Anyone looking for outdoor cushions will come across three fabric names: polyester (almost every budget cushion), olefin (the mid-range) and Sunbrella® — solution-dyed acrylic (the premium segment). The price differences are big. The question is: do you get something in return? In this article we put the three fabrics side by side, honestly. Including where polyester is simply fine — because sometimes it is.
The three fabrics in brief
- Polyester is the workhorse of the textile industry: cheap, available everywhere, in any print you like. The colour is usually added after weaving — dyed or printed onto the fibre.
- Olefin (also called polypropylene) is a synthetic fibre that is often solution-dyed: the pigment goes into the fibre before spinning. That makes olefin a lot more fade-proof than polyester, at a mid-range price.
- Sunbrella is solution-dyed acrylic: the same principle of colour all the way through the fibre, but on an acrylic fibre that has been refined for outdoor use since 1961. What solution-dyed means exactly, you can read in What is Sunbrella?
Fade resistance: where the difference begins
Outdoors, the sun is the great destroyer. UV light breaks down dye that sits as a layer on the fibre — which is why a polyester cushion looks visibly faded after one or two summers, especially in brighter colours. If the colour runs through the fibre, there is nothing to break down: the colour is the fibre.
So olefin and Sunbrella both beat polyester here. The difference between those two lies in the fibre itself: acrylic is naturally very resistant to UV and keeps its looks year after year. That is why makers of premium lounge sets, parasols and boat upholstery almost always choose acrylic.
Water and mould
All three fibres are synthetic and absorb little water themselves. Yet the difference in practice is big:
- Polyester fabrics as a whole often do soak up water and stay damp for a long time. Mould grows on the dirt in a damp cushion — the familiar black speckles after a wet week.
- Olefin dries faster and does clearly better here.
- Sunbrella has a water-repellent finish on top of that: rain beads off, the fabric dries quickly and the fibre is no breeding ground for mould.
Good to knowIf mould does grow on the dirt once, Sunbrella is the only one you can treat with diluted bleach without losing colour — see removing mould from garden cushions. With polyester, bleach means the end of the colour.
Which cushions you can leave outside with peace of mind, you can read in which cushions can stay outside.
Feel, use and care
A difference you only notice once you have the fabrics side by side: how they feel. Polyester often feels smooth and synthetic; printed versions have a thin, "cover-like" character. Olefin feels slightly waxy. Sunbrella is woven like an upholstery fabric and feels like one — soft, with texture, as if it could just as well sit on your sofa indoors. Care is also the least fuss with Sunbrella: machine-washable cover, bleach allowed, dries fast. The full care story is in Washing and cleaning Sunbrella cushions.
Please noteOne weakness has to be mentioned too: acrylic does not like high heat. A spark from the fire pit or a hot pan is bad news for any synthetic fibre — don't put your cushions next to the fire anyway.
Lifespan and price: the honest sum
Rough real-world figures for cushions that are actually used outside:
- Polyester: often looks good for 1–3 seasons. Cheap to buy, but you keep buying again.
- Olefin: a solid mid-range, lasts noticeably longer.
- Solution-dyed acrylic: 5–10+ years of good looks is no exception, provided you care for it normally.
Work it out per year instead of per cushion. A ten-euro cushion that goes in the bin every two years is not cheaper over five years than one good cushion that is still there after five years — and looked better all that time. And there is another hidden cost: time. Polyester cushions have to be brought in with every shower and handled with care; a good acrylic cushion can simply stay outside all season.
How do you recognise what you are holding?
Whether you are in a shop or scrolling through a webshop, look out for these signals:
- The label. "100% polyester" is clear. If you see "olefin", "polypropylene" or "PP", you are in the mid-range. "Solution-dyed acrylic" or a brand name like Sunbrella is the premium segment — and a brand name can be verified with the manufacturer.
- The back of the fabric. Is the print white or faint on the back? Then the colour is printed on and it will fade. Woven, solution-dyed fabric is equally good on both sides.
- The price. An "acrylic" cushion for a few euros does not exist — the fibre alone costs more. Too good to be true usually is.
- The collection name. Real Sunbrella always has a collection and colour name you can look up (Natté Sooty, Heritage Rust). We state it with every cushion, including the fabric number.
The comparison at a glance
| Polyester | Olefin | Sunbrella (acrylic) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour | On the fibre, fades | In the fibre, fade-proof | In the fibre, fade-proof |
| UV resistance | Moderate | Good | Very good |
| Moisture & drying | Stays damp | Dries quickly | Water-repellent, dries fast |
| Bleach | Never | Risky, test first | Allowed (diluted) |
| Feel | Synthetic | Slightly waxy | Like upholstery fabric |
| Lifespan outdoors | 1–3 seasons | Mid-range | 5–10+ years |
| Price | Low | Mid | High — from € 29,95 with us |
When is polyester simply fine?
Honestly: not everyone needs Sunbrella. If your cushion sits under a closed veranda, if you use it three weekends a year at the campsite, or if you just want to try a trendy colour for one summer — then a polyester cushion from the budget store does its job. Buy it knowingly, don't expect a second summer from it, and you won't be disappointed.
But does your cushion stay outside all season, in the sun, on a set you want to enjoy for years? Then the fabric is not a detail, it is the whole purchase.
Why we only cut Sunbrella
We made that comparison long ago — which is why we work with just one fabric. We cut our 45×45 cm outdoor cushions from original Sunbrella leftover fabric from furniture makers and upholsterers. Premium brand fabric, rescued from the offcut pile: that is why you don't pay lounge-set prices with us, but from € 29,95 per cushion. Delivered from stock, with zip, and per colour while stocks last.
Sunbrella outdoor cushion Solids Silver Grey
Light silver grey — exactly the shade that yellows within a season on polyester, and simply stays fresh here.
from € 29,95 — delivered from stock
Sunbrella outdoor cushion Heritage Slate
Mottled slate grey from the Heritage line: the weave texture that lets you feel why acrylic passes for upholstery fabric.
from € 31,95 — delivered from stock
Compare for yourself
See the plain colours in Sunbrella Solids or the mottled weaves in Sunbrella Heritage — all original brand fabric, per colour while stocks last.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of fabric is olefin?
Olefin is the textile name for polypropylene fibre. For outdoor use, olefin is often solution-dyed: the pigment goes into the fibre before spinning, which makes the fabric fade-proof. It is a fine mid-range outdoor fabric — more fade-proof than polyester, but less durable and less soft than solution-dyed acrylic.
What is the difference between Sunbrella and 'sunproof' or other acrylic fabrics?
There are several brands of solution-dyed outdoor fabric. The principle is similar; the differences are in weave quality, finish, colour collections and warranty. Sunbrella is the oldest and best-known name in this segment and is therefore used by many premium furniture brands. With every "acrylic-look" offer, check whether it really is solution-dyed acrylic — the look is easier to copy than the properties.
Is polyester suitable for outdoor cushions?
For occasional use and under a roof: yes. For a whole season outside in the sun: no. Polyester fades under UV and stays damp for a long time after rain, so mould strikes quickly. Expect one to three good seasons — and never use bleach on it.
