Outdoor living
Where Should Ties Go on Outdoor Cushions? A Placement Guide
Where to put ties on chair, chaise, bench, round and storage-lid cushions so outdoor cushions stop sliding.
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Ties only work if they're in the right place. A cushion with four ties in the wrong spots still slides, while a cushion with two ties in the right spots stays put. Here's where ties should go on each kind of outdoor cushion, drawn from the tie questions our customers send us.
Quick answer: Put ties where the cushion wants to move, and tie them to a solid rail. On most seat cushions that means two ties at the back corners. Back cushions get ties near the top, looped over the top rail. Chaise cushions need ties at the head and at the hinge, not just the corners. Long or split cushions need ties where the pieces meet. Round cushions get two ties at the back, not four "corner" ties. On a lift-up storage lid, tie the cushion to the lid, never across the gap to the base.
Why placement matters more than the number of ties
A cushion slides in the direction you push it. When you sit down, you push it back. When you stand up, especially from a sloped chair or a swing, you push it forward. Ties stop that movement only if they hold the edge that moves and wrap around something that doesn't.
That's why the most common tie request we see is two ties at the rear corners: most seats creep forward, and the back rail is the easiest thing to tie to. Customers also ask for four corner ties, two middle ties, front and rear ties, and two top plus two hinge ties on chaises. Each suits a different frame.
Where ties go, cushion by cushion
| Cushion | Where the ties go | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chair or bench seat | 2 ties at the back corners | Stops forward creep when you stand up |
| Seat on a slick or sloped frame | 4 corner ties, or front and rear ties | Holds the front edge as well as the back |
| Back cushion | 2 ties near the top, over the top rail | Stops it flopping forward or lifting off |
| Chaise lounge | 2 at the head and 2 at the hinge | Holds the cushion whether the back is up or flat |
| Adirondack (one piece) | 2 ties where the seat meets the back | That's where the cushion bends and slides |
| Long bench split into pieces | Back corners of each piece | Keeps the joins tight so gaps don't open |
| Round cushion | 2 ties at the back | A round cushion has no corners to tie |
| Bench with a storage lid | Around the lid, not the base | The lid still opens with the cushion on |
Chairs: seat and back are tied differently
A seat cushion is tied at the back corners, around the rear rail or the back legs. A back cushion is tied at the top, over the top rail of the chair. If you only tie the seat, the back cushion will still slip down or blow forward.
Remember that a back cushion sits on top of the seat cushion. If you plan to tie the back cushion to a rail, measure where that rail sits above the seat cushion, not above the bare frame, so the ties land where the rail actually is.
Order seat and back cushions for patio chairs from our outdoor chair cushion builder.
Chaise lounges: don't forget the hinge
A chaise cushion moves in two places: at the head, and where the backrest folds. Ties only at the four outer corners leave the middle free to bunch up when you raise or lower the back. Our customers usually choose either four corner ties, or two ties at the top and two at the hinge.
One lesson from a bulk chaise order is worth sharing. After the customer tried the first sample cushion on their loungers, they asked for two extra ties about 3 inches above the fold, where the frame needed holding. If you're ordering several cushions for the same frame, getting one first and checking the tie positions on the real furniture saves remaking the rest.
See our chaise lounge cushion builder for single, double and hinged chaise cushions.
Long benches and split cushions: tie at the joins
Long outdoor benches are often made as two or three cushions instead of one. That makes them easier to handle, but every join is a place where pieces can drift apart. Tie each piece at its back corners so the joins stay tight.
The same goes for split window and bay seats. One customer who split a bay seat into three cushions realized they'd need ties on the back side: one long cushion is held by its own length, but three short ones need help.
Our bench cushion builder lets you add ties to straight, angled, L-shaped and other bench shapes.
Round cushions: two ties, not four
Round bistro and stool cushions come up often, and so does the question of how to keep them from sliding. A round cushion has no corners, so "four corner ties" doesn't mean much. Two ties at the back, lined up with the chair's back legs or backrest, do the job.
Storage lids and hinged seats: tie to the part that moves
Piano benches and window seats with lift-up lids need some thought. One customer asked for four corner ties because their old piano bench cushion slid every time they got on and off. Their bench had a hinged lid about an inch thick, so the ties had to go around the lid itself. If you tie a cushion across the gap between the lid and the base, the lid won't open.
If your seat is split over a lid, tie the piece on the lid to the lid, and the piece on the fixed part to the fixed part.
How to tell us where your ties go
- Look at your frame first. Find solid rails, legs or slats near where the cushion moves. A tie needs something it can wrap all the way around.
- Measure the tie positions. Measure from a corner, or from the fold on a chaise, in inches. "Two ties, 3 inches in from each back corner" is clear. "Ties at the back" may not be.
- Take a photo of the frame from above and from the back, with the rails you want to tie to in view.
- Send it before you order if your layout is anything other than the usual back-corner ties. It's much easier to agree on tie positions before the cushion is cut and sewn.
Ties work best with a cushion that fits
Ties can't fix a cushion that's too small: it shifts every time someone sits, and the ties take all the strain. Measure the seat, not the old cushion, using our measuring guide. For fit, non-slip mats and wind, read how to keep outdoor cushions from sliding and blowing away. In strong wind, bring cushions inside. Ready to order? Browse our outdoor chair cushions.
When we're not the right fit
- Our ties are made from cushion fabric, so they need a rail or slat to wrap around. We can't make very thin ties to thread through a small hole in a metal frame.
- If your frame has nothing to tie to at all, ties may not be the answer. Send us a photo and we'll tell you honestly what will and won't work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need two ties or four?
Two ties at the back corners are enough for most chair and bench seats. Choose four corner ties, or front and rear ties, when the seat is slick or sloped, or when the front edge lifts or slides as you stand up.
Where should ties go on a chaise lounge cushion?
At the head of the cushion and at the hinge where the backrest folds, tied around solid frame rails. That holds the cushion whether the back is up or flat.
How do I tie a cushion on a bench with a storage lid?
Tie the cushion around the lid, not to the base, so the lid still opens. If the seat is split into pieces, tie each piece to the part it sits on.
Where do ties go on a round cushion?
Two ties at the back, lined up with the chair's back legs or backrest. Corner ties don't make sense on a round cushion.
