---
title: "Cushion Covers Only Price: Big Pieces Save, Small Ones Barely"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/cushion-covers-only-vs-full-cushion-price/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Harlan Pruitt, The Elder of High Point"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/"
published: "2026-03-20"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "cushion covers only price, replacement cushion covers without foam, custom covers for existing inserts, covers only vs full cushions, zippered cushion covers"
---

# How much cheaper is it to buy cushion covers only, without the foam?

*Most of what you pay for is the needle, not the foam. That's why the saving shrinks as the cushion does.*

Also asked as: How much for just the covers?; We already have the inserts.

> **The quick answer:** Cushion covers without foam cost less than full cushions, but how much less depends on size. Big pieces save the most: on large patio sets and trapezoids the saving was real. On small seat and throw covers, leaving out the foam barely moves the price, because most of the cost is the custom cover itself.

![Ivory seat and backrest cushions on a reclaimed timber bench under a wisteria pergola with string lights at dusk](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/ivory-bench-backrest-cushions-wisteria-pergola-dusk-848.webp "Ivory seat and back cushions turn a rough timber bench into a dusk hideaway beneath wisteria and festoon lights.")

## Key facts

- Covers-only quotes came in below full-cushion prices, by very different amounts.
- A 13-piece patio set and three large trapezoids were about two-thirds of full price as covers only.
- Nine outdoor pieces were just under half the full price as covers only.
- Eight small seat and throw covers came close to full price.
- Most of the cost is the custom-made cover.
- One full floor set was priced close to cost, so its covers alone came out above the set with foam.
- Covers close with zippers, so existing inserts slide in.

## Real quotes: covers only as a share of the full price

| Order | Covers only vs full cushions |
|---|---|
| 13-piece patio set | About two-thirds |
| Three large trapezoid window cushions | About two-thirds |
| Six velvet cushions, 23 x 24 x 4.5 in (58 x 61 x 11 cm) and 23 x 20 x 3.5 in (58 x 51 x 9 cm) | About two-thirds |
| Nine outdoor pieces: 4 backs, 4 seats, 1 large | Just under half |
| Eight small seat and throw covers | Close to full price |

## Why the foam is the cheap part

Foam is the plain part: a block cut to size. The cover is measured, cut, sewn and zippered by hand, and that is where the hours go. A seam is a promise, my friend, and promises take time.

So on a big patio set, dropping the foam saves real money. On a small seat pad, the sewing hardly shrinks with the size, and the saving nearly disappears. The workshop still suggests the full set when it can, so fit, texture and look all match.

If you keep your inserts, the [covers-only measuring pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/cushion-covers-for-existing-foam/) shows how to size them, and the [cushion covers](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/cushion-covers/) hub has the styles. How old is the foam you plan to keep?

## When the covers cost more than the set

A buyer messaged the workshop puzzled: the covers alone for a floor set priced out above the full set with foam. The reason was the set's bulk pricing. That set was priced close to cost, so a single linen cover of 29 x 80 x 6 in (74 x 203 x 15 cm) can cost more than its share of a discounted set. Two covers ordered together came in lower per cover.

> **Tailor's margin:** Cushion covers without foam save the most on big pieces. On small seat and throw covers the price stays close to full, because the cover is the costly part.

> Leaving the foam out of a custom cushion saves less than people expect, since most of the price is the sewn cover, not the insert.
>
> — Harlan

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** How much cheaper are covers only than full cushions with foam?

**The workshop's answer:** From real quotes: a 13-piece patio set came to about two-thirds of its full price as covers only, three large trapezoid window cushions the same, and eight seat and throw covers only slightly less than with inserts.

**A common question:** Will it be much cheaper if I buy covers only and reuse my old foam?

**The workshop's answer:** Not much. Most of the cost and craftsmanship is in the custom covers, so leaving out the foam barely lowers the price. The workshop recommends the full set so fit, texture and look all match.

**A common question:** How much do I save ordering covers only on a big outdoor set?

**The workshop's answer:** Quite a lot. A set of 9 outdoor pieces (4 backrests, 4 seats and 1 large) came to just under half its full-cushion price as covers only.

**A common question:** I already have inserts. What do covers alone cost next to full cushions?

**The workshop's answer:** Six velvet cushions, three at 23 x 24 x 4.5 in and three at 23 x 20 x 3.5 in, came to about two-thirds of the full-cushion price as covers only, with a further discount on the set.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Does the fabric I choose change the price?

Usually not: price follows size, so velvet, linen and the cotton-type fabric cost the same. To lower a quote, the workshop can switch to a cheaper velvet grade and lower-density foam, which cut one bench quote by about 14%.

### Will my old inserts go into the new covers?

The covers close with a zipper, so an existing insert slides in. Give the insert's own length, depth and thickness so each cover is cut to the foam you are keeping.

### Is there any flexibility on a large set quote?

Within limits. Buyers have been met in the middle and repeat buyers have had better per-set prices, but the workshop won't sell below cost and sets a minimum on each quote.

## Related at the atelier

- [Why is a custom cushion more expensive than a mass-produced one?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/why-handmade-custom-cushions-cost-more/): Custom cushions cost more because each one is 100% handmade to order, with top-grade fabric, dense filling and double stitching.
- [How much is a small square floor or meditation cushion?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/small-square-meditation-floor-cushion-price/): A small square floor or meditation cushion is priced by size: the 20 x 20 in (50 x 50 cm) square is a listed option, while sizes like 28 x 28 in or 20 x 27.5 in are quoted to order.
- [Do you accept offers on floor cushions and custom sets?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/make-offer-floor-cushion-set/): Yes, within limits: the workshop has met buyers in the middle on floor seating sets and taken small amounts off through the Make an Offer button.
- [Tufted bench cushion or plain? Buttons, looks and washability](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-cushions/): Choose a tufted bench cushion for a hand-finished, sculpted look, and a plain zippered foam cushion if the cover must come off for washing.
- [Striped Floor Cushions: Why a Box Edge Stacks Square](https://cushionguide.com/readings/blue-blush-taupe-stripe-floor-cushions-oak-floor/): A box edge is the right shape for floor cushions you plan to stack, sit on and pull out for guests.
- [Hexagonal Floor Cushion in Cream Zigzag Jacquard for Long Sits](https://cushionguide.com/readings/hexagonal-cream-zigzag-jacquard-floor-cushion/): A floor cushion for long sitting needs a firm seat that keeps your hips off the hard floor and a shape you can turn on without meeting a corner.
- [Floor cushion thickness: how thick before you stop feeling the floor](https://cushionguide.com/guides/floor-cushion-thickness-guide/)
- [Measuring a hexagon cushion, or an octagon, without a protractor](https://cushionguide.com/guides/hexagon-and-octagon-cushion-measuring/)

*Sit well. — Harlan*

---

Written by Harlan Pruitt (https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/) 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/cushion-covers-only-vs-full-cushion-price/