Outdoor cushion filling: quick-dry foam vs hollow fibre vs standard foam
Everyone looks at the fabric. The filling is what goes mouldy. Here is what is inside each type and which to choose.
The three fillings
| Hollow-fibre polyester | Reticulated quick-dry foam | Standard polyurethane foam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorbs water? | No; water runs through | No; open cells drain | Yes, like a sponge |
| Drying time on its side | 2-4 hours | 4-8 hours | 2-4 days |
| Feel | Soft, plump, scatter-cushion feel | Firm, supportive, seat-pad feel | Firm when new, goes flat |
| Holds shape | Compacts slowly; shake to restore | Very well | Poorly outdoors; breaks down when wet |
| Mildew risk | Low | Low | High |
| Price | Low | High | Low |
| Best for | Scatter and back cushions | Seat pads, bench cushions, boat seats | Indoors |
Why we use hollow fibre for 45×45
A scatter cushion should be soft, light and dry fast. Hollow-fibre polyester is tubes of fibre with air inside; water passes between them and the whole thing drains through the bottom seam. We put it in a water-permeable inner cover so the filling stays in place and the cover comes off for washing. Flattened after a season? Take it out, shake it, or put the inner in a pillowcase and tumble it on cold for ten minutes.
When foam is right
For a seat you sit on for hours, a bench cushion or a sun lounger pad, you want a firm base. Then it must be reticulated (open-cell, "quick-dry") foam, which looks like a stiff sponge you can see through. Standard upholstery foam looks the same in the shop and holds water for days; that is the foam in most cheap garden cushions and the reason they go mouldy. Our made-to-measure bench and seat cushions use quick-dry foam; see made to measure.
Wet it, squeeze it, let go. If water pours out and it springs back, it is outdoor filling. If it stays heavy, it is indoor foam in an outdoor cover.
Replacing a filling
If the cover is good and the inner is flat or smells, a new inner is the cheap fix. Measure the cover, not the old inner, and order the inner 2-3 cm bigger in each direction for a plump fit. Our 45×45 covers take a 47×47 inner. See also how to dry outdoor cushions and how long cushions last.
158 Sunbrella® colours in 45×45, filling included, shipped next working day. Browse the collection or ask about made to measure.
