Outdoor cushion sizes: 45×45, 50×50, 60×60 and when to go bigger
A 60×60 on a narrow bench looks bulky. A 40×40 on a corner sofa disappears. Guidelines per type of furniture, and how to measure before you order.
Standard sizes and what they are for
| Size | Type | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 40×40 cm | Small scatter | Bistro chairs, narrow benches, children's seating |
| 45×45 cm | Standard scatter (ours) | Almost everything: dining chairs, rattan sofas, benches, loungers, egg chairs |
| 50×50 cm | Large scatter | Deep lounge sofas, daybeds |
| 60×60 cm | Floor / back cushion | Floor seating, pallet sofas as back cushions, very deep corner sets |
| 40×60 cm | Lumbar | Behind the lower back on deep sofas and loungers |
| Custom up to 120×120 | Seat pad / bench | Benches, pallets, window seats, boats, caravans |
Why 45×45 is the default
It is big enough to lean against and small enough not to take over a seat. On a standard rattan sofa with 55-60 cm deep seats, two 45×45 cushions per seat look right. On a dining chair, one. On a bench, one per 60 cm of length. It is also the size we keep in stock in all 158 colours, which is why our whole collection is 45×45 with other sizes made to order.
How to measure
- Measure the seat depth (front edge to backrest). Cushions should be at most 80% of that, or they push you forward.
- Measure the backrest height. A scatter cushion should sit below the top of the backrest.
- For seat pads: measure the seat at its widest and deepest, subtract 1 cm each way so the pad does not overhang.
- For a bench: length minus 2 cm, depth of the slats, thickness 5-8 cm for comfort.
Seat depth 50-60 cm: 45×45. Seat depth over 70 cm: 50×50 or 60×60 at the back with 45×45 in front.
How many cushions
- 2-seater sofa: 2-3 scatter cushions.
- 3-seater: 3-4.
- Corner set: 5-7, mixing one size or two.
- Dining chairs: 1 seat pad, optional 1 scatter.
- Lounger: 1 lumbar or 1 45×45.
Mixing sizes adds depth; mixing more than two sizes looks untidy. The same goes for colours, see outdoor scatter cushions: how many and which colours.
Cover size versus inner size
A 45×45 cover is sewn at 45×45 and takes a 47×47 inner, so the cushion is plump and the corners fill. If you buy covers and inners separately, size the inner 2 cm larger each way. Our cushions come as cover plus inner, so you do not need to think about it. Anything not in the table: made to measure.
158 Sunbrella® colours in 45×45, filling included, shipped next working day. Browse the collection or ask about made to measure.
