The frame is fine. Powder-coated aluminium, still solid after eight summers of sun and salt. It is the cushions that have gone: flattened through the middle, faded on the side that faces west, slow to dry after a shower. Buying replacement outdoor cushions is far cheaper than replacing the chairs, and it is the fastest way to get another few years out of a setting you otherwise like.
The catch is sizing. Outdoor chairs are not built to a single standard, so a seat pad that fits your neighbour's dining chairs can hang over the edge of yours. This guide covers measuring an old chair properly, matching those numbers to the sizes stocked in our outdoor cushions range, and getting shape, thickness and ties right first time.
Measure the chair, not the old cushion
Old cushions lie. Foam compresses, covers stretch, and a pad that left the factory at 45cm square can measure 48cm across after a few summers. Measure the chair itself, every time.
Grab a fabric tape, work in centimetres, and write down four numbers:
- Seat width. Across the seat at its widest point, edge to edge.
- Seat depth. From the inside of the back rail to the front edge of the seat.
- The taper. Many outdoor chairs are wider at the front than the back. Measure both ends and keep the smaller figure.
- The rim. If the seat has a raised lip or a rope edge, measure the flat area inside it, not the outside of the frame.
For a cushion that covers seat and back in one piece, add a fifth measurement: seat to the top of the back rail. Round every number down, never up. A pad sitting a centimetre inside the seat looks deliberate; one that overhangs slides off when someone stands.
How to match replacement outdoor cushions to a stocked size
Matching is arithmetic. Aim for a cushion the same size as the seat, or up to about 2cm smaller on each dimension. Slightly under is fine. Slightly over is not, because the excess has to go somewhere and it usually goes over the front edge. Here are the seat pad sizes we stock:
| Cushion | Size as listed | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Cushions - Square (from $62) | L 45cm x W 45cm x H 5.5cm | Standard square dining chair seats | Deeper seats leave bare frame at the front |
| Base Cushions - Black ($25) | 50cm wide, 54cm deep, 5cm thick | Deeper or wider seats, and bench seats | Listed in black only, so it has to suit your colour scheme |
| Colebrookdale Round Cushions ($35) | 35cm diameter, 6cm depth | Round seats, stools and small bistro chairs | Measure the seat diameter, not the widest point of the frame |
If your chair falls between two of those, take the smaller one. A 48cm-deep seat with a 45cm pad reads as a neat inset. The same seat with a 54cm pad has six centimetres hanging in mid-air.
Square, round or curved: shape beats size
Shape matters more than shaving a centimetre off the width. A square pad on a round seat leaves four corners poking past the rim, and those corners catch on legs on the way past. Round seats need round pads, which is why the 35cm Colebrookdale cushions exist.
Tub-style chairs are the other common mismatch. Their rounded seat means a square pad never sits flat, so the cushion creeps forward every time someone shifts. The range also lists a curved-back pad cut to follow that shape, and a one-piece highback cushion for chairs where the back is as uncomfortable as the seat.
Ties, thickness and the details that decide whether you keep them
Ties are not a nice-to-have outdoors. Without them a seat pad ends up on the ground by the end of dinner, or in the pool the first time a southerly comes through. The Base Cushions - Black are listed with ties for exactly that reason.
Thickness is the second thing people underestimate. Our seat pads run between 5cm and 6cm, and that difference changes how a chair feels and how it fits under a table. A 5.5cm pad lifts you 5.5cm closer to the tabletop, so measure your knee clearance before ordering.
Finally, look for a zip across the back. Every seat pad above has one, so the insert comes out and the cover goes in the wash rather than being scrubbed in place. That is the difference between a cushion you keep for five years and one you bin after two.
Autumn is the right time to sort this out
March is the sensible month for this job anywhere south of Brisbane. The worst of the UV is behind you, and you have a clear run to replace pads before spring entertaining starts again.
Where you live changes what to prioritise. In Perth, Adelaide and inland New South Wales, UV is what kills covers, so fade resistance matters most. Along the Queensland coast and in the Top End, humidity is the enemy and a cover that dries fast beats one that merely looks good. In coastal suburbs from Torquay to Terrigal, salt sits on everything. Our guide to outdoor cushion fabrics that survive the Australian sun covers what each fabric actually does in those conditions.
Plan storage at the same time as sizes. A cushion box, a dry cupboard or covers from our cushions and covers range will do more for a new pad's life than money spent on the pad itself.
Matching the rest of the setting
Once the seats are sorted, the scatter cushions usually look tired by comparison. Here you get to make a choice rather than take a measurement, because scatter sizes are far more forgiving.
Our Outdoor Scatter Cushions ($35) are 45 x 45cm with built-in Scotchguard, which repels liquids and stains and keeps upkeep down. If the chairs sit under a roof or on a covered balcony, the Alfresco Cushions ($49) come as a 50 x 50cm accent and a 30 x 50cm lumbar in velvet and linen. Mixing the two sizes stops a run of chairs looking flat.
Replacement outdoor cushions: frequently asked questions
How do I measure a chair for a replacement seat cushion?
Measure seat width and seat depth on the chair itself, not on the old cushion. Take the width across the widest point and the depth from the inside of the back rail to the front edge, then round down to the nearest stocked size.
Should the cushion match the seat exactly or be slightly smaller?
Slightly smaller is safer, by up to about 2cm each way. An undersized pad sits neatly inside the frame, while an oversized one overhangs, catches on legs and slides off when someone stands.
How thick should an outdoor seat cushion be?
Between 5cm and 6cm suits most outdoor dining chairs, and that is the range we stock. Thicker feels softer but raises your seat height, so check the clearance under your table first.
Do outdoor seat cushions need ties?
Yes, on any chair that sits in the open. Ties stop a pad blowing off in wind or being pushed to the ground when people stand.
Can I use indoor cushions outside if the area is covered?
Only under a solid roof that keeps rain and direct sun off. Covered alfresco areas and balconies suit velvet or linen, but anything exposed to weather needs a performance outdoor fabric.
Shop the range
Take your four measurements, then work through the outdoor cushions range and match them to a stocked size. If the chairs themselves are past saving, our outdoor chairs and benches range is the place to start instead.
We deliver Australia-wide, delivery is free on orders over $100, and most orders are dispatched in 3-10 business days. Every order comes with 30-day returns and no restocking fee.
