Glider Cushions: Patio, Porch, Vintage Metal or Glider Rocker?

"Glider" covers a lot of furniture. It can mean a patio glider loveseat, a porch glider, a vintage metal glider from the 1950s, or a glider rocker in a nursery or living room. The cushions for each are measured and built a little differently. This guide explains how to tell which one you have, what to measure, and what our customers usually order for each.

Quick answer: Glider cushions are almost always a seat cushion plus a separate back cushion, ordered per seat. Measure the old cushion seam to seam, or measure the frame and take off about ¼ inch so the cushion fits inside it. For outdoor gliders, choose quick-drying Dry Fast foam, but keep it moderate in thickness, because thick Dry Fast feels firm. Indoor glider rockers usually suit thinner cushions in High Density or Luxury foam. Start with our glider and glider rocker cushions page.

Which kind of glider do you have?

• Patio glider (loveseat or bench style): a two- or three-seat outdoor glider, usually aluminum, wrought iron or wood, with a seat and backrest that glide together. Cushions live outdoors or on a covered patio.
• Porch glider or porch swing: similar in shape, but it hangs or glides on a porch. Many have one long seat and a long back. Our porch swing cushion builder has a glider preset for these.
• Vintage metal glider: the classic mid-century steel glider with a stamped seat and a shell or slat back. These often have rounded front corners and a curved back.
• Glider rocker: a single chair that glides back and forth, often wood-framed, used indoors in nurseries and living rooms. It usually has a seat cushion and a tall back cushion, and sometimes a matching ottoman.

Seat and back: ordered separately

One of the most common questions we get is "if I order the seat, does the back come with it?" On most gliders, the seat and the back are two different cushions with different sizes, so you order each one. A three-seat glider set, for example, is usually six cushions: three seats and three backs.

Ordering them separately also lets you size them properly. Backs are often thinner than seats, and on a porch glider the back cushion usually rests on top of the seat cushion, so its height changes once the seat is in place.

How to measure a glider

1. Seat width: measure across the front of the seat, inside the arms. Measure across the back of the seat too. Many gliders are narrower at the back.
2. Seat depth: measure from the front edge of the seat to where the backrest meets it.
3. Back height: measure from the top of the seat frame to the top of the backrest, then subtract the thickness of your seat cushion. The back cushion sits on top of the seat, so it needs less height than the bare frame.
4. Back width: measure across the backrest. The longer side is the width.
5. Leave about ¼ inch. If you're measuring the frame rather than an old cushion, take about ¼ inch off so the cushion sits inside the frame instead of pressing against it.

If you still have the old cushions, measure the cover seam to seam with the foam inside. Don't rely on the size listed by the store where you bought the glider. Published furniture sizes often don't match the cushions. Our measuring guide has diagrams.

What customers order, by glider type

Patio and porch gliders

Outdoor glider seats we're asked for are often around 21 to 24 inches wide, with backs around 14 to 21 inches tall. Seats are usually 3 to 4 inches thick. Porch gliders and swings with one long seat often have a seat 3 inches thick, with a matching long back cushion.

For gliders that live outside, we recommend Dry Fast foam, our open-cell outdoor foam that lets rain drain through. If the glider sits on a covered porch, High Density foam is also an option.

Vintage metal gliders

Vintage gliders are rarely perfect rectangles. Check for rounded front corners, a seat that's wider at the front, and a back that curves at the top. Rounded corners are easy to add. For a strongly curved back, make a paper template of the shape, or use the old cover if you have it. See custom-shaped cushions.

Indoor glider rockers

Wooden rockers and glider rockers usually take thinner cushions: seats of about 2 to 3 inches, and long, narrow back pads. High Density foam gives a medium feel. Luxury foam is firmer, so thin seats don't bottom out. For a plusher back cushion, our Super Soft foam is made for backs only, never seats.

The thickness mistake to avoid

One comfort complaint we've seen on outdoor gliders comes from ordering very thick Dry Fast foam for both the seat and the back. Dry Fast is a firm foam, and the thicker it is, the stiffer it feels. Six-inch Dry Fast seats and backs on a glider can feel hard.

For most gliders, 3 to 4 inches of Dry Fast on the seat is plenty. For the back, consider a thinner cushion, or High Density foam if the glider is under cover. Think about how the glider will be used: a seat you sit upright on for coffee needs less than a seat you sink into for an afternoon. Our thickness and foam guide compares every foam.

Ties and keeping cushions in place

Glider cushions move with the frame, so ties matter more than on a fixed chair. Customers ask for ties in a few places:

• Two ties at the rear corners of the seat, tied around the back frame.
• Two ties in the middle of the back cushion, tied to a slat or rail.
• Front and rear ties on seats that slide forward.

Before you order, look at your frame and decide where each tie can wrap around. Tell us the positions you want so we don't have to guess. You can also browse our porch swing and glider cushions.

When we're not the right fit

• We make removable, zippered cushions. We don't make tufted or button-tufted cushions, which are common on some nursery glider rockers.
• Strongly curved or shaped backs need a paper template or the old cover. We can't copy a curve from a photo alone.

Frequently asked questions

Do glider cushions come as a seat and back set?

Usually you order the seat and the back as separate cushions, because they're different sizes and often different thicknesses. Order one seat and one back for each seating position.

How thick should glider cushions be?

Outdoor glider seats are usually 3 to 4 inches thick. Indoor glider rockers usually take 2 to 3 inch seats. Back cushions can be the same or thinner.

What foam is best for an outdoor glider?

Dry Fast foam drains and dries quickly. Because it's firm, keep it to a moderate thickness, especially on back cushions. On a covered porch, High Density foam is a softer option.

My glider has a curved back. Can you match it?

Yes, with a full-size paper template or your old cover. Rounded corners only need the corner measurements.

Should I measure the frame or the old cushion?

The old cushion is best, measured seam to seam. If you only have the frame, measure it and leave about ¼ inch so the cushion fits inside.

Which fabric should I choose outdoors?

Sunbrella outdoor fabrics are made for outdoor use and are water-repellent. Covers are zippered, so you can remove them for cleaning.

Sources

• Questions customers send our care team about glider, porch swing and rocker cushions, and the glider cushions we make.