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The Cutting Table · compared on the table

Should back cushions be the same thickness as the seat cushions?

Also asked as:Should the back cushions be the same as the seat?Does the backrest have to be as thick as the seat?

A seat carries you all day. A back only has to catch your shoulders. Two cushions with two different jobs rarely need the same inches.

Answered by

The Elder of High Point ·

Long harlequin print box cushion with two navy box back cushions on a teak dining bench on a hardwood deck beside the tableSave
Seen from above: a full-length harlequin seat and two navy box backs on a teak dining bench, with the table and grill on the deck.

The quick answer

Back cushions don't have to be as thick as the seat cushions. Each cushion is sold separately, and many buyers pair a thicker, firmer seat with a thinner or softer back, such as 4 in (10 cm) backs on an 8 in (20 cm) seat. The thinner back costs less and leaves more of the seat's depth for sitting.

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Matching thickness or a thinner back: what changes

Back as thick as the seatBack thinner than the seat
Example8 in (20 cm) seat, 8 in (20 cm) backs8 in (20 cm) seat, 4 in (10 cm) backs
Seat depth left for sittingLess: a thick back eats into itMore
FeelSame firmness front and backFirm seat, softer back if you like
PriceHigherLower

Key facts

  • Seat and back cushions are sold separately and can differ in thickness.
  • A common pairing is an 8 in (20 cm) seat with 4 in (10 cm) backs, or 6 in (15 cm) backs instead of 8 in.
  • A thinner backrest costs less than a thick one.
  • Back cushions are usually a little narrower than the seat.
  • A back that rests on the seat cushion loses the seat's thickness: a 17 in (43 cm) back on a 4 in (10 cm) seat fills a 21 in (53 cm) frame.
  • Seat and back can be separate pieces or connected so they fold.
  • Backrests can run along both the long and the short sides.

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Fabric · Foam · Pipingwhat the workshop will confirm with you

Fabric
The cover cloth: weave, color and care code.
Foam
The core: its density and thickness set the feel.
Piping
The corded seam edge: matching, contrast or none.
Only for this request: no marketing calls or texts. Outside the US, add the country code.
In inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angles or cut corners.

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Why a back cushion gets by on fewer inches

The seat takes your full weight every time you sit, so it earns the thick, firm foam. The back only leans against you. Make it as deep as the seat and it pushes you forward, stealing the depth you paid for.

That is why most backrest cushions leave the atelier a little thinner and a little narrower than the seat beneath them. They stand upright better that way, my friend, and they cost less to make. The back cushion height pattern covers the rest of the sizing.

What does your frame measure from the seat deck to the top of the back?

Sizing a back that stands on the seat cushion

  1. Measure the frame's back height

    One real order had 21 in (53 cm) of frame to fill.

  2. Take off the seat thickness

    21 in minus a 4 in (10 cm) seat leaves a 17 in (43 cm) back cushion.

  3. Pick the back's thickness

    4 in (10 cm) is the usual backrest thickness; go thinner or softer if you like.

  4. Choose separate or connected

    Seat and back can be loose pieces or joined so they fold, with backs on the long side, the short side or both.

Back cushions don't need the seat's thickness: 4 in backs on an 8 in seat is a common pairing, and the thinner back costs less.

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Buyer questions

  1. A common question

    Can I order both the seat and the back cushions, and how should the backs be sized?

    The workshop's answer

    Yes, many buyers order both. Backs are usually slightly thinner and a little narrower than the seat so they sit upright and don't eat seat depth. If a back rests on the seat cushion, subtract the seat thickness: a 17 in (43 cm) back on a 4 in (10 cm) seat for a 21 in (53 cm) frame.

  2. A common question

    Do the back cushions have to be the same as the seat cushions?

    The workshop's answer

    It's up to you. Each cushion is sold separately, so they can match or differ; many buyers choose a thicker, firmer seat and a slightly thinner or softer back.

  3. A common question

    Does my backrest need to be as thick as the seat?

    The workshop's answer

    No. 4 in (10 cm) backs with an 8 in (20 cm) seat work well, or 6 in (15 cm) instead of 8 in to bring the cost down. Backrests can also run along both the long and short sides.

  4. A common question

    How tall should a back cushion be?

    The workshop's answer

    The standard backrest is about 16 in (40 cm) high and 4 in (10 cm) thick. The workshop prefers 16 in over 12 in (30 cm) for back support, but custom heights such as 14 to 15 in are no problem.

Questions buyers ask next

Can a backrest be made too thin?

Thinner is possible, with a trade-off. When floor sofa backrests were slimmed from about 15 in (39 cm) to 7 in (18 cm) deep, the workshop noted that thinner backs are less durable. Height stayed, because it supports the sitter.

How many back pillows go across a daybed?

Divide the full span. A 79 in (200 cm) daybed takes two back pillows of about 39 x 16 in (100 x 40 cm). 16 in is the standard backrest height; 28 in (70 cm) is too tall for a backrest.

How do I split back pillows on an L-shaped banquette?

Measure each wall's back line: the short wall is its seat length plus the long side's seat depth, minus the corner pillow. Split each line into 2 or 3 pillows about 16 in (40 cm) high, and allow about 1.5 in for plump pillows.