Patio Storage for Cushions: 3 Large Bags

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Quick answer

Patio storage for cushions works best as a large zippered bag when your stack is soft and your patio has a clear wall or corner for it. The three bags below are soft Oxford or fabric bags, not rigid chests. Each lists about 68 inches long, 30 to 31.5 inches wide and 20 inches high. Listed load ratings differ: 200 lb for the 420D Oxford bag, 50 lb for the water-resistant zippered bag, and none for the black Uthem bag. Measure your stack first, then compare it with the listed size, leave room to reach the zipper, and keep a walkway clear. Do not sit on or serve from these bags, because they are not designed as seats or tables.

Quick compare: the three cushion storage bags

All figures come from the Amazon listings as read for this guide. Where a listing does not state a value, the table says so.

Why a soft bag works for cushions, and what it does not do

A cushion stack can take up a chair, a bench or a corner for most of the year. A single bag gathers the cushions into one place and clears that seating area when you are not using it. On a small patio, though, the location matters as much as the bag. A bag that blocks a door, a railing or a walking route makes the space harder to use.

All three products are soft storage bags. Their fabric and zippers do not create a firm surface, so they will not serve as a bench, a side table or a storage chest that you can sit on. If you need a seat or tabletop, look for a rigid outdoor chest, and treat a soft bag as a separate tool for cushions.

Key measurements and how to measure

Start by stacking your cushions the way you will store them. Include seat pads, back cushions and any chaise cushions you plan to put away together. Measure the longest side, the widest point and the total height. Measure without pressing the stack flat, because a tightly compressed stack does not match how it will fit when you load it.

Then compare the stack with the listed outside size. Do not treat outside dimensions as usable interior space. Seams, the zipper edge and the handles all reduce what you can fit. Leave a few inches of slack in each direction.

The listings disagree on size in places. The black Uthem bag’s title says 68 x 30 x 20 inches, but its dimension field says 68.11 x 31.5 x 20.08 inches. Its bullet describes coverage of 68 inches long, 29 inches high and 20 inches wide. The water-resistant zippered bag lists a round shape even though its dimensions describe a long bag. Use the measured dimensions as a starting point, and confirm the size on the product page before you order.

Finally, measure the location. Mark the footprint with tape or cardboard, check the wall length and the depth from the wall to the far edge, and make sure the zipper can open without moving a chair or table. If a gate or door opens near the bag, allow for its swing.

A 10 by 8 foot patio corner

This example uses a sample patio chosen for illustration: 10 feet along the storage wall and 8 feet from that wall to the far edge. Replace these numbers with your own measurements.

Step 1: convert to inches. 10 feet x 12 inches = 120 inches along the wall. 8 feet x 12 inches = 96 inches of depth.

Step 2: wall fit for a 68-inch bag. 120 – 68 = 52 inches left over. Split evenly, that is 26 inches at each end. Check: 68 + 26 + 26 = 120.

Step 3: depth left after the bag. For the black Uthem bag, 96 – 31.5 = 64.5 inches remain beyond its front. For either 30-inch bag, 96 – 30 = 66 inches remain.

Step 4: keep a 36-inch route. The US Access Board’s accessible-route guidance uses 36 inches of clear width as a reference. In a home, it is a guideline, not a rule. If you want a 36-inch route in front of the bag, 64.5 – 36 = 28.5 inches remain on the Uthem bag’s side, and 66 – 36 = 30 inches remain for a 30-inch bag. Those figures are the space left after reserving the route.

In this example, every bag fits the wall and leaves a route. Your patio may differ. A grill, a railing or a door could take up the space that remains, so measure those separately.

Who should buy these bags

• People who want to gather several outdoor cushions in one place without installing permanent storage.
• Owners who need a bag at least 68 inches long. All three listings state that length.
• Households that want a load rating for stored items. The 200 lb bag and the 50 lb bag each list one. The black Uthem bag does not.

Who should skip these bags

• Anyone who needs a stable seat, serving surface or sealed chest. These are soft bags.
• Patios where the usable wall is shorter than 68 inches, or where the depth is under about 30 inches. The widest listing, at 31.5 inches, needs more room than the 30-inch bags.
• Anyone who needs fully sealed dry storage. The listings describe water-resistant or waterproof fabric, but they do not promise that every seam and zipper stays dry in every exposure.

Common mistakes

• Measuring only the cushion length. A stack has a width and a height too. Compare all three with the bag.
• Treating outside size as interior size. Seams, handles and the zipper edge reduce what fits.
• Ignoring the zipper. Decide which side the opening faces before you fill the bag, and leave that side clear.
• Mixing up load and capacity. A 200 lb or 50 lb rating is a load figure. It does not tell you how many cushions will fit.
• Leaving the bag where water collects. Choose a covered or well-drained spot, and keep the bag off standing water.

Frequently asked questions

What size patio storage for cushions should I choose?

Measure your stack, then compare it with the listed size. All three bags are about 68 inches long, so the difference is in width and load rating. The 31.5-inch black bag is the widest. The two 30-inch bags take less depth.

Can you sit on these bags or use them as a storage chest?

No. They are soft bags, not rigid outdoor chests. If you need something to sit or set a drink on, buy a rigid chest made for that purpose.

Which bag has the highest listed load capacity?

The 420D Oxford bag lists 200 lb. The water-resistant zippered bag lists 50 lb. The black Uthem bag does not state a load capacity in its listing.

Will a 68-inch bag fit on a small patio?

It can, if the wall is at least 68 inches long and the depth leaves room for a clear route. In the example above, a 68-inch bag fits a 120-inch wall with 26 inches at each end, and the 31.5-inch bag leaves 64.5 inches of depth.

Are these bags waterproof?

The listings describe them differently. The 420D Oxford bag is listed as waterproof with an inner PVC coating. The black Uthem bag is listed as lightweight and waterproof. The water-resistant zippered bag is listed as water resistant. Store cushions dry, follow the care instructions, and avoid leaving any bag in standing water.

Products worth checking

We have not tested these products. Sizes and features come from the Amazon listings as read for this guide. Where a listing does not say something, the text says so. Check the current listing before you buy, because sizes, colors and included items can change.

Sources checked

• US Access Board: accessible routes guidance

Specifications come from the Amazon listings as read for this guide. Product details and availability can change, so confirm on the product page before you buy.

How we research our guides