Foam FAQs
What are the characteristics of foam?
Weight--Generally, heavier foam lasts longer. However, density has nothing to do with firmness. For example: a dense foam can stay very soft for decades, while a very firm foam could break down after a year or less, dependent on usage. Foam weight is measured in pounds per cubic foot. 1 cubic foot equals a 12''x12''x12'' square box. Fill that box with 2 pounds of foam and you have a 2 pound piece of foam.
Firmness--Foam firmness is rated numerically. Lower numbers mean softer foam and higher numbers mean firmer foam. Our foams range from 21 (super soft) to 90 (super firm). Technically, these numbers represent the ILD (indentation load deflection) or IFD (indentation force deflection).
Cell Structure--Conventional and Resilience (HR) are the 2 major types of cell structure. Unlike their conventional counterpart, HR foams have many interlocking connections between cells. This HR technology allows this foam to retain its original feel over time while conventional foams will break down much quicker.
A good point of reference is if you were to use these foams as a seat cushion in your family room or as your mattress in your home where it will get several hours of use per day. In this case, the Everlon series will last about 6-8 years. The HR's and Q's come with a lifetime warranty* and will always feel the same. The best foams we have are the HR's. They have both the best cell structure and are heaviest. If your use does not require daily use, you can use a less dense foam.
How thick do I want my foam need to be?
Remember, the whole point of foam cushioning is that you don't want to hit bottom when you sit on it. A sofa cushion is generally 4"-6" thick of a medium firmness. A breakfast nook chair pad is limited to 1" to 2", so it should be a firm and HR type foam.
How firm (or soft) would I like my foam to be?
That depends! Samples of 10"x10" are available if you are unsure of what you are looking for in a foam for a minimal cost. Whatever you pay for samples directly applies to any future order.
We are committed to compensating our employees fairly for the work they do. Custom cut foam orders, even the smaller ones, require substantial labor - from foam selection to machine time to processing the order. Additionally, discounts are available on large quantity orders. For more details, contact us at 714-835-1181 or customercare@a1foamandfabrics.com.
A-1 Foam & Fabrics Foam Chart
| Product Code | Firmness | Density | ILD | Suggested Usage |
| PM | Polyfoam | 1.2 | 38 | Cushions, Bolsters, Mattresses, Window Seats |
| PM33 | Polyfoam Medium | 1.5 | 36 | Cushions, Bolsters, Mattresses, Window Seats |
| ES | Everlon Soft | 1.8 | 18 | Cushions, Mattresses, Seat Backs |
| EM24 | Everlon Soft | 1.8 | 24 | Cushions, Mattresses, Seat Backs |
| EM28 | Everlon Medium Soft | 1.8 | 28 | Cushions, Mattresses, Seat Backs |
| EMD | Everlon Medium | 1.8 | 36 | Cushions, Bolsters, Mattresses |
| EMF | Everlon Medium Firm | 1.8 | 46 | Cushions, Bolsters, Mattresses |
| EF | Everlon Firm | 1.8 | 55 | Boat Cushions, Restaurant Booths, Bar Stools |
| Q31 | Quaalux Medium | 2.5 | 31 | Cushions, Bolsters, Mattresses, Seatbacks, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| Q41 | Quaalux Firm | 2.8 | 41 | Cushions, Mattresses, Breakfast Nook, Seat Backs, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| Q61 | Quaalux Extra Firm | 3 | 61 | Cushions, Breakfast Nook, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| HR21 | High Resilience Soft | 2.5 | 21 | Cushions, Mattresses, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| HR31 | High Resilience Medium | 2.5 | 31 | Cushions, Mattresses, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| HR41 | High Resilience Firm | 2.5 | 41 | Cushions, Mattresses, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| HR50 | High Resilience Extra Firm | 2.5 | 50 | Boat Cushions, Mattresses, Breakfast Nook, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| HR70 | High Resilience Super Firm | 2.7 | 70 | Cushions, Restaurant and Hotel Applications |
| CHAR | Charcoal | 1.7 | 65 | Camera and Gun Cases, Boat Cushions, Packaging |
| CHAREX | Charcoal Everlon Extra Firm | 1.8 | 90 | Camera and Gun Cases, Boat Cushions, Packaging |
| DF33 | Dry Fast Medium | 1.8 | 33 | Outdoor Furniture, Filtration |
| VM | Viscoelastic Medium | 2.5 | 10 | Temperpedic Style, Cushions, Mattresses, Toppers |