30/ 100
F
OverallF8/100
Sunbrella Outdoor Club Ottoman Cushion Covers

Restoration Hardware · Outdoor Furniture Cushions

Sunbrella Outdoor Club Ottoman Cushion Covers

F · High PFAS

Sunbrella uses Teflon-family coating water-repellent coating; PFAS exposure unclear without testing

Verdict: SkipSunbrella fabric is durable and low-toxicity, but Teflon-family coating water-repellent coating treatment introduces uncertain PFAS exposure; buy only if you accept PFAS ambiguity and commit to proper care.

Sunbrella cushion covers feature water and stain-resistant acrylic fabric. Brand does not disclose PFAS content or water-repellent coating chemistry; independent testing unavailable.

The safe swap

Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover

Target

Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover

75/100 safety

C

Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its C.

Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.

Material

Sunbrella acrylic fabric with water-repellent coating treatment

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

Why this grade

Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment

water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.

Hurts the grade

Category baseline

furniture is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Sunbrella cushion covers are woven from 100% solution-dyed acrylic fiber, a synthetic polymer chosen for UV and moisture resistance. The fabric receives a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment, which Sunbrella has historically applied using Teflon-family coating chemistry (the source of PFAS concern). Solution-dyed acrylic itself does not leach heavy metals or off-gas formaldehyde under normal outdoor conditions, making it chemically cleaner than many polyester or cotton alternatives.

The brand's record and disclosure

Restoration Hardware does not publicly disclose the specific water-repellent coating chemistry used in Sunbrella products or provide independent testing for PFAS. Sunbrella (owned by Glen Raven) has not committed to phasing out Teflon-family coating water-repellent coating despite growing industry pressure. No recalls or established contamination events are on record for Sunbrella cushion covers. The brand's silence on PFAS formulation is a transparency gap that complicates informed purchasing.

How it compares in its category

Sunbrella acrylic outperforms most polyester outdoor textiles in durability and chemical cleanliness, but lags behind PFAS-free alternatives like organic cotton with plant-based water repellents or newer non-fluorinated water-repellent coating systems. Solution-dyed acrylic avoids reactive dyes and formaldehyde finishes common in cheaper outdoor cushions. However, competitors like Crypton or some Kravet lines now offer fluorine-free water-repellent coating options, making Sunbrella's continued Teflon-family coating use a dated choice.

If you buy it

Store covers indoors when not in use to reduce UV breakdown and off-gassing from sun exposure. Wash annually with mild soap and water; high heat drying is unnecessary and may degrade the water-repellent coating layer. Inspect covers every 2-3 years for pilling, seam separation, or water-beading loss; replace if water no longer beads on the surface, signaling water-repellent coating failure and potential fiber degradation. Do not bleach or use high-pressure washers, which accelerate coating breakdown.

Beyond PFAS: other things we checked

Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”

Likely

Teflon-family coating water-repellent coating treatment (PFAS precursor)

Sunbrella historically uses Teflon-family coating-based water repellent, a known source of PFAS compounds. No independent testing data are publicly available for this specific product. Leaching risk is low during normal use but increases with abrasion, washing, or UV degradation over years.

Possible

Acrylic fiber shedding (microfiber)

Solution-dyed acrylic can shed microfibers during washing or wear, particularly if the weave is damaged. This is a general concern with all synthetic outdoor textiles; the magnitude is reduced by Sunbrella's tight weave and durability.

None known

Formaldehyde in dyes or finishes

Solution-dyed acrylic is manufactured with the color integrated into the fiber before weaving, avoiding reactive dye processes that require formaldehyde. No evidence of formaldehyde-releasing finishes in standard Sunbrella production.

None known

Off-gassing from acrylic polymer

Acrylic fiber itself does not off-gas volatile organic compounds under normal outdoor or indoor storage conditions, unlike polyurethane foams or PVC.

None known

Heavy metals in colorants

Solution-dyed acrylic avoids azo dyes and cadmium-based pigments; the dye is chemically bound within the fiber. No recalls or testing evidence suggests heavy metal contamination in Sunbrella products.

What we don’t know

This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 42% confidence. It is not a lab result.

No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.

The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.

Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.

Safer alternatives in Outdoor Furniture Cushions

Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover

Target

Covers & All Square Cushion Slipcover

Cotton or cotton-blend slipcover fabric

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate4 flags

Low PFAS concern for bare textile slipcover without stated treatments.

Risky category by default

ARDEN Elastic Deep Seat Cushion Cover 2-Pack

Target

ARDEN Elastic Deep Seat Cushion Cover 2-Pack

polyester/cotton blend upholstery fabric

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate4 flags

Lower concern. Soft furnishings rarely treated with PFAS.

Risky category by default

Pottery Barn Cammeray Dining Chair Cushion Slipcover

Pottery Barn

Cammeray Dining Chair Cushion Slipcover

cotton/polyester blend upholstery fabric

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate3 flags

Likely lower concern; typical furniture fabric without known PFAS triggers.

Risky category by default

More outdoor furniture cushions grades

How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.