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The Cutting Table · compared on the table

Does the outdoor fabric feel plasticky, or soft like indoor fabric?

Also asked as:I don't want that plastic waterproof feelIs the outdoor fabric comfortable?

It's cloth, not a tarp. It isn't velvet either. Here's where it sits between the two, and what that means if it's coming indoors.

Answered by

The Weather Man of Casco Bay ·

Teal, coral and gray geometric mosaic print seat and back cushions on a low-back teak bench on a wooden deckSave
A low-back teak bench on a porch gets seat and back cushions in a lively teal and coral geometric print.

The quick answer

Outdoor cushion fabric here does not feel plastic: it is not the coated, waterproof-plastic kind, and it handles like proper fabric rather than a tarp. It is firmer and less soft than indoor upholstery or velvet, closer to a good sun-lounger cushion, and comfort feedback from buyers has been consistently positive.

Get a quote for an outdoor bench cushion

Outdoor fabric next to indoor upholstery

QuestionOutdoor fabricIndoor upholstery
Does it feel plastic?No; it isn't a coated fabricNo
How soft?Firmer, close to a good sun-lounger cushionSofter; velvet feels plush
Water-repellent?Yes, and highly UV-resistantNo; standard indoor fabrics aren't waterproof
Built forOutdoor durability firstIndoor comfort first

Key facts

  • The outdoor fabrics are not coated or plastic-like.
  • They feel like proper fabric, not a tarp.
  • They are less soft than indoor upholstery or velvet.
  • The texture is close to a good sun-lounger cushion.
  • Comfort feedback has been consistently positive.
  • The fabric is designed above all for outdoor durability.
  • The outdoor range has about 150 to 200 colors across several charts, all woven polyester with water-repellent and UV-resistant finishes.
  • Outdoor cushions are quoted at the standard 4 in (10 cm) thickness, and 3 to 4 in is advised for outdoor benches.
  • Under the fabric, seat and bench cushions use 32-density foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), medium-firm to firm.

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Short list: size, sun hours, how fast it has to dry. The workshop goes through it with you. — 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.

Fabric · Foam · Pipingwhat the workshop will confirm with you

Fabric
The outdoor fabrics are not coated or plastic-like.
Foam
Under the fabric, seat and bench cushions use 32-density foam, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32…
Piping
The corded seam edge: matching, contrast or none.
Only for this request: no marketing calls or texts. Outside the US, add the country code.
In inches: length × depth × thickness, plus any angles or cut corners.

* Required. A member of the workshop team will call you to talk it through; nothing is charged and nothing is made until you have agreed on every detail with them.

We use these details only to answer this request and make your cushion: your name and contact details, the cushion details and photos you send, the page you came from and the ad or link that brought you, if any. The workshop that makes the cushions receives them. We don't sell them or share them for advertising, and we delete requests after 24 months. Privacy notice for requests.

Nothing is made or charged until you approve the details.

Want to pick the shape and add photos? Use the full quote form

Why it's firmer than your sofa

I've sat on plenty of cushions that squeaked like a raincoat, friend. These aren't those. The outdoor fabrics are not the plastic, waterproof-coated kind. Run a hand across one and it feels like proper cloth, not a tarp.

It is firmer, though. It won't feel as velvety as indoor upholstery, and I won't pretend otherwise. The closest comparison is a good sun-lounger cushion. That's the job: build it for the worst day of the season, and every other day is a gift.

Comfort feedback has been consistently positive. The one caution is daily indoor use. If this will be your everyday sofa cushion inside, you're trading a little softness for durability.

Is your cushion going outside, or is it an indoor seat that sees the odd spill? The outdoor cushions hub covers the first, acrylic, olefin or polyester explains the fibers, and the outdoor fabric Swatch Library shows the colors.

What the outdoor fabric is, and isn't

  • Proper fabric, not a coated plastic or a tarp.
  • Firmer than indoor upholstery, close to a good sun-lounger cushion.
  • Less velvety than a standard indoor fabric.
  • Rated comfortable by buyers, consistently.
  • Made first for outdoor durability, worth weighing for everyday indoor use.

Outdoor cushion fabric is not the coated plastic kind: it handles like real cloth, a little firmer than indoor upholstery.

Callum
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Buyer questions

  1. A common question

    Does your outdoor fabric feel rubbery, like cheap waterproof cushions?

    The workshop's answer

    No. The outdoor fabrics aren't the plastic, coated kind; they feel like proper fabric, not a tarp. They're less soft than indoor upholstery, closer to a good sun-lounger cushion, which is worth knowing for everyday indoor use.

  2. A common question

    Is the outdoor fabric as cozy as the indoor ones?

    The workshop's answer

    Not quite. It won't feel as velvety as a standard indoor fabric, but it's still comfortable, and feedback has been consistently positive. It's designed as a durable outdoor material.

  3. A common question

    Is your regular cushion fabric waterproof?

    The workshop's answer

    No, the standard fabrics are indoor fabrics and aren't waterproof. For spill-prone indoor seating there's a water-repellent collection that sheds spills, and a separate outdoor range for cushions used outside.

  4. A common question

    Is there a striped fabric that works outdoors?

    The workshop's answer

    Yes. Outdoor stripes such as V-38 are water-repellent and UV-resistant. The cotton stripes and ticking are indoor-only.

Questions buyers ask next

Can I use outdoor fabric on an indoor bench cushion?

Yes, any cushion can be made in outdoor fabric. Just weigh the trade: it is firmer and less velvety than indoor upholstery, so for a seat you lounge on every day, handle a sample of the fabric first.

Is the outdoor fabric UV-resistant as well as water-repellent?

Yes. The outdoor range is water-repellent and highly UV-resistant, which is part of why it costs a little more than indoor fabric. Durability is the design priority, ahead of softness.

Should a fully covered porch get indoor fabric instead?

It can. For a fully covered area the workshop can re-quote the cushions in a cheaper indoor fabric, which feels softer. Indoor fabric isn't waterproof, so choose it only where rain never reaches the seat.