Miami or Marocco – that's the question we get asked most often about our lounger cushions. The honest answer up front: both are made from the same olefin fabric, both are made in the same workshop by the same seamstresses, and both come in any size you need. The difference isn't quality, it's the design – and which one suits you comes down to exactly three questions. This comparison will get you to the right choice in five minutes.
The short answer: If your lounger has an adjustable backrest, choose the Miami – its foldable headrest section moves with every backrest position. If your lounging surface is flat all the way through (daybed, outdoor bed, platform, pallet lounger), choose the Marocco – a shape-stable mattress made from a single piece.
Miami at a glance: the cushion that moves with you
The Miami is the classic sun lounger cushion – and its defining feature is a separately worked, foldable headrest section. It follows your lounger's backrest into every position: flat for sunbathing, raised for reading. That's why it's ordered with two length measurements – headrest plus lounging surface, for example 70 + 130 cm for a total length of two metres.
With thicknesses from 6 centimetres upwards, the Miami is the slimmer, lighter of the two: it doesn't look bulky on an elegant teak or aluminium lounger, folds with one hand, and is secured against slipping with its sewn-in straps. The feel is softer and classic – a cushion, not a bed.
Marocco at a glance: the mattress for outdoors
The Marocco isn't a cushion in the classic sense but a continuous outdoor mattress: one piece, shape-stable, with thicknesses up to 20 centimetres and lengths up to 300 centimetres. It's built for surfaces where you don't just sunbathe for an hour but spend whole afternoons – daybeds, outdoor beds, built-in pool loungers, pallet furniture landscapes.
Its feel is that of a proper mattress: firmer, more supportive, with the point elasticity of a thick PUR core. That's exactly why it's also the model thermal spas and hotels choose for their lounging islands – and the centrepiece of our guide Daybed cushions: outdoor sleep comfort made to measure.
The three questions that decide
Question 1: Does your lounger adjust? If yes, the decision is practically made: a continuous mattress on an adjustable backrest kinks awkwardly and works against the hinge – the Miami with its foldable section is built exactly for that. If your surface stays flat, move on to question 2.
Question 2: How long do you lie down at a time? For sunbathing on and off in the afternoon, the softer, slimmer comfort of the Miami is completely sufficient. Anyone who reads, dozes, and occasionally sleeps outside on the daybed in summer won't want to give up the Marocco's mattress-like firmness after the first weekend.
Question 3: What surface do you need to cover? Standard lounger, 60–70 cm wide: both models work. Larger surfaces – a 140 cm Bali daybed, an 180 × 200 cm outdoor bed, a lounging island in a non-standard size – are Marocco territory: it's made in one piece up to 300 cm in length.
The borderline case: sun loungers with a fixed backrest
There's one situation where both models are equally right: a lounger with a fixed, flat lounging surface and no adjustment. Here it's honestly a matter of taste. If you like the classic, light feel of a cushion and move your lounger around often, choose the Miami. If you want the full mattress feel and your lounger stays in its usual spot anyway, choose the Marocco in 10 to 12 centimetres. As a side note, the Marocco actually starts slightly cheaper, since it skips the labour-intensive folding section.
Unsure about taking measurements? Our guide Sun lounger cushions: taking measurements shows you step by step how to measure the lounging surface and headrest correctly.
New: plan both in the 3D configurator
Since this summer, both product pages have featured a 3D configurator: you enter length, width and thickness – and the 3D model above the input fields updates live. You immediately see how 8 versus 12 centimetres of thickness scale proportionally, or how the Miami's headrest section sits in relation to the lounging surface. Especially with non-standard sizes, this takes the guesswork out of ordering: what you see in the model is what the workshop sews.
Speaking of the workshop: both Miami and Marocco are hand-sewn – by seamstresses with years of experience who know exactly where a seam needs to be double-stitched to last for years. There's no difference at all when it comes to the material: both models are made from 100% olefin – our guide What is olefin? explains why it's the right fibre for outdoor use.
What hotels order – a look at our order book
A pattern from our production confirms the three-question logic: hotels with classic, adjustable pool loungers order the Miami almost exclusively – most recently an Austrian hotel ordering 15 pieces with reinforced securing straps, because hotel loungers get adjusted every day. Thermal spas and properties with large lounging islands, on the other hand, reach for the Marocco, sometimes in non-standard sizes of 260 centimetres. Two tools, two use cases – exactly as the two models are meant to be used.
Frequently asked questions about Miami and Marocco
What's the difference between the Miami lounger cushion and the Marocco outdoor mattress?
The Miami is a classic sun lounger cushion with a foldable headrest section and thicknesses from 6 cm upwards. The Marocco is a continuous, shape-stable outdoor mattress up to 20 cm thick and 300 cm long. Fabric, workmanship and made-to-measure production are identical.
Which cushion suits a sun lounger with an adjustable backrest?
The Miami – its separately worked headrest folds along with the backrest. A continuous mattress would kink at the adjustment hinge and get in the way of the mechanism.
Can I use the Marocco on a regular sun lounger too?
Yes, as long as the lounging surface is fixed and flat. On adjustable loungers, the Miami is the better choice; on fixed loungers, it's a matter of taste between the light cushion feel (Miami) and mattress-like comfort (Marocco).
Are Miami and Marocco made from the same fabric?
Yes, both are made from 100% olefin – water-repellent, UV-stable and mould-resistant – and hand-sewn in the same workshop. The only difference lies in the design and the feel when lying down.
Why is the Miami slightly more expensive than the Marocco at the same size?
The foldable headrest section means more sewing work: two padded chambers, the moving hinge and the securing straps are worked separately and stitched with reinforcement. The Marocco is made from one continuous piece and therefore starts cheaper.
Conclusion: two tools, one quality
Miami and Marocco aren't competitors, but two answers to two different pieces of furniture: the flexible cushion for the adjustable lounger, the full mattress for the flat surface. Once you've answered the three questions above, you'll know your model – and if you want to hold the fabric and colour in your hands first, order free fabric samples. For an overview of all our other cushion types, see the complete guide Custom outdoor cushions.
Sarah Engleman
Product development at Lulu-Belle. Since 2020 we've been developing made-to-measure outdoor cushions and furniture, hand-sewn in our workshop in Hungary – with over 730 customer reviews speaking for themselves.
