The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Is one long back cushion better than several shorter ones?
Also asked as:One 50 inch back cushion and two pillows instead?One backrest rather than four cushions?
One long cushion looks tidy on paper. On a real bench, the shorter ones sit better, and the switch costs you nothing.
SaveThe quick answer
Several shorter back cushions usually beat one long one: two or three per wall sit better and stay in place. One long backrest isn't cheaper either; four backs for a 72 in (182 cm) porch swing cost the same as one full-length back. Very long spans, like a 79 in (2 m) sofa backrest, are split into two 39 in (100 cm) pieces.
Get a quote for a banquette cushion
One long back against several, on the same bench
| One long back | Several shorter backs | |
|---|---|---|
| Staying in place | Harder to keep put | Sits better and stays put |
| Price | No saving | The same as one long back |
| The line along the wall | Often needs small pillows to fill out | Cleaner: equal backs on one seat |
| A 79 in (2 m) span | Split on advice | Two 39 in (100 cm) pieces |
Key facts
- Two or three back cushions per wall sit better and stay in place better than one long one.
- One long backrest costs the same as several shorter pieces.
- Four 18 x 21.5 in (45.5 x 55 cm) backs for a 72 in (182 cm) swing cost the same as one full-length back.
- Two equal backs on one seat beat one 50 in (127 cm) back plus two small pillows.
- A 79 in (2 m) round-roll backrest, 10 in (25 cm) across, can be split into two 39 x 10 x 10 in (100 x 25 x 25 cm) pieces.
- Short backrest pillows, e.g. 25 in (64 cm) wide at the standard 15.75 in (40 cm) height, can sit at the bench ends only.
Have it made
Have Harlan’s workshop cut this for you
Fabric has a temper and foam has a memory. Better to settle both in a conversation than to guess at them alone. — Harlan
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.
What the porch swing quote showed
A buyer asked the workshop to price the backs for a 72 in (182 cm) porch swing two ways: one full-length backrest, or four cushions 18 in (45.5 cm) wide and 21.5 in (55 cm) tall. The figure came back the same, foam inserts and shipping included. So the choice comes down to how the backs sit, and four sit better than one.
A seam is a promise, my friend, and a short cushion has less wall to bridge while it keeps it. See porch swing cushions for the seats underneath.
Two equal backs, not one long one and two pillows
On a back bench, one buyer planned a single 50 in (127 cm) back cushion with two small pillows at the ends. The workshop suggested two equal back cushions on the one seat instead: the cleaner line, and easier to keep in place. For a banquette or a kitchen nook, the back cushion height Pattern and keeping backs upright are worth your time.
When you only lean at the ends
Some benches sit between two walls. Then skip the full length: order two short backrest cushions, say 25 in (64 cm) wide each at the standard 15.75 in (40 cm) height, and write that in the personalization note. Round rolls work too; a 79 in (2 m) sofa backrest of 10 in (25 cm) rolls went out as two 39 in (100 cm) pieces. How long is the wall behind your bench?
If a bench backrest runs 79 in (2 m), split it into two 39 in (100 cm) pieces; two short backs sit better and cost no more than one long one.
Harlan
Buyer questions
- A common question
One long back cushion plus two small pillows, or two back cushions on my bench?
The workshop's answerTwo back cushions on the one seat cushion. It's the cleaner arrangement and easier to keep in place than a single 50 in back cushion plus two small pillows.
- A common question
Can I get two short backrests for the bench ends instead of one full-length one?
The workshop's answerYes. Write in the personalization note that you want 2 backrest pillows, each 25 in wide (or your width), to sit against the walls at both ends. Standard backrest pillows are about 15.75 in (40 cm) tall.
- A common question
Does the swing cushion include backs, and is one long backrest cheaper?
The workshop's answerThe outdoor bench listing is for the seat only; backs are quoted separately. For one 72 in (182 cm) swing, four back cushions 18 in wide and 21.5 in tall were quoted at the same price as one full-length backrest, foam inserts and shipping included.
- A common question
Will a back cushion stand up on its own without a wall?
The workshop's answerIt needs support. Standard backrests lean against a wall or cabinet. For floor cushion sets with no wall behind, the workshop can add free metal frames, or build a wooden back frame on request.
Questions buyers ask next
How tall is a standard backrest pillow for a bench?
About 15.75 in (40 cm). The width is yours to choose: order each backrest at the width of the section it covers, and write the size, the fabric code and the word 'backrest' in the order note.
Can a round roll backrest be made very long?
It can be made long, but long spans get split. A 79 in (2 m) sofa backrest of 10 in (25 cm) round rolls was made as two 39 x 10 x 10 in (100 x 25 x 25 cm) pieces.
Do the back cushions have to match the seat length?
No. Backrests can be shorter than the seat, and each is added as its own item at its own size. Two or three per wall is the usual advice for a banquette or a long bench.
