---
title: "Tufted Cushion Price: Why Hand Tufting Costs More"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/tufted-vs-plain-cushion-price/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Rosa Delgado, The Porch Keeper of Savannah"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/rosa/"
published: "2026-08-24"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "tufted cushion price, tufted vs plain cushion cost, untufted floor cushion, tufted daybed mattress, hand tufted bench cushion"
---

# Why does a tufted cushion cost more than a plain foam one?

*Folks fall for the buttons first and read the quote second. Here is what the extra money buys, and what to do when a tufted set runs past the budget.*

Also asked as: What's the price difference between tufted and foam filled?; Do you do tufting on these?

> **The quick answer:** A tufted cushion costs more because every tuft is set by hand, and in three past quotes that added about a third to a half over the same size in plain foam. If a tufted set runs over budget, a non-tufted, foam-filled cushion is the cheaper route, and the workshop can send photos of the untufted style before you decide.

![Stack of cream, sage, woven-stripe and caramel bouclé bench cushions with contrast piping on a light oak bench](https://cushionguide.com/media/bench-cushions/cream-sage-caramel-boucle-bench-cushions-mixed-piping-stack-1600.webp "Cream with caramel piping, sage with a cream welt, a woven stripe and a plain caramel base: four ways to finish the same box cushion.")

## Key facts

- Tufting is done fully by hand.
- In three past quotes, tufted cushions ran about a third to a half above the same size untufted.
- A non-tufted, foam-filled cushion is the cheaper alternative.
- Untufted floor cushions can be quoted lower, and photos of the untufted style are available on request.
- One tufted daybed mattress with a round bolster was quoted at about 10-12 business days, production plus delivery.
- A French-style tufted seat set includes its backrests and armrests.

## Same cushion, two finishes: what real quotes showed

| Order | Plain or foam-filled | Tufted |
|---|---|---|
| Three dining bench cushions | The base quote | About 47% more |
| A replacement floor cushion | The base quote | At least a third more |
| Floor cushion, 63 x 35.5 in (160 x 90 cm) | The base quote | About 40% more |
| French-style seat, 70 x 28 x 3 in (178 x 71 x 7.5 cm) | Non-tufted foam is the cheaper route | Backrests and armrests come with the set |

## Where the extra money goes

Pull up a chair, neighbor. Tufting is done fully by hand: each tuft is pulled down through the filling and set, one at a time, across the whole top of the cushion. A plain foam cushion is cut, covered and closed. That difference in hours is the difference in the quote.

In the real quotes behind this Answer, tufted landed between a third and a half above the same size untufted, on [bench cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bench-cushions/), floor cushions and [daybed cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/daybed-cushions/) alike.

If you're torn, the [tufted vs. plain Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/tufted-vs-plain-cushions/) walks through the look and feel of each, and the glossary entry on [tufting](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#tufting) covers the styles. So which matters more on your bench, the buttons or the budget?

## A daybed, a round bolster and a 10-day clock

A buyer in the US wanted the full tufted look on a daybed: a mattress of 75.9 x 35 x 4.5 in (193 x 89 x 11.5 cm) with a round bolster 6.25 in (16 cm) across and 35 in (89 cm) long. The workshop priced it through the tufted listing and gave an honest clock: about 10-12 business days for production plus delivery. The buyer knew what the buttons cost in money and in days before saying yes, and that is exactly how it ought to go.

## Tufted or plain: a porch-step checklist

- ✓ Ask for both quotes on the same size; in the three past quotes above, the gap ran a third to a half.
- ✓ Over budget on a tufted French-style set? Ask for the non-tufted, foam-filled version.
- ✓ Want to see untufted before you decide? The workshop sends photos of that style.
- ✓ Pricing a tufted seat set? The backrests and armrests are already in it.
- ✓ Working to a date? Tufting is handwork, so give your date up front and ask for the production time with the quote.

> **Tailor's margin:** A tufted cushion is set by hand, tuft by tuft, so it costs more than the same size in plain foam; in three past quotes, about a third to a half more.

> A tufted cushion costs more because the tufting is done fully by hand; three real quotes ran a third to a half above plain foam.
>
> — Rosa

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** The tufted French-style set is over my budget. Is there a cheaper way to go?

**The workshop's answer:** The tufted quote for a 70 x 28 x 3 in (178 x 71 x 7.5 cm) seat already included its backrests and armrests. The cheaper alternative is a non-tufted, foam-filled cushion in the same size.

**A common question:** Why is the tufted version so much more than the plain foam one?

**The workshop's answer:** Tufting is done fully by hand. For three dining bench cushions, tufted came in about 47% above foam-filled, and a replacement floor cushion was at least a third more tufted than plain.

**A common question:** What's the difference between a tufted and a non-tufted custom floor cushion?

**The workshop's answer:** For a bespoke 63 x 35.5 in (160 x 90 cm) floor cushion, tufted came in about 40% above non-tufted. The workshop can send photos of the non-tufted style so you can compare.

**A common question:** Are large untufted floor cushions cheaper than tufted ones?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Tufted floor cushions were quoted at 71 x 31.5 x 12 in (180 x 80 x 30 cm) and 47 x 31.5 x 12 in (120 x 80 x 30 cm), and the workshop said it could offer better prices on untufted versions.

**A common question:** Does a thicker cushion cost more?

**The workshop's answer:** A little, between 2 and 5 in (5-13 cm), where length and width matter more and thin cushions aren't much cheaper. Very tall pieces cost far more: a 12 in (30 cm) cushion was listed at twice the 6 in (15 cm) price.

## Questions buyers ask next

### How long does a tufted daybed mattress take to arrive?

One tufted daybed mattress with a round bolster was quoted at about 10-12 business days for production plus delivery. Tufting is handwork, so share any deadline with the workshop and get your own dates in writing before you order.

### Does a tufted French-style seat set come with backrests?

Yes. A French-style tufted seat set includes its backrests and armrests, so the quote covers the whole set rather than the seat alone. If it runs over budget, a non-tufted, foam-filled cushion is the lower-cost option.

### Will a sale price still hold if I wait a week or two to order?

Not reliably: sales come and go, and the workshop sets them. Ordering fabric samples first is still wise, and if a sale ends before you order, ask the workshop; an expired sale has been switched back on for a buyer who missed it, but that was a courtesy, not a rule.

## Related at the atelier

- [How much is a custom daybed or twin-size floor mattress cushion?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/custom-daybed-twin-floor-mattress-cushion-cost/): A custom daybed cushion is quoted by its size, and standard mattress sizes are fine: twin (38 × 73 in), twin XL (38 × 80 in) and a UK double, about 53 × 75 in (135 × 190 cm), have all been made.
- [How much is a zippered cover only for a daybed mattress?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/daybed-mattress-cover-only-price/): A zippered daybed mattress cover can be ordered on its own, priced by its size: choose the 'cover' or 'mattress cover' option on the daybed listing, then write the exact size, such as 75 x 39 x 5…
- [With pets or kids, should I get a tufted cushion or a removable cover?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/untufted-removable-cover-cushion-pets-kids/): Choose an untufted cushion with a zippered, removable cover if you have pets or kids.
- [Daybed Cushion in Espresso with Beige Piping and a Knit Throw](https://cushionguide.com/readings/espresso-daybed-cushion-gallery-wall-knit-throw/): To mix patterns around a daybed cushion, give each layer one job: a plain dark fabric for the seat, a heavy texture on top, and pattern only on the rug and walls.
- [Daybed Cushion in Sage Linen-Look: What the Foam Does](https://cushionguide.com/readings/sage-green-daybed-cushion-brown-piping-rug/): A made-to-measure daybed cushion is built on high-density upholstery foam, a filling comfortable for sitting by day and sleeping at night.
- [Daybed Cushion in Chocolate Linen-Look on a Walnut Platform](https://cushionguide.com/readings/chocolate-daybed-walnut-platform-kilim-rug/): A chocolate daybed cushion on a walnut platform stays light because pattern arrives below and beside it: a rust-and-cream kilim on the floor and a folded plaid on the seat.
- [How to measure an IKEA Hemnes daybed: two stacked mattresses, one cover](https://cushionguide.com/guides/ikea-hemnes-daybed-cover-measuring/)
- [Standard cushion sizes, and when yours isn't one of them](https://cushionguide.com/guides/standard-cushion-sizes-chart/)

*Porch light's on — Rosa*

---

Written by Rosa Delgado (https://cushionguide.com/masters/rosa/) 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-vs-plain-cushion-price/