Wicker Patio Furniture With No Cushions: When Bare Frames Pay Off and How to Fit Your Own

Buying wicker patio furniture with no cushions makes sense when you already own cushions that fit, want to choose your own performance fabric, or simply want to save on a set whose included cushions would wear out first anyway; the catch is that you must measure the frame carefully and budget roughly $40 to $150 per seat for cushions afterward. This guide explains when a frame-only purchase pays off, how to size cushions for wicker seats, and how to tell whether a frame is meant to be used bare.

Why some wicker furniture is sold without cushions

Retailers and makers sell wicker frames bare for a few reasons:

• Frame-only pricing: cushions can represent a large share of a set’s cost, especially with solution-dyed acrylic fabric.
• Replacement market: many people keep the cushions from an old set and only need new frames.
• Designed to be used bare: some wicker chairs and benches have a tightly woven, contoured seat meant to be sat on directly, with an optional pad.
• Clearance and floor models: end-of-season frames are often sold with cushions missing or faded.

Not every wicker frame is comfortable without a cushion. Deep-seating sofas and club chairs usually have a flat woven or strapped deck that sits 12 to 14 inches off the ground; without a 5 to 6 inch cushion the seat is too low and hard.

Comfortable bare or cushion-dependent? Quick check

Measuring a bare wicker frame for cushions

Measure the frame, not an old cushion, since cushions compress and shrink over time.

1. Seat width: inside of arm to inside of arm, across the front of the seat. For rounded wicker seats, also measure across the back.
2. Seat depth: front edge of the seat to the back frame or back weave.
3. Back height: from the seat deck to where you want the back cushion to end, often the top of the frame.
4. Shape: note whether the back corners are square, rounded or tapered (wider at the front than the back). Rounded backs are common on wicker and need a U-shaped or rounded-back cushion.
5. Ties: note where ties can wrap around the frame, usually the back posts.

Order a cushion about 1/2 inch smaller than the measured width and depth for a snug fit; a cushion that is exactly frame size bulges. For deep-seating pieces, check that the seat cushion plus back cushion leaves 20 to 22 inches of actual sitting depth; a 30-inch deep frame with a 6-inch back cushion leaves 24 inches, which is comfortable for most adults.

Common wicker cushion sizes

Cost math: bare frames plus cushions vs a cushioned set

Consider a four-piece deep-seating wicker set: one loveseat, two club chairs and a coffee table. The loveseat and chairs need about seven cushions (two loveseat seat and back pieces or one bench seat plus two backs, and a seat and back for each chair).

• Polyester-fabric replacement cushions: roughly $300–$600 for the set; colors may fade within two or three seasons.
• Solution-dyed acrylic cushions: roughly $700–$1,400; better fade resistance, often rated around 1,000 or more hours of UV exposure.

If a cushioned version of the same set costs only $200 to $300 more than the bare frame, the included cushions are a good deal even if you upgrade them later. If the gap is $600 or more, buying bare and choosing better cushions usually wins.

Choosing fill and fabric for wicker seats

• Polyester fiber fill: soft, light and cheap; flattens within a couple of seasons. Fine for dining pads.
• Foam core wrapped in fiber: holds shape for deep seats; look for densities around 1.8 lb per cubic foot or higher.
• Reticulated (open-cell) quick-dry foam: water drains straight through; ideal if wicker sits uncovered.
• Fabric: solution-dyed acrylic resists fading best; olefin is a good mid-range choice; printed polyester is the budget option.

Since resin wicker weave can be abrasive, pick cushions with a full zippered cover or a fabric bottom; ties alone allow cushions to shift and rub against the weave.

Covers instead of new cushions

If the old cushions still have good foam but faded fabric, slipcovers or cushion covers are cheaper than full replacements, usually $15–$60 per cover. Measure the cushion itself, including thickness, and look for covers with zips or elastic edges that match the shape (square or rounded back). This works best when the foam still rebounds within a few seconds of pressing.

Checking a bare wicker frame before buying

• Material: resin (HDPE) wicker over aluminum frames lasts outdoors; natural rattan or paper wicker belongs on a covered porch only.
• Weave: tight weave with few gaps; push on the seat deck to check for sagging.
• Frame: aluminum does not rust; steel frames can rust from inside and stain the weave.
• Feet: plastic glides prevent weave from fraying where it touches the ground, the most common wear point.
• Clearance or used sets: look for brittle, chalky strands that crack when bent; that is UV damage and gets worse.

Who should buy bare