Care & Maintenance
How to Keep Outdoor Cushions From Sliding (and Blowing Away)
Cushions slide when they don't fit or sit on a slick frame, and blow away when nothing holds them down. Here's every fix compared, with National Weather Service wind facts.
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Most cushions slide because they're the wrong size or they sit on a slick frame. Most cushions blow away because nothing holds them down. We make outdoor cushions to order every day, and these are the fixes we tell customers to try first.
Quick answer
To keep outdoor cushions from sliding, use a cushion that fills the seat with no gap, and tie it to a solid frame rail at the back corners. On slick aluminum or resin seats, add a loose non-slip mat underneath. When a Wind Advisory is in the forecast, bring cushions inside or put them in a deck box.
Why do outdoor cushions slide and blow away?
Cushions slide when they have room to move and little grip. They blow away when they're light, loose and sitting where wind can get underneath them.
The usual causes:
- A gap around the cushion. A cushion even an inch or two smaller than the seat shifts every time you sit down or stand up.
- Slick frames. Powder-coated aluminum, resin wicker and molded plastic are smooth. Fabric has very little to hold on to.
- Thin or worn-out foam. A flat cushion skates over the seat.
- Sloped seats. Adirondack chairs and deep seating tilt back. Each time you get up, the cushion gets a small push toward the front.
- Open, windy spots. Rooftop decks, high balconies and waterfront patios often get stronger, gustier wind than a fenced backyard.
How much wind does it take to move a cushion?
Not much. The National Weather Service's Beaufort wind scale says a "moderate breeze" of 13 to 18 mph lifts dust and loose paper. At 25 to 31 mph, umbrellas get hard to use.
Gusts are the bigger problem. The National Weather Service defines a gust as a quick change in wind speed of 10 knots (about 12 mph) or more between peaks and lulls. A cushion that sits still in a steady breeze can flip in one sharp gust.
Exact limits vary by local office, but the NWS office in Des Moines, Iowa, issues a Wind Advisory for winds that hold at 30 mph for an hour or gust often to 45 mph. It warns that "small, unsecured objects may be blown around" and lists patio furniture as something to secure. A loose seat cushion fits that description.
Which fix works best for sliding and wind?
Fit and ties do most of the work. Storage is the only real answer for storms.
| Fix | Stops sliding | Stops blowing away | Cost and effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct fit | Very well | Somewhat | Free if you're buying new cushions anyway | Benches, sloped chairs, any cushion with a gap |
| Fabric ties | Very well | Well | Low; a minute to tie | Chairs and chaises with open rails |
| Velcro tabs | Well | Well | Low; quick on and off | Frames with nothing easy to tie around |
| Non-slip mat under the cushion | Well | A little | Low; trim a rug pad to size | Slick aluminum, resin and plastic seats |
| Thicker, denser foam | Somewhat | A little | Medium; usually means a new cushion | Flat, worn cushions on sloped seats |
| Bringing cushions in | Not needed | Completely | Medium; needs a habit and a place to store them | Windy forecasts, rooftops, coastal decks |
How do I stop cushions sliding with a better fit?
Match the cushion to the seat, edge to edge. A cushion with no room to move is held in place by the arms, the back and its own snug fit.
Say your bench is 62 inches between the arms and your cushion is 58. That 4-inch gap lets it travel every time someone sits. A cushion made to 62 inches stays put, and it gives the wind less of an edge to catch.
Measure the seat itself, not the old cushion, which may have shrunk or flattened. Our guide on how to measure for replacement outdoor cushions walks through it step by step. We make every cushion to order within half an inch of your size, including bench cushions for long or odd-length seats.
Does thicker foam help?
Yes, a little. A thicker, denser cushion weighs more and fills the seat more firmly, so it shifts less.
Foam density is the weight of the foam in pounds per cubic foot. Higher density usually means a heavier, longer-lasting cushion. Our HD36-R is a high-density, all-purpose foam, and Lux-R is a firmer foam at about 1.8 lb density.
Our builder makes cushions 3 to 5 inches thick as standard and goes up to 8. A thicker cushion does raise your seat height. If your favourite chair has a flat old cushion, a replacement Sunbrella chair cushion in the right size and thickness can fix the sliding and the sagging together.
How do I tie outdoor cushions to the frame?
Tie each cushion to a solid frame rail at the points where it wants to move. For most seat cushions, that means the two back corners.
Outdoor cushions with ties are the simplest fix for sliding and lifting. Matching fabric ties come standard on ours. Here's how to use them:
- Look at your frame before you order. Find the solid rails or legs near the back corners of the seat.
- For a seat cushion, wrap the back-corner ties around the rear rail or the back legs. This stops forward creep on sloped chairs.
- For a back cushion, use ties near the top and loop them over the top rail. That keeps it from flopping forward or lifting off.
- For a chaise lounge, tie one set at the head and one near the middle, where the backrest hinges. The cushion then stays put whether the back is up or flat.
- Tie around a thick rail, not a thin slat that could slip. A double knot is enough.
Our chaise lounge cushions and outdoor chair cushions both come with ties.
What if my frame has nothing to tie to?
Use Velcro tabs. We add them on request, and they wrap around a leg or rail on smooth resin chairs and built-ins where a tie won't hold.
Do non-slip mats or rubber backing work?
A loose non-slip mat under the cushion works well. A rubber backing glued to the cushion is a bad trade, and we don't add one.
For slick aluminum or resin seats, rug-pad material is a good choice. Pick an open-weave grip pad so water can drain through. Trim it slightly smaller than the seat so it doesn't show.
So why not buy non slip outdoor cushions with a rubber back? On our cushions, a rubber or non-slip backing voids the warranty. It also stops the cover from being machine washable.
Washing matters for outdoor fabric. Sunbrella's cleaning guide says removable covers can be machine washed in cold water on the delicate cycle with mild detergent, then air dried.
A loose mat gives the same grip, lifts out to dry and is cheap to replace.
When should I bring outdoor cushions inside?
Bring them in when a Wind Advisory or High Wind Warning is in your forecast, and before any storm. No tie or tab is meant to hold a cushion through a gale.
The National Weather Service's wind safety page says that during a Wind Advisory, "objects that are outdoors should be secured." FEMA's guide to protecting your home from severe wind says to secure outdoor objects like furniture. It also warns that loose items can be picked up by the wind and damage your home.
A deck box near the seating makes this a quick job. On a sheltered patio, a well-fitted cushion with ties is usually enough. On an exposed rooftop or coastal deck, use ties, a mat and the habit of putting cushions away when wind is coming.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep cushions from blowing away without ties?
Use Velcro tabs that wrap around a leg or rail, and make sure the cushion fits the seat snugly. When strong wind is forecast, store cushions inside or in a deck box.
What wind speed will blow patio cushions away?
There's no single number, because it depends on the cushion's weight and how exposed it is. The National Weather Service's Beaufort scale says a 13 to 18 mph breeze lifts loose paper. Its Des Moines office issues a Wind Advisory for 30 mph sustained winds or 45 mph gusts and warns that small, unsecured objects may be blown around.
Can I glue a rubber backing onto my outdoor cushions?
We don't recommend it. On Fabrica Kraft cushions, a rubber or non-slip backing voids the warranty and stops the cover from being machine washable. A loose non-slip mat placed under the cushion gives the same grip and can be removed to dry.
Where should ties go on a chaise lounge cushion?
Put one set of ties at the head of the cushion and one near the hinge where the backrest bends. Tie them around solid frame rails. That keeps the cushion in place whether the back is upright or flat.
Sources
- National Weather Service: Beaufort Wind Scale
- National Weather Service Des Moines: Wind Advisory and High Wind Warning criteria
- National Weather Service: Wind Warnings, Watches and Advisories
- National Weather Service Glossary: Gust
- FEMA: Protect Your Property From Severe Winds
- Sunbrella: How to Clean Sunbrella Upholstery Fabric
