What density foam is best for seat cushions?
Summary: High Resilience foam at 2.8 – 3.0 lb. per cubic ft. is the best foam to use for cushions. It is highly responsive for a quick return action and will provide an extra bounce.
In general, cushions of at least 50mm thick will be comfortable enough for a seating pad, 75mm for a bench or window seat, and approximately 100mm for a daybed.
Choosing a foam depends primarily on personal preference, but firmness plays a huge factor in that. HD36 foam is often used where more comfort is desired, but for a firmer, more stable support, Lux is preferred. For back cushions, the recommendation is typically a softer foam, such as Super Soft.
Foam densities can range from as low as 0.8 pcf to as high as 6 pcf, with a sufficient range being between 0.9 to 2.5 pcf. A higher pcf can make a product more expensive, but it can heighten the quality of the product as well.
Foams with a high density will generally feel more firm, and can withstand more pressure. Conversely, low-density foams will feel softer, but cannot withstand excessive pressure or weight. When it comes to memory foam in particular, higher-density foams recover more slowly after pressure is applied to it.
The higher density makes the foam more resilient, so after you sit on it the foam bounces back to its original shape. That's why for upholstery applications, especially for high traffic areas like your family room, we recommend using a foam with a density of 2.5 lbs. or higher.
Acrylic fibres are incredibly strong and resistant to wear and tear. Often these fibres are used in high-end outdoor cushion manufacturing due to their price point. This is because they can withstand upwards of 2,000 hours of sunlight before the colour begins to fade, much more than most other fabric types.
Memory foam works for really well for mattresses, but not so well for cushions. In a nutshell, it's just too soft and responsive. If you stand up from your bench seat your memory foam cushion will take too long to bounce back to its original shape, and it's also quite expensive.
Adding a layer of polyester batting to a foam cushion creates a soft, plump cushion. It also helps to round the edges for a great looking pillow. Batting also helps fill in any gaps between the foam and cushion cover.
In general, higher density memory foam is more durable and of better quality. There are a lot of very inexpensive, low density memory foam toppers which are sold online. Many mattresses also contain this low density, inexpensive memory foam.
What does 4 lb density foam mean?
Memory foam density refers to how much one cubic foot of the material weighs, and is typically expressed in pounds (for example, 3lb memory foam, 4lb memory foam, etc.). This measurement will tell you the quality of the foam, but will not tell you how firm the foam is.
High density foam is made of a blend of polyurethane and has a tendency to off-gas. If you are susceptible to lung issues, please do additional research on the quality of foams before purchasing. Pros: Structural firm foam used by many mattresses to provide foundation and shape.

For furniture with a 2.0 foam density, 5–10 years is possible. The furniture's lifespan is also influenced by the foam's thickness and resilience. Foams with greater thickness, density, and high resilience (HR) typically last longer.
A 40 density would be high density in polyfoam (PU Foam), not so much in memory foam, and very low for others. For example, in the Indian demographic, people prefer the PU Foam to have a density value between 32 and 40. Similarly, memory foam should have a density value between 50-60 and between 55-65 for latex foam.
Description: High Density foam is a medium-quality industrial-grade foam. It is sold primarily for mattresses, average quality sofas, chair cushions, bay windows, boats, and camping pads. High Density Foam is the most commonly used foam type in the furniture manufacturing industry.
Seat foam is also known as upholstery foam, and is an open cell polyurethane foam. Most seat foams are of a medium to high density to ensure adequate support, although softer foams are also available. Softer foams are usually used in children's seats, like mini arm chairs.
By weighing a block of foam that is one-foot square, you may determine the density of foam furniture. 1.8 density furniture foam is considered good quality foam and is most usually used for furniture cushions in the home setting. 1.8 density furniture foam typically lasts 1-3 years.
Turn the cushion over and position it on top of your bench. Drive screws from underneath the bench up into the plywood of the cushion to secure the cushion to the bench. Using a hot glue gun, attach the upholstery trim to the very bottom of the cushion to hide the gap between the cushion and bench.
Latex rubber foam is a non-allergenic foam. It was the first type of foam on the market and the longest lasting. It is used in top-of-the-line products including mattresses and cushions.
Memory foam is typically very high density and has low compression. Sofa-seat poly foam is typically high density and high compression, and the soft sofa-back poly cushions are usually medium density, low compression.
What type of batting is best for cushions?
In cushions, polyester batting is highly recommended to give them that fuller, more luxurious look, and to remove wrinkles from fabric covers. Batting also helps cushions to slide into slipcovers more easily by removing the friction from the foam.
Other materials like coconut fiber, down, feathers, horsehair and Spanish moss have been around since the days before foam was invented and are experiencing a resurgence in the natural furniture upholstery industry.
Many people think that a higher foam density means a firmer foam. This is not the case. A low-density foam can be firm and a foam that is high in density foam can be soft.
High-Quality: 2.5LB – 3.5LB Density
For conventional open-cell foam, materials in this range are the best of the best.
High-density foams promote better sleep. High-density foam provides better pressure relief and allows you to more easily enter Deep Sleep and REM. High-quality, dense foams conform to your body, which diminishes uncomfortable pressure points while you sleep.
In mattress terms, m means the mass of a cubic metre section of a mattress measured in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3). For example, if a foam is 50kg/m3, that means each cubic metre of the foam weighs 50 kg.
1.8 density furniture foam means that the cushioning of the furniture weighs 1.8 pounds (lbs) per cubic foot. The density of foam furniture can be measured by weighing a block of one-foot square foam. Foam with 1.8 density is classified as good quality foam and is the most frequently used for residential furniture.
For example, in the Indian demographic, people prefer the PU Foam to have a density value between 32 and 40. Similarly, memory foam should have a density value between 50-60 and between 55-65 for latex foam.
The foam that you select for your dining room chairs should be at least 2″ thick and a firmness of firm to prevent bottoming out.
By weighing a block of foam that is one-foot square, you may determine the density of foam furniture. 1.8 density furniture foam is considered good quality foam and is most usually used for furniture cushions in the home setting. 1.8 density furniture foam typically lasts 1-3 years.
How long will 2.0 density cushions last?
For furniture with a 2.0 foam density, 5–10 years is possible. The furniture's lifespan is also influenced by the foam's thickness and resilience. Foams with greater thickness, density, and high resilience (HR) typically last longer.
2.0 foam density in furniture means that a foam weighs 2 pounds (lbs) when a 12 x 12 x 12 block of this foam is measured. This method is used to provide a standardized measurement when differentiating foam densities. High foam density is at least 2.0.
For foam that will get heavy daily use, like couch cushions, dining chairs, or mattress toppers, high density foam is the better choice because it will hold up over time the best. For light or occasional use, medium density foam will be sufficient, like for accent chairs and headboards.