For large outdoor cushions, I would start by comparing the Keter Westwood 570L and Charles Bentley 490L against the measurements of your complete cushion set. The larger litre figure does not automatically give you a longer or taller space. If neither will take the set comfortably, the Olsen & Smith 870L is another option to investigate, but confirm its usable internal measurements before buying.
I have used all three. The Westwood has taken cushions and equipment that otherwise occupied space in the house and shed, and the contents stayed dry in wet weather. The Bentley feels much more substantial assembled than its loose panels suggest; getting the hinges the right way round was the fiddly part. The Olsen & Smith provides a lot of room, although its small instruction diagrams needed patience.
Measure the full set, including the back cushions
Bring the cushions together and pack them in the arrangement you would actually use. Include corner pieces, thick back pads and any scatter cushions you intend to store. Measure the stack without kneeling on it or bending pads that are meant to keep their shape.
- Measure the longest and widest pad at its fullest points, including piping.
- Try a flat stack and an upright arrangement, where the cushion construction permits it.
- Record the total length, depth and height of the better arrangement.
- Allow space to get your hands around the cushions and lift them out.
A storage bag adds bulk, especially at seams and handles. Measure the packed bag as well. Do not buy a box whose published dimensions are an exact match for a tightly squeezed bundle: hinges, ribs and the opening can reduce usable space.
Compare dimensions, not just litres
| Box | Published internal width × depth × height | Buying implication |
|---|---|---|
| Keter Westwood 570L | 142.4 × 62.6 × 57.9cm | More front-to-back room in this comparison, but less stack height |
| Charles Bentley 490L | 143.3 × 57.9 × 61.3cm | Slightly longer and taller inside, but shallower |
These are manufacturer figures for the referenced models, not measurements of your particular box. Check the version you order. The Bentley illustrates why a smaller capacity can still win on one or two dimensions. Its extra height is useful only if the pads also fit across the shallower floor.
A worked example for chunky seat pads
Suppose you have four seat pads, each 60 × 60 × 12cm. Two stacks of two would occupy 120 × 60 × 24cm before clearance. That layout is nominally within the Westwood’s published dimensions, but leaves only 2.6cm across the depth. Bulging seams or an opening narrower than the interior could make it awkward, so confirm the opening before ordering.
The same layout exceeds the Bentley’s published depth by 2.1cm. Its slightly greater width and height do not fix that. Another orientation might work, but test the arrangement with the actual pads rather than assuming soft filling will squash into place.
Four back cushions still need somewhere to go. Adding them above those seat pads changes the required height; putting them alongside changes the width or depth. Sketch the complete arrangement and calculate the space for every piece. The example is a sizing method, not a promise that either box fits a particular furniture set.
When an extra-large box makes sense
I would consider the Olsen & Smith 870L when the smaller options force you to split the set across several places. Its capacity relieved pressure on my shed, and the assembled box felt sturdy. However, a big chest needs a location where you can stand in front, raise the lid and reach the bottom without leaning over a table.
Ask for internal dimensions and the clear opening if the listing only gives external size. A box that is too large for the patio can be as inconvenient as one that is too small for the cushions. Compare other shapes in my garden storage box guide.
Choose access you will use every evening
For daily use, I prefer being able to lift a stack out in one or two trips. Avoid an arrangement that requires removing every back pad to reach one seat cushion. Keep the opening unobstructed and check that lid supports do not press against the packed set. Never force the lid down on an overfilled box.
Keep muddy tools and bags of compost elsewhere. They make a cushion box harder to keep clean and introduce moisture. A chest beside the seating area should be easy to open after a shower without tipping water from the lid onto the fabric.
Will the cushions stay outside all winter?
Check their care instructions before making that the reason for buying a box. My rain experience with a closed box does not mean damp filling will dry inside it. Put cushions away fully dry and follow any instruction to store them indoors during winter. The winter cushion-storage guide covers that decision in detail.
If the furniture itself remains outdoors, a correctly fitted garden furniture cover is a separate purchase. It does not increase the usable cushion space in a box or override the cushion care label.
Dimension sources: Keter Westwood 17204585 and Charles Bentley GLPLSTORE490LGY.
