A decade ago, "waterproof outdoor cushion" was basically a joke. You would leave cushions out for one rainstorm, and they would smell musty for weeks, or worse, grow mold you could not get rid of, no matter how much you scrubbed. Outdoor furniture has come a long way since then, and a lot of that credit goes to the fabric itself.

If you have shopped for patio furniture recently, you have probably run into the name Sunbrella more than once. Here is what is actually going on with that fabric and why it changed the game.

Is Sunbrella fabric waterproof?

Technically, Sunbrella is water-resistant rather than fully waterproof, which trips up a lot of people. Water beads up and rolls off the surface instead of soaking straight through, but if cushions sit in standing water for a long time, moisture can eventually work its way in. For everyday rain and splashes, it holds up great.

Quick fact: Sunbrella fibers are solution dyed, meaning the color goes all the way through the fiber instead of just coating the surface. That is a big part of why it resists fading so well.

So are Sunbrella cushions waterproof enough for actual outdoor use?

For the vast majority of backyards, yes. Rain, humidity, pool splashes, and morning dew: all of that is exactly what the fabric was designed to handle. The only real risk is cushions sitting in a puddle for days without drying out, which is rare if you are using your patio normally.

What makes this fabric different from older outdoor materials?

Older outdoor fabrics were basically indoor fabrics with a spray-on coating that wore off within a season or two. Sunbrella waterproof outdoor cushions use fibers built for the outdoors from the start, so their resistance does not wash away over time, as old coatings used to.

Does that mean less maintenance for homeowners?

Pretty much. A quick hose-down or mild soap and water handles most spills and dirt; no need to reapply waterproofing spray every season, as people used to.

One customer summed this up nicely after ordering a custom cushion for a wicker loveseat: the fabric and cushion turned out to be water and fade-resistant, it looked great on the deck, and delivery was quick even though it was a custom order. That kind of feedback lines up with what the fabric is actually built to do.

Is there a downside to fabric like this?

Not really, but "resistant" does not mean invincible. Wiping cushions dry after heavy storms and avoiding letting them sit in puddles keeps them performing at their best for years.

​Is Sunbrella actually worth the higher price tag?

In most cases, yeah. You pay more up front, sure, but the cushions stick around longer, the color does not wash out after a summer or two, and you are not babying them constantly. Add it up over a few years, and the cheap cushions usually end up costing more anyway, since you keep replacing them.

Waterproof-style outdoor fabric has changed what people expect from patio furniture. Sunbrella Cushions no longer need to come inside every time the sky looks cloudy, and that alone has made outdoor living spaces a whole lot more livable.