Looking for some new garden chairs to make the most of your outdoor space? Then you're in luck because the Ideal Home team has rounded up the best outdoor chairs on the market.
Whether you're looking for space-saving stackable outdoor dining chairs for alfresco entertaining or a comfortable outdoor armchair to relax in with a coffee, we've trawled the shops to find the most stylish, practical, and affordable options.
There are budget options from the likes of Homebase, B&Q, and Argos, and investment pieces from Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, and Barker and Stonehouse, including timeless rattan garden chairs, contemporary Acapulco outdoor chairs, folding patio chairs, and much much more.
If you have a little more outdoor space to play with then make sure to check out our guide to the best garden furniture too, but, if it's outdoor seating that you're after, then these are the garden chairs you'll want to snap up.
The best garden chairs
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Designer-look
Seats: 1 Size: H80.5 x W60.5 x D65cm Colour options: natural Materials: metal & PE-rattan
This rattan-effect garden chair offers designer style for less. There's also a wide range of matching Habitat outdoor furniture that's perfect for a smaller patio as the open-weave structure won't block the view.
Seats: 1 Size: H84 x W57 x D47cm Colour options: white, green, grey, black Materials: polypropylene
A design classic, Kartell's Masters outdoor chair looks just as good inside as out, and will instantly elevate any patio with its iconic silhouette. Lightweight and stackable, it's a practical addition to the garden too.
Seats: 1 Size: H84.5 x W56 x D57.5cm Colour options: black Materials: resin and aluminium
Add some statement style with this sculptural butterfly-style outdoor dining chair. The all-black design is perfect paired with a bistro table, or used to complement a larger outdoor dining table.
Rattan garden chairs
Seats: 2 Size: H89 x W63 x D65cm Colour options: brown Materials: PE-rattan and aluminium
Offering a timeless look that blends well with a wide range of garden styles, this set of two garden armchairs is great value considering the low-maintenance PE-rattan uppers and rust and weather-resistant aluminium frames.
Seats: 2 Size: H89 x W63 x D60cm Colour options: natural, grey Materials: PE-rattan and aluminium
A little more investment will get you this set of two Dante garden armchairs. PE-rattan and aluminium frames make for great outdoor durability and there's a wide range of matching furniture in the Dante outdoor furniture collection.
Seats: 2 Size: H90 x W60 x D72cm Colour options: natural, grey Materials: PE-rattan and aluminium
A classic curved silhouette makes this set of two rattan armchairs the epitome of the 'English country garden'. Lightweight yet robustly built, each chair is tested to withstand 20 stone (127kg) which exceeds the industry standard.
Budget-friendly garden chairs
Seats: 1 Size: H80 x W49 x D53cm Colour options: grey Materials: metal and polyester
If you need some cheap and cheerful outdoor dining chairs then it's hard to beat the price of this Habitat option, and weighing in at 2.3kg it's light enough to take on adventures too. The metal frames will need storing somewhere dry when not in use to avoid rusting, but the chair folds for space-saving storage in the shed or garage.
Seats: 2 Size: H94 x W55 x D75cm Colour options: grey Materials: polyester and steel
This set of two outdoor chairs is made from powder-coated steel rather than aluminium so you'll need to cover them or store them inside in winter months to prolong their lifespan, but they're contemporary in design, affordable, and stackable, which means you can easily clear your patio space when they're not in use.
Seats: 2 Size: H107 x W56.5 x D56cm Colour options: beige, grey, black Materials: polyester and aluminium
They are more expensive, but these practical folding chairs are still a great value buy. They're made from quick-drying Textilene fabric with durable, lightweight and rust-resistant aluminium frames and have nine-position adjustable backrests.
Acapulco garden chairs
Seats: 1 Size: H79 x W74.5 x 68cm Colour options: grey Materials: steel & PE-rattan
It's only available in one colourway, but grey will never go out of style, and this budget-friendly Habitat Acapulco-style chair is a bargain price.
Seats: 1 Size: H75 x W82 x L72.5 cm Colour options: blue, green, grey, orange Materials: polyweave and powder-coated steel
If you want to add some bright colour to liven up a drab backyard then Homebase's Acapulco chairs are our top choice. Mix and match shades in four fab colourways.
Seats: 2 Size: H81.5 x W72 x D69cm Colour options: dark grey, natural, terracotta, cobalt blue, olive green, teal Materials: polyweave and powder-coated steel
This set of two Acapulco chairs makes a good value buy, and there's a great selection of sophisticated muted tones on offer.
Reclining garden chairs
Seats: 1 Size: H110 x W66 x D89cm Colour options: grey, teal, yellow Materials: polyester and metal
Available in grey, yellow, or teal this super-affordable folding chair offers a lot of features at a very reasonable price. The multi-position recline function elevates the feet and legs to give a sensation of weightlessness, and it folds away neatly for space-saving storage.
Seats: 1 Size: H92 x W59 x D110cm Colour options: seven prints and patterns Materials: FSC-certified timber
This summer the timeless wooden deckchair has been given a modern update. Habitat's folding wooden deckchairs come in seven different designs featuring prints of characterful leopards, oversized spots, swirling florals, simple stripes, or plain neutrals.
Seats: 1 Size: H107 x W61 x D104cm Colour options: navy, beige, sage Materials: polyester and iron
The ultimate in outdoor lounging, this reclining chair offers three adjustable positions, a comfortable padded seat and backrest, and folds up for space-saving storage when it's not in use. There are also three colour options to choose from.
Garden egg chairs
Seats: 1 Size: H197 x W110 x D96cm Colour options: grey, black Materials: Powder-coated steel and PE-rattan
You can choose from the black or grey Jaye hanging egg chair, both of which offer stylish designs at reasonable price points. The removable cushions are included and although there's some self-assembly to do before you can sit pretty, customer reviews state the chair is robust and easy to set up.
Seats: 1 Size: H114 x W151 x D110cm Colour options: natural Materials: Powder-coated steel and PE-rattan
This bestselling rattan-effect egg chair from B&Q is complemented by a wide range of coordinating furniture in the brand's Apolima garden furniture collection. There's even a matching Apolima kid's egg chair for your mini-me to curl up in, which we think is pretty adorable.
Seats: 1 Size: H186 x W105 x D129cm Colour options: natural or black Materials: Powder-coated steel and PE-rattan
The archetypal hanging egg chair, this circular design will make a real statement in the garden or on the patio. Available in a natural or black colourway, it offers plump UV-resistant cushions and a rust-resistant base.
Adirondack garden chairs
Seats: 1 Size: H90 x W68.5 x D88cm Colour options: natural Materials: acacia wood
Designed in America back in 1903, the Adirondack chair has become something of a design classic. Perfect for lounging around the fire pit, this affordable acacia wood option from VonHaus features a distinctive fan backrest and reclined seat. The brand also offers a folding Adirondack chair if patio space is at a premium.
Seats: 1 Size: H98 x W69 x D89/94.5cm Colour options: natural, white, Prussian blue, terracotta, eucalyptus green Materials: acacia wood
This Adirondack chair is a contemporary take on the classic design, with the distinctive silhouette decked out in Prussian blue, terracotta red, white or eucalyptus green for a modern twist, as well as a natural acacia wood option.
Seats: 1 Size: H94cm x W74cm x D92cm Colour options: natural or grey Materials: acacia wood
Why settle for just laidback lounging when you could also add some therapeutic rocking motion into the mix? This acacia wood Adirondack rocking chair is ideal for gently swaying back and forth on a dreamy summer's day and it comes in two colour options. We defy you not to drift off to sleep when the weather is balmy...
Where to buy garden chairs
- Amazon: affordable garden chairs
- Argos: Habitat and own-brand outdoor chairs
- Homebase: good value outdoor seating
- John Lewis: good quality garden chairs
- Marks & Spencer: classic and contemporary designs
- B&Q: practical patio seating
- Barker and Stonehouse: high-end designs
How to choose an outdoor chair
One of the key things to consider when choosing an outdoor chair is the size of your garden or patio space.
If you have a compact patio then space-saving options like stackable outdoor dining chairs or folding garden chairs will allow you to expand the seating when you have guests over, and enable you to clear the decks for maximum outdoor floor space when they're not in use.
If you're blessed with more space to play with then a comfortable rattan garden armchair could be right up your street, or you could create a focal point by opting for a garden egg chair or grouping some Adirondack chairs around one of the best fire pits on the market
Next up, there are materials to consider. The most affordable garden furniture tends to be made of either powder-coated steel or polypropylene. However, paying a little more could get you more durable garden furniture that works out better value in the long run. We've broken down the main types of materials to consider below.
Powder-coated steel
Affordable metal garden chairs tend to be made from powder-coated steel. Steel is highly corrosive when it comes into contact with water, so it's protected from the outdoor elements by way of powder-coating the surface with a protective paint barrier. This means steel-based outdoor furniture can be prone to having weak points at joints and fixings where moisture can penetrate and gradually form rust, and any chips in the paint surface will need repairing promptly to maintain durability. For this reason, it's generally recommended that steel-based garden furniture is stored under cover during inclement weather.
Aluminium
Aluminium-framed garden chairs are by far the more durable option, as the metal itself forms a barrier that prevents moisture from penetrating the surface. It may still be powder-coated, but this is purely for aesthetic reasons rather than protection. For this reason, aluminium garden furniture can be left outside all year round making it a super low-maintenance option. However, this does mean aluminium-based outdoor furniture tends to be by far the more expensive option. The added durability can make it the most cost-effective and better value investment long term though.
Rattan
Rattan garden chairs offer a timeless look that blends with most garden styles. These days most modern 'rattan' garden furniture is made of PE-rattan or polyrattan, a polyurethane plastic that offers the benefits of being lightweight, waterproof, weather-resistant, and low maintenance. Make sure to also check what metal the chair's frame is made from. As explained above, the best rattan garden furniture will have an aluminium frame. Rattan furniture with a powder-coated steel frame is likely to weather much faster than aluminium-framed rattan garden furniture and will therefore need storing under cover to prolong its lifespan. Aluminium-framed rattan furniture will prove more of an initial investment but can be left outside without risk of rusting and is more durable longterm.
Plastic
Polypropylene or plastic garden chairs have the benefit of being relatively low-cost, lightweight, and low maintenance, although they will generally need storing under cover to protect from hard frosts, and may fade under prolonged exposure to the sun. Plastic chairs tend to come in a range of bright and cheerful colours and favour contemporary designs.
How we compiled this guide
You'll find full details of the Ideal Home review process on our How We Test page.
To compile this edit of the best garden chairs we walked multiple miles around multiple outdoor furniture showrooms and sat down on the job to test out bestselling designs. We also did plenty of online research to round up the most stylish designs and dived into the specifications to check out materials and construction. We also took into account third-party opinions via online reviews.
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