Upholstery Foam: Free Quotes From Foam Suppliers Near You

Upholstery foam is what you actually sit on, and when it flattens, even a new cover looks tired within months. Foam is sold by density and firmness, in sheets, blocks and bolsters, and most foam suppliers cut it to your sizes and wrap it in polyester fibre wrap while you wait. Whether it is a couch seat, a set of patio cushions or a boat bench, tell us the sizes and the use and we pass your request to foam suppliers near you, who quote you directly. The request is free, with no obligation.

Types of upholstery foam and foam rubber

The foam rubber people ask for is almost always polyurethane foam. The main kinds are:

Seat-grade polyurethane foam: higher density for seats, lighter for backs and scatter cushions.
High resilience (HR) foam: springs back well, used in good couch seats.
Chip foam: bonded reconstituted foam, very firm, for bases, ottomans and gym benches.
Open-cell outdoor (reticulated) foam: drains water, for outdoor cushions and boat seats.
Memory foam: a soft comfort layer on top of a firmer core.

Choosing density, firmness and thickness

Density and firmness are different things. Density is how much foam is in the block and mostly decides how long it lasts; firmness is how hard it feels. A soft seat can still be high density. Ask the supplier for a seat-grade density for anything sat on daily, and a lighter grade for backs. Thickness matters too: a dining chair pad is far thinner than a couch seat cushion. Tell the supplier who sits there: a heavy user, an elderly parent who needs a firmer seat to stand up from, or children who jump. For a full couch repair, take an old cushion in as a sample.

Cutting, wrapping and common mistakes

Measure the cover, not the old foam, because old foam shrinks and crumbles. Most upholsterers cut foam slightly larger than the cover so it fills out, then wrap it in polyester fibre wrap to round the edges. Common mistakes:

Using indoor foam outside: it holds water and grows mould, especially on the coast.
Buying the cheapest grade for seats, which flattens in a season.
Leaving foam in direct sun, which yellows and breaks it down.

Box cushions with welts and zips are covered under cushion covers.

What affects the price and what to ask a foam supplier

The price depends on the foam type, density, the volume of foam, the number of pieces, any shaping or angled cuts, wrapping and delivery. Full sheets cost less per cut than many small shapes, and offcuts can save money on small jobs. Ask:

Which density do you suggest for this use?
Is cutting and fibre wrap included?
Can you cut to a paper template for odd shapes?
Do you stock open-cell outdoor foam?

What to include in your request

Sizes in cm: length, width, thickness
How many pieces of each size
The use: seat, back, outdoor or boat
Firm, medium or soft feel
Fibre wrap, shaped cuts or delivery

Upholstery Foam for homes, cars and businesses

Homeowners and tenants: new seat foam for a sagging couch, dining chair pads and scatter cushion inners
Restaurants, hotels, guesthouses and lodges: long-lasting seat foam for restaurant booths, bar stools and guesthouse lounge suites
Offices and businesses: replacement foam for reception couches, boardroom chair seats and waiting room benches
Car, bakkie and taxi owners: seat foam rebuilds for bakkie, kombi and taxi seats, cut and shaped for the trimmer
Boats, caravans and 4x4s: quick-dry open-cell foam for boat benches, caravan beds and game drive vehicle seats
Clinics, salons, spas and gyms: firm, wipe-clean covered foam for treatment beds, salon chairs and gym benches
Churches, schools and halls: pew cushion foam by the metre for churches, school halls and auditorium seats
Upholsterers, makers, designers and DIYers: upholsterers and furniture makers buying full sheets, blocks and bulk cuts of foam

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find an upholstery foam supply near me?

Foam suppliers and foam cutting shops are usually in the industrial areas of cities and larger towns, and many upholstery supply shops cut foam too. Send us your sizes and the use and we pass your request to foam suppliers near you, who quote directly. We cut and sell no foam ourselves.

How do I know what density foam to buy?

Tell the supplier what the foam is for: seat, back, scatter cushion, mattress, outdoor or boat. For seats used every day, ask for a seat-grade density, which lasts longer before it flattens. Backs and scatter cushions can be lighter. A good supplier will let you press a sample before cutting.

How long does upholstery foam last?

It depends on the density, the use and the sun. Higher density foam in a lounge out of direct sun can last many years, while a low-grade seat in daily family use may flatten within a year or two. Heat, damp and sunlight shorten its life. A fibre wrap and a good cover help.

Can foam be cut to size while I wait?

Many foam suppliers cut while you wait for simple rectangles, and wrap the piece in polyester fibre wrap for you. Odd shapes, angled backs, curved seats and large orders usually take longer. Bring your measurements in centimetres, or a paper template, and ask when it will be ready.

The right foam is the difference between a seat that lasts and one that sags

Upholstery Foam at a glance

Types of upholstery foam and foam rubber

Choosing density, firmness and thickness

Cutting, wrapping and common mistakes

What affects the price and what to ask a foam supplier

What to include in your request

Upholstery Foam for homes, cars and businesses

Frequently asked questions

Upholstery Foam by province and city

More upholstery services and supplies

Furniture reupholstery

Vehicles, boats & commercial

Supplies & care

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