Cheap garden cushions vs Sunbrella: the cost per summer, honestly worked out
Cheap garden cushions are not a bad product. They are a one-season product sold without saying so. Here is the sum.
The sum
| Supermarket cushion | Mid-range olefin | Sunbrella® (ours) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price, 45×45 with filling | €10-15 | €20-30 | €30-45 |
| Realistic life in a UK garden | 1-2 summers | 3-5 summers | 7-10 summers |
| Cost per summer | €7-12 | €5-8 | €4-6 |
| Set of 6 over 8 years | €360-540 (replaced 4-6×) | €240-360 (replaced 2×) | €180-270 (bought once) |
Lifespans are what we see, not laboratory figures; see how long do outdoor cushions last. The sum ignores the shopping trips and the half-summer with faded cushions before you get round to it.
Where cheap cushions make sense
- A rental you leave next year.
- A party or an event.
- A pattern you will be tired of by September anyway.
- Children's dens, where they will be destroyed regardless.
Where they do not
- A rattan or aluminium set you expect to keep ten years.
- Anywhere you cannot store cushions in winter.
- Colours that must stay matched: navy, red, charcoal. Printed versions of these are the fastest to fade.
- Anyone with a dog, a toddler or a barbecue, who will need to bleach a cushion at some point.
If you would be annoyed to buy them again next year, buy the ones you only buy once.
What you are paying for
Mostly fabric. Sunbrella® solution-dyed acrylic costs several times what printed polyester does per metre, and it is the part that does not fade and can be bleached. Then a hollow-fibre filling that drains instead of foam that rots, UV thread, a hidden zip, and a 5-year fabric warranty. See what is Sunbrella fabric.
The middle ground
If €35 a cushion is too much for a big corner set, mix: Sunbrella seat pads where the wear is, and fewer, better scatter cushions rather than a pile of cheap ones. Two good cushions per seat look better than four tired ones. More in how many scatter cushions.
158 Sunbrella® colours in 45×45, filling included, shipped next working day. Browse the collection or ask about made to measure.
