---
title: "Swing Bed Cushions: Mattress, Back and Two Bolsters"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/concepts/swing-bed-cushions/"
section: "Concept Sketches"
author: "Callum Reid, The Weather Man of Casco Bay"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/callum/"
published: "2026-04-20"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "swing bed cushion, daybed swing cushion, swing bed mattress, outdoor swing bed cushions, porch swing bed cushion, swing bed bolsters, hanging daybed cushion"
---

# Swing beds and daybed swings: the four-piece set

*A swing bed is a mattress hung from a beam, and it lives in the weather. Nine past orders, and what each taught us about the set, the cloth and the off-season.*

> **The quick answer:** A swing bed cushion is usually a four-piece set: a mattress cut to the platform, a back cushion and two cylinder bolsters, ordered together so all four come from one fabric batch. The mattress is 4 in (10 cm) thick as standard, 6 or 8 in on request. Under open sky, use water-repellent outdoor fabric and bring the set indoors for the off-season.

![Charcoal, taupe and ivory striped mattress cushion with two bolster pillows on a teak garden daybed on the lawn](https://cushionguide.com/media/chaise-and-sunbed-cushions/charcoal-striped-garden-daybed-cushion-twin-bolsters-1600.webp "A long striped mattress and two matching bolsters turn a teak garden daybed into a lawn-side lounger.")

## A mattress on chains, out in the weather

A swing bed spends more nights outside than you do. Sideways rain under the porch roof. Noon sun on the front edge. Pollen, dogs, somebody's wet swimsuit.

So a [swing bed cushion](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/porch-swing-cushions/) is really a set. A mattress cut to the platform. A back cushion. Two cylinder bolsters for the arms. Order all four together and they come off one fabric batch. Order one a season later and you're matching by eye.

The nine orders below are past projects, a few for buyers in the US. The sizes are theirs, exactly. One question before you read on, friend: is your swing bed under a roof or under open sky?

## Nine swing beds, rain and all

### 01. Back and bolsters off the same bolt

![Denim blue linen-look daybed cushion and bolster with navy piping on an oak storage platform in a white room](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/denim-blue-daybed-seat-bolster-navy-piping-1536.webp "Navy piping traces the round end of the bolster and the box edge of the seat, giving a casual blue a tailored finish.")

A buyer wrote in about an outdoor daybed swing that needed a back cushion and two matching cylinder armrests. They ordered all three at once, so every piece came from the same fabric batch.

**The takeaway:** Order mattress, back and both bolsters in one go, even if one piece could wait.

> **Tailor's margin:** Swing bed cushions ordered as one set of four come from one fabric batch, so the colors match.

### 02. Soft backs for an indoor hanging swing

![Close-up of an ecru linen-look daybed cushion and bolster with taupe piping, stoneware mug and open magazine](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/ecru-daybed-seat-bolster-detail-taupe-piping-1536.webp "Up close, the taupe welt shows how neatly the bolster's round end and the seat's box edge are finished.")

A buyer messaged the workshop about an indoor hanging swing. They wanted the back support as one back pillow and two bolsters, soft-filled rather than firm foam. Out of the rain, softness is a choice you're free to make.

**The takeaway:** Under a roof, fiber-filled backs and bolsters give a swing the lounging feel.

> **Tailor's margin:** Indoor hanging swing backs can be one soft-filled back pillow plus two bolsters instead of firm foam.

### 03. A 51 x 82 inch platform and the thickness question

![Thick oatmeal bouclé box cushion on a low oak platform daybed in a sunlit garden room with monstera plants](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/oatmeal-boucle-daybed-cushion-oak-platform-sunroom-848.webp "A deep oatmeal bouclé cushion turns a low oak platform into a daybed for a plant-filled garden room.")

A buyer got in touch with a wooden swing platform, 51 x 82 in (130 x 208 cm), with a backrest. The mattress is 4 in (10 cm) as standard, 6 or 8 in (15 or 20 cm) on request, and an oversized piece costs more at every step up.

**The takeaway:** Choose thickness by use: 4 in for sitting, more if the swing is where the afternoon nap happens.

> **Tailor's margin:** Swing bed mattresses are 4 in thick as standard; 6 or 8 in is made on request and costs more.

### 04. Mustard-gold under open sky

![Water droplets beading and splashing off a green and white geometric outdoor sun lounger cushion by a pool](https://cushionguide.com/media/chaise-and-sunbed-cushions/water-beading-green-geometric-outdoor-lounger-cushion-1600.webp "A splash test: droplets sit on the surface of the woven outdoor fabric instead of soaking straight in.")

A buyer in the US wanted an outdoor patio daybed, 52 x 28 x 4 in (132 x 71 x 10 cm), with a back cushion and two cylinder side pillows in a mustard-gold like the listing photo. The water-repellent version cost slightly more, and the outdoor chart's colors differ from the indoor velvet, so the workshop suggested the nearest outdoor code.

**The takeaway:** Pick the color from the outdoor chart, not from an indoor photo.

> **Tailor's margin:** For an outdoor swing bed, choose from the outdoor chart; indoor velvet shades like mustard-gold may not carry over.

### 05. The roof question on a pallet daybed

![Bottle green linen-look daybed cushion and bolster with brown piping on oak drawers, dried eucalyptus in a stone vase](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/bottle-green-daybed-detail-brown-welt-eucalyptus-1536.webp "Deep green and oak are an easy natural pair; the brown welt sits between them in tone.")

A buyer messaged the workshop about a pallet daybed on a covered patio, 41 x 64 in (104 x 163 cm). Before offering an indoor tufted velvet, the workshop asked one thing: is it really under a roof? It was. The carry handle went on the 41 in (104 cm) side.

**The takeaway:** Confirm the roof before choosing indoor cloth, and name the side that gets the handle.

> **Tailor's margin:** Under a confirmed roof, a pallet daybed can wear indoor velvet; name the carry-handle side, like the 41 in edge.

### 06. An 88-inch seat and a back to match

![Pistachio green and white kilim-pattern sun lounger cushion on a teak lounger on a wooden deck overlooking a lake](https://cushionguide.com/media/chaise-and-sunbed-cushions/pistachio-kilim-lounger-cushion-lakeside-deck-1600.webp "A lake cottage deck with green chairs and a moored boat; the pistachio pattern keeps the lounger in the same fresh green family.")

One buyer wrote in with an outdoor daybed: a seat about 88.6 x 25.6 in (225 x 65 cm) and a back about 88.6 x 25.2 in (225 x 64 cm). A back that long usually sits better as two or three cushions, and one long backrest isn't cheaper than several.

**The takeaway:** Split a long back into equal pieces; they stay in place better.

> **Tailor's margin:** An 88.6 in swing bed back sits better as two or three cushions than as one long piece.

### 07. A concrete daybed in two halves

![Sand linen-look daybed cushion and bolster, self piped, on a floating oak plinth over dark herringbone parquet](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/sand-daybed-cushion-floating-oak-plinth-1536.webp "Self piping and a floating plinth make the whole piece read as one soft block.")

A buyer wrote to the workshop with a concrete outdoor daybed about 9.8 x 8.3 ft (3 x 2.5 m). The workshop made it as two cushions, each about 58.8 x 99.4 x 5.9 in (149 x 252 x 15 cm), in premium outdoor fabric. Two halves carry, ship and store. One slab that size does none of it well.

**The takeaway:** On a big platform, agree the split line before anything is cut.

> **Tailor's margin:** A 9.8 x 8.3 ft concrete daybed was made as two outdoor cushions, each 58.8 x 99.4 x 5.9 in.

### 08. Folding a long cushion for winter

![Chocolate brown linen-look daybed cushion with sand piping and bolster, oatmeal knit throw and dried wheat in stoneware](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/chocolate-daybed-seat-sand-piping-wheat-stems-1536.webp "Light sand piping draws a fine line around a dark seat, matching the oak and the knit throw.")

A buyer asked whether one long outdoor cushion could be folded for storage without creasing. Yes: the foam is flexible enough to fold or roll. Bring it in before the first frost and it'll forgive you everything.

**The takeaway:** Fold or roll the mattress and store it indoors for the off-season.

> **Tailor's margin:** A long outdoor swing bed cushion can be folded or rolled for winter storage; the foam bends without creasing.

### 09. A twin daybed that mostly gets sat on

![White daybed with ivory linen-look mattress cover, back cushions and bolsters trimmed in sage piping, oak bookshelves behind](https://cushionguide.com/media/daybed-cushions/ivory-daybed-sage-piping-book-lined-library-1600.webp "Ivory linen-look covers trimmed in sage piping brighten a daybed set against oak bookshelves. The pale fabric balances the warm wood and packed shelves.")

A buyer in the US didn't want the full set. They needed a fitted cover for a 39 x 75 x 11.5 in (99 x 191 x 29 cm) twin mattress in green corduroy, one long back firm enough to sit upright against, and one armrest bolster. The workshop made the back and bolster foam-filled for structure and sent photos of its backrest models first.

**The takeaway:** If people mostly sit, ask for foam-filled backs instead of loose fiber.

> **Tailor's margin:** If a swing bed is mostly for sitting, ask for a foam-filled back cushion instead of loose fiber fill.

## Under a roof or under the sky: how the set changes

Draft the platform in the [bench cushion builder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/bench-cushion-builder/), then settle the mattress feel with the [foam firmness finder](https://cushionguide.com/studio/foam-firmness-finder/).

| Where it hangs | Fabric | Back and bolsters | from past orders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open sky, rain on it | Water-repellent outdoor fabric from its own color chart | Foam back and cylinder bolsters in the same cloth | 52 x 28 x 4 in (132 x 71 x 10 cm) patio daybed |
| Covered patio or porch | Indoor fabric once the roof is confirmed; outdoor if rain blows in | Tufted or plain | 41 x 64 in (104 x 163 cm) pallet daybed |
| Indoors, hung from a beam | Any indoor chart: linen-look, velvet, soft fabric | Soft-filled back pillow and two bolsters | Indoor hanging swing |
| Used mostly as a sofa | A hard-wearing indoor cloth such as corduroy | Foam-filled back and armrest for structure | 39 x 75 x 11.5 in (99 x 191 x 29 cm) twin |

## What buyers ask for, and what the outdoor line is

Buyers write in asking for marine-grade: sealed seams, mesh bottoms, quick-dry foam. Honest answer first. The workshop's outdoor line is a UV-resistant, water-repellent polyester fabric with its own color chart. Covers have standard stitching and full zippers so they come off to wash. No quick-dry foam. No mesh bottoms as standard.

Water-repellent is a promise; waterproof is a contract. The outdoor cloth sheds showers and spills well, but it isn't sealed. The [water-repellent fabric notes](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/water-repellent-membrane/) and the [waterproof versus water-repellent Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/water-repellent-vs-waterproof-cushions/) go deeper.

On size: a US crib mattress is 52 3/8 x 28 in (133 x 71 cm), a twin about 38 x 75 in (97 x 191 cm). Some platforms are built around one. Use those numbers as a check against your tape, never instead of it. The same rule holds for [daybed cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/daybed-cushions/).

A swing moves, and a cushion on a smooth wooden top will creep. Ask for a [non-slip base](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#non-slip-base) or ties when you order.

> A swing bed set is four pieces cut from one fabric batch: the mattress, the back and two cylinder bolsters, ordered together.
>
> — Callum

## Swing bed questions

**A common question:** Will an outdoor swing bed cushion actually keep the rain out, or just shed a little?

**The workshop's answer:** Outdoor cushions are made from a separate water-repellent outdoor fabric range with its own color chart, sent on request. It handles rain showers and spills well, and outdoor seats and backs get outdoor-suitable inserts, but it's water-resistant rather than a sealed, coated material. For a bigger project you can order one cushion first to check the fit. Store the set indoors during long off-season stretches.

**A common question:** I already have a mattress. Can I order only the back pillows and bolsters?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Backrests and armrest bolsters are sold without the mattress cover; the separate options came off the listing because most buyers take the full set, but they're still quoted on request with your measurements. Two 18 x 36 in (46 x 91 cm) backrests plus two armrests will turn a twin bed into a daybed; for reference, a twin XL is 38 x 80 in (97 x 203 cm).

**A common question:** Should the back of my swing be one long cushion or a few shorter ones?

**The workshop's answer:** Usually a few. Two or three back cushions per wall sit better and stay in place, and one long backrest isn't cheaper: four cushions 17.9 in (45.5 cm) wide and 21.7 in (55 cm) tall for a 71.7 in (182 cm) swing cost the same as one full-length back. A 78.7 in (2 m) round-roll back was split into two 39.4 in (100 cm) pieces.

**A common question:** Do you make marine-grade cushions with sealed seams, a mesh bottom and quick-dry foam?

**The workshop's answer:** Not as standard. Outdoor covers use normal stitching and full zippers so they come off for washing; sealed seams, mesh breather strips and quick-dry foam aren't part of regular production. The protection comes from the water-repellent fabric chart, whose neutrals include cream, beige, taupe and oatmeal. On large outdoor projects, a production drawing is sent for approval before cutting.

## Questions buyers ask next

### What size mattress fits a swing bed?

Whatever your platform measures. Swing beds aren't built to one standard, so measure the platform inside any rails. A US crib mattress is 52 3/8 x 28 in (133 x 71 cm) and a twin about 38 x 75 in (97 x 191 cm); use those only as a check against your tape. The [porch swing sizes Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/porch-swing-cushion-sizes/) has more.

### Why does the outdoor version of a swing bed set cost more?

The outdoor fabrics are a premium range, water-repellent and UV-resistant, and the cheaper indoor fabrics aren't suitable outside. The water-repellent option is a small surcharge over standard fabric. If the swing sits fully under a roof, the workshop can re-quote the set in indoor fabric.

### How do I keep a swing bed cushion from sliding?

Ask for a non-slip base when you order. A buyer in the US added one to a 91.5 x 31 in (232 x 79 cm) daybed cushion on a smooth wooden top, and the cover stayed machine washable. Ties at the corners are the other route; see the [sliding fixes](https://cushionguide.com/guides/stop-bench-cushion-sliding-ties-nonslip/).

### How should I store a swing bed cushion over winter?

Indoors, for the whole off-season. The foam is flexible enough to fold or roll a long mattress cushion without creasing, so it doesn't need a shelf the size of the swing. The [winter storage Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/outdoor-cushion-care-winter-storage/) covers the rest.

## Related at the atelier

- [Porch Swing Cushion in a Blue and Sand Stripe for an A-Frame](https://cushionguide.com/readings/blue-sand-striped-a-frame-garden-swing-cushions/): A porch swing cushion for a free-standing A-frame swing should be a boxed seat that fits between the arms at seat level, plus a back split into sections that sit inside the chain line.
- [Porch Swing Cushion in Blue Ticking: Firm Foam, Waterfall Front](https://cushionguide.com/readings/blue-ticking-stripe-garden-porch-swing-cushions/): A porch swing cushion should be firm: standard seat foam of about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), 4 in (10 cm) thick, wrapped in polyester fiber.
- [Porch Swing Cushion in Charcoal with White Piping and Ties](https://cushionguide.com/readings/charcoal-porch-swing-cushions-white-piping-tie-detail/): A porch swing cushion set works best as a full-width seat plus separate back cushions tied to the slats, sized so every piece clears the chains.
- [Porch swing cushion sizes: measuring a 4, 5 or 6 ft swing](https://cushionguide.com/guides/porch-swing-cushion-sizes/): Size a porch swing cushion from inside the arms; the label length is the frame, not the seat.
- [Cushions for Great Lakes cottages and lake houses](https://cushionguide.com/places/great-lakes-cottage-cushions/): Lake house cushions on docks, decks and screened porches need outdoor-rated, water-repellent fabric, zippered covers and ties for the wind off the water.
- [Cushions for Carolina and Georgia porches](https://cushionguide.com/places/carolinas-georgia-cushions/): Porch swing cushions in the Carolinas and Georgia should be cut in outdoor-rated, water-repellent fabric with zippered covers and ties at the back corners so they never slide.
- [Standard cushion sizes, and when yours isn't one of them](https://cushionguide.com/guides/standard-cushion-sizes-chart/)

*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/concepts/swing-bed-cushions/