You don't buy a garden bench every year. The material determines how the bench looks, how much time you spend on maintenance, whether you can move it easily, and whether it can survive winter outside. In this comparison we put the materials you come across with garden benches side by side: wood (acacia and teak), aluminium, teak look and Vironwood, wicker and rope on aluminium, and steel, stainless steel and plastic. With tables, examples from the range, maintenance tips for each material and a short test to help you choose.
In short: if you want as little maintenance as possible, choose aluminium. If you love the warmth of wood but don't want to deal with oil and sanding, teak look and Vironwood are the middle ground. Real wood such as acacia is the most natural, but needs oiling now and then. If comfort is your main priority, look at a lounge bench with wicker or rope. Still undecided? Take the test.
All materials at a glance
The first table shows how much work a material requires and how it looks. The second covers weight and whether the bench can stay outside.
| Material | Maintenance | Look |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia | Oil now and then | Warm, natural |
| Teak | Little, oil for colour | Classic, weathers beautifully |
| Aluminium | Mild soapy water | Sleek and modern |
| Teak look on aluminium | Soapy water, no oil | Wood look, modern |
| Vironwood | Soapy water, no oil | Warm wood look |
| Wicker or rope | Soft brush | Cosy, lounge |
| Steel | Touch up the paint | Sturdy, industrial |
| Stainless steel (RVS) | Polishing | Sleek, shiny |
| Plastic | Rinsing off | Simple, cheerful |
| Material | Weight | Can it stay outside? |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia and teak | Heavy | Better to cover |
| Aluminium | Light | Yes, with a cover |
| Teak look and Vironwood | Light to medium | Yes, with a cover |
| Wicker or rope | Medium | Frame yes, cushions no |
| Steel | Heavy | Yes, as long as the coating is intact |
| Stainless steel (RVS) | Heavy | Yes |
| Plastic | Very light | Yes, though sensitive to wind |
Want to know more about the base materials themselves? Read what is teak wood, what is aluminium and what is Vironwood.
Wood: acacia and teak
Wood is the classic material for a garden bench. It doesn't feel as hot in the sun as metal does, and it suits almost any garden, from rustic to modern. In garden furniture you mainly come across acacia and teak.
- Acacia is a hard, dense wood with a warm, brown colour. Outdoors it absorbs moisture and dries out again, which can cause small hairline cracks. Oiling a few times a season keeps the wood supple and the colour warm.
- Teak naturally contains oils, which makes it resistant to moisture. If you leave it alone, it turns a silvery grey. That's not rot, just a layer on the surface. If you want to keep the honey colour, treat it with teak oil.
The downside of wood is its weight and maintenance. You won't easily move a wooden bench to the other side of the patio, and if you do nothing, the colour changes.
An example of a wooden garden bench is the Montreal tete-a-tete, a two-seater with a table between the seats, made entirely of acacia wood.
Montreal tete-a-tete garden bench acacia wood
You'll find more wooden benches in wooden garden benches. To find out which wood species suits you, read popular wood types for garden furniture.
Aluminium
Aluminium is the most popular material for modern garden benches, and that makes sense. It's light, doesn't rust and needs little maintenance. Almost all aluminium garden benches have a powder coating: a baked-on layer of paint that gives the colour, such as carbon black or taupe. Scratches can still appear, so don't drag the bench over tiles.
One downside: a dark aluminium frame can get hot in full sun. For a sunny terrace, a lighter colour or a bench with cushions is the better choice. Also read can aluminium rust?
Le Duc park bench taupe
Bruno aluminium park bench
At 49 cm, the Bruno has the higher seat of these two. That's handy if you want to get up easily. To find out how high a garden bench should be, read how high should a garden bench be at minimum? All models are listed under aluminium garden benches.
Teak look and Vironwood
Torn between wood and aluminium? Then this is often the best choice. With teak look, an aluminium frame gets a print or finish that resembles wood. Vironwood is, according to the product information, a low-maintenance plastic with a warm wood appearance. In both cases you don't need to sand or oil it.
Do pay attention to the product name: "teak look" or "light teak" almost always means it isn't real teak. So check the material specifications, not just the colour.
Jondal park bench light teak Vironwood
Levanto lounge bench light teak look
Bahama sport bench light teak look
The Bahama is a sport bench without a backrest, handy next to a dining table. If you want to know how Vironwood compares with real wood, read aluminium or teak.
Wicker and rope on aluminium
With lounge benches, the material is often not in the frame but in the weave. The frame is aluminium, and the back and armrests are woven with wicker (plastic weaving) or rope. This gives a soft, cosy look and is wonderfully comfortable with thick cushions.
Milwaukee three-seater garden bench wicker
Tirolo lounge bench taupe
According to the product information, the Milwaukee is hand-woven. The Tirolo's weave is made of TPU. More models are available under lounge benches. Torn between the two weaving materials? Read rope or wicker.
Steel, stainless steel and plastic
You come across these materials less often with garden benches. Each has a clearly distinct profile:
- Steel is strong and heavy, so it stays put well in the wind. It needs a protective layer, such as a powder coating or galvanised coating. If that gets damaged, the steel can start to rust. So touch up scratches promptly.
- Stainless steel (RVS) doesn't rust through and suits a sleek, modern garden well. It is heavy, gets hot in the sun, and shows fingerprints and limescale marks. Near the coast, small rust spots can appear on the surface.
- Plastic is light, inexpensive and easy to rinse clean. Sunlight can fade the colour after a few years, and a light bench can slide around in strong wind.
You'll find maintenance tips in maintaining metal garden furniture, maintaining stainless steel garden furniture and cleaning and maintaining plastic garden furniture.
Choose your material based on how much time you want to spend on maintenance, not just on how it looks in photos. If you never want to oil a bench, aluminium or wood look will make you happier than real wood.
Test: which garden bench material suits you?
Answer four short questions. You'll get instant advice with a link to matching garden benches.
Which garden bench material suits you?
How much time do you want to spend on maintenance?
- As little as possible, an occasional soapy wipe
- Oiling once a year is no problem for me
- Storing cushions is fine, as long as it's comfortable
What look are you after?
- Sleek and modern
- Warm and natural, with wood
- Soft and cosy, like a sofa indoors
Where will the bench stand?
- On the terrace, and I sometimes move it
- In a fixed spot in the garden
- In the lounge corner, next to a low table
What will you use the bench for most?
- Sitting for a moment, or as extra seating at the table
- Enjoying the garden with a cup of coffee
- Lounging for hours with a book or friends
Aluminium suits you: light, rustproof and almost maintenance-free. If you want a bit more warmth, choose an aluminium bench with teak look or Vironwood.
Wood or wood look suits you. Real wood such as acacia is the most natural; teak look and Vironwood give the same atmosphere without oil.
A lounge bench with wicker or rope suits you: an aluminium frame with woven fabric and thick cushions, for maximum comfort.
Want to choose a complete set rather than just a bench? Use the selection guide.
Maintenance tips per material
Wood (acacia and teak)
Clean with a soft cloth and lukewarm soapy water, and let it dry thoroughly. If you want to keep the colour, treat the wood with outdoor wood oil when it looks dull and dry. Don't use a pressure washer: it roughens the wood fibres. More in treating wooden garden furniture.
Aluminium
Wipe the frame down with a mild soapy solution and a soft cloth, rinse with clean water and dry it off. Don't use a scouring pad or harsh products, as these damage the powder coating. More in maintaining aluminium garden furniture.
Teak look and Vironwood
Soapy water is enough. Don't use oil or teak cleaner: those are meant for real wood and can leave a greasy film on a print or plastic.
Wicker and rope
Brush dirt out of the weave with a soft brush and lukewarm water with a mild cleaning agent. Store the cushions dry during rain and in winter. Read how to maintain wicker garden furniture and how to maintain rope garden furniture.
You'll find a complete seasonal maintenance schedule in maintaining a garden bench.
What should you look out for when buying?
Tick off these points before you order. That way you'll know the bench suits your garden and how you plan to use it.
- I know how much maintenance I want to do each year
- I've checked the material of both frame and seat, not just the colour
- The seat height suits me and any table I'll use it with (how high?)
- I've measured the width of the spot where the bench will go
- I know whether I'll often want to move the bench
- I have a place to store cushions dry
- There's a protective cover available for winter
Which material for which situation?
| Your situation | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Little time for maintenance | Aluminium | Soapy water is enough |
| Wood look without oil | Teak look, Vironwood | No sanding |
| Natural, rustic garden | Acacia or teak | Real wood |
| Comfort first | Wicker or rope | Deep seat, thick cushions |
| Moving it often | Aluminium | Light |
| Windy spot | Steel or wood | Heavy, stays firmly in place |
How to choose quickly
- First decide how much maintenance you want to do: that alone rules out half the materials
- Wood look on aluminium gives the atmosphere of wood with the ease of aluminium
- Choose real wood if you like the idea of the bench changing over the years
- If you want to lounge, look at seat depth and cushion thickness, not just the frame
Also worth a look:
Aluminium garden benches
View range →Wooden garden benches
View range →
Tennessee three-seater wicker bench
View bench →Or browse all garden benches and the top 10 garden benches of 2026.
Common mistakes
Confusing teak look with teak
A bench in "light teak look" is usually aluminium with a wood print. That's not a bad thing, but it isn't real wood. So don't treat it with teak oil either.
Buying wood and forgetting the maintenance
Wood that stands outside for years without oil turns grey and can develop hairline cracks. If you don't mind that, that's fine. If you do, plan a fixed moment in spring.
Only looking at the frame
With lounge benches, the cushions and the weave determine comfort and maintenance. Also check seat depth, cushion thickness and the material of the cushion cover.
Leaving cushions outside
Water-resistant is not waterproof. Store cushions dry during rain and in winter, or they'll go mouldy.
Scrubbing or scouring coated metal
A scouring pad or pressure washer damages the powder coating. On aluminium that's mainly a cosmetic problem; on steel it can cause rust.
Frequently asked questions
Which garden bench material requires the least maintenance?
Powder-coated aluminium needs the least work: it doesn't rust and a mild soapy solution is all you need. Teak-look on aluminium and Vironwood give a wood-like appearance without sanding or oiling. Solid wood such as acacia or teak needs more attention if you want to keep its colour.
Is a wooden or an aluminium garden bench better?
That depends on what matters most to you. Wood feels warm and natural, but it fades outdoors and occasionally needs oil to keep its colour. Aluminium is lightweight, doesn't rust and is almost maintenance-free, but it looks sleeker. If you want both, choose an aluminium bench with teak-look or Vironwood.
What is Vironwood?
According to the product information, Vironwood is a low-maintenance plastic with a warm wood-like appearance. You don't need to sand, oil or treat it. The Jondal park bench combines an aluminium frame with light teak Vironwood.
Can a garden bench stay outside all winter?
An aluminium frame can withstand rain and frost, but manufacturers of most garden benches recommend storing them dry or covering them with a protective cover during prolonged bad weather. Always store cushions in a dry place. In winter, it's best to keep wooden benches in a dry spot or under a breathable cover.
Which garden bench is the lightest to move?
Aluminium and plastic are the lightest. According to the specifications, the Jondal park bench with an aluminium frame weighs 12.7 kg, so you can easily move it on your own. Solid wood, steel and stainless steel are considerably heavier and usually stay in a fixed position.
Is stainless steel a good material for a garden bench?
Stainless steel is strong and rust-resistant, which makes it suitable for outdoor use, even in damp conditions. However, it is heavy, can get hot in the sun, and shows fingerprints and limescale marks. Near the coast, small rust spots may appear on the surface, which you can remove with a stainless steel cleaner.
