---
title: "Softer Foam for a Bench Cushion: 28 vs 32 Density"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/softer-foam-cushion-options/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Nate Kowalski, The Pattern Engineer of Detroit"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/nate/"
published: "2026-03-21"
updated: "2026-03-21"
keywords: "softer foam for bench cushion, 28 density foam cushion, plush bench cushion, Dacron wrapped foam, foam cushion firmness options"
---

# Can I get a softer, plusher bench cushion instead of firm foam?

*Firmness is a spec, not a mood. Change one number on the order and the seat changes character.*

Also asked as: Do you offer a softer foam firmness?; Plush sofa feel rather than a firm bench?

> **The quick answer:** Yes, a bench cushion can be made softer by asking for 28-density foam instead of the standard 32-density medium-firm foam. The 28 sits noticeably plusher, with a slight sink-in sofa feel, and keeps the same Dacron wrap. You can also add a 3/4 in (2 cm) wadding layer on top; feather-wrapped foam isn't offered.

![Black velvet bench cushion with ivory piping on a wooden entryway bench below coat hooks and a round mirror](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/black-velvet-entryway-bench-cushion-ivory-piping-1600.webp "Black velvet with an ivory welt: a hard-wearing, easy-to-brush choice for a busy front-door bench.")

## Key facts

- Standard foam is 32-density (32 kg/m³, about 2.0 lb/ft³), medium-firm, with a Dacron wrap.
- A softer 28-density foam (28 kg/m³, about 1.75 lb/ft³) is available on request.
- 28-density foam gives a plusher, slight sink-in sofa feel.
- To order it, write “28 DNS foam” with your color in the personalization box.
- A 3/4 in (2 cm) layer of volume wadding can be added over the foam.
- Feather-wrapped foam is not offered; a Dacron wrap is the alternative.
- Soft, draped seat pads are not made, because firm long-life foam won't drape.

## Ways to soften a seat, and two that aren't on the menu

| Option | What changes | How to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 32-density foam (standard) | Medium-firm, Dacron-wrapped | Nothing to add |
| 28-density foam | Plusher, slight sink-in sofa feel | Write “28 DNS foam” and your color in the personalization box |
| 3/4 in (2 cm) volume wadding | A soft layer over the foam | Ask in the note or by message |
| Dacron wrap on window-seat foam | Extra comfort on top | Ask with your order |
| Feather-wrapped foam | [no] Not offered | Dacron wrap instead |
| Soft, draped pads | [no] Not made: firm foam won't drape | Choose a foam cushion |

## Why the number on the order is density

The workshop names foam by density. “32 DNS” means about 32 kg per cubic meter, roughly 2.0 lb/ft³; the 28 is roughly 1.75 lb/ft³. That is a 4-point drop, about 12%, and it sits noticeably plusher.

The 28 comes from another product line and still supports everyday sitting. It is the softer choice for a [foam insert](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/foam-inserts/) on a bench you lounge on rather than perch on. Density and firmness are related but not the same thing, partner; the [density vs firmness pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/foam-density-vs-firmness-ild/) and the [foam firmness finder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/foam-firmness-finder/) sort out the difference.

How do you sit on your bench: upright to pull on boots, or curled up with a book?

## Ordering the softer build

1. **Order the cushion as normal**: Size, fabric and piping as usual.
2. **Name the foam**: Write “28 DNS foam” plus your color in the personalization box.
3. **Add a layer if you want more give**: 3/4 in (2 cm) of volume wadding went over the foam on a custom 15 3/4 x 44 x 4 in (40 x 112 x 10 cm) cushion.
4. **Skip the feathers**: Ask for a [Dacron wrap](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#dacron-wrap) instead.

> **Tailor's margin:** For a softer bench cushion, write “28 DNS foam” in the personalization box: it sits plusher than the standard 32-density medium-firm foam.

> A draped, slouchy seat pad needs a different filling; firm long-life foam at 32 density holds its shape and won't drape.
>
> — Nate

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Can I get a softer, sink-in sofa feel instead of a firm bench cushion?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. The standard foam is 32-density, medium-firm, with a Dacron wrap. A softer 28-density foam from another product line sits noticeably plusher with a slight sink-in character, still supports everyday seating, and gets the same wrap. Write “28 DNS foam” with your color in the personalization.

**A common question:** Can I get feather-wrapped foam, about 20% feather, for my window seat?

**The workshop's answer:** Feather-wrapped foam isn't offered, but the foam can be wrapped in Dacron for extra comfort, as it was on a 4 in (10 cm) thick trapezoid about 96 in (244 cm) long at the back and 19 in (49 cm) deep.

**A common question:** Can you add wadding or fleece on top of the foam?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. A 3/4 in (2 cm) layer of volume wadding over the foam was confirmed for a custom 15 3/4 x 44 x 4 in (40 x 112 x 10 cm) cushion.

**A common question:** Can you copy the soft, draped seat pads in my photo?

**The workshop's answer:** Not that style. Those pads use a different inner filling, and the workshop works only with 32-density long-life firm foam, which can't drape. It said so before production rather than promise a result it couldn't deliver.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Does a custom bench cushion come with the foam inside?

Yes. Standard custom cushions ship complete with a high-density foam insert in a zippered, washable cover. Covers-only is a separate, cheaper option with no filling.

### What foam goes into the floor sofa seats?

Floor sofa seats use 28-density (28 kg/m³) medium-hard high-density foam, sometimes quoted as 28-32, which the workshop says lasts for years without collapsing.

### Will a fiber-filled cushion go flat?

The workshop says it is practically impossible: about 8-10 kg (18-22 lb) of soft fiber clusters go into a 60 in (152 cm) cushion, dense enough for years of daily use and even sleeping.

### Will softer foam wear out sooner than the standard foam?

Generally a little sooner. Density is the best guide to how long foam holds its shape, and firmness is a separate property, so a lower-density foam chosen for softness gives up some durability. An extra wadding layer over the standard firm core softens the feel without changing the foam underneath, which is why it's often the better route on a seat used every day.

### For a reading window seat, is softer foam or an extra wadding layer the better choice?

It depends on the feel you want. A softer 28-density foam lets you sink in a little all the way through; an extra layer of polyester wadding, about 3/4 in (2 cm), keeps the firm 32-density core and only softens the surface. For long reading sessions on a thin window seat, the wadding keeps support without bottoming out.

## Related at the atelier

- [Can I get foam filling instead of silicone balls?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/foam-instead-of-silicone-ball-filling/): Foam filling is usually available on request instead of silicone balls, the standard fill in tufted cushions, and the shop may message after purchase to ask which you want.
- [Can the floor sofa be made with natural latex instead of foam?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/natural-latex-instead-of-foam-floor-sofa/): Yes, natural latex can replace the high-density foam in a floor sofa for an extra charge, quoted as the price difference for your size.
- [Is T28 ILD 42 foam softer than the T30 ILD 45 in the original teddy sofa?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/t28-ild-42-vs-t30-ild-45-sofa-foam/): T28 ILD 42 foam is slightly softer on paper than T30 ILD 45, but the workshop says the difference in feel and wear is almost nothing.
- [Dacron-wrapped foam: why a good cushion is cut slightly oversize](https://cushionguide.com/guides/dacron-wrapped-foam-cushion/): Dacron-wrapped foam is a firm foam core jacketed in polyester fiber batting before it goes into the cover, and it is cut slightly bigger than the cover on purpose.
- [Down-wrapped or all-foam? Choosing the top of a seat cushion](https://cushionguide.com/guides/down-wrapped-vs-foam-seat-cushions/): A down-wrapped cushion is a foam core inside an envelope of down and feather: sink-in soft, relaxed-looking and in need of regular plumping.
- [Foam density conversion: lb/ft³ to kg/m³ for cushion foam](https://cushionguide.com/guides/foam-density-lb-ft3-kg-m3/): To convert foam density, divide kg/m³ by 16.02 to get lb/ft³, or multiply lb/ft³ by 16.02 for kg/m³.
- [Foam density vs firmness: why a dense foam can still feel soft](https://cushionguide.com/guides/foam-density-vs-firmness-ild/)

*± 1/4 in — Nate*

---

Written by Nate Kowalski (https://cushionguide.com/masters/nate/) 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/softer-foam-cushion-options/