Thickness is the measurement people second-guess most. Get it right and the cushion looks factory-made; get it wrong and the whole bench looks off. Here are the ranges we recommend (they're pre-marked with ★ in the configurator).
The standard answers
- Window seats: 3″–4″. You sit on these properly, often for a while, and the deep sill visually swallows anything thinner.
- Entryway & dining benches: 2″–3″. Mostly short sits. 2″ looks tailored on slim modern benches; 3″ reads more traditional and comfortable.
- Porch swings & banquettes: 3″–4″. Longer sessions and a touch of bounce justify the extra foam.
The seat-height check
Comfortable seating height is roughly 18″–20″ from the floor to the top of the cushion. Measure your bench height and subtract: a 16″ bench + a 3″ cushion = 19″ — right in the pocket. If the math comes out over 20″, go thinner rather than making knees ride up.
Dacron adds loft
A Dacron wrap visually adds about ¼″ of loft and softens the top edge. If you're between thicknesses and ordering with Dacron, it's usually safe to stay at the thinner choice.
One more pro tip
Long benches (over 48″) benefit from going up one thickness step — a single long cushion flexes more in the middle, and the extra thickness keeps it from feeling flimsy. Configure a custom bench cushion with your measurements and compare 3″ vs 4″ side by side; the price difference is usually smaller than people expect.