The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Can I leave my outdoor cushions out in rain and snow all year?
Also asked as:Can they be left out in sun and rain?Are your outdoor cushions weatherproof?
Rain doesn't negotiate. Know what the fabric can take, and what the foam inside it can't.
SaveThe quick answer
Outdoor cushions can take sun and rain showers, but they aren't built to sit uncovered through rain and snow all year. The fabric is water-repellent and UV-resistant, yet the standard foam isn't quick-dry outdoor foam and there's no mesh drainage bottom as standard. Keep them on a covered porch, or store them indoors over winter.
Get a quote for an outdoor bench cushion
What each part of the cushion can take
| Part | What it is | Uncovered through rain and snow? |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor fabric | Water-repellent, UV-resistant, works indoors too | Made for sun and rain |
| Standard foam | Not quick-dry outdoor foam | Not recommended |
| Bottom panel | No fast-drying mesh bottom as standard | Not recommended |
| Cover | Fully zippered, removable for washing | Comes off to wash |
| Ties | Free on the back corners | Hold the cushion to the chair |
Key facts
- Outdoor fabrics are water-repellent and UV-resistant.
- Outdoor fabrics also work indoors.
- Outdoor covers are fully zippered and removable for washing.
- Ties on the back corners are free.
- Standard foam is not quick-dry outdoor foam.
- There is no fast-drying mesh bottom as standard.
- Best on a covered porch, or stored indoors over winter.
Have it made
Have Callum’s workshop cut this for you
Tell them where it lives. Porch, deck or boat: the weather picks the fabric and the foam before anyone else does. — Callum
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
Why the foam decides, not the fabric
A buyer in the US wrote to the workshop from a place with very hot summers and snowy winters and asked for a fast-drying mesh bottom and quick-dry foam. The honest answer was no on both.
The fabric sheds a shower and stands up to sun. But if water gets past the cover, standard foam isn't built to dry fast, and there's no mesh bottom to let it drain. Weeks of snow sitting on a cushion is the same story, told slower.
So the workshop said it plainly: these aren't the outdoor cushions to leave uncovered in rain and snow. On a covered porch they do very well. Before snow, bring them in; the winter storage Pattern covers how. What does your worst month look like, friend?
Not built in as standard
- Quick-dry outdoor foam
- A fast-drying mesh bottom
- Sealed seams
- Mesh vents
When the cushions have to live in the open
For large premium projects, the workshop has built with a mesh drainage base, UV-resistant thread, a concealed zipper and foam at about 2 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³). That is a special build, not the listing. If your cushions truly have no roof over them, ask before you order. The dry-fast foam Pattern explains how outdoor fill differs.
Water-repellent outdoor fabric handles sun and showers; standard foam without a mesh bottom isn't built to sit uncovered through snow.
Callum
Buyer questions
- A common question
Can you make outdoor cushions that live out in sun and rain, including a small bench cushion?
The workshop's answerYes, through the outdoor bench cushion listing, in water-repellent, UV-resistant outdoor fabrics that also work indoors. A 42 x 18 x 2 in (107 x 46 x 5 cm) outdoor cushion comes with free ties on the back corners and a fully zippered, removable cover for washing.
- A common question
Do you offer a fast-drying mesh bottom or quick-dry foam for hot summers and snowy winters?
The workshop's answerNo. The outdoor fabric is UV-resistant and water-repellent, but there's no fast-drying mesh bottom and the foam isn't quick-dry outdoor foam. The cushions do very well on a covered porch or stored over winter; they aren't the right product to leave uncovered in rain and snow.
- A common question
Can I put linen or velvet cushions outside?
The workshop's answerNo. Linen, velvet, chenille and other indoor fabrics aren't made for open-air use. Order through the outdoor listing instead: 100+ outdoor-rated, water-repellent, UV-resistant colors that resist moisture, mildew and mold.
- A common question
Is your regular cushion fabric waterproof?
The workshop's answerNo, the standard fabrics are indoor fabrics. For spill-prone indoor use there's a water-repellent collection, and a separate outdoor range for cushions that live outside.
Questions buyers ask next
Should outdoor cushions be stored for winter?
In a snowy climate, yes. The workshop's own guidance is to keep these cushions on a covered porch or store them indoors over winter, because the standard foam isn't quick-dry and there's no mesh drainage bottom to let water out.
Can I get a mesh drainage bottom on outdoor cushions?
Not as standard. For large premium projects the workshop has built cushions with a mesh drainage base, UV-resistant thread, a concealed zipper and firmer foam. If your cushions will sit fully in the open, ask about it before you order.
Do outdoor-fabric cushions work indoors too?
Yes. The outdoor fabrics are water-repellent and UV-resistant and work indoors as well, so the same cushion can move from a covered porch to a sunroom. Indoor fabrics such as linen, velvet and chenille don't work the other way around.
What should I do if an outdoor cushion gets soaked?
Stand it on its side so water can drain out of the foam, open the zipper a little to let air in, and dry it in sun and moving air. Standard foam holds water far longer than quick-dry foam, and foam left wet invites mildew, so don't stack, bag or store the cushion until it's dry right through.
