--- title: "Tufted Outdoor Cushion: Fine Under Cover, Wrong for the Pool" url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/tufted-cushions-outdoor-use/" section: "The Cutting Table" author: "Callum Reid, The Weather Man of Casco Bay" author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/" published: "2026-04-20" updated: "2026-04-20" keywords: "tufted outdoor cushion, tufted cushion in outdoor fabric, pool deck cushion, fire pit cushion, outdoor floor cushion" --- # Can a tufted cushion be made for outdoor use? *It can be sewn. Whether it should live outside depends on where the rain lands.* Also asked as: Would you recommend this to go outdoors?; Tufted and outdoor, is that possible? > **The quick answer:** A tufted cushion can be made in outdoor fabric, but the tufting lets water inside even when the fabric is outdoor-grade. By a pool, a fire pit or anywhere that gets wet, choose a non-tufted, foam-filled cushion in outdoor fabric; zippered outdoor versions are made without tufting. Tufted outdoor pieces suit covered, drier spots. ![Stack of three white outdoor cushions in navy, taupe and coral stripes on terracotta tiles beside potted rosemary and thyme](https://cushionguide.com/media/outdoor-cushions/striped-outdoor-cushion-stack-potted-herbs-terracotta-1600.webp "Kept stacked in a corner among the herb pots, spare outdoor cushions double as extra seats when friends arrive.") ## Key facts - Tufted shapes can be made in outdoor fabric. - A tufted cushion lets water inside even in outdoor fabric. - For wet spots, the advice is a non-tufted, foam-filled cushion in outdoor fabric. - Zippered outdoor versions are made without tufting. - Water-repellent outdoor fabrics are offered for cushions left out in all weather. - The outdoor fabric range includes darker greens. ## “Can you make the tufted one for outside?” Yes. The same tufted shapes are sewn in the outdoor fabric range, which has its own color chart and runs to darker greens, and in the water-repellent outdoor fabrics. The tufted [floor cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/floor-cushions/) with a handle has been quoted in outdoor fabric at 24 x 48 in (61 x 122 cm) and 24 x 52 in (61 x 132 cm). So the question isn't the fabric. It's the spot where the cushion will spend its summer. ## “It's going by the pool and the fire pit” Then think again, friend. Rain doesn't negotiate, and neither does a cannonball splash. The fabric can be outdoor-grade and a tufted cushion still lets water inside. For wet spots the workshop recommends a non-tufted, foam-filled cushion in outdoor fabric, such as [outdoor acrylic](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/outdoor-acrylic/). Zippered [outdoor cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/outdoor-cushions/) are made without tufting anyway, and [fire pit bench cushions](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/fire-pit-bench-cushions/) follow the same rule. Where does the water land on your patio when a storm blows through? ## Where the cushion lives, and what to order | Spot | Best choice | Why | |---|---|---| | Covered porch or dry corner | Tufted shape in outdoor fabric | Little water reaches it | | Pool deck, fire pit, open patio | Non-tufted, foam-filled, outdoor fabric | Tufting lets water inside | | Out in all weather | Water-repellent outdoor fabric | Offered for cushions left out | | You want a removable cover | Zippered outdoor version | Made without tufting | > **Tailor's margin:** A tufted cushion lets water inside even in outdoor fabric, so by a pool or fire pit, choose a non-tufted, foam-filled outdoor cushion instead. > Outdoor fabric doesn't make a tufted cushion rainproof: tufting still lets water inside, so tufted pieces belong in covered, drier spots. > > — Callum Reid ## Buyer questions **A common question:** Can I keep a tufted cushion out by the pool and the fire pit? **The workshop's answer:** A tufted cushion will let water inside even with outdoor fabric. A non-tufted, foam-filled cushion in outdoor fabric is fine for outdoor use. **A common question:** Do you have outdoor fabric, and can the same tufted style be made for outside? **The workshop's answer:** Yes. There's a separate outdoor fabric range with its own color chart, including darker greens, and the same shape is made in it. For cushions left out in all weather, water-repellent outdoor fabrics are offered. **A common question:** Can the tufted cushion with the handle be made in outdoor fabric? **The workshop's answer:** Yes. It has been quoted in outdoor fabric at 24 x 48 in and at 24 x 52 in. **A common question:** Are the outdoor cushions waterproof, or only water resistant? **The workshop's answer:** They're made from a dedicated water-repellent outdoor fabric range that handles showers and spills well, with outdoor-suitable inserts. It's water-resistant rather than sealed, so store the cushions indoors in the off-season. ## Questions buyers ask next ### Does waterproof fabric solve the tufting problem? Not for wet spots. Water-repellent outdoor fabric is offered for cushions left out in all weather, but the workshop's advice for a pool deck or fire pit stays the same: a non-tufted, foam-filled cushion, because tufting lets water inside. ### Can an outdoor tufted cushion have a zipper? No. Tufted cushions are sewn closed around their filling, and zippered outdoor versions are made without tufting. If you want a cover you can take off and wash, choose the plain foam-filled outdoor cushion. ### What should I do with outdoor cushions in winter? Bring them in. The outdoor fabric is water-resistant rather than sealed, so the workshop's advice is to store cushions indoors during the off-season, tufted or not. ## Related at the atelier - [Can you make a round tufted floor cushion in a custom size?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/custom-round-tufted-floor-cushion/): Yes, round tufted French floor cushions are made in custom diameters; 38 in (97 cm) and 43¼ in (110 cm) rounds are on record. - [Do you have teddy, sherpa or bouclé fabric for cushions?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/teddy-boucle-sherpa-cushion-fabric/): Teddy fabric, with its own color chart, is the closest match to bouclé, and a curly, knotted bouclé collection coded 0- appears on the trapezoid listing. - [Two tufting buttons came off my cushion. What do I do with the string?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/reattach-tufting-button-floor-cushion-2/): Sew the tufting button back on with one of the spare buttons included in every order. - [Tufted bench cushion or plain? Buttons, looks and washability](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-cushions/): Choose a tufted bench cushion for a hand-finished, sculpted look, and a plain zippered foam cushion if the cover must come off for washing. - [Caring for a tufted cushion: re-sewing a button and cleaning by hand](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-cushion-care-buttons-cleaning/): To clean a tufted cushion, spot clean it where it sits: vacuum the surface, blot any spill, wipe gently with a damp cloth and a little mild soap and water, then let it dry flat. - [Hearth cushions: softening the stone in front of the fire](https://cushionguide.com/concepts/fireplace-hearth-cushions/): A hearth cushion is a made-to-measure floor cushion that covers the raised stone in front of a fireplace, as a soft guard for a toddler or a fireside seat, and it comes off whenever the fire is lit. - [Bouclé and teddy cushions: living with loops, snags and pets](https://cushionguide.com/guides/boucle-teddy-cushions-snags-care/) - [Tufted floor cushion couch sets: what's in the set and which size to choose](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-floor-couch-set-sizes/) *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/tufted-cushions-outdoor-use/