Sun Lounger Cushions for Home Pools: Sizes, Foam and Fabric for Aussie Summers

Quick answer: For a sun lounger by a home pool, choose a solution-dyed outdoor fabric such as Sunbrella or a marine vinyl, with quick-drain Dryfast foam so water runs straight through. Measure your lounger frame (most are around 1860–2000 mm long and 500–700 mm wide), decide on one piece or a hinged cushion, and add ties. Rinse off chlorine and salt regularly and the cushions will last for many summers.

Pool cushions have a tough life. They sit in Australian sun all day, get dripped on by wet swimmers, splashed with chlorine or salt water and smeared with sunscreen. Ordinary cushions go flat, fade and smell musty within a season. Here's how to choose sun lounger cushions that actually suit a home pool.

Step 1: Measure the lounger, not the old cushion

Sun loungers vary a lot. As a guide, Australian retailers list lounger cushions around 2000 × 500 mm, and lounger frames around 1930 × 722 mm. Most fall somewhere in the range of 1860–2000 mm long and 500–700 mm wide. Don't guess from those numbers; measure your own.

1. Length: measure the frame from the top of the backrest to the foot, laid flat.
2. Width: measure across the frame where the cushion sits.
3. Hinge point: if the backrest folds, measure from the top of the back to the hinge. That's where the cushion needs to bend.
4. Corners: note any rounded corners or notches around the frame.

Old cushions shrink and sag, so measuring them gives you the wrong size. Our guide to measuring cushions in mm has diagrams.

Step 2: One piece or hinged?

• One piece: simplest and neatest, for loungers that lie mostly flat.
• Hinged (two sections): a seat and backrest joined by a fabric hinge, so the cushion folds with an adjustable back.
• 2-break: back, seat and leg rest in one cushion, for loungers that bend in two places.

Our chaise and sun lounger cushion builder offers single, hinged and 2-break styles.

Step 3: Choose the right foam

Pool cushions get wet. Regular foam soaks up water like a sponge and stays damp for days, which leads to mould and a musty smell. Outdoor reticulated foam has an open-cell structure that lets water run straight through, so it drains and dries quickly.

For any lounger that gets splashed or sat on by wet swimmers, choose Dryfast quick-drain foam. Foam for Australian orders is made in Australia by our foam partner.

How thick?

• 30–50 mm: a slim pad for loungers with a solid or slatted base. Neat and light to move.
• 75–100 mm: the comfortable middle ground for most home pools.
• 100 mm or more: plush, resort-style comfort for loungers you spend whole afternoons on.

Step 4: Choose the fabric

Sunbrella says its fabrics are virtually unaffected by fresh or salt water, but salt leaves deposits as it dries, so it should be rinsed off (Sunbrella). Browse Sunbrella cushions or marine vinyl.

Strong Australian UV fades ordinary fabric fast, especially on a lounger that sits in full sun all day. Our guide on why outdoor cushions fade so fast in Australia explains which fabrics hold their colour.

Picking a colour for the pool

• White and light stripes feel classic and stay cooler to touch, but show sunscreen marks.
• Navy, charcoal and teal hide marks but get hot in direct sun. Keep them in the shade or under an umbrella.
• Mid-tones like sand, sage and aqua are the easiest to live with.

Step 5: The finishing details

• Ties stop cushions sliding when you sit down or the wind picks up. Ties in matching fabric come as standard.
• A zip along the back means the cover comes off for washing. Every cover we make has one.
• Piping gives a crisp, resort-style edge. Waterproof fabrics are made without piping.
• A matching bolster or headrest pillow makes a lounger far more comfortable for reading.

Looking after pool cushions

1. Rinse with fresh water after heavy splashing with pool water or a dip in the ocean. For salt build-up, Sunbrella suggests soaking in soapy water for about 15 minutes, brushing gently, then rinsing and air drying.
2. Wipe off sunscreen before it soaks in. It's one of the most common causes of marks.
3. Stand cushions on their edge to drain after rain.
4. Brush them down regularly. Mildew grows on dirt and pollen, not on the fabric itself.
5. Bring them in for storms and long wet spells, and store them dry over winter.

Our guide to removing mould from outdoor cushions covers the stronger cleaning method if you need it.

Ordering

Every cushion is made to your size in millimetres and cut within 6 mm (maximum ±25 mm); if we miss that, we remake it free. Standard shapes take 2–3 weeks to make, delivery is free anywhere in Australia, and there's no import duty or GST to pay on arrival. Not sure of a colour? Order swatches and look at them by the pool, in full sun. For resorts and holiday parks, see our resort and hotel pool cushion guide.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a sun lounger cushion?

Most are about 1860–2000 mm long and 500–700 mm wide, but sizes vary, so measure your lounger frame.

What foam is best for pool cushions?

Quick-drain reticulated foam, such as our Dryfast foam, so water runs straight through and the cushion dries fast.

Does chlorine damage Sunbrella?

Sunbrella's own guidance focuses on rinsing off salt, which leaves deposits as it dries. We recommend rinsing off chlorinated pool water the same way, so residue doesn't build up in the fabric.

Can I leave pool cushions out all summer?

Yes, with quick-drain foam and outdoor fabric. Stand them on edge after rain, rinse them often and bring them in for storms.