High-Density Upholstery Foam Seat Padding

The foam type that is best for a seat cushions depends on which level of firmness you prefer, and the quality of the foam you prefer. The first thing to know about selecting our foam is “the higher the number, the firmer the foam.” For our higher quality (HR, or high-resiliency) foams, which will last 15–20 years with normal use, we generally recommend V44 as a medium foam for seat cushions that are 3–6 inches in thickness. Persons of average weight will consider the V44 a medium firmness. Heavier users may want to select the firmer V54 foam, while lighter users may find the softer V34 foam “medium” based on their lower displacement. Our HR foams have a density of 2.6 lbs/ft³, and an ILD of 34, 44, or 54, corresponding to the foam number. At FoamOrder we also offer a lower density foam that will last 3–5 years under normal (everyday) use. These “C-foams” are less dense, at 1.8 lbs/ft³, and we offer a “firm” C55, a “medium-firmness” C33, and a “soft” C25. As always, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly customer service team by phone or email if you have further questions about which foam type is best for your seat cushions.

The thickness of the foam you need for an upholstery application is most dependent on how exactly you will be using it. For example, seat cushions should generally be at least 4" thick, and rarely over 6". Back foam will depend on whether the back of the furniture is using a pillow or cushion to support your back, or the actual frame of the couch. In the case of a frame back, most applications will call for 1–2 inches of back foam. The same holds true for arm-rests or an ottomon, where the specific furniture will determine the thickness of the foam. In most cases 1/2" to 1" of foam is enough for an arm-rest and 2–3" of firm foam should work for the top of an ottoman.

We offer a full range of foam types, including both high density foam and low-density foam. Our high density (HR, or high resiliency) EverFlex™ foam is 2.6 lbs/ft³, and should last 15–20 years in most applications. It is intended for high-use areas (family room couches and seat cushions for example), where high density, quality foam density is desired. Our low density EconoFlex™ foam is 1.8 lbs/ft³, and is usually used in lower-traffic areas like a guest room, or living room that gets occasional use. It should have a life of 3–7 years under light use conditions. Low density foam is also often used for arm padding or back of the couch construction, where firmness and durability are less of an issue.

If you need foam for any type of cushioning project, FoamOrder is here to help. You can order foam, covers, and more and have them sent straight to you. We offer project accessories like quick-dry adhesive, multiple widths and types of batting (dacron, cotton, wool), as well as a full range of upholstery supplies at our sister site, upholster.com. Who knew buying upholstery foam by mail would be so easy?

You get what you pay for with upholstery foam. The more expensive the upholstery foam/upholstery foam sheets, the longer the upholstery foam/upholstery foam sheets will last. You don’t need high-quality upholstery foam for a seating area that doesn’t get used, while a sofa for watching “the game” will need top-quality foams. Our experience has shown us that most upholstery foams/upholstery foam sheets will break in and soften up to about 20% over time; if under heavy use, after 6 months to 1 year.

Despite this warning, we still don’t recommend that you order the next firmer upholstery foam grade. If your foam is too firm, you may never sit in it and the upholstery foam/upholstery foam sheets may never soften. One way to construct a long-lasting upholstery foam cushion is to use our rebond foam. This grade of upholstery foam (rebond upholstery foam) has proven not to soften with time. Rebond foam has three times the quality and weight of other upholstery foams. You may need to make the bottom half of the upholstery foam cushions out of rebond foam and the top half out of softer upholstery foam to create the perfect comfort. In these circumstances, wrap the entire upholstery foam cushion in our polyester foam batting.

Because we do our upholstery in-house (custom-cut upholstery, or just plain old upholstery), we have become a one-stop custom-cut cushion paradise. Our professional upholstery can make any custom-cut cushion and/or cover look amazing. Catering to your needs, we can make custom cut upholstery to fit your desires. You could even send us your own upholstery fabric and have us custom cut and sew it into a professional-looking upholstery job. To send us your fabric, see our custom sewing section.

Low-density foam should be used for cushions that are part of a frame, such as back-of-the-couch cushions or padding on the arms of the couch or chair.