The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Can the back cushion be thinner than the seat cushion?
Also asked as:Can I get a 4 inch seat and a 2 inch back?Could we have 2 inches for the back?
Yes, and on a shallow seat it usually should be. One number to respect on the back: 2 in (5 cm).
SaveThe quick answer
Yes, a back cushion can be thinner than its seat cushion when you order each cushion separately and write its thickness in personalization: a 4 in (10 cm) seat with a 2 or 3 in (5 or 7.5 cm) back is a common pairing. Keep foam backrests at 2 in (5 cm) or more, because thinner foam loses its structure and flattens against the backrest.
Get a quote for a bench seat and back cushion
Seat and back pairings that have come off the table
| Setup | Seat | Back | Workshop note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard set | 4 in (10 cm) | 4 in (10 cm) | The default for both cushions |
| Everyday bench or nook | 4 in (10 cm) | 3 in (7.5 cm) | A slimmer back returns 1 in of seat depth |
| Camper van bench | 4 in (10 cm) | 2 in (5 cm) | Real build: 52 x 17 1/4 in seat, 49 x 8 5/8 in back |
| Shallow 16 in (41 cm) seat | Any | 2 in (5 cm) | Supportive; takes the least depth |
| Floor sofa wall backrest | Floor mattress | 4 in (10 cm), or custom such as 4 3/4 in (12 cm) | Leans on the wall; can go thicker |
| Foam back under 2 in | Any | 1 to 1 1/2 in | Not advised: flattens and loses structure |
Key facts
- Seat and back cushions can be ordered in different thicknesses.
- Each cushion's thickness is written in the personalization note.
- The standard thickness for both seat and back is 4 in (10 cm).
- The recommended minimum for a foam backrest is 2 in (5 cm).
- Foam thinner than 2 in loses its structure and flattens against a backrest.
- A floor sofa wall backrest is 4 in (10 cm) as standard and can go thicker, such as about 4 3/4 in (12 cm).
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Send the numbers in inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angle. The workshop checks them with you, because foam has no undo button. — Nate
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Why 2 inches is a floor, not a suggestion
Below 2 in (5 cm), foam in a backrest loses its structure, flattens against the backrest and stops being comfortable. Slimmer backs, around 1 1/4 in (3 cm), have been made on request, but the workshop advises 2 in as the practical minimum for foam.
Every inch of back comes straight off your seat depth: on a 16 in (41 cm) seat, a 2 in back leaves 14 in (36 cm) to sit on, a 3 in back leaves 13 in (33 cm). For a slim back, choose foam-filled over loose fill; the back fill Pattern compares them, and back cushion height handles the other dimension. What does your seat measure front to back, partner?
Ordering a seat and a back in two thicknesses
Measure the seat depth first
Front edge to the wall or frame, in inches. Seat and back share that number.
Order each cushion as its own line
Seat and back are separate cushions, each with its own size.
Write the thickness in personalization
For example: seat 4 in (10 cm), back 2 in (5 cm). The thickness menu runs 2, 3, 4 and 5 in at the same price.
Hold the back at 2 in or more
If depth is tight, 2 in is the answer.
The camper van bench: 4 in under, 2 in behind
A buyer converting a camper van wrote to the workshop needing a base and a back for the same bench. The standard is 4 in for both, but any thickness can be ordered, so the build went like this: a 52 x 17 1/4 in (132 x 44 cm) seat at 4 in thick, and a 49 x 8 5/8 in (124.5 x 22 cm) back at 2 in thick. Vans punish wasted inches harder than houses do. More builds like it live under van conversion cushions and boat and RV cushions.
A back cushion can be thinner than the seat: a 4 in seat with a 2 in back is a common pair, but foam backs under 2 in (5 cm) lose their structure.
Nate
Buyer questions
- A common question
Can I order the back cushion thinner than the seat cushion?
The workshop's answerYes. Order each size separately and write its thickness in personalization, for example a 4 in seat with a 2 in back, or a 4 in seat with a 3 in back.
- A common question
What thickness should a camper van bench seat and backrest be?
The workshop's answerThe standard is 4 in for both, and any thickness can be ordered. One van conversion used a 52 x 17 1/4 in (132 x 44 cm) seat at 4 in and a 49 x 8 5/8 in (124.5 x 22 cm) back at 2 in.
- A common question
My seat is only 16 inches deep. Can the back cushion be 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick so it doesn't eat the depth?
The workshop's answerThe practical minimum is 2 in (5 cm). Thinner foam loses its structure and flattens quickly against a backrest. 2 in stays supportive while taking very little off a 16 in seat, and a foam-filled back is the better choice.
- A common question
How thick is the wall backrest that comes with the floor sofa?
The workshop's answer4 in (10 cm) as standard. It can be made to a custom thickness, for example about 4 3/4 in (12 cm).
- A common question
Do I have to take 4 inches, or can I pick 2 or 3?
The workshop's answerThe thickness menu offers 2, 3, 4 and 5 in (5 to 12.5 cm), all at the same price. Choose it on the listing or write it in personalization.
Questions buyers ask next
Does a thinner back cushion cost less than a thicker one?
No. Standard thicknesses from 2 to 5 in are priced the same, so a 2 in back costs what a 4 in back of the same length and height would. Only thicknesses beyond that range are quoted separately by size.
How much seat depth does a back cushion take away?
All of its thickness. On a 16 in (41 cm) seat, a 2 in back leaves 14 in (36 cm) of sitting depth and a 4 in back leaves 12 in (30 cm). That is why shallow seats get slim backs, but never under 2 in of foam.
What fill suits a slim backrest?
Foam. For a slim back on a shallow seat, the workshop recommends a foam-filled cushion at 2 in (5 cm) or more, because it keeps its shape against the backrest where thinner or looser fill would flatten.
