---
title: "Does Outdoor Cushion Fabric Feel Plastic? Soft vs Sturdy"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/outdoor-fabric-feel-soft-or-plastic/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Callum Reid, The Weather Man of Casco Bay"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/"
published: "2026-06-17"
updated: "2026-06-17"
keywords: "does outdoor cushion fabric feel plastic, soft outdoor cushion fabric, outdoor fabric vs indoor fabric, outdoor cushion comfort, waterproof outdoor cushion fabric"
---

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

*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.*

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

> **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.

![Teal, coral and gray geometric mosaic print seat and back cushions on a low-back teak bench on a wooden deck](https://cushionguide.com/media/outdoor-cushions/teal-mosaic-print-low-back-teak-porch-bench-1600.webp "A low-back teak bench on a porch gets seat and back cushions in a lively teal and coral geometric print.")

## 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.

## Outdoor fabric next to indoor upholstery

| Question | Outdoor fabric | Indoor upholstery |
|---|---|---|
| Does it feel plastic? | No; it isn't a coated fabric | No |
| How soft? | Firmer, close to a good sun-lounger cushion | Softer; velvet feels plush |
| Water-repellent? | Yes, and highly UV-resistant | No; standard indoor fabrics aren't waterproof |
| Built for | Outdoor durability first | Indoor comfort first |

## 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](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/outdoor-cushions/) hub covers the first, [acrylic, olefin or polyester](https://cushionguide.com/guides/outdoor-cushion-fabric-acrylic-olefin-polyester/) explains the fibers, and the [outdoor fabric Swatch Library](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/outdoor-acrylic/) 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.

> **Tailor's margin:** Outdoor cushion fabric feels like cloth, not a tarp, but it is firmer than velvet: think of a good sun-lounger cushion.

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

## Buyer questions

**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.

**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.

**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.

**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.

## Related at the atelier

- [Why do outdoor cushions cost more than indoor cushions?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/outdoor-cushion-price-vs-indoor-fabric/): Outdoor cushions cost more because the outdoor fabric is premium: water-repellent and highly UV- and sun-resistant, so it can live outside.
- [Is your regular cushion fabric waterproof?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/standard-cushion-fabric-waterproof/): No, the standard cushion fabrics are indoor fabrics and are not waterproof.
- [Can I get this cushion in outdoor fabric if the listing only shows indoor fabrics?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/order-any-cushion-in-outdoor-fabric/): Yes, most cushions can be made in outdoor-rated, water-resistant fabric even when the listing shows only indoor fabrics.
- [Outdoor Bench Cushion Pour Test: Where to Spend, Where to Save](https://cushionguide.com/readings/coral-stripe-cushion-water-pour-test/): On an outdoor bench cushion, spend on outdoor-rated fabric for every panel the weather reaches, because indoor fabrics are for indoor use only.
- [Outdoor Bench Cushion Fastening: Ties, Non-Slip Base, Zipper](https://cushionguide.com/readings/saffron-terracotta-teal-basketweave-cushion-stack/): An outdoor bench cushion stays put in one of three ways: ties knotted around a slat, a non-slip base panel, or a snug fit with nothing added.
- [UV-resistant outdoor cushion fabric compared: solution-dyed acrylic, olefin, polyester](https://cushionguide.com/guides/outdoor-cushion-fabric-acrylic-olefin-polyester/): Solution-dyed acrylic holds color longest and feels softest, olefin resists stains by nature but feels rougher, and batch-dyed polyester costs least and fades soonest, all within a 1,000 to…
- [Can indoor cushions go on a covered or screened porch?](https://cushionguide.com/guides/indoor-cushions-covered-porch/)

*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/outdoor-fabric-feel-soft-or-plastic/