Upholstery Foam Product Guide

By OnlineFabricStore

There are many different kinds of foam with different purposes. When looking for an upholstery foam, you’ll find several densities, sizes, and thicknesses from 1 inch to 6 inches.

So what’s the difference difference between high density and medium density upholstery foam? It’s common to think that a foam’s density would relate to how firm it feels, but that’s actually not the case. Density correlates to the foam’s durability. High and medium density foams feel the same when you sit on them, but high density foam has greater longevity.

For foam that will get heavy daily use, like couch cushions, dining chairs, or mattress toppers, high density foam is the better choice because it will hold up over time the best. For light or occasional use, medium density foam will be sufficient, like for accent chairs and headboards.

You can also find upholstery foam in different shapes like bolster foam and wedge foam.

If using foam outside or for an application that could get wet, like patio cushions or boat cushions, you’ll want an outdoor foam.

Upholstery Foam Product Spotlight Video

Outdoor Foam

If you want to use foam outdoors, you can’t go wrong with Eva-Dri or EZ-Dri outdoor foam. They’re both medium density, but they are designed to let water flow through them rather than absorbing it like a sponge. The open cell construction also lets humidity and moisture evaporate quickly. EZ-Dri foam also has a built in fungicidal additive that inhibits fungus and mildew. This will help prevent stains and odor.

Rebond Foam

For a firmer foam that’s very durable, try rebond foam. It’s a dense, open cell foam that provides solid support and holds its shape well. It’s commonly used for commercial upholstery, motorcycle and snowmobile seats, bar stools, massage tables, and exercise mats.

Sew Foam

Sew foam has a cloth backing which makes it easy to work with for upholstery projects. This foam is commonly used to make custom automobile, motorcycle, and boat seats, as well as for headliner backings and car door panels. It can be sewn to the back of fabric or vinyl to create specialty padded designs like pleated upholstery.

Other Foam

Working with Upholstery Foam

Packaging

Foam will be shipped to you rolled up tightly. After you unroll the foam, please allow up to 24 hours for the foam to expand to its correct dimensions.

Once the foam is exposed to air, it will start to yellow, so don’t be concerned when this happens.

Cutting Foam

Foam can easily be cut with a serrated knife, or even an electric knife. See our video on how to cut foam.

Foam Spray Adhesive

For more complex shapes and layering, you can use spray adhesive to bond the foam together. You can also spray adhesive to attach padding or upholstery batting to the foam to make cushions and headboards softer and more rounded.

Tutorials Using Foam

See the following tutorials that use foam for more tips on cutting foam and using for upholstery.

Shop Foam for Upholstery