---
title: "Can Outdoor Cushions Stay Out in the Rain? Showers Yes, Snow No"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/leave-outdoor-cushions-outside-rain-snow-winter/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Callum Reid, The Weather Man of Casco Bay"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/"
published: "2026-07-17"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "can outdoor cushions stay out in the rain, outdoor cushions winter storage, water-repellent outdoor cushions, quick-dry foam outdoor cushion, mesh bottom outdoor cushion"
---

# Can I leave my outdoor cushions out in rain and snow all year?

*Rain doesn't negotiate. Know what the fabric can take, and what the foam inside it can't.*

Also asked as: Can they be left out in sun and rain?; Are your outdoor cushions weatherproof?

> **The 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.

![Three ivory box cushions with mustard, navy and taupe stripes stacked on a rough stone wall beneath olive trees](https://cushionguide.com/media/outdoor-cushions/ivory-striped-cushion-stack-dry-stone-wall-olive-trees-1600.webp "Against rough limestone, thick piped cushions show how a soft stripe can take the edge off a hard garden wall.")

## 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.

## 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 |

## 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](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#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](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/outdoor-cushions/) to leave uncovered in rain and snow. On a [covered porch](https://cushionguide.com/guides/indoor-cushions-covered-porch/) they do very well. Before snow, bring them in; the [winter storage Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/outdoor-cushion-care-winter-storage/) 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](https://cushionguide.com/guides/dry-fast-foam-outdoor-cushions/) explains how outdoor fill differs.

> **Tailor's margin:** Outdoor cushions with standard foam belong on a covered porch in wet spells and indoors after the first frost; the fabric is water-repellent, the foam isn't quick-dry.

> 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 answer:** Yes, 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 answer:** No. 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 answer:** No. 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 answer:** No, 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.

## Related at the atelier

- [Do you carry name-brand outdoor fabric, or something similar?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/outdoor-performance-fabric-alternative/): No, the workshop doesn't carry the Sunbrella brand; outdoor cushions are made in its own outdoor performance fabric instead.
- [Can I use your linen, velvet or chenille cushions outside?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/indoor-fabric-cushions-outdoors-linen-velvet-chenille/): No: linen, velvet, chenille and the other indoor-listing fabrics are not made for open-air use.
- [Are your outdoor cushions waterproof or just water-resistant?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/waterproof-outdoor-cushions-water-resistant-fabric/): Outdoor cushions are made from a dedicated water-repellent outdoor fabric that handles rain showers and spills well, but it is water-resistant rather than a sealed, coated material.
- [Dry-fast foam for outdoor cushions: when you need it and when you don't](https://cushionguide.com/guides/dry-fast-foam-outdoor-cushions/): Insist on dry-fast (reticulated) foam when outdoor cushions stay out uncovered: on an open deck, by the pool, or through a rainy season.
- [Outdoor Bench Cushions in Sand Beige: Teak, Brick and Roses](https://cushionguide.com/readings/sand-beige-teak-loveseat-cushions-brick-roses/): Sand beige outdoor bench cushions suit a teak loveseat against brick because the color sits between the wood and the pale roses, so the bench blends in instead of standing apart.
- [Outdoor cushion care: cleaning, drying and storing them for winter](https://cushionguide.com/guides/outdoor-cushion-care-winter-storage/): Outdoor cushion care comes down to keeping them clean and dry: brush off debris, wash zip-off covers at 86°F (30°C) on a gentle cycle, air dry them, and stand cushions on edge after rain.

*Fair winds — Callum*

---

Written by Callum Reid (https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/) 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/leave-outdoor-cushions-outside-rain-snow-winter/