The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Are the back cushions the same foam as the seat?
Also asked as:Different foam for the back cushion?Solid foam or shredded for the backrest?
They are not. The seat holds you up. The back receives you. Two jobs, two fillings.
SaveThe quick answer
Back cushions are not the same foam as the seat: seats are firm solid foam at 32 density (32 kg/m³, about 2.0 lb/ft³), while back pillows are usually shredded foam or fiber, softer to lean on. Filled back pillows come out about 4-6 in (10-15 cm) thick, so you give only width and height. A solid-foam backrest is available if you prefer.
Get a quote for a bench seat and back cushion
Seat and back pillow, side by side
| Detail | Seat cushion | Back pillow |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | Solid foam, 32 density (about 2.0 lb/ft³) | Shredded foam or fiber |
| Feel | Firm, holds its shape under weight | Soft and pillow-like, still holds against a rail |
| Thickness | The number you order | About 4-6 in (10-15 cm), set by the fill |
| What you measure | Width, depth and thickness | Width and height only |
| Other option | Stays high-density foam | Solid foam like the seat, on request |
Key facts
- Seat cushions use firm solid foam at 32 density (32 kg/m³, about 2.0 lb/ft³).
- Back pillows are filled with shredded foam or fiber for a softer lean.
- The shredded foam is broken into small pieces on the shop's own machine.
- Filled back pillows come out about 4-6 in (10-15 cm) thick; only width and height are needed.
- A solid-foam backrest is available, and the shop confirms the filling before production.
- The filling is a separate insert; the zippered cover washes at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle.
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Why the back gets the softer fill
A seat carries your weight for hours. It needs a solid block that stays level. That is the work of the 32-density foam.
A back does something gentler. You lean, shift, lean again. Shredded foam, broken into small pieces on the shop's own machine, lets the pillow shape itself around you and still hold its form against a rail. Fiber does the same, a little softer.
Because a filled pillow has no fixed thickness, you do not choose one. It comes out about 4-6 in (10-15 cm) deep. Give width and height and let the fill decide the rest. The back cushion fill Pattern sets this beside a solid wedge, and the backrest cushions page shows the shapes.
What to send for a backrest
- Width and height of each back pillow.
- The seat cushion size and thickness, listed separately.
- Your filling choice: shredded foam, fiber, or solid foam like the seat.
- A reply to the shop's filling check before production starts.
Nothing is sewn shut
The filling sits in its own insert. The cover closes with a zipper and comes off for washing at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle. On a banquette where coffee and elbows meet, that matters more than any foam number.
Which do you use more, the back or the seat?
The seat holds. The back receives. Each gets the filling for its job.
Order back pillows by width and height only; a shredded-foam filling sets the thickness at about 4-6 in (10-15 cm).
Hana
Buyer questions
- A common question
Should my backrest be solid foam like the seat, or something softer?
The workshop's answerEither works. The backrest can be solid foam like the seat cushion, or filled with shredded foam, which is softer and more pillow-like. Throw pillows get the same shredded foam for a soft, plump feel.
- A common question
Is the back cushion cut from the seat foam, and how thick will it be?
The workshop's answerNo. The seat uses firm 32-density foam; back cushions are shredded foam or fiber, softer to lean on. As filled pillows they have no fixed thickness and come out roughly 4-6 in (10-15 cm), so only width and height are needed.
- A common question
What filling would you put in the back cushions of a banquette?
The workshop's answerShredded foam, which is softer than the solid foam used in the seats. The seat cushions stay high-density foam.
- A common question
What's inside the back pillows, and can the covers come off to be washed?
The workshop's answerShredded foam, broken into small pieces on the shop's own machine: soft, but supportive enough to hold its shape against a pillow rail. The filling is a separate insert and the cover zips off for washing at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle. Nothing is sewn shut.
- A common question
Can I buy only the foam inserts, without covers?
The workshop's answerYes. Pillow fillings, foam-only L-shaped backrest inserts and full sofa foam sets are sold without covers through a dedicated link, quoted per set.
Questions buyers ask next
Do shredded foam back pillows get lumpy?
The pieces can shift with use. A lump usually means the filling has moved, and it can be worked back into shape by hand through the cover. That flexibility is why backrests use pieces instead of one rigid block.
Who decides the backrest filling on a custom order?
You choose, and the shop checks. Shredded foam is the usual pick, solid foam like the seat is available, and the workshop confirms the backrest filling with you before production so nothing is assumed.
How firm is 32-density seat foam in US terms?
32 kg/m³ is about 2.0 lb/ft³, a solid everyday seat foam. Density speaks to durability more than softness, which is why the seat stays firm while the back pillows are left softer on purpose.
