiling. In addition, the material looks and feels like leather so it is much less likely to rip from a snag on a pets tooth or nail.

If you are not bound by your children or your pets then really any futon cover fabric will do and you should base it on the style and possibly the feel if you have a preference.

Microfibers and Ultra Suede-Extremely soft and plush. Feels like velvet yet very durable. These fabrics are woven in such a way that the fabric becomes dense and resistant to dirt and tears.

Solids-Durable and more like the feeling of a nice poly cotton table cloth.

Assorted prints-The fabric will range in different blend of polyesters or cottons with some more flat and others more textured. Review the details in each for more information but remember that all are made the same way and it is better to focus on the style that appeals to you.

Knowing what size will work best to insure the best possible fit:

Of course the most important issue is taking a correct measurement of your futon mattress. You must check the width, length and depth or “loft” which is the height of the side panel. Although almost all futons are full size, you should check since there are some twin and queen sizes out there. It may even be that you purchased from a small company and they make a variation of the standard sizes so just be sure to measure! If the measurement you take fall into the chart below you can be sure it will fit properly and that you have ordered one of the 3 options of Twin, Full or Queen. Since there is no such size as a “slightly shorter twin” for example, your variation just has more to do with the fact you are measuring a big pillow so it isn’t a perfect science.

Mattress Size	Width	Length
Twin	37-41	72-76
Full	52-55	72-76
Queen	58-62	78-82

Measurements of the Loft or height:

The term loft is used specifically for describing the side panel that is sewn into the futon cover. The thickness of your mattress however is the height of your actual futon mattress. As a result you need to be as accurate as you can when checking the loft so you can be certain you will have the most form fitted cover you can. The side panel of the futon cover or loft is what we alter to obtain the best fit for your futon mattress. To obtain the correct height measurement, it is a good idea to place a thin piece of cardboard on the top and bottom of the futon mattress. This way, you can measure from one cardboard piece to the other as it overhangs the edge and creates a straight line from which to measure top and bottom. Once you have this measurement, use the following chart to help choose the correct size. If you are unsure, always hedge on the larger size. A 6” inch loft for example will fit a futon mattress that is 7-9” thick. If your mattress was smaller than 7” the cover will still fit acceptably and you can always tuck any excess underneath the mattress. In the very rare care you have a futon mattress over 9”, we would suggest you call and discuss a custom cover or email us for a quote at support@futoncoversforless.com.

You measured:	You should order:	Notes:
5-5.75"	4"	This is an odd size mattress so you need to call or email (LINK)for a custom quote.
7-9"	6"
9"or more	7" or more	This is an odd size mattress so you need to call or email (LINK)for a custom quote.