How to Make a Quick & Easy Box Cushion
Box cushions are a standard sewing skill because these cushions are useful in so many places around both your home and boat. You can sew up box cushions for window seats, benches, banquettes, patio sets, cockpit cushions and more! To make these projects even easier, this video showcases a quick, simple-sew box cushion technique that will help you create a cushion in under an hour. Our box cushion has no piping, which makes it very beginner-friendly and such a fast sew. Let's get started with today's box cushion DIY tutorial!

The secret behind the ease of this cushion is that is doesn’t use any boxing! Not having to sew on boxing saves a major step in the assembly process. The lack of boxing also gives the edges of the cushion a smooth, rounded look. This cushion method does not allow for the addition of piping though, so if you want a piped edge on your cushion, you’ll want to go with the traditional box cushion method. You can learn this in our "How to Make a Box Cushion for a Swing" blog and video tutorial (#200606XHT).
In addition to the detailed how-to video, we also succinctly wrote out the steps so you can have a guide to glance at while you sew up your cushion.
7 Steps to a Quick & Easy Box Cushion
Step 1: Cut Foam to Size
Cut your foam to the desired size of your finished cushion plus 1/4 inch on all sides.
Step 2: Cut Bottom Plate to Size
Lay out the fabric for your cushion bottom. Set the foam on top of it and trace around the perimeter. Then draw a line 1/4 inch in from your traced line. Cut out your plate along the inner line.
Step 3: Sew Zipper to Bottom Plate
Cut your zipper to the length of cushion plus a few inches. Install the zipper slider. Then, baste the zipper in place across the center of the underside of the bottom plate with the zipper facing down. Sew the zipper in place.
Step 4: Cut Top Plate to Size
On the wrong side of your top, decorative fabric, trace around the perimeter of your foam. Strike a line using the thickness of the foam minus 1/4 inch as the distance out from the traced line. This outer line will be your cut line.
Step 5: Creating Facing From Top Plate
Extend the inner line on your fabric out past the cut line. This will form a square at each corner. Cut out your fabric along the cut line and then cut out the traced square at each corner. Flip the fabric over right side up and baste the corners together. Sew the corners together using a 3/8-inch seam allowance.
Step 6: Sew the Plates Together
Use basting tape to baste together the bottom and the top plates with the right sides facing in. Be sure to use match-up marks to line up the center of each side on both plates. Sew the plates together using a 3/8-inch seam allowance.
Step 7: Insert Foam in Cushion Cover
Open the zipper and turn the cover right side out. Insert the foam. Be sure to work the foam into the corners and edges so everything looks nice.
Materials List:
- Décor & Upholstery Fabric from Sailrite®
- Cushion Underlining Fabric 54" (we used Beige #103934)
- CushionRite™ Premium Antimicrobial Foam (Firm) #124236
- YKK® Zipper #5 Coil Continuous White #104387
- Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas #104167
- YKK® Zipper Slider #5 Coil White Metal Single Lock Pull #104356
- Thread V-69 Nylon (indoor application) or V-69 Polyester (outdoor application)
Tool List:
- Sailrite® Blade Foam Saw #121244
- Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" #102400
- Self-Healing Rotary Cutting Mat 24" x 36" #120257
- Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter 60mm #9655
- Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LS Walking Foot Sewing Machine #300500
- Gingher® 8" Scissors Right Handed #19104
- Fabric Marking Pencil White #101026
- Sailrite® Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide #103597
- Tape Measure, Straightedge, Marker, Pencil