Quick answer: For a kitchen banquette or breakfast nook, choose a 2 inch cushion (3 inches only if your bench is low), measure the seat wall to wall and front to back, and pick a fabric you can wipe clean: vegan leather or waterproof chenille. A removable zippered cover makes deeper cleaning easy.
A banquette is the hardest-working seat in the house. It sees spilled juice, crumbs, sticky hands and wet swimsuits, and it sits right next to a table, so its height matters more than on any other bench. Here is how to get a banquette cushion that fits, feels good and survives family life.
1. Measure the bench
- Length: measure wall to wall (or end to end) at the front and at the back of the seat, and use the smaller number.
- Depth: measure from the wall or seat back to the front edge, at both ends, and use the smaller number.
- L-shaped or U-shaped banquettes: use one cushion per straight run. Let the longer cushion run into the corner and butt the shorter one against it.
Common banquette seat depths are 16 to 20 inches. Our ready-made cushions come in 18 and 20 inch depths in lengths from 36 to 72 inches; for anything else, order a custom size cushion. Full measuring steps are in How to Measure for Custom Cushions.
2. Get the height right
The top of the cushion should sit about 17 to 19 inches above the floor, roughly 10 to 12 inches below the underside of the table. Most built-in banquettes are 16 to 17 inches tall without a cushion, which is why 2 inches is the usual choice. Use 3 inches only if your bench frame is 15 inches or lower. See How Thick Should a Bench Cushion Be? for more.
3. Choose a wipe-clean fabric
| Fabric | Cleaning | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproof vegan leather | Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap | Smooth, sleek | Families with young kids, modern kitchens |
| Waterproof chenille | Spills bead up; blot and wipe | Soft, warm, textured | Cozy farmhouse and traditional kitchens |
| Woven texture chenille | Blot and wipe; the weave hides crumbs | Textured, nubby | Busy households that want a woven look |
| Pet-friendly crystal velvet | Lint roller for hair; zip-off cover | Soft, smooth | Homes where the dog or cat claims the bench |
Linen-look and regular velvet look beautiful but absorb spills, so we suggest them for window seats and bedrooms rather than for eating areas. Compare every option in the Cushion Fabric Guide.
4. Pick a color that forgives
- Mid-tones (grey, taupe, brown, deep green) hide crumbs and stains better than white or pale beige.
- A textured weave hides more than a flat, smooth fabric.
- Pull a color from your cabinets, floor or table so the bench looks built in, not added later.
5. Keep it in place
Banquette cushions slide when people slip in and out. Two easy fixes: a cushion that fits snugly wall to wall, or a non-slip bottom and ties, which you can add on a custom cushion. A thin rubber rug pad cut to size under the cushion also helps.
6. Care tips
- Blot spills right away; do not rub.
- Vacuum crumbs out of seams once a week.
- Unzip and wash the cover by hand in cold water when needed, and air dry it before putting it back on the foam.
- Flip and rotate the cushion every few weeks so it wears evenly.
Shop banquette cushions
All of these come in 16 sizes, 2, 3 or 4 inches thick, with 70D high-resilience foam and a removable zippered cover: vegan leather, waterproof chenille, woven texture chenille and pet-friendly velvet.
