How to Replace the Foam in Your Couch Cushions

How to Replace the Foam Inside Your Couch Cushions

Over enough time, the foam in a couch will start sagging and wear out. Or maybe the foam in your couch wasn’t comfortable to begin with. Why you might want to replace your couch cushions is less important than how (more on that later). If you want to keep the current covers—or they’re permanently attached to the couch—that means removing the old foam and putting new foam in.

It sounds easy enough, but getting the right replacement foam for couch cushions still requires some forethought. By following these tips from our experts, your cushion-replacement project will be a breeze.

Couch Foam Density & Firmness

You’ll also need to decide what foam density you want. Although this is ultimately up to personal preference, we recommend a foam with a density between 1.8 and 3 lb/ft³. The higher the density, the higher the quality and the longer the foam will last. This range is resilient and supportive while still being soft enough to sit comfortably on. The thinner the foam, the denser it should be to avoid overloading or “bottoming out.” We also recommend firmer foams for seat cushions and softer foams for back cushions. Firmness is also referred to as “ILD,” or Indentation Load Deflection. The higher the number, the firmer the foam is. Most medium foams are in the 40–46 range, while softer foam is in the 20–30 ILD range and firmer foam for seat cushions would be in the 50–55 ILD range.

Sofa Cushion Replacement Steps

Once you have ordered the new foam from FoamOrder.com, replicating the dimensions and batting treatment of your current cushions, you’re ready to replace your cushion foam by following these simple steps.

1. Remove the foam from the cushion cover. On removable cushions, the easiest way to do this is to turn the cover fabric inside out. If you are working with couch back cushions or seats attached to the frame, very carefully pull the foam out.
2. If you are reusing the old batting, peel it away from the foam and set it aside.
3. To attach batting, apply an adhesive spray on each side of the new cushion. This will help the batting stay in place.
4. Wrap the batting (new or old) around the foam, making sure it sticks to the adhesive.
5. Trim off any excess batting using a serrated utility knife or fabric scissors.
6. Insert the wrapped cushion foam into the cover. It will be a snug fit—work carefully so as not to rip or tear any of the materials.

Note: While not required, you can apply a textile-grade silicone spray to the cushion between steps five and six. This will remove any stickiness from new batting and also reduce static electricity.