bench cushions

Entryway Bench Cushion Guide: Size, Foam and Fabric for Mudrooms

Wet boots, muddy paws and daily traffic make the mudroom bench the hardest-working seat in the house. Here's how to size it, pick the thickness and foam, and choose a fabric you can actually clean.

By Sam KOctober 23, 20267 min read

Slim custom indigo herringbone bench cushion on a white built-in mudroom bench with hooks, cubbies, rain boots and a dog leash

The seat of a mudroom bench works harder than almost any cushion in the house. It gets wet boots, muddy paws, heavy backpacks and a dozen quick sit-downs a day. Get the size, foam and fabric right at the start, and your entryway bench cushion will hold up for years.

Quick answer

A good entryway bench cushion matches the seat exactly, is about 3 inches thick on a built-in bench, and uses firm high-density foam so it doesn't flatten. Cover it in a cleanable performance fabric like Sunbrella with a zippered, removable cover. Add ties or Velcro so it doesn't slide.

What goes wrong with mudroom bench cushions?

Most problems come from four things: sliding, sagging, stains and too much height. A loose cushion creeps forward every time someone sits down fast. Soft foam dips in the spot by the door where everyone sits.

Mud and road salt stain cotton and linen, and a fixed cover has to be scrubbed in place. A thick cushion raises the seat, so knees hit the cubby shelf.

How do you measure an entryway bench for a cushion?

Measure the flat sitting surface, not the outside of the bench. On a built-in, that means the space between the end panels or walls.

Fine Homebuilding, a carpentry magazine, says built-in window seats look and feel best at 16 to 24 inches deep and 14 to 18 inches off the floor. In its breakfast nook guide, a carpenter aims for an 18-inch finished seat height, cushion included. He sets the plywood seat at 16 inches because a 4-inch cushion squashes down about 2 inches when you sit.

For public spaces, the rules are stricter. The U.S. Access Board's guide to the ADA bench rules says an accessible bench must be at least 42 inches long, 20 to 24 inches deep, and 17 to 19 inches high.

Those rules don't apply to your house. They're still a useful guide if someone at home uses a wheelchair.

Here's how to measure your bench:

Measure the width at the back of the seat, wall to wall or panel to panel.
Measure the width again at the front. Built-ins are rarely perfectly square, so use the smaller number if they differ.
Measure the depth from the back wall to the front edge of the seat.
Check for cubby dividers that come down to the seat. Each section between dividers needs its own cushion.
Write down any notches, angled ends or posts. Sketch the shape if it isn't a plain rectangle.

Our step-by-step guide on how to measure for a bench cushion covers odd shapes. We cut to within half an inch of the size you give us, so careful numbers matter.

How thick should a mudroom bench cushion be?

For most built-in mudroom benches, 3 inches is the right thickness. It's comfortable but keeps the seat low enough for pulling on boots.

A mudroom bench is a perch, not a sofa. An 18-inch bench with a 5-inch cushion puts the seat near 23 inches before it compresses, which is high for kids.

Our standard thicknesses run from 3 to 5 inches, and the builder goes up to 8.

Need something thinner than 3 inches? Thinner cushions are available on request. Our article on how thick a seat cushion should be explains the trade-offs.

Bench type	Suggested thickness	Suggested foam
Built-in mudroom bench with cubbies or hooks above	3 in	HD36-R
Built-in bench in a busy family entry	3 in	Lux-R
Freestanding entryway bench with legs	3 to 4 in	HD36-R
Unheated mudroom, or a bench under dripping coats	3 to 4 in	Dryfast
Window seat or bench where people linger	4 to 5 in	HD36-R or Lux-R

Which foam works best for an entryway bench cushion?

Firm, high-density foam works best. A thin cushion has little depth to absorb weight, so soft foam flattens and you end up sitting on wood.

Density is how much a cubic foot of foam weighs; higher usually lasts longer. All our foams are CertiPUR-US certified.

According to CertiPUR-US, certified foam is made without formaldehyde, ozone depleters and heavy metals like mercury and lead. It must also have VOC emissions below 0.5 parts per million. VOCs are chemicals that can off-gas into the air indoors.

HD36-R is our high-density, all-purpose foam. It's our pick for most mudroom benches, with a 7-year warranty.

Lux-R is firmer and denser, also with a 7-year warranty. It suits a bench that gets used all day.

Dryfast is reticulated foam. Reticulated means the cell walls are opened up, so water drains straight through instead of soaking in. It suits an unheated mudroom.

Skip Super Soft, which is for back cushions only.

What fabric is best for a mudroom bench cushion?

A performance fabric with a W or W/S cleaning code is best. Sunbrella is a strong choice because it can handle soap, water and even diluted bleach.

Sunbrella is made from solution-dyed acrylic. Solution-dyed means the colour is added before the fibre is spun into yarn. Sunbrella says this puts the pigment all the way through the fibre, so the colour stays true over time.

Sunbrella also lists "muddy paw prints" among the everyday messes its fabric is built for.

Don't assume every Sunbrella fabric is waterproof. Sunbrella's help center says its fabrics range from water-resistant to waterproof. For an indoor bench, water-resistant is plenty.

You can compare every range we carry in our fabric library. Or start with our custom Sunbrella bench cushion.

What do upholstery cleaning codes mean?

Most upholstery fabric carries a cleaning code on its label or spec sheet. American Leather, a furniture maker, explains them this way.

W means water-based cleaners and mild detergents are safe. S means solvent-based, water-free cleaners only.

W/S means either type works. X means don't clean it yourself; vacuum only, or call a professional.

For a mudroom, avoid S and X fabrics.

Which colours hide dirt best?

Textured mid-tones hide the most: heathered grey, indigo, olive, warm taupe, or a herringbone weave.

Pure white shows every footprint. Solid black shows dust, salt and light dog hair. Colours also look different in a dim hallway than on a screen, so order fabric swatches and check them in the room.

Should you choose ties, Velcro, zippers or piping?

Use ties for benches with legs and Velcro for built-ins. Pick a zippered cover so you can wash it.

Every bench cushion we make comes with ties in matching fabric. Built-in benches usually have nothing to tie around, so ask for Velcro instead.

We don't add rubber non-slip backing. It voids the warranty and stops the cover from being machine washable.

Our bench cushions have an edge-to-edge zipper, so the cover comes fully off the foam.

Piping is optional. A piped edge in the same fabric keeps the front looking crisp. Contrast piping looks sharp but shows wear first, since that's where every pair of jeans slides across.

How do you clean a mudroom bench cushion?

Blot fresh spills, then clean with mild soap and water and let it air dry. These steps come from Sunbrella's upholstery care guide:

Blot liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth. Don't rub.
Spray on a mix of 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water.
Work it in gently with a soft brush or sponge. Avoid hard bristles.
Rinse well to remove all the soap.
Let it air dry. Sunbrella says not to use a steamer.

For mould or mildew, Sunbrella suggests 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup of mild soap per gallon of water. Let it soak in for 15 minutes, then rinse and air dry. For a removable cover, close the zipper and machine wash it cold on the delicate cycle with mild detergent.

Compare sizes and shapes in our indoor bench cushions collection.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard height of an entryway bench?

Most entryway benches have a seat around 18 inches high, about the same as a dining chair. Fine Homebuilding aims for an 18-inch finished height with the cushion included. If your bench is already 18 inches, a thin cushion keeps it comfortable.

How thick should a cushion be for a built-in mudroom bench?

About 3 inches works for most built-in mudroom benches. It's comfortable without raising the seat too much. Thicker cushions of 4 to 5 inches suit window seats and benches where people sit longer.

Is Sunbrella fabric good for indoor bench cushions?

Yes. Sunbrella's upholstery fabrics are made for indoor and outdoor use. They're solution-dyed, so they hold their colour and can be cleaned with soap, water and diluted bleach.

How do I stop a bench cushion from sliding?

Use fabric ties on a bench with legs, or Velcro strips on a built-in. Avoid adding rubber backing to a performance cushion. It can void the warranty and stop the cover from being machine washable.

How long does a custom mudroom bench cushion take?

Our standard shapes take 2 to 3 weeks. Shapes made from a template you send us take 5 to 6 weeks.