Foam hole cutter

Foam Hole Cutter for Deep Buttoning & Upholstery

This foam hole cutter is made for cutting clean, consistent holes in upholstery foam in preparation for buttoning.

Available in 18mm and 22mm, the cutter is used with an electric drill and is particularly useful for deep-buttoned headboards, sofa backs, chairs, footstools and other upholstered furniture where the button needs to pull neatly into the foam.

Creating a defined recess in the foam helps give the button somewhere to sit, allowing the finished buttoning to look more controlled and deliberate.

Product Specification

• Product type: Upholstery foam hole cutter
• Available sizes: 18mm and 22mm
• Operation: Electric drill
• Material: Upholstery foam
• Application: Preparing foam for buttoning
• Suitable for: Deep buttoning, headboards, furniture and upholstered panels

What Is a Foam Hole Cutter Used For?

A foam hole cutter for upholstery removes a small circular section of foam at the intended button position.

This creates a recess that allows a covered or decorative button to pull further into the upholstery without having to compress the full thickness of foam directly beneath it.

Typical applications include:

• Deep-buttoned headboards
• Sofa backs
• Armchairs
• Footstools
• Ottomans
• Upholstered bed panels
• Decorative wall panels
• Fixed seating
• Furniture restoration
• Bespoke upholstered furniture

Why Cut Holes in Foam for Buttoning?

Deep buttoning works by pulling the button into the upholstery surface.

Where thick or firm foam sits directly behind the fabric, the foam can resist the button and make it harder to achieve a defined recess.

A correctly positioned buttoning foam hole can help:

• Create a cleaner button recess
• Allow a deeper button pull
• Reduce unnecessary resistance from the foam
• Improve consistency between button positions
• Help form more defined upholstery contours
• Create a neater deep-buttoned appearance

The hole cutter is therefore a preparation tool rather than a decorative component itself.

18mm Foam Hole Cutter

The 18mm foam hole cutter creates the smaller opening in this range.

It is useful where:

• A relatively compact recess is required
• Smaller upholstery buttons are being used
• The finished buttoning needs a tighter appearance
• Less foam needs to be removed

The correct cutter size depends on the button size, foam depth and intended finished appearance.

22mm Foam Hole Cutter

The 22mm foam hole cutter creates a larger recess.

It may be better suited where:

• Larger buttons are being fitted
• A more pronounced button depression is required
• Deeper upholstery needs additional clearance
• A broader recess suits the furniture design

Always consider the complete upholstery construction rather than choosing the cutter diameter from the button size alone.

Foam Hole Cutter for Headboards

Headboards are one of the most common applications for foam hole cutters.

They are particularly useful for:

• Diamond-buttoned headboards
• Square button patterns
• Deep-buttoned bedheads
• Upholstered bed panels
• Feature wall panels

Accurately positioned foam recesses can help each button pull to a more consistent depth across a larger button layout.

This becomes increasingly important where a headboard contains many repeated buttons.

Foam Hole Cutter for Sofa & Chair Buttoning

Foam hole cutters can also be used on suitable sofa and chair constructions.

Applications include:

• Deep-buttoned sofa backs
• Armchair backs
• Fixed seat backs
• Upholstered arms
• Decorative furniture panels
• Traditional-style furniture
• Replacement deep buttoning

The suitability of cutting a recess depends on the furniture construction, foam thickness and position of any internal frame or supporting components.

Foam Hole Cutter for Footstools & Ottomans

Buttoned footstools and ottomans often use foam layers combined with decorative covered buttons.

Creating a small recess in the foam can help the button sit below the surrounding upholstery surface and create a more defined buttoned effect.

This is useful for:

• Deep-buttoned footstools
• Ottomans
• Upholstered benches
• Window seats
• Decorative seat pads

Foam Hole Cutters for Furniture Restoration

A foam hole cutter can also be useful when rebuilding or reproducing previously buttoned furniture.

Where old foam is being replaced, the original button positions may need to be recreated in the new foam.

This can help preserve:

• Original button spacing
• Existing decorative layouts
• Traditional upholstery styling
• Button depth
• Furniture proportions

Always inspect the existing furniture construction before removing or replacing the foam.

Foam Hole Cutter Size & Button Size

The cutter diameter and visible button diameter are not necessarily the same measurement.

The correct foam recess depends on several factors, including:

• Button diameter
• Foam thickness
• Foam firmness
• Required button depth
• Upholstery fabric
• Wadding or fibre layers
• Spacing between buttons
• Desired finished appearance

A smaller recess provides more foam support around the button.

A larger recess removes more resistance and can allow a deeper depression.

Testing the intended combination on spare foam can be useful when working with an unfamiliar construction.

Foam Hole Cutter for Covered Upholstery Buttons

Foam hole cutters work particularly well alongside fabric-covered upholstery buttons.

Different fixing methods are available depending on the furniture construction.

Wire Back Buttons

Button Wire Backs provide a wire loop for traditional buttoning with upholstery twine.

They are widely suited to deep-buttoning applications where the button is pulled through the upholstery.

Prong Back Buttons

Button Prong Backs provide long metal prongs for suitable mechanical fixing through the upholstery.

Hook Back Buttons

Hook Backs create covered buttons designed to attach to a prepared twine loop.

The correct button back depends on the furniture construction and fixing method.

Foam Hole Cutter or Osborne Foam Hole Cutter?

also supplies the C. S. Osborne Foam Hole Cutter.

The standard Foam Hole Cutter is available in:

• 18mm
• 22mm

The C. S. Osborne version provides a wider range of diameters and is manufactured from polished steel with a hardened cutting edge.

The Osborne range is available in:

• 1/2"
• 3/4"
• 7/8"
• 1"
• 1 1/8"

The Osborne cutter can also cut upholstery fabric, making it a more professional option for workshops carrying out regular button production.

Foam Hole Cutters for Trade Upholstery Workshops

A foam hole cutter is a useful specialist tool for:

• Professional upholsterers
• Headboard manufacturers
• Furniture manufacturers
• Furniture restorers
• Contract furniture businesses
• Bespoke furniture makers
• Upholstered bed manufacturers
• Soft furnishing workshops

For additional foam-hole sizes and a cutter, see the C. S. Osborne Foam Hole Cutter.

Browse Buttoning Tools for button presses, dies, cutters and fitting equipment.

Browse Button Parts for shells, backs, washers and related button components.

Browse Buttoning Parts & Equipment for the wider professional upholstery buttoning range.

For help choosing the correct foam hole cutter or upholstery buttoning equipment, contact us.

Drill-operated foam hole cutter for upholstery buttoning, designed to create clean, consistent holes and recesses in foam before fitting deep-set furniture buttons.

• Available in 18mm and 22mm
• made for use with an electric drill
• Cuts clean holes in upholstery foam
• Use it for deep-buttoned furniture and headboards
• Helps buttons pull neatly into the foam
• Suitable for sofas, chairs, footstools and upholstered panels
• Useful for professional upholstery, furniture manufacture and restoration

For a alternative with a wider choice of sizes, see the C. S. Osborne Foam Hole Cutter.

Browse Buttoning Tools for button dies, presses, cutters and specialist upholstery buttoning equipment.

Browse Button Parts for shells, wire backs, prong backs, washers and other covered-button components.