---
title: "Commercial Seating Cushions: Foam Density and Fabric Rating"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/commercial-seating-cushion-foam-fabric/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Margaret Holloway, The Piping Queen of Newport"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/"
published: "2026-09-14"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "commercial seating cushion foam density, contract grade cushions, 40000 martindale fabric, high density foam for commercial seating, clinic bench cushions"
---

# What foam density and fabric rating do you use for commercial seating?

*A clinic bench or a café banquette gets sat on all day, every day. The spec has to be written for that, and the workshop's starts a notch above what many contract briefs ask for.*

Also asked as: Cushions for a commercial project with 28 kg/m³ foam?; Martindale 40,000 fabric for bench cushions?

> **The quick answer:** Commercial seating cushions are made with about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-density foam as standard, at no extra cost, which is firmer and holds its shape longer than the about 1.75 lb/ft³ (28 kg/m³) often specified. Contract-grade fabrics rated 40,000 Martindale are available for heavy use. Ask for the production time in writing with the quote.

![Thick white box cushion with thin navy, mustard, rust and sage stripes on a teak bench beside a built-in outdoor grill](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/multicolor-thin-stripe-outdoor-kitchen-bench-cushion-1600.webp "A deep striped cushion turns a short teak bench into a seat for whoever keeps the cook company. The thin stripes pick up the oak cupboard, the herbs and the terracotta pot.")

## Key facts

- Standard foam is 32 kg/m³ (about 2.0 lb/ft³, also written 32 DNS) high-density, at no extra cost.
- About 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) foam holds its shape longer under constant use than a spec of about 1.75 lb/ft³ (28 kg/m³).
- Contract-grade fabrics rated 40,000 Martindale are available.
- A proposal needs the cushion count, every size and the type of space.
- L-shaped runs with curved or rounded ends can be made, and colors can be matched.
- A second set of covers can be quoted.
- Production time comes with each quote; one clinic bench was quoted at about 4-5 business days of production.

## The commercial cushion spec, line by line

| Spec line | What the workshop offers | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Foam | about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-density, no extra cost | Holds its shape longer under all-day sitting than about 1.75 lb/ft³ (28 kg/m³) |
| Fabric | Contract-grade, rated 40,000 Martindale | Made for heavy use in public seating |
| Shape | L-shaped runs with curved or rounded ends | Fits clinic benches and café corners |
| Color | Specific colors matched | Ties into a brand or an existing room |
| Covers | Optional second set, quoted on request | One set on the bench while the other is cleaned |
| Timing | Stated on the quote; one clinic bench was quoted at about 4-5 business days of production | Easy to plan into a fit-out |

## Why 32 beats 28 on a busy bench

Foam density is weight per volume: 28 kg/m³ is about 1.75 lb/ft³, and 32 kg/m³ is about 2.0. More foam in the same block pushes back longer against a full day of sitting. The [foam density Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/foam-density-lb-ft3-kg-m3/) has the conversions.

The workshop's standard is already the higher figure, so a brief asking for 28 gets 32 at the same price. I once specified the cheaper foam on a window seat to save a little. Never again, dear.

Martindale is the rub test European specs quote; American contract specs often use double rubs, and the two don't convert neatly. The [Martindale versus double rubs Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/martindale-vs-double-rubs-fabric/) sorts them out.

## A clinic bench with a rounded end

A clinic owner collecting quotes wrote in about an L-shaped bench with a rounded end. It gets regular use, so it had to be hard-wearing, about 2.5 to 3 in (6-8 cm) thick. The reply came back in one tidy paragraph: 32 DNS high-density foam, about 4-5 business days of production, the L with its rounded end, colors matched, and an optional second set of covers quoted. Right, then: that is what a proper commercial answer looks like.

## What to send for a proposal

- ✓ The total number of cushions.
- ✓ Every size: length, depth and thickness, drawn for any [L-shaped run](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/l-shaped-cushions/).
- ✓ The type of space: hotel, café, clinic or office.
- ✓ Colors to match, and a note if you want a second set of covers.
- ✓ The [commercial cushion Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/commercial-cushions-cafe-rental-specs/) for everything else a contract brief should cover.

> **Tailor's margin:** Send three things for a commercial cushion proposal: the total cushion count, every size, and the type of space.

> A commercial brief that asks for 28 kg/m³ foam gets 32 kg/m³ high-density foam as standard, at the same price, and it holds its shape longer.
>
> — Maggie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Can you make custom cushions for a commercial project with 28 kg/m³ foam and 40,000 Martindale fabric?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Contract-grade fabrics rated 40,000 Martindale are available for heavy commercial use, and the standard foam already beats the request: about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-density foam at the same price, which holds its shape longer under constant daily use. For a proposal, send the total number of cushions, their sizes and the kind of space.

**A common question:** What foam and lead time do you offer for clinic bench seating?

**The workshop's answer:** Premium 32 DNS high-density foam for commercial use; the production time comes with the quote. L-shaped runs with curved or rounded ends, color matching and an optional second set of covers can all be quoted.

**A common question:** Is there a discount for ordering several cushions at once?

**The workshop's answer:** Often, yes: send every size and quantity and the workshop quotes one package price, which has come in under the combined list price on multi-cushion orders. Ask for the shipping cost on the same quote.

**A common question:** Can the invoice carry our company name?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. The invoice can be issued or amended with your company or organization name, billing address and tax number, and sent immediately if your accounts team has a deadline.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Is 32 kg/m³ foam firm enough for a waiting-room bench?

Yes. It is the workshop's high-density standard, about 2.0 lb/ft³ and medium-firm, and it is firmer and longer-lasting under constant use than the about 1.75 lb/ft³ (28 kg/m³) often written into commercial specs.

### How does 40,000 Martindale compare with double rubs?

Martindale and double rubs (the Wyzenbeek test) are different methods, so there is no exact conversion. Read 40,000 Martindale as a heavy-duty contract rating, and compare fabrics tested the same way.

### Can commercial cushions follow a curved bench?

Yes. L-shaped runs with curved or rounded ends are made to measure. Draw the run, measure each straight side and the curve, and send the drawing with the cushion count and the type of space.

## Related at the atelier

- [Do you make bench cushions for clinics, offices, schools or public buildings?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/bench-cushions-clinics-offices-classrooms/): Yes: the workshop makes custom bench cushions for clinics, offices, early-learning classrooms and public buildings.
- [Entryway Bench Cushion: The Foam and Firmness a Hallway Needs](https://cushionguide.com/readings/emerald-chevron-entryway-bench-cushion-brass-lamp/): An entryway bench cushion needs firm high-density foam, because it takes short, heavy sits all day and has to keep its front edge.
- [How long does a bulk cushion order take, and can you rush it?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/bulk-cushion-order-lead-time/): A bulk custom cushion order is made to order with no stock on the shelf, so there's no rush lane.
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Hexagon Jacquard: Mixing Patterns](https://cushionguide.com/readings/mauve-hexagon-jacquard-box-cushion-edge-closeup/): To mix patterns around a hexagon jacquard bench cushion, let the geometric be the medium-scale pattern, pair it with a finer stripe or a plain, and bring in texture through linen, stoneware or…
- [Custom Bench Cushion in Sand Pinstripe at the Stair Head](https://cushionguide.com/readings/sand-pinstripe-bench-cushion-stair-landing/): A slim bench on a stair landing becomes a real seat once it has a cushion cut exactly to its top, at a moderate depth that keeps the legs looking light.
- [Do you do bulk pricing for 10 or more of the same cushion?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/bulk-pricing-identical-cushions/): Bulk orders of 10 or more identical cushions get their own quote, and the more alike the pieces, the bigger the saving.
- [Commercial seating cushions for cafés, rentals and offices: what to specify](https://cushionguide.com/guides/commercial-cushions-cafe-rental-specs/)
- [The best foam for a bench cushion depends on the bench](https://cushionguide.com/guides/best-foam-for-bench-cushions/)

*Stitch straight — Maggie*

---

Written by Margaret Holloway (https://cushionguide.com/masters/maggie/) 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/commercial-seating-cushion-foam-fabric/