Guide
How to waterproof cushions
On this page (7)
- What is the difference between water-repellent, water-resistant and waterproof?
- Can a sewn cushion be fully waterproof?
- Does a water-repellent spray work on cushions?
- How do I keep water from staying inside a cushion?
- Which Foamera fabrics carry a water-repellent label?
- Can I order custom cushions built to shed water?
- Which guide should I read next?
To make a cushion cope with rain, pair a water-repellent outdoor fabric, which resists wetting, with a foam core that drains and dries fast, such as reticulated foam. Foamera’s outdoor product pages describe this build, water-resistant outdoor fabric over quick-dry foam that lets water pass straight through, rather than a sealed, waterproof cushion.
Foamera makes made-to-measure foam cushions and sells them online through TURKEX LLC.
What is the difference between water-repellent, water-resistant and waterproof?
The three words describe different things, so check which one a label refers to.
| Term | What it describes | How it is tested |
|---|---|---|
| Water-repellent | The fabric resists wetting by water on its surface | AATCC TM22 spray test: water is sprayed on a taut fabric sample and the wetted pattern is graded |
| Water-resistant | The fabric resists water being pushed through it under pressure | AATCC TM127 hydrostatic pressure test |
| Waterproof | A claim that no water gets through at all | Neither fabric test above measures a finished, sewn cushion |
Can a sewn cushion be fully waterproof?
The fabric tests above measure fabric samples, not a finished cushion with seams and a zipper. A cushion that lets water drain out and dries fast is the practical alternative: reticulated foam lets air and moisture pass through, which stops moisture from building up.
Does a water-repellent spray work on cushions?
A spray-on repellent is a water-repellent finish, the kind of treatment the AATCC TM22 spray test is designed to measure. Follow the spray maker’s instructions for how to apply it and how often to renew it.
How do I keep water from staying inside a cushion?
- Use a foam core that drains, such as reticulated (dry-fast) foam; see what is dry-fast foam.
- Dry wet cushions within one to two days, the window the EPA gives to prevent mold growth.
- Store cushions dry when they are not in use; see how to store outdoor cushions.
Which Foamera fabrics carry a water-repellent label?
In the Foamera fabric library, Maldiv & Amazon Outdoor carries the mill’s Water Repellent label among the outdoor lines. The label comes from the mill’s product data and is not a certification. Browse the fabric library and the best outdoor cushion fabric guide.
Can I order custom cushions built to shed water?
Yes: choose an outdoor cushion, enter your size in inches or centimetres, and choose an outdoor fabric on the product page. The fill choices there are High Density Foam, Fiber Fill and Cover Only, so to confirm the foam core before you order, email hello@foamera.com. Start with outdoor cushions, the square patio cushions or the L-shaped boat cushions.
Which guide should I read next?
- Best foam for outdoor cushions
- How long do outdoor cushions last?
- How to clean outdoor cushions
- Care guide
Sources
- AATCC, TM22 Water Repellency: Spray Test and TM127 Water Resistance: Hydrostatic Pressure Test (method summaries). Accessed 26 September 2026.
- Joyce Foam Products, A Guide to Reticulated Foam. Accessed 26 September 2026.
- US Environmental Protection Agency, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. Accessed 26 September 2026.
- Water Repellent label: the Foamera fabric library data. Outdoor build: Foamera outdoor product pages.