How to choose foam for new seat cushions

Blog by The Foam Factory

You might have clicked on this article because you need a set of new cushions for your new upholstery project, or maybe you just want to replace those old sagging cushions. Either way, there’s an important question should to ask yourself: what type of foam will you use?

When it comes to seat cushions, foam is not a “one size fits all” material. There are different types of foam with different properties. Foam density is one of the most prominent areas where distinct types of foam have varying measurements. It is calculated by weighing a 12” x 12” x 12” block of foam material. Density is usually a good indicator of how high-quality and long-lasting a piece of foam will be.

However, density is not the only factor you have to consider. Foams have different levels of firmness that may or may not be suitable for your comfort needs. For example, Super Soft Foam is not very firm and is best suited for mattress toppers and the back of sofa cushions, but it is not suitable for cushions you will be sitting on.

Foam firmness is usually measured by finding its ILD (Indentation Load Deflection), also known as IFD (Indentation Force Deflection). This statistic is usually found by machine testing, in which a piece of foam is compressed by a circular indenter. The firmer a type of foam is, the higher its ILD will be.

The Foam Factory carries a variety of foam cushions ranging from the low-density Super Soft Foam to the high-density, very sturdy Lux Foam (2.8LB/ft3 density with a 50LB ILD). Be sure to keep the density and ILD in mind as you browse their selection of cushions.