A good sun lounger cushion solves the problem of a hard frame. What it doesn't solve: the neck left hanging in mid-air while you read, or the back that's searching for something to lean against on a flat lounger. That's what two cushions are for, and they're often mixed up. The roll cushion supports your neck, the wedge cushion supports your back. Which one belongs on your sun lounger, your daybed or your lounge set is exactly what this comparison sorts out, including the measurements we sew most often in our own workshop.
In short: two cushions, two jobs
Both cushions are made to measure, both use the same olefin cover as our sun lounger cushions, and both are removable and washable. That's where the similarities end. Everything else, from the filling to whether it actually stays put on the lounger, is deliberately solved in different ways.
| Milano Roll Cushion | Tulum Wedge Cushion | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Neck support, armrest, foot bolster | Backrest, reading support, propping up your legs |
| Shape | Cylinder, length and diameter made to order | Wedge, length, width and both edge heights made to order |
| Filling | Antibacterial foam flakes in the inner cushion | PU foam in one piece, shape-cut |
| Feel | Soft, adaptable, feels like a proper cushion | Firm, stable, supports like a backrest |
| Most common size | 20 cm diameter, 50 cm length | No standard size, every piece is different |
| Stays in place through | Its own weight, length matched to the lounger | A wide base plus the natural grip of olefin |
| Suits | Sun lounger, daybed, lounge | Sun lounger without a headrest, outdoor mattress, daybed |
| Price | from €48 | from €159 |
So if you're looking at the Milano roll cushion or the Tulum wedge cushion, you're not choosing between two versions of the same product, but between two different functions. In practice, both end up on the lounger most often, with the roll cushion chosen slightly more often than the wedge.
Milano Roll Cushion: The Neck Bolster That Doubles as an Armrest
The roll cushion is the all-rounder among garden lounger cushions. Under your head it's a neck bolster, at the side of a lounge set it's an armrest, and at the foot end it's soft padding for your calves. For this to work, the roll can't be firm: we fill it with antibacterial foam flakes instead of a solid core. The flakes give way exactly where your head presses down and redistribute themselves the moment you get up. That cushioned feel is exactly what sets a roll cushion apart from a firm neck pillow.
The filling sits inside a separate inner cushion, with a removable zip-fastened olefin outer cover on top. Our customers will recognise this two-layer system from the Monaco back cushion: the cover can be washed without any flakes escaping, and the inner cushion keeps its shape.
Which diameter suits the roll cushion?
The size we sew most often is 20 cm in diameter and 50 cm long. It fits comfortably under the head on a lounger cushion 6 to 8 cm thick, and it's still easy to get your arms around. As a rule of thumb for the configurator:
| Diameter | Best for | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| 15 cm | Low neck support, children's loungers, narrow loungers with a headrest | 40 to 50 cm |
| 20 cm | Standard neck bolster for sun loungers and daybeds, armrest on a lounge set | 50 to 60 cm |
| 25 cm | Head bolster on tall outdoor mattresses from 10 cm upwards, back bolster against a wall | 60 to 100 cm |
The length depends on the furniture: for a sun lounger, most customers choose the width of the lounger or a few centimetres less, so the roll doesn't stick out at the sides. On daybeds and Bali beds, two long rolls up to 100 cm are often placed at the head and foot ends. You can read which foams we use for the lounger cushion itself on our foam page.
Tulum Wedge Cushion: The Backrest Your Lounger Doesn't Have
The wedge cushion solves a different problem. On a flat sun lounger with no adjustable headrest, on an outdoor mattress on the ground, or on a daybed, there's nothing to lean against. A soft cushion just collapses there: you slide backwards and end up reading with your head propped up awkwardly. The Tulum wedge cushion is therefore the opposite of the roll: a single piece of shape-cut PU foam, firm enough that you can lean your whole upper body against it, and angled enough that your posture falls into place on its own.
In the configurator, that means four measurements: length, width, height at the thick edge, and height at the thin edge. The difference between the two heights and the length is what determines the angle of incline. That sounds technical, but it's exactly why the wedge cushion isn't a catalogue item for us.
How to find your angle
A rule of thumb helps when filling in the configurator. The length is the distance over which the wedge rises, usually 50 to 60 cm. The thin edge sits at around 5 cm, so the transition to the lounger cushion stays smooth. The height at the thick edge determines the angle:
| Goal | Length | Height at thick edge | Height at thin edge | Approx. incline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lying flat, head slightly raised (sun lounger, dozing) | 50 cm | 20 cm | 5 cm | 17° |
| Reading in a semi-reclined position (daybed, outdoor mattress) | 50 cm | 30 cm | 5 cm | 27° |
| Sitting upright like against a backrest (floor-level chill-out lounge) | 60 cm | 40 cm | 5 cm | 30° |
| Propping up your legs | 60 cm | 20 cm | 5 cm | 14° |
If you're after the much-searched-for "wedge cushion with a 30-degree angle", you'll land at around 60 cm in length and 40 cm in height. The width usually matches the width of the lounger cushion, so the wedge and the mattress form a single line. For widths over 135 cm, we add a neat centre seam, just as we do with all our cushions, because our fabrics are woven in a 140 cm roll width.
Staying Put Without Straps: Why Both Cushions Stay in Place
One question comes up regularly for both cushions: are there straps or loops? The answer is no, and that's deliberate. For the Monaco back cushion on lounge sets and benches, we do make fastening straps, because a soft cushion against an upright backrest would otherwise wander. The roll and the wedge work differently.
The roll cushion stays in place through its own weight and its length: a roll that's exactly as wide as the lounger can't slide sideways, and under your head, your body weight presses it into the cushion below. If you're using it as an armrest, you simply wedge it between the seat cushion and the side of the lounge set.
The wedge cushion stays in place thanks to two things: its wide base, which sits snugly on the lounger cushion, and the high natural grip of olefin fabric. Olefin on olefin doesn't slip, and you'll feel that instantly the moment you put the wedge on a Marocco outdoor mattress and lean back. Rather than sliding away, the wedge lodges itself firmly under your back – exactly where its name comes from. This effect doesn't work on smooth plastic or metal loungers with no cushion underneath; there, a lounger cushion needs to go on first.
Which Cushion Suits Which Lounger?
The decision comes down to the furniture, not the cushion. The most common combinations from our orders:
| Furniture | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sun lounger with an adjustable headrest | Roll cushion | The headrest already provides the backrest; the roll just fills the gap at your neck. A wedge would raise you up twice over. |
| Flat sun lounger with no headrest | Wedge cushion, optionally plus a roll | The wedge replaces the missing backrest; a roll on top adds extra neck support. |
| Daybed, Bali bed, outdoor bed | Both | Wedge as a backrest for reading, two long rolls at the head and foot ends as a boundary and armrest. |
| Outdoor mattress on the ground | Wedge cushion | Turns the mattress into a floor sofa; stays in place through olefin on olefin. |
| Lounge set, pallet sofa | Roll cushion | As an armrest or side bolster; the Monaco back cushion takes care of the backrest. |
Whether the slimmer Miami sun lounger cushion or the thicker Marocco outdoor mattress suits your lounger is settled by the comparison Miami vs Marocco?. For how to measure your lounger for it, see Sun Lounger Cushion: How to Measure Correctly, and for Bali beds and outdoor sleeping spots, our guide Outdoor Daybed Mattress has you covered.
Fabric and Sets: Why Almost Everyone Orders in the Same Fabric
The vast majority of our customers order the roll or the wedge in the same fabric as their lounger cushion. The reason is less about looks than about ageing: when the cushion and the lounger cushion are sewn from the same olefin roll, they behave the same way in the sun. Olefin is dyed right through its core and won't fade, but two different fabrics still age differently. A set cut from a single roll still looks like a set after three summers.
If you'd rather add an accent, flip the rule around: a calm plain-colour lounger cushion, with the roll cushion in one of our 460 g/m² woven patterns. The cushion is small enough to add colour without making the lounger look busy. Both covers are removable by zip and washable at 30 degrees; underneath, the roll has its inner cushion and the wedge has its foam core, which simply dries standing on end after a shower. You can order fabrics beforehand as free fabric samples; the differences between lightweight outdoor fabrics and our woven patterns are explained on our fabric overview. For how to care for both cushions through the season, see our guide Caring for Outdoor Cushions the Right Way.
The 30-Second Decision
If your lounger has an adjustable headrest, all you're missing is neck support: roll cushion, 20 cm in diameter, as long as your lounger is wide. If your lounger is flat, or you're lying on an outdoor mattress, you're missing a backrest: wedge cushion, height chosen from the angle table, width matching your lounger cushion. If you have a daybed, get both and order everything from a single fabric roll. Like every one of our cushions, both are made to measure and delivered in 2 to 3 weeks. Everything else about made-to-measure cushions is on our overview page Custom Outdoor Cushions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roll Cushions and Wedge Cushions
What size is a wedge cushion with a 30-degree angle?
Around 60 cm in length, 40 cm in height at the thick edge and about 5 cm at the thin edge give an incline of roughly 30 degrees. In the Tulum wedge cushion's configurator, all four measurements can be entered freely, so the angle matches your lounger and your preferred position exactly.
Can I order a replacement cover for the roll cushion separately?
Yes. The Milano roll cushion consists of an inner cushion with flake filling and a removable olefin outer cover. For a second cover in a different colour, or as a replacement, a short email with the measurements to support@lulu-belle.de is all it takes.
What diameter is right for the roll cushion?
20 cm is the size ordered most often: it supports your neck on a lounger cushion 6 to 8 cm thick and is still easy to get your arms around. For low neck support, 15 cm makes sense, while 25 cm suits tall outdoor mattresses from 10 cm upwards.
Does the wedge cushion slip on the lounger?
Not on a lounger cushion or outdoor mattress made from olefin: the wide base and the fabric's high natural grip keep the wedge exactly where it is when you lean back, which is why no straps are needed. On a bare plastic or metal lounger, this effect is missing, so a cushion needs to go underneath first.
Is a made-to-measure foam wedge cushion suitable for outdoor use?
Yes. The core of the Tulum wedge cushion is shape-cut PU foam, and the cover is made from weatherproof olefin that's UV-, pool- and saltwater-resistant. After a rain shower, the wedge dries standing on end; over winter, it's stored dry like all our other cushions.
Sarah Engleman
Product development at Lulu-Belle. Since 2020 we've been developing custom-made outdoor cushions and furniture, hand-sewn in our own workshop – over 730 customer reviews speak for themselves.
