How to Choose Replacement Cushions for Your Grado Headphones

Quick answer

Start with your exact model, then choose the cushion Grado lists for it. B-Cushions are standard on Signature S750 and S550 and also fit every Signature, Classic, Statement, Reference, Prestige, Professional and Limited Edition headphone. F-Cushions are standard on SR225, SR325 and Hemp and fit those same broader series. If your model is not listed, treat that as a decision limit and verify before buying.

Replacement cushions change comfort, fit and how your Grado headphones sit on your ears, so the right pair is the one Grado specifies for your model rather than the one that looks closest. The two genuine options in the current catalog, B-Cushions and F-Cushions, cover different standard models and overlap across several series.

This guide gives you a simple order of operations: confirm your model, check the standard-equipment list, then decide based on fit and price. It also flags where the catalog does not give enough detail, so you can avoid guessing.

Match the cushion to your model first

Grado's own catalog tells you which cushion ships as standard equipment on which headphones, and that is the strongest signal you have. B-Cushions are standard on the Signature S750 and S550. F-Cushions are standard on the SR225, SR325 and Hemp. If you own one of those models, the decision is already made for you.

For everything else, look at the broader fit lists. B-Cushions are stated to fit all Signature, Classic, Statement, Reference, Prestige, Professional and Limited Edition headphones. F-Cushions are stated to fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional and Limited Edition headphones. Notice that F-Cushions do not list Signature or Classic, so if you own one of those, B-Cushions are the safer documented choice.

• Write down your exact model name before you shop; series names alone can hide differences.
• If your model appears in a standard-equipment list, buy that cushion type.

Understand what the catalog does and does not tell you

The supplied product records list compatibility and price, but they do not include thickness, foam density, or a sound description for either cushion. That is a real limitation, not something to fill in with assumptions. What you can rely on is the fit language and the standard-equipment lists.

This matters because cushion choice is often discussed in terms of sound changes, and the catalog here does not make those claims. Use the documented fit as your baseline, then judge comfort and sound with your own ears after installation. If a spec is missing, ask before you buy rather than inferring it.

• Treat absent specifications as unknown, not as evidence of a feature.
• Buy from a listing that states compatibility for your model.

Weigh price against how often you replace pads

Cushions wear out, compress and collect oil, so replacement is a recurring cost rather than a one-time purchase. In the current catalog, B-Cushions are listed at USD 30.00 against a comparison price of USD 60.00, while F-Cushions are listed at USD 15.00 against a comparison price of USD 30.00. If both fit your headphones, the F-Cushion is the lower-cost path.

That said, price should not override the standard-equipment list. If your model ships with B-Cushions, starting there keeps you closest to the intended fit. Buying two pairs at once is reasonable if you rotate them while one set is being cleaned.

• Budget for periodic replacement, not a single purchase.
• Compare the listed price against the comparison price shown on the product page.

Check the case and accessory fit before you commit

Cushion thickness affects whether your headphones fit a case. The Medium Hard-Shell Case for Grado Headphones is stated to fit all Prestige Series, GW100, GH1/GH2/GH3/GH4, RS2e and Hemp headphones when they are fitted with S/WS, L or Flat Cushions. That is a specific condition, so if you switch cushion types, recheck the fit.

The case also carries a stated saving of USD 5 when bought together with a headphone, added to the cart from the headphone page. If you are buying headphones and pads at the same time, that is a practical way to keep the whole setup protected.

• Confirm your cushion type against the case fit list before traveling with your headphones.
• Add the case from the headphone page if you want the bundle discount.

Decision rules for Grado cushion buying

• Rule 1: Standard equipment wins: If your model is listed as shipping with B-Cushions or F-Cushions, buy that type. The catalog names Signature S750 and S550 for B-Cushions, and SR225, SR325 and Hemp for F-Cushions. No guesswork needed for these models.
• Rule 2: Use the broader fit list as a fallback: B-Cushions list fit across Signature, Classic, Statement, Reference, Prestige, Professional and Limited Edition. F-Cushions list Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional and Limited Edition, but not Signature or Classic. Signature and Classic owners should default to B-Cushions.
• Rule 3: Let price break ties only after fit: F-Cushions are listed at USD 15.00 versus a USD 30.00 comparison price; B-Cushions are listed at USD 30.00 versus USD 60.00. If both fit, F-Cushions cost less. Choose the cheaper option only when it is documented to fit.
• Rule 4: Recheck case compatibility after any swap: The Medium Hard-Shell Case fits listed models when fitted with S/WS, L or Flat Cushions. Changing cushion type can change whether the case closes properly. Test the fit before relying on the case for transport.

Catalog facts that drive the decision

• Grado Headphone Replacement B-Cushions: Consumer replaceable genuine Grado ear cushions, standard equipment on Signature S750 and S550, and stated to fit all Signature, Classic, Statement, Reference, Prestige, Professional and Limited Edition headphones. This is the documented choice for Signature and Classic owners and a broad fallback for several other series.
• Grado Headphone Replacement F-Cushions: Genuine Grado ear cushions, standard equipment on SR225, SR325 and Hemp, and stated to fit all Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional and Limited Edition headphones. A lower-cost option for the models listed, but it does not list Signature or Classic compatibility.
• Medium Hard-Shell Case for Grado Headphones: Hard-shell zipper case with embossed Grado logo, fits all Prestige Series, GW100, GH1/GH2/GH3/GH4, RS2e and Hemp headphones when fitted with S/WS, L or Flat Cushions, and saves USD 5 when bought with a headphone from the headphone page. Cushion type affects case fit, so check this list if you plan to store or travel with your headphones.

Who these cushions are for

Best for

• Owners of Signature S750 or S550 who want the standard B-Cushion
• Owners of SR225, SR325 or Hemp who want the standard F-Cushion
• Owners of Prestige, Reference, Statement, Professional or Limited Edition headphones who need a documented replacement

Not for

• Owners of a Grado model not covered by either fit list, who should confirm compatibility first
• Buyers who need published thickness, foam density or sound-change specifications, since the catalog does not provide them
• Anyone trying to fit these cushions to non-Grado headphones

Choose by model first, fit list second, price last. B-Cushions cover Signature and Classic plus the wider series list; F-Cushions are the lower-cost standard for SR225, SR325 and Hemp. When the catalog does not state a specification, treat it as unknown and verify before you buy.