Muskoka Chair Cushions: How to Choose and Measure

Quick answer: Measure the seat width at the front and the back (most Muskoka seats taper), the seat depth, and the back height from the seat to the top of the back. Choose a one-piece cushion for full comfort or a seat pad for a lighter look. 2″ to 3″ foam suits the sloped seat. Add ties, and pick Sunbrella with dry-fast foam if it lives outside.

Few things say summer in Canada like a pair of Muskoka chairs at the end of a dock. They are also some of the least comfortable chairs ever built without a cushion. The slats are hard, the seat slopes back and the fan back sits at an angle no off-the-shelf pad was made for. A cushion cut to your own chair fixes all three problems, and it only takes a tape measure and ten minutes to get the numbers right.

Muskoka chair or Adirondack chair?

They are the same chair. In Canada we call it a Muskoka chair, after the Ontario lake country where it became a cottage staple. South of the border it is an Adirondack chair, named for the mountains in upstate New York. Wide flat arms, a deep seat that slopes down toward the back, and a tall slatted back are the giveaways. That is why you will find our builder listed as an Adirondack chair cushion. It is made for exactly the chair on your deck.

Cedar, pine, painted wood or recycled plastic lumber, the material does not change how you measure. The shape, though, varies more than people expect: flat tops, fan backs, gentle arches. That is why measuring your own chair beats ordering a standard size.

One-piece cushion or seat pad?

One-piece seat and back

A one-piece cushion runs from the front of the seat up the full back, with a hinge where the seat meets the back so it follows the chair's angle. It is the most comfortable option by a long way, and it is the one to choose if you spend whole afternoons reading on the dock or watching the sun go down over the lake.

Seat pad only

A seat pad covers just the seat. It is quicker to take in when the weather turns, it shows off a nicely finished cedar back, and it is enough for chairs that get used in short bursts around the fire pit. If you are on the fence, start with the seat: that is where the slats hurt most.

How to measure a Muskoka chair

Use a metal tape measure and write each number down as you go. Measure in inches and round up to the nearest quarter inch.

1. Seat width, front and back

Measure across the seat at the front edge, from the inside of one arm support to the other, or from slat end to slat end. Then measure across the back of the seat, where it meets the back slats. Most Muskoka seats are narrower at the back than the front. If the two numbers differ, give us both and we will cut the taper to match.

2. Seat depth

Measure from the front edge of the seat to the point where the seat meets the back. Follow the slope of the seat rather than measuring in a straight line through the air.

3. Back height

For a one-piece cushion, measure from where the seat meets the back up to the top of the back, or to where you want the cushion to stop. Many people stop an inch or two below the top so the shape of the chair still shows. Measure the width of the back at the bottom and at the top as well, since fan backs widen as they rise.

4. Curved or fan-shaped tops

If the top of the back is curved, lay a sheet of paper over it, trace the curve and take a photo of the paper with a tape measure in the shot. Send it with your order and we will follow the line.

5. Ties

Note where the ties should go. On a one-piece cushion, ties usually wrap a back slat near the top and a slat at the hinge. On a seat pad, they go around the back slats at the rear corners. Ties in matching fabric come standard. Velcro is available on request.

How thick should a Muskoka chair cushion be?

Thinner than you might think. A Muskoka seat already tips you back, and a thick cushion pushes you forward and off the slope. For most chairs, 2″ to 3″ foam is the sweet spot: soft enough to hide the slats, firm enough to keep its shape. Go thicker if your chair has wide gaps between slats.

Want more of a plush feel? A Dacron wrap around the foam adds about 1/4″ and rounds off the edges. Don't reduce your measurements to allow for it.

Fabric and foam for cottage weather

A Muskoka chair spends its summer in full sun, light rain, morning dew and the occasional thunderstorm rolling over the lake. The cushion has to handle all of it.

• Sunbrella fabric: solution-dyed acrylic, so the colour runs all the way through the fibre and resists fading on a south-facing dock. Most Sunbrella fabrics are water- and stain-repellent, and the covers are machine washable. See our Sunbrella outdoor cushions for the full picture.
• Dry-fast foam: an open-cell foam that lets water drain straight through, so the cushion dries in hours rather than days. It is the right choice for any chair that stays out between rain showers. Our guide to cottage and dock cushions covers fabric and foam for lake life in more detail.
• Regular seat foam: fine for chairs on a covered porch or screened-in deck that stay dry, or for cushions you bring in every night.

Bright yellows, reds and blues look great against weathered wood and green water; sand and grey hide pollen and pine needles. If you are choosing between two shades, order swatches and look at them outside, on the chair, in daylight. The swatch cost is credited back on your order with a one-time code.

Ordering for a set of chairs

Sets drift over the years as chairs are replaced, so measure every chair rather than assuming they match. Browse Muskoka and Adirondack chair cushions for colour ideas, then build yours in the builder. The price shows as you go, and we email a spec sheet to confirm everything before we cut. Every cushion is cut within ±0.5″ of the size you send, and if we miss that, we remake it free under our fit guarantee. Most orders are made in 2–3 weeks, then shipped with free delivery across Canada. Duties and GST/HST are paid, so there is nothing to pay when the box arrives. Want them for the May long weekend? Order in early spring.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Muskoka chair the same as an Adirondack chair?

Yes. It is the same design with a regional name. Canadians call it a Muskoka chair, and most of the US calls it an Adirondack chair. Our Adirondack chair cushion builder is made for both.

Will a custom cushion fit a plastic or recycled-lumber Muskoka chair?

Yes. Cedar, pine, painted wood and recycled plastic chairs all work, because we cut the cushion to the measurements you give us rather than to a brand's standard size.

How thick should a Muskoka chair cushion be?

2″ to 3″ suits most chairs. Thicker foam tends to push you forward off the sloped seat.

Can I leave Muskoka chair cushions outside all summer?

With Sunbrella fabric and dry-fast foam, yes. Stand them on edge after heavy rain so they drain, and bring them in for long wet spells and for the winter.