---
title: "Floor Cushion as a Mattress: Sleeping on Corduroy and Foam"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/floor-cushion-as-mattress-sleeping/"
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: "floor cushion as mattress, sleep on floor cushion, floor bed cushion, cot mattress cushion, tufted floor cushion without buttons"
---

# Can I sleep on the cushion or use it as a mattress?

*Right, then. People buy a cushion to sit on and, one tired evening, lie down on it. A good many never get back up, and they write to say so.*

Also asked as: Would this work for sleeping on a cot?; Can I use it as a mattress?

> **The quick answer:** A floor or bench cushion can be used as a mattress, and many buyers sleep on the corduroy and high-density foam cushions, on a cot or as a floor bed. Comfort for sleeping is personal, so choose the thickness with care. Tufted floor cushions can be made without buttons, keeping the hand-sewn edges, so nothing presses into your back overnight.

![Taupe, cream and brown striped box cushion on a pine bench on a static caravan deck with a tartan blanket and flask](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/taupe-stripe-bench-cushion-static-caravan-deck-1600.webp "A neutral stripe suits the gray decking and cream cladding of a holiday caravan. A folded tartan blanket waits at the end for cooler evenings.")

## Key facts

- Buyers use corduroy and high-density foam cushions as sleeping mattresses.
- Comfort for sleeping is a personal preference.
- Tufted floor cushions can be made without buttons.
- Without buttons, the hand-sewn edges shown in the photos stay.
- Floor cushions are 4 in (10 cm) thick as standard and can be made 5, 6 or 8 in (13, 15 or 20 cm) thick to sleep on.

## “Would it work on a cot?”

That was the whole message, and a fair one. Yes. Many buyers sleep on cushions made in the workshop's [corduroy](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/corduroy/) over [high-density foam](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#high-density-foam), on a cot or straight on the floor, and they write back that they're happy.

I won't promise you'll love it, dear. Sleeping comfort is personal: one person's firm is another's plank. What the foam won't do is sag into a hammock; the standard high-density insert keeps its shape for years.

## Follow-up: “What about the buttons?”

A buyer in the US asked the sensible thing. Tufting buttons look lovely on a [floor cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/floor-cushions/) and feel rather less lovely under a shoulder blade at 3 a.m.

So the cushions can be made without them. The hand-sewn edges you see in the photos stay exactly as they are; only the buttons go. The [tufted versus plain Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-cushions/) shows both side by side.

## Follow-up: “How thick for sleeping?”

Floor cushions start at 4 in (10 cm). For sleeping they can be made 5, 6 or 8 in (13, 15 or 20 cm) thick. One guest-bed cushion was cut for a 70 x 21 in (178 x 53 cm) cot frame.

For a full floor bed, the [floor sofa bed Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/floor-sofa-bed-size-firmness/) covers sizes and firmness. How many nights a week will someone actually sleep on yours?

## Before the cushion becomes a bed

- ✓ Measure the cot frame or the floor space, not the old mattress.
- ✓ Pick a thickness: 4 in (10 cm) standard, or 5, 6 or 8 in for sleeping.
- ✓ Ask for no buttons if the cushion is tufted.
- ✓ Choose a fabric you like against bare skin; corduroy is the one buyers already sleep on.
- ✓ Check the word [floor mattress](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#floor-mattress) if you want a bed-first piece rather than a seat.

> **Tailor's margin:** Tufted floor cushions can be made without buttons for sleeping, and the hand-sewn edges stay exactly as in the photos.

> A corduroy cushion over high-density foam works as a cot mattress for many buyers; for sleeping, go 5, 6 or 8 in thick instead of the standard 4 in.
>
> — Maggie

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Could I use a corduroy bench cushion as the mattress on a cot?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Many buyers sleep on cushions made from this corduroy and high-density foam and are happy with them, though comfort is a personal preference.

**A common question:** Could the tufted floor cushions come without buttons, so they're comfortable to sleep on?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. They can be made without tufting buttons while keeping the hand-sewn edges shown in the photos.

**A common question:** Does the cushion come with a handle, and can I move it or leave it off?

**The workshop's answer:** One carry handle comes as standard. You can choose its side, add more handles or have none at all, and cushions can be made without the logo.

**A common question:** Can I buy extra fabric to match the cushions?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Fabrics such as linen L-07 are sold by the meter, up to 55 in (140 cm) wide, for upholstering matching chairs. For a throw, sew the cloth onto a blanket or backing, since it's thin on its own.

## Questions buyers ask next

### What thickness works best for sleeping on a floor cushion?

Standard floor cushions are 4 in (10 cm) thick. For sleeping they can be made 5, 6 or 8 in (13, 15 or 20 cm) thick, which lifts you further off the floor and puts more foam under hips and shoulders.

### Will the foam flatten if I sleep on it every night?

The standard insert is about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-density, high-resilience foam, medium-firm, and it keeps its shape for years without sagging. Nightly comfort is still personal, so choose the thickness with care.

### Can a bench cushion double as a guest bed?

Yes. One cushion was cut to fit a 70 x 21 in (178 x 53 cm) cot frame used as a guest bed. Measure the inside length and width of the frame and choose a sleeping thickness before ordering.

## Related at the atelier

- [Do you sell the bench, platform or frame too, or just the cushion?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/bench-included-or-cushion-only/): Only the cushion is sold: the workshop makes cushions and pillows in any size and thickness, but no benches, platforms or frames, including frames for floor cushions.
- [Can you tuft my bench cushion with buttons, and add piping too?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/tufted-bench-cushion-buttons-piping/): Yes, a bench cushion can be tufted with buttons free of charge, and tufting can be combined with piping.
- [The listing says sold out. Can I still order my cushion?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/sold-out-listing-still-order/): Yes, you can usually still order when a listing says sold out or quantity no longer available: the marketplace stock count ran low after many sales, but the cushion can still be made.
- [Corduroy Bench Cushion Stack: Four Welts, One Foam Inside](https://cushionguide.com/readings/stacked-corduroy-cushions-mustard-rust-teal-contrast-piping/): A custom bench cushion like these keeps its square box edge because the foam inside is firm: about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³) high-density polyurethane, rated around 6 to 7 out of 10 and wrapped in…
- [Custom Bench Cushion Stripes: Green, Taupe and Navy Compared](https://cushionguide.com/readings/green-taupe-navy-stripe-cushion-studio-stack/): To mix striped bench cushions with other patterns, keep the stripe width and ground color constant and change only the color.
- [Black Floral Dining Bench Cushion Beside Powder-Blue Chairs](https://cushionguide.com/readings/black-floral-dining-bench-cushion-powder-blue-chairs/): A dining bench cushion works best at about 3 in (7.5 cm) thick, with a zippered cover that washes at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle and never goes in the dryer.
- [How long does cushion foam last, and how do you keep it in shape?](https://cushionguide.com/guides/how-long-does-cushion-foam-last/)
- [Tufted bench cushion or plain? Buttons, looks and washability](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-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/floor-cushion-as-mattress-sleeping/