---
title: "Bench Cushion Foam Density: 2.0 lb (32 kg/m³) Medium-Firm"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/bench-cushion-foam-density/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Rosa Delgado, The Porch Keeper of Savannah"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/rosa/"
published: "2026-09-03"
updated: "2026-09-03"
keywords: "bench cushion foam density, 32 density foam cushion, high resilience foam bench cushion, 2 lb foam density bench, banquette cushion foam"
---

# What density foam goes into a custom bench cushion?

*Kids and dogs are the real quality control, and a kitchen bench gets plenty of both. So the foam question is a fair one, and the answer is a number.*

Also asked as: What density is your foam?; What kind of foam do you use?

> **The quick answer:** Custom bench, banquette and seat cushions are made with 32-density foam: about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-density, high-resilience polyurethane with a medium-firm feel. It's firmer and longer-lasting than the 1.75 lb/ft³ (28 kg/m³) foam often specified, holds its shape for years without going lumpy, and comes standard, so there's no grade to pick unless you want softer.

![Terracotta pink outdoor banquette cushion and pillow on a whitewashed masonry bench under a vine pergola with jute rug](https://cushionguide.com/media/banquette-cushions/terracotta-pink-masonry-banquette-cushion-pergola-1600.webp "A clay-pink cushion softens a built-in plaster bench beneath the vines, with lemons, a clay jug and a jute rug close by.")

## Key facts

- Standard bench and seat cushion foam is 32-density: 32 kg/m³, about 2.0 lb/ft³.
- It is high-density, high-resilience polyurethane cold foam.
- The feel is medium-firm.
- It is firmer and longer-lasting than the 1.75 lb/ft³ (28 kg/m³) foam often specified.
- It holds its shape over time without going lumpy.
- It is standard-grade upholstery foam with no flame-retardant additives.
- The same 32-density foam is standard in every custom cushion; softer can be requested.

## Your foam checklist, line by line

- ✓ Density: 32 kg/m³, about 2.0 lb/ft³, high-density polyurethane.
- ✓ Type: [high-resilience](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#high-resilience-foam) cold foam.
- ✓ Feel: medium-firm. On a 3 in (7.5 cm) seat it's comfortable, yet firm enough to hold its shape.
- ✓ Choice: none needed. The same foam goes into every custom cushion; ask in the order note if you'd like softer.
- ✓ Additives: standard-grade upholstery foam with no flame-retardant additives. The [flame-retardant-free Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/flame-retardant-free-cushions/) explains what that means.
- ✓ Fabric: covers come from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239).
- ✓ If the number matters to you, write it in the order note: a few quotes have used 28-density foam.

## The densities you'll hear about

| Foam | kg/m³ | lb/ft³ | Where it turns up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom bench and banquette standard | 32 | about 2.0 | Every custom seat cushion |
| Often-specified foam | 28 | about 1.75 | Floor sofas (rated ILD 42) and some piped bench quotes |
| Budget option | 22 | about 1.4 | Plain seat pads in the tufted line |

## Density is weight, not squish

Here's where folks get tangled, neighbor. Density tells you how much foam is packed into a cubic foot. Firmness is how it pushes back when you sit. They travel together, but they aren't twins: the same 32-density foam has been called medium-firm in most replies and medium-soft in one.

For a busy [banquette cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/banquette-cushions/), density is the longevity number. The [density conversion Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/foam-density-lb-ft3-kg-m3/) turns kg/m³ into pounds, the [density versus firmness Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/foam-density-vs-firmness-ild/) covers ILD, and the [foam firmness finder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/foam-firmness-finder/) helps you pick a feel.

Who sits hardest on your bench?

> **Tailor's margin:** Bench cushion foam at about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) is the custom standard; when density matters, write the number in the order note.

> A 3 in bench cushion on 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-resilience foam stays comfortable and holds its shape for years without going lumpy.
>
> — Rosa

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** What density is your foam? I need something commercial-grade for a busy kitchen nook.

**The workshop's answer:** The cushions use 32-density high-density foam with a medium-firm feel. On 3 in (7.5 cm) seat cushions that means comfortable, but firm enough to hold its shape over time.

**A common question:** What foam is inside the bench cushions, exactly?

**The workshop's answer:** Standard-grade high-density polyurethane foam of about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) with no flame-retardant additives. The fabrics come from a mill certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (03.T.3239).

**A common question:** Will the foam go lumpy after a while?

**The workshop's answer:** It's 32-density (32 DNS) high-density foam, typically a cold foam, chosen to hold its shape over time without lumps while staying comfortable for everyday sitting.

**A common question:** Is the foam in the bench cushions the same as in the floor sofas?

**The workshop's answer:** No. Bench cushions use 32-density high-density foam, described in one reply as medium-soft; the floor sofas use 28-density high-density foam rated ILD 42. Both are made to last many years.

**A common question:** What foam goes in a piped bench cushion with a non-slip bottom?

**The workshop's answer:** One quote for two 3 in navy bench cushions, about 17.5 x 84 in and 17.5 x 71 in, with single piping and an anti-slip bottom fabric, used 28-density best-quality foam. Name the density in your order note if it matters.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Can I ask for a softer foam than the standard?

Yes. 32-density foam is standard in every custom cushion, so there is no grade to pick at checkout, but a softer foam can be requested in the order note before production starts.

### How long will the foam in a daily-use bench cushion keep its shape?

The 32-density high-resilience foam is chosen to hold its shape for years of everyday sitting without going lumpy. On a daily-use bench, high-density foam can also overhang the seat edge by up to 2 in (5 cm).

### Can I buy the foam insert without a cover?

Yes. Foam-only inserts, from pillow fillings to full sofa foam sets, are sold without covers through a dedicated link and quoted per set.

## Related at the atelier

- [Is linen a bad idea for cushions with kids?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/linen-cushions-with-kids/): No, linen works with kids: the workshop's linen is durable and hard-wearing, and the covers come off to machine-wash at 86°F (30°C), so stains needn't be permanent.
- [What's the most durable, easiest-to-clean cushion fabric for a house with kids?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/best-cushion-fabric-for-kids/): The best cushion fabric for kids is either the workshop's soft fabric, a wipe-clean microfiber a little tougher than linen, or its velvet, which stands up to daily child use and is the easiest to…
- [Banquette Cushion Piping: Mustard Corduroy With Ivory Welt](https://cushionguide.com/readings/mustard-corduroy-dining-banquette-ivory-piping/): Choose contrast piping on a banquette cushion when you want the seat framed against its base, self piping when you want the fabric to lead, and no piping for the softest edge.
- [Can I buy extra fabric by the meter to match my cushions?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/buy-cushion-fabric-by-the-meter/): Extra fabric can be bought by the meter to match your cushions: tell the shop how many meters you need, for example of linen L-07 to upholster matching chairs.
- [Banquette Cushion in Green Pinstripe for a Café Corner Nook](https://cushionguide.com/readings/green-pinstripe-cafe-corner-banquette-mustard-pillows/): A banquette cushion should be chosen as a pair of numbers, seat thickness and back thickness, measured against the bench depth, because an upright back cushion takes depth away from the seat.
- [Banquette Cushion in Tiger Stripe on a White Shiplap Built-In](https://cushionguide.com/readings/tiger-stripe-cushion-white-shiplap-built-in-seat/): A patterned banquette cushion should pass two tests: from across the room its colors must read as one warm block, and up close its edge and depth must look tailored.
- [How to measure a curved cushion with a chord, a rise and one formula](https://cushionguide.com/guides/curved-cushion-chord-rise-radius/)
- [How to measure an L-shaped bench or corner banquette for cushions](https://cushionguide.com/guides/l-shaped-bench-cushion-measurements/)

*Porch light's on — Rosa*

---

Written by Rosa Delgado (https://cushionguide.com/masters/rosa/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/bench-cushion-foam-density/