Australia
Bench Seat Cushions: A Homeowner's Sizing Guide in mm
Typical bench sizes in mm for outdoor benches, kitchen benches and banquettes, plus how to measure, how thick to go, and which foam and fabric suit Australian conditions.
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Quick answer: Measure the bench top, not the old cushion. Most backless dining and outdoor benches are 300 to 400 mm deep, while built-in banquettes run 460 to 560 mm. Choose 50 to 76 mm foam for eating at a table and 100 mm or more for lounging. Use quick-drain foam outside and high density foam indoors.
A bench seat cushion has two jobs. It has to make a hard seat comfortable, and it has to leave you at the right height for the table. This guide gives you the usual sizes in mm, how to measure, and how to pick foam, fabric and fixings for outdoor bench seat cushions, kitchen bench seat cushions and corner banquettes at home.
What size are most bench seats?
Most benches fall into three groups, and each has its own typical depth. Length varies the most, so always measure your own.
La Fabrique des Pieds, a European maker of furniture legs, puts a comfortable dining bench at 300 to 400 mm deep with a finished seat height of about 450 mm. For built-in banquettes, the design reference site Arcedior gives a seat depth of 460 to 560 mm, with 510 mm the most common for dining. It also suggests allowing at least 610 mm of bench length per person.
Home Beautiful notes that a standard Australian dining chair sits at 450 mm to suit a 750 mm table. Its interior designers suggest a banquette of roughly 1,850 mm seats three people, at a seat height of around 450 mm. Reader's Digest Australia says outdoor tables are usually 720 to 770 mm high, and a 1.8 m table seats six.
| Bench type | Typical depth | Typical length | Finished seat height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backless outdoor bench | 300 to 400 mm | Usually matches the table; about 1,800 mm for a six-seater | About 450 mm |
| Kitchen or dining bench | 300 to 400 mm | About 600 mm per person | About 450 mm |
| Built-in banquette | 460 to 560 mm | At least 610 mm per person; about 1,850 mm for three | 430 to 460 mm |
Treat these as starting points. Older timber benches and custom joinery can be a few centimetres either way, which is why the cushion should match your bench, not the table above.
How do you measure a bench for a cushion?
Measure the flat surface you sit on, in millimetres, at more than one point. Benches are rarely perfectly square, especially built-ins against an old wall.
- Measure the length along the front edge, then along the back. Use the shorter figure if they differ by a few mm.
- Measure the depth from the front edge to the wall or backrest at each end and in the middle.
- Note anything in the way: window frames, posts, a skirting board, or a hinged lid on a storage bench.
- Check if the front corners are square or rounded. If they are rounded, trace one corner on paper.
- Measure from the floor to the top of the bench, so you can work out the finished height with foam.
Our step-by-step mm measuring guide covers tricky shapes in more detail. We cut every cushion within 6 mm (maximum ±25 mm) of your measurements, and remake it free if we miss that.
How thick should a bench seat cushion be?
For a bench where you eat, 50 to 76 mm is usually right. For a bench you sprawl on with a book, 100 mm or more feels better.
The reason is table height. Home Beautiful's pairing of a 450 mm seat with a 750 mm table leaves about 300 mm between seat and tabletop. Say your built-in bench is 400 mm high. A 50 mm cushion finishes at 450 mm, which matches a standard chair. A 125 mm cushion would put you at 525 mm, and your knees may hit the table.
A lounging bench, like a deep window seat or an outdoor bench with no table, can take more foam. Our builder makes cushions from 76 mm up to 203 mm thick, and thinner on request. For a full breakdown by use, see the seat cushion foam thickness guide.
Which foam is best for indoor and outdoor bench seats?
Outdoors, choose quick-drain open-cell foam. Indoors, high density foam is the usual all-purpose choice.
Quick-drain open-cell foam (also called reticulated foam) has a very open structure, so water runs straight through instead of soaking in. That matters in an alfresco area with no roof. The Bureau of Meteorology's long-term records show Darwin Airport averages 432 mm of rain in January alone. Even in drier cities, a summer storm can soak a cushion that was left out.
High density foam holds its shape under daily sitting, so it suits kitchen benches and banquettes. If you like a firmer seat, firm luxury foam is another option. Avoid super soft foam on any bench seat, as it is made for back cushions only. Foam for Australian orders is Australian-made, and the covers are sewn in India.
What fabric holds up to the Australian sun?
Pick an outdoor-rated, fade-resistant fabric for any bench that gets direct sun. Ordinary indoor fabric can fade fast in strong sun.
According to ARPANSA and Cancer Council, the UV Index in January is forecast to average 11 or more across most of the country on clear days. Cancer Council adds that summer peaks regularly pass 12 to 14. Anything above 11 counts as extreme.
Sunbrella says its fibres are coloured with UV-stable pigments before they are spun into yarn, so the colour goes right through. Warwick's outdoor ranges, such as Stradbroke, are UV stabilised and designed to resist mould and mildew. Most Sunbrella fabric is water-resistant rather than waterproof, so water can still get through a seam in heavy rain. If your bench is fully exposed, ask about Sunbrella's waterproof and marine ranges. Our custom Sunbrella bench cushion is a good place to start for outdoor and alfresco benches.
Should an L-shaped bench seat cushion be one piece or two?
A one-piece L-shape gives a clean, gap-free corner. Two separate cushions are easier to lift, wash and rotate.
A one-piece L-shaped cushion suits a corner banquette where you want it to look like built-in upholstery. It will not shift apart at the corner, and there is no join for crumbs to fall into. The downside is size: a long L is awkward to take off a storage bench or carry to the laundry.
Two cushions work better if the bench has lift-up lids or if kids use it daily. Decide which cushion runs into the corner, then subtract that cushion's depth from the other side's length. Arcedior also advises keeping both sides at the same seat depth, so the corner feels even.
Ties or Velcro: how do you stop a bench cushion sliding?
Use ties where there is something to tie to, and Velcro where there is not. Both stop the cushion creeping forward when people slide in.
Fabric ties in a matching colour come standard on our cushions. They work well on slatted outdoor benches, around back posts, or on legs. A solid built-in box has nothing to tie to, so Velcro strips (supplied on request) are the better fix. We do not fit rubber non-slip backing, because it voids the warranty and stops the cover being machine washable.
Where do I start?
Browse our bench cushions for straight benches, or the banquette and breakfast nook cushions for kitchen corners. Standard shapes take two to three weeks to make, and shipping within Australia is free. Fitting out a school, club or foyer instead? Our commercial bench seat cushion guide covers that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size of a bench seat cushion?
There is no single standard, because benches vary. Backless dining and outdoor benches are usually 300 to 400 mm deep, and built-in banquettes 460 to 560 mm. Measure your own bench and order to those figures.
How thick should a kitchen bench seat cushion be?
Around 50 to 76 mm suits most kitchen benches. It adds comfort while keeping the finished seat near 450 mm, which works with a standard 750 mm table.
Can outdoor bench seat cushions stay out in the rain?
They cope better if they use quick-drain open-cell foam, which lets water run straight through. Most Sunbrella fabric is water-resistant, not waterproof, so stand cushions on their edge after heavy rain to help them dry.
Is a one-piece L-shaped bench cushion better than two?
A one-piece L looks neater and has no gap at the corner. Two cushions are easier to lift, wash and rotate, which suits storage benches and busy family kitchens.
How do I stop my bench cushion from sliding?
Tie it to slats, legs or posts with fabric ties. On a solid built-in bench, use Velcro strips instead.
Sources
- ARPANSA and Cancer Council: UV reaches extreme levels this summer
- Cancer Council Australia: UV radiation statistics
- Bureau of Meteorology: Climate statistics for Darwin Airport
- Home Beautiful: Guide to kitchen chairs and banquettes
- Arcedior: Banquette seating dimensions guide
- La Fabrique des Pieds: Bench heights and depths
- Reader's Digest Australia: How many seats your outdoor table needs
- Sunbrella: How UV resistant is Sunbrella fabric?
