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 at 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. In this checklist you'll read what to check per section before you order, using real product pages as examples.
In short: first read what's included in the set: "4-piece" counts furniture pieces, not cushions, and a table isn't always included. Check the external dimensions, seat height and seat depth, and for a dining set also the underside of the tabletop. Look at weight and packaging size and whether you're choosing the right configuration. If the specs contradict each other, ask for clarification. At the bottom there's 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 you need for a lounge set, with a rule of thumb and measuring steps.
- Lounging or eating: lounge set or garden set.
- Woven finish: rope or wicker.
Do you have one or two sets in mind? Then this checklist will help you read the product page properly, so there are no surprises at delivery. Still undecided about the type of garden furniture? The selection tool will help you on your way 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 don't always say the same thing. So read them side by side. These are the specs that matter most:
| Spec | What to look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Number of pieces | Contents in the description | A table isn't always included |
| Length x width | External 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 included 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 it says: 1 three-seater sofa, 2 lounge chairs, 1 coffee table and 10 cushions.
With a corner sofa it's less obvious. The Levanto 3-piece corner lounge set consists of a corner element and two sofa sections. Those are the three pieces: so there's no table 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 stated, it's not included
Don't assume the table, decorative cushions or stools in the photo come with the set. Photos are often styled. You only get what's listed in the contents or the description.
Dimensions: external size, seat height and seat depth
The product page usually gives a length and width for the whole set. That's the external size: use it to see whether the set fits on your terrace. How much walking space to add on top, you can read in how much space you need for a lounge set.
Be aware of the difference with the seat width: that's only the part you sit on, excluding armrests. Wide armrests, such as the 12 cm of 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, check mainly one thing: 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. That 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 space there is between the legs to fit 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's actually there?
Most lounge sets have an aluminium frame. The difference lies in the finish, and words can be confusing here:
- Teak look or teak look: a wood look on aluminium. With the Decala it's a "light teak look finish of 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 woven material or cord on the frame. You can read the difference in rope or wicker.
- Acacia or teak wood: real wood, which does require maintenance.
Don't just look at the filter or the "material" spec. That value is sometimes too broad, for example "teak" on a set with only a teak look. The description usually says more precisely what the frame is made of. Browse by material through the aluminium lounge sets, rope lounge sets or acacia lounge sets.
Read the maintenance tips on the product page before you order, not after. In a single paragraph you'll see what the set demands of you: just a soapy cloth, a soft brush for the rope, or also wood oil.
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 space in winter.
- Seat cushion thickness: for the sets below, from 10 cm (Bahama) to 25 cm (Levanto).
- Cover material: usually polyester with a water-repellent coating. Water-repellent is not waterproof: when it rains, store the cushions somewhere dry.
- Filling: if nothing is said about the filling, 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 want new or extra cushions later, have a look at the lounge cushions.
Weight and packaging
Two specs many people skip, but which suddenly become important at delivery:
- Packaging size: this is what has to get through your hallway, staircase or garden gate. The Decala comes in a package of 80 x 80 x 217 cm, the Levanto in 91 x 163 x 93 cm. Measure your passage and allow for bends.
- Product weight: the Springs lounge corner set weighs 42 kg, the Decala 50 kg. Useful to know if you need to move the set on your own or want to place it on a balcony.
The maximum load is also often listed: 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 and as left. Check on the photo which side the long side is on, because left and right don't mean the same thing for every brand. You can work out how to determine that for your corner 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 rearrange it later, look at the 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 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 says more than a single figure.
- Dimensions: trust the dimension 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 clearly illustrates a different point from the checklist. The specs come word for word from the product information from Garden Impressions; you can see the current prices on the cards.
| Model | Note | 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 neatly laid out
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, 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 lounge set 4-piece
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 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 gives 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
Note: this set comes in a left-hand and a right-hand version. Choose 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. A table is not included. With a seat height of 42 cm, a seat depth of 61 cm, armrests 12 cm wide and 11 cushions 25 cm thick, it's a proper lounging sofa. The packaging measures 91 x 163 x 93 cm.
Levanto corner lounge set 3-piece
Note: if you want a lounge table with it, budget and plan for that separately in 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 say "Table included: No". Exactly the kind of point to ask about 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 well-organised 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 pieces of furniture and how many cushions are in the set. If the table isn't listed, it isn't included.
Take the external size and add the walking space. Also note the seat height and seat depth, and whether those were measured with or without cushion.
Read in the description what the frame, armrests and tabletop are made of, and what the maintenance tips require.
Compare the packaging size with your door, hallway or gate. Look at the weight if you need to move the set yourself.
Count the cushions in the photo, check which side the long side is on, and note anything that contradicts. Ask the shop about that.
What do 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 parcel. 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 have to be ordered?
- Assembly: do you have to put anything together yourself?
- Returns: what does it cost to send a large parcel 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. You can read what to expect from that and which parts wear first in how long does a lounge set last. Also look at the price chart on the product page: there you can see 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 pieces and how many cushions are in the set
- The external size, with 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 actually 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
A table often appears 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 mentions 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.
Trusting a single figure blindly
If specifications and description contradict each other, don't pick 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 external size and shape of your set yourself with the size of the cover, and choose a breathable cover that's just slightly larger. You'll find them under protective covers.
Will the set stay outside?
Then read what the maintenance tips on the product page say about rain and winter, and check 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 unit, sofa sections and any middle unit each count as one piece. So always check the description to see exactly what is included in the set.
Does a lounge set always include a table?
No. A table is only included if it is listed in the contents or the description. The Levanto corner lounge set 3-piece consists of a corner unit 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 a cushion?
This differs from product page to product page. For the Decala, the page clearly states that the seat height of 41 cm includes the cushion. If it is not 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 the 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 is still unclear, ask the retailer before you order.
How do I know whether a lounge set will fit through my door or gate?
Check the packaging dimensions on the product page. These are the measurements that must 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 doorway and take bends into account.
Does a lounge set come with a protective cover?
Only expect one if it is listed in the contents of the set. A cover is usually sold separately. 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.
