You've decided: it's going to be a lounge set. You roughly know which shape you're after, how much space you have and which material you like. Then the real work begins: the product page. That's where everything you need to know is, but spread across a title, a description and a long list of specifications. If you don't read them carefully, you only discover on delivery that there's no table included, that the box won't fit through the hallway, or that the sofa sits lower than you expected. This checklist walks you through what to check, section by section before you order, using real product pages as examples.
In short: first read what's included in the set: a '4-piece' counts furniture pieces, not cushions, and a table isn't always included. Check the overall size, seat height and seat depth, and for a dining set also the underside of the tabletop. Look at weight and packaging dimensions and whether you're choosing the right configuration. If the specs contradict each other, ask about it. At the bottom is a tick list.
Choose first, then check
This guide starts where choosing ends. If you don't yet know which type of set suits you, read these articles first:
- Shape, material and comfort: how to choose a lounge set, a six-step buying guide.
- Space: how much space do you need for a lounge set, with a rule of thumb and measuring steps.
- Lounging or dining: lounge set or garden set.
- Woven finish: rope or wicker.
Got one or two sets in mind? Then this checklist will help you read the product page properly, so there are no surprises on delivery. Still unsure which type of garden furniture you want? The selection tool will help you narrow it down in a few steps.
What's on a product page?
A product page usually consists of three parts: the title (with colour, number of pieces and sometimes left or right), the description (what's in the set, dimensions and maintenance) and the specifications (a list of individual values). These three complement each other, but they don't always say the same thing. So read them side by side. These are the specs that matter most:
| Spec | Where to look | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Number of pieces | Contents in the description | A table isn't always included |
| Length x width | Overall size of the set | Will it fit on your terrace? |
| Seat height | With or without cushion | Lounging or sitting upright |
| Seat depth | Around 50 or 60 cm | Sitting upright or sinking in |
| Underside of tabletop | For dining sets | Legroom at the table |
| Frame material | Description and specs | Look or real wood |
| Seat cushion thickness | Number and thickness | Comfort, storage space |
| Packaging | Length x width x height | Will the box fit inside? |
| Product weight | Kilos per set | Moving it, balcony |
| Warranty | Number of years | What's covered? |
What's in the set?
The number in the title, such as 3-piece or 5-piece, counts the furniture components. Cushions don't count. The best product pages list the contents clearly. For the Decala 4-piece lounge set, the page states: 1 three-seater sofa, 2 lounge chairs, 1 coffee table and 10 cushions.
With a corner sofa it's less clear. The Levanto 3-piece corner lounge set consists of a corner element and two sofa sections. Those are the three pieces: so no table is included. A lounge dining set does include a dining table; with the Bahama, that's a corner sofa, a table and two stools measuring 40 x 40 cm.
If it's not listed, it's not included
Don't assume that the table, decorative cushions or stools in the photo come with the set. Photos are often styled. You only receive what's listed in the contents or the description.
Dimensions: overall size, seat height and seat depth
The product page usually gives a length and width for the entire set. That's the overall size: use it to check whether the set will fit on your terrace. How much walking space to add on top is covered in how much space do you need for a lounge set.
Note the difference from the seat width: that's just the part you sit on, without armrests. Wide armrests, such as the 12 cm on the Levanto, take up seating space but give you a place for your glass.
For comfort, seat height and seat depth matter. What those figures mean for lounging or sitting upright is explained in the buying guide. On the product page, the main thing to check is: was the seat height measured with or without cushion? For the Decala, it clearly says 'seat height (incl. cushion): 41 cm' and 'seat depth (incl. cushion): 55 cm'. If it doesn't say, ask.
The table: height, underside of the top and legs
With a lounge dining set, the table is just as important as the sofa. Look at three measurements:
- Top size: length x width of the tabletop. This determines how many plates fit on it.
- Height of the underside of the tabletop: the clear space for your legs. With the Bahama, the table is 69 cm high and the underside of the top sits at 64 cm. Compare that with the seat height of the sofa.
- Distance between the table legs: how much room there is between the legs for your legs or stools. With the Allasio lounge-dining corner set, that's 149 cm, with a tabletop of 170 x 89.5 cm.
Pay attention to how a page describes the table. Sometimes the description mentions a 'table height' which turns out, in the specifications, to be the height of the underside of the top. You can read more about this type of set in buying a dining lounge set.
Frame and finish: what is it really made of?
Most lounge sets have an aluminium frame. The difference lies in the finish, and that's where wording can be confusing:
- Teak look or teak-look: a wood-effect finish on aluminium. With the Decala, it's a 'light teak look finish on the aluminium frame'. That's not wood and needs no oil.
- Vironwood: a plastic with the appearance of wood, often used for tabletops. You can read more in what is Vironwood.
- Rope, TPU rope and wicker: synthetic weave or cord on the frame. You can read about the difference in rope or wicker.
- Acacia or teak wood: real wood, which does require maintenance. Sets in wood can be found under wooden lounge sets, for example the Montera and Puccini from 4 Seasons Outdoor in teak.
Don't just look at the filter or the 'material' spec. That value is sometimes too broad, for example 'teak' on a set that only has a teak-look finish. The description usually says more precisely what the frame is made of. Browse by material through aluminium lounge sets, rope lounge sets or acacia lounge sets.
Read the care tips on the product page before you order, not after. In one paragraph, they show what the set demands of you: just a bit of soapy water, a soft brush for the rope, or wood oil as well.
Cushions: number, thickness and cover
Cushions are the part you touch most often and the first to wear. On the product page, check:
- Number of cushions: seat and back cushions combined. More cushions also means more storage needed in winter.
- Seat cushion thickness: from 10 cm (Bahama) to 25 cm (Levanto) among the sets below.
- Cover material: usually polyester with a water-repellent coating. Water-repellent isn't waterproof: when it rains, store the cushions somewhere dry.
- Filling: if the filling isn't mentioned, ask. A filling such as quick dry foam dries faster than ordinary foam.
Plan a dry place for the cushions straight away, for example a storage box. You'll find tips in storing garden cushions. If you later want new or extra cushions, have a look at the lounge cushions.
Weight and packaging
Two specs that many people skip, but which suddenly matter on delivery:
- Packaging size: this is what has to get through your hallway, staircase or garden gate. The Decala comes in packaging measuring 80 x 80 x 217 cm, the Levanto in 91 x 163 x 93 cm. Measure your access and allow for bends.
- Product weight: the Springs lounge corner set weighs 42 kg, the Decala 50 kg. Useful to know if you'll need to move the set on your own or want to place it on a balcony.
The maximum load is often stated too: for the sets in this article, that's 100 kg per seat.
Left, right or loose?
With corner sofas and lounge dining sets, the configuration is often in the title. The Bahama, for example, is available as right-hand and as left-hand. Check on the photo which side the long side is on, because left and right don't mean the same thing for every brand. How to determine that for your corner is explained in buying a corner sofa for the garden.
A symmetrical corner sofa such as the Levanto (231.5 x 231.5 cm), or a set with loose pieces such as the Decala, doesn't have that problem. If you want to be able to arrange it differently later, look at modular lounge sets or read buying a modular lounge set.
When the specs contradict each other
Product information is often combined from different sources. As a result, you sometimes see two different figures for the same thing: a different number of seats in the specifications than in the description, or a table size that doesn't match. Here's how to deal with that:
- Seats: count the seat cushions in the photo and look at the seat width. That tells you more than a single number.
- Dimensions: trust the dimensional drawing or the description with the full size (length x width x height) more than a single value.
- Material: read in the description what the frame and armrests are made of.
- Doubt: ask the shop and keep the answer. Then you have something in hand if the delivery differs.
Four product pages as examples
Below are four available lounge sets, each of which illustrates a different point from the checklist well. The specs come straight from Garden Impressions' product information; you'll find the current prices on the cards.
| Model | Watch out for | Spec |
|---|---|---|
| Decala | Contents and packaging | 80 x 80 x 217 cm |
| Bahama | Table and underside of top | 69 cm / 64 cm |
| Levanto | No table in the set | Corner + 2 sofa sections |
| Springs | Compact and light | 197 x 197 cm, 42 kg |
Decala: everything laid out clearly
An example of a complete product page. The contents are listed: a three-seater sofa measuring 201 x 80.5 x 75 cm, two lounge chairs measuring 80.5 x 74 x 75 cm, a coffee table measuring 125 x 66.5 x 45.5 cm and 10 cushions, 12 cm thick. The aluminium frame has a light teak look, and the armrests are made of TPU rope. The weight (50 kg), packaging (80 x 80 x 217 cm) and seat height including cushion (41 cm) are also stated.
Decala 4-piece lounge set
Note: the packaging is 217 cm long. Measure in advance whether it will fit through your hallway or gate.
Bahama: table height and underside of the top
A lounge dining set with a corner sofa measuring 251 x 205 x 85 cm, a table measuring 150 x 80 x 69 cm with a top in light teak Vironwood, and two stools measuring 40 x 40 cm. The page also mentions the height of the underside of the tabletop: 64 cm. The aluminium frame is wrapped in wicker in vintage willow, the seat height is 50 cm and 15 cushions are included.
Bahama lounge-dining set 5-piece right-hand
Note: this set is available in a left-hand and a right-hand version. Check on the photo which side the long side should be on.
Levanto: corner sofa without a table
The Levanto 3-piece corner lounge set consists of a corner element and two sofa sections, together measuring 231.5 x 231.5 cm. No table is included. With a seat height of 42 cm, a seat depth of 61 cm, 12 cm wide armrests and 11 cushions, each 25 cm thick, it's a proper lounge sofa. The packaging measures 91 x 163 x 93 cm.
Levanto 3-piece corner lounge set
Note: if you want a lounge table as well, include it separately in your budget and your space.
Springs: compact and light
A compact corner set measuring 197 x 197 x 71 cm, made entirely of aluminium with a powder coating. The description mentions a lounge table with a slatted top measuring 70 x 70 x 46.5 cm, but the specifications state 'Table included: No'. Exactly the sort of point to check with the shop before you order. The set weighs 42 kg, comes with 9 cushions with water-repellent polyester covers, and the packaging measures 130 x 80 x 66 cm.
Springs lounge corner set 4-piece
Why: a clear-cut set for a smaller terrace, light in weight and with packaging that's easier to get indoors.
Also worth a look:
Allasio: 149 cm between the legs
View set →
Morella: compact
View set →All corner lounge sets
View range →Or browse the dining lounge sets, the chair-and-sofa lounge sets and the low lounge sets.
How to check a product page in 5 steps
Look in the description for which furniture pieces and how many cushions are in the set. If the table isn't listed, it isn't included.
Take the overall size and add the walking space. Also note the seat height and seat depth, and whether they were measured with or without cushion.
Read in the description what the frame, armrests and tabletop are made of, and what the care tips require.
Compare the packaging size with your door, hallway or gate. Check the weight if you'll need to move the set yourself.
Count the cushions in the photo, see which side the long side is on, and note anything that contradicts. Ask the shop about it.
What should you ask the shop?
Boender Outdoor compares prices; you order from the shop itself. Some things aren't on the product page but are important with a large package. Check them with the shop before you pay:
Ask this before you order
- Delivery: to the front door or to the back of the garden?
- Lead time: is the set in stock or does it need to be ordered?
- Assembly: do you have to put anything together yourself?
- Returns: what does it cost to send a large package back?
- Warranty: what's covered, and does it also apply to the cushions?
For the sets in this article, a 2-year warranty is stated. What to expect from that, and which parts wear first, is explained in how long does a lounge set last. Also have a look at the price chart on the product page: it shows how the price has developed, and you can set up a price alert.
Checklist before you order
Tick these points off while you read the product page:
- I know which furniture pieces and how many cushions are in the set
- The overall size, including walking space, fits my terrace
- I know whether the seat height was measured with or without cushion
- For a dining set: table height and underside of the top checked
- I know what the frame, armrests and tabletop are really made of
- The packaging fits through my door, hallway or gate
- I've chosen the right configuration: left, right or symmetrical
- Contradictory specs queried with the shop
Common mistakes
Assuming the table is included
There's often a table in the photo, but with a corner lounge set it isn't always included. Read the contents in the description.
Only looking at the title
The title gives the colour and number of pieces, but not the seat height, the packaging or the material of the tabletop. Those are in the description and the specifications.
Blindly trusting a single figure
If the specifications and description contradict each other, don't simply go with the figure that suits you best. Check it against the photo or ask.
Forgetting the packaging
A set that fits your terrace still has to get there first. A long box doesn't always fit through a narrow hallway or around a bend in the stairs.
Ordering a cover based on its name
'Cover for corner set' tells you nothing about the size. Compare the overall size and shape of your set with the cover's dimensions yourself, and choose a breathable cover that's a little larger. You'll find them under protective covers.
Will the set stay outside?
Then check what the care tips on the product page say about rain and winter, and look at can a lounge set stay outside to see what that means for your material.
Frequently asked questions
What does 4-piece or 5-piece mean for a lounge set?
The number counts the furniture components, not the cushions. The Decala 4-piece lounge set, for example, consists of a three-seater sofa, two lounge chairs and a coffee table, with 10 cushions in addition. For a corner sofa, the corner element, sofa sections and any middle element each count as one part. So always check the description to see exactly what is included in the set.
Does a lounge set always come with a table?
No. A table is only included if it is mentioned in the contents or the description. The Levanto corner lounge set 3-piece consists of a corner element and two sofa sections, without a table. A lounge dining set does include a dining table, such as the Bahama with a 150 x 80 cm table.
Is the seat height of a lounge set measured with or without cushions?
This differs per product page. For the Decala, it is explicitly stated that the seat height of 41 cm includes the cushion. If it isn't mentioned, ask the retailer, because a thick cushion makes the difference between lounging and sitting upright.
What should you do if the specifications on a product page contradict each other?
This happens more often than you might think, for example with the number of seats or a table size. Read the description and the specifications side by side, count the seat cushions in the photo and check the dimension drawing if there is one. If it remains unclear, ask the retailer before you order.
How do I know whether a lounge set will fit through my door or gate?
Look at the packaging dimensions on the product page. That is what has to get through your hallway, staircase or garden gate during delivery. The Decala, for example, is delivered in a package measuring 80 x 80 x 217 cm. Measure your entrance and allow for bends.
Does a lounge set come with a protective cover?
Only count on it if it is listed in the contents of the set. A cover is usually bought separately. Then compare the outer dimensions and shape of your set with the size of the cover yourself, and choose a breathable cover that is slightly larger.
