Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Fabric-covered upholstery buttons are buttons with a stronger base and back, covered in the same upholstery fabric or leather, used for tufting – pulling the padding deep in an even grid – on headboards, sofas, armchairs, ottomans and wall panels. The most common sizes are between 30L and 45L (about 19–29 mm), and the buttons are secured with twine, a nail or a staple through the padding and the furniture base.
What tufting is
Tufting (known in its classic form as Chesterfield or deep buttoning) is a technique in which the upholstery fabric is pulled deep towards the furniture base at set points. This forms diamonds or squares with soft folds between them. The tufting points are covered with fabric-covered buttons, which hide the hole, fix the fabric and are the main decorative element of the piece.
Differences between garment and upholstery buttons
| Parameter | Garment buttons | Fabric-covered upholstery buttons |
|---|---|---|
| Load | fastening, washing | constant tension from the twine and padding |
| Back | wire loop shank | reinforced loop, nail, staple or split-pin back |
| Typical size | 14L–40L | 24L–60L |
| Fabric | apparel fabrics | upholstery fabrics, velvet, furniture leather and faux leather |
| Quantity per product | a few to several dozen | from a few to over a hundred on a large headboard |
Back types for upholstery buttons
With a loop for twine
The most classic option. Strong twine is threaded through the loop, passed with a long upholstery needle through the padding and base, and secured at the back with a knot, a staple or a backing button. It allows the depth of the tufting to be adjusted.
With a nail
The back ends in a sharp metal nail that is driven directly into the wooden base. It suits shallow tufting and decorative accents when there is no access from behind.
With a back for a staple or split pin
It is used when the button needs to be fixed to a perforated base or when it must be removable.
Sizes of fabric-covered upholstery buttons
- 24L–28L (15–18 mm) – fine tufting on small ottomans, chair backs, decorative cushions.
- 30L–36L (19–23 mm) – the most versatile size for headboards and sofas.
- 40L–45L (25–29 mm) – classic Chesterfield, large headboards, armchairs with pronounced relief.
- Above 45L – stand-alone decorative buttons on chair backs and wall panels.
The size should be in proportion to the spacing between tufting points – with a dense grid small buttons look more elegant, with a wide grid larger ones do.
Which fabric is suitable
- Velvet and velour – the most popular match for tufting; watch the pile direction so that all buttons look the same.
- Basketweave, chenille and bouclé upholstery fabrics – suitable for larger sizes, because they are thicker.
- Genuine and faux leather – the classic for Chesterfield; requires thin, soft leather and a flatter profile.
- Linen and cotton – for lighter furniture and interior textiles.
Upholstery fabrics are thicker than apparel fabrics. If the fabric is very dense, choose a larger button size or a thinner fabric from the same collection in the same colour.
Fitting for tufting – in brief
- Mark out the grid of points on the base and drill the holes.
- Lay the padding and mark the points on it.
- Lay the fabric and distribute it, forming the folds between the points.
- With a long needle, pass the twine through the button loop, the fabric, the padding and the base.
- Pull to the desired depth and secure at the back with a staple or knot.
- Check that all buttons are at the same depth and that the fold lines are straight.
Common mistakes when tufting with covered buttons
- A button too small for thick upholstery fabric – it covers with wrinkles and looks uneven.
- A weak loop that bends or tears off when the twine is pulled.
- A different pile direction on velvet – the buttons look like different shades.
- No spare buttons for repairs on furniture already sold.
- Cutting the fabric circles from a different dye lot than the rest of the upholstery.
Durability and care
Upholstery buttons are not washed, but they are under constant tension, friction and pressure from sitting and leaning. So the back and loop must withstand a strong pull, and the fabric must be wear-resistant. It is important for the metal base to be corrosion-resistant, so no stains appear when cleaning with a damp cloth or in high room humidity. Clean the buttons together with the upholstery according to the fabric manufacturer's instructions.
Fabric-covered upholstery buttons – beyond furniture
Fabric-covered buttons are also used in the interiors of cars, boats and caravans, on hotel bed headboards and on wall panels in restaurants. If you work in transport interiors, see also our solutions for the automotive industry.
What the furniture manufacturer should prepare
- a piece of the upholstery fabric or leather for trial buttons;
- the button size and back type according to the fitting method;
- the quantity for one model and the annual volume, if it is a series;
- information on whether an automated tufting machine will be used.
See the styles in the fabric-covered buttons category and other types in buttons.
Polkom – fabric-covered buttons for furniture makers
Polkom makes fabric-covered buttons to order and wholesale in the client's own upholstery fabric or leather – for furniture manufacturers, upholstery workshops and interior studios. We select the right back and size, produce samples quickly and deliver across the EU. Send an inquiry with the fabric and number of buttons via the contact page.
