Garden bench cushions: measuring, thickness, ties and the fabric that survives a bench
A bench sits in the open, often under a tree, and gets forgotten more than any other seat. Its cushion has to drain, dry and clean. Here is how to specify one.
Measuring a bench
- Length: inside the arms, minus 2 cm. A 2-seater is usually 110-130 cm; a 3-seater 150-180 cm.
- Depth: the seat slats front to back, typically 40-50 cm. Do not include the backrest curve.
- Thickness: 5 cm for a bench you perch on; 8 cm for one you sit on for an hour. Thicker than 10 cm looks like a mattress.
- Shape: most benches are rectangular; some have a curved front or cut-outs for the arms. A photo tells us.
Ties, flaps or non-slip
A bench cushion with nothing to hold it slides forward and blows off. Options: ties around the back uprights (most common), a flap that tucks behind the seat, or a non-slip base fabric. For slatted benches a flap works best; for benches with a solid back, ties. We add whichever suits the photo you send.
Length minus 2 cm, depth of the slats, 6-8 cm thick, ties to the back. If in doubt, send a photo.
Fabric and filling for a bench
A bench cushion lies flat, so water pools on it and drains slowly. This is where the construction matters most. A water-repellent Sunbrella® cover sheds most rain; what gets in drains through a water-permeable inner and reticulated quick-dry foam that does not absorb. Stand it on its edge against the backrest after heavy rain and it is dry in a few hours. A standard foam pad in printed polyester, by contrast, is the classic mouldy bench cushion. See fillings.
Under a tree
Leaf tannin and bird droppings are the bench cushion's enemies. Both come out of Sunbrella® with a 1:9 bleach solution, which is the reason to choose a bleach-cleanable fabric for a bench specifically. Methods in stains by type.
Scatter cushions on a bench
One 45×45 per 60 cm of bench. Two on a 2-seater, three on a 3-seater, in a pair or trio of related colours. Our stock 45×45 cushions ship next day; bench pads are made to order, see made to measure.
Benches that stay out all year
If the bench never comes in, neither will the cushion unless you are disciplined. Choose a darker, heathered Sunbrella® (charcoal, slate, taupe heather) that hides a bit of algae between cleans, and store it for the darkest three months if you can. Winter advice in garden cushions in winter.
158 Sunbrella® colours in 45×45, filling included, shipped next working day. Browse the collection or ask about made to measure.
