Cold foam, also called high resilience foam, is a type of polyurethane foam manufactured using a process that gives it a denser, more open cell structure than standard foam. This structure lets it compress and recover its shape more consistently, which is why it is a common choice for sofa seat cushions that need to hold up to daily sitting.
Compared with standard polyurethane foam of the same thickness, cold foam generally feels firmer and supportive rather than soft and sinks less over time. Its performance is closely tied to its foam density, so checking that figure alongside the foam type gives a better sense of how a sofa will feel after a few years. Our sofa size guide touches on cushion comfort alongside dimensions.