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    Why tf are outdoor couch cushions SO EXPENSIVE

    I have had a metal couch i got for free off the side of the road for about two years now and I literally have not been able to use it because couch cushions are so expensive. The cheapest ive been able to find is $33 for two cushions. Pretty reasonable tbh. The couch needs 5 bottom cushions and 6 top cushions… that would be $165 for ten of them and then I would need to somehow buy 1 extra that still matched. Then cushions for my other outdoor table set that I also got for free isnt as expensive but is $60 for 4 cushions. That's approx $325 not including the extra cushion or tax or shipping (because locally its $50 PER cushion). about $400 for outdoor fucking couch cushions that I cant even buy locally to possibly return if they dont fit.

    absolutely insane. im just gonna go another year without buying cushions for my big couch 😭

    (realistically i will probably just buy 1-2 a month and use them next year but i still wanted to complain lol)

    (also I have no idea how to sew but im thinking it might be high time to learn… cushions cant be THAT hard right?? right?? 😅)

    Why tf are outdoor couch cushions SO EXPENSIVE
    byu/Miss-Chiss inFrugal



    Posted by Miss-Chiss

    12 Comments

    1. slothsie on

      The foam and fabric suitable for outdoors will be insanely expensive if you try to diy it.

    2. Violingirl58 on

      Look for some indoor outdoor canvas options and sew a set of cushions. Or purchase the material and have it priced out by a Seamstress in your area or if you have a friend that knows how to sew.

    3. heatherista2 on

      They are expensive bc the fabric is waterproof and the stitching is really durable. I sew, but I don’t think my machine (or me) could wrangle vinyl or Sunbrella or canvas that easily. 

    4. BelieveBelieves on

      Keep your eye on the Facebook marketplace and free groups. It’s even worth a shot checking craigslist. 

    6. jesrp1284 on

      What I have done with some success is taking worn-out bed pillows and making covers with vinyl outdoors fabric. I cut the pillow in half or leave it, sew up the open side, and then sew on the cover.

    7. Significant-Repair42 on

      Did you go to IKEA? Sometimes you can find out door cushions there.

    8. TooMuchV8 on

      They are one of those products that only sell to people with outdoor furniture that need cushions. Low demand, high prices.

      I feel you though. I built some custom outdoor chairs for me and my wife when we finally bought a house. Big, hefty, 4×4 chairs fit for a backyard king. The cushions were the most expensive part of the project…

    9. ToneSenior7156 on

      Do you have any outlets nearby? That’s the best prices I’ve found for cushions. I drove mine back to NJ from SC one year.

    11. Inner-Confidence99 on

      Buy big pillows. Look at places like Ollie’s, roses, big lots. Some clearance stores have this stuff cheap. Also look at a bent and dent store/surplus store. They get cushions of all kinds from dollar general, even Walmart sometimes at end of seasons. What doesn’t sell. 

      There is also a spray that could be used to help waterproof. 

      Due to living in country we take ours in when not in use. Big box for them. We have night time critters. That tear stuff up. 

    12. BefuddledPolydactyls on

      That’s likely why the couch was free! Outdoor fabric is insanely expensive, even if you *can* sew. It’s also very heavy and difficult to sew. It’s treated to avoid sun degradation, resistance to mold/mildew, etc., and can be cleaned. I have a settee that when the originals finally went kaput, is now using lounge cushions horizontally. 

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