A balcony set is usually bought for years, but you only have a few square metres to put it on. That's why buying a balcony set involves different considerations than buying a garden set: does it really fit, including the chairs you pull back? Can you get the boxes up the stairwell? Will it stay put when the wind picks up on the fifth floor? And where do you store it in winter? In this buying guide you'll read what to look out for in each area, with a worked example, a materials table, four sets from our range and a checklist to tick off.
In short: measure your balcony and allow for the chairs, not just the table. Check the packaging size if you have to take the set up via a narrow stairwell or lift. If you live high up, think about wind: lightweight furniture is easy to move, but you need to be able to put it away. Aluminium with textilene is the easiest to maintain, and choose a set you can store or cover.
What types of balcony sets are there?
Most retailers use the term balcony set for a small set for one or two people. Broadly speaking, there are four types:
- Bistro set: two chairs and a small, often round table. Compact and often lightweight. If you want to know everything about them, read buying a bistro set: what to look for.
- Dining set for two: a fixed table with two chairs at dining height, with cushions. Sturdier, but usually not foldable.
- Lounge set for two: two low lounge chairs with a side table. Comfortable, but clearly larger.
- Single relax chair: for those who mostly sit outside alone. One good chair with a small table beside it.
Which layout suits your balcony and your habits is covered in a short test in arranging a balcony: tips and smart layout. Below, the focus is on buying: which set fits, stays put and lasts a long time. Still torn between very different types of furniture? The selection guide can help you on your way.
Measuring your balcony and set in 4 steps
Most mistakes with balcony sets come down to size. A 60 cm table looks small, but the chairs around it and the space you need to stand in quickly take up more floor than the table itself.
Measure the length and depth from the facade to the railing. Subtract anything you can't use: the area where the balcony door swings open, a drain, a planter or the air conditioning unit. What remains is the space your set has to fit into.
Look at the specifications for the size of the chairs, not just the table. Add space to pull the chair back and stand up. Keep roughly 60 cm free next to the set so you can walk past it.
On a shallow balcony, place the chairs next to the table along the facade instead of facing each other. This takes up length, but saves depth. Mark the outer dimensions on the floor with masking tape and actually sit down on them.
A set comes in boxes. Measure the lift, the bends in the stairwell and the balcony door, and compare these with the packaging size in the product information.
Worked example: the Alfa balcony set has a Ø60 cm table and chairs that are 51.5 cm deep. If you place the chairs facing each other, that line on the floor is already well over 1.6 metres, and someone still needs room to stand up. On a balcony that is one metre deep, it's better to place the same set lengthwise along the facade.
| Set | Dimensions from the specifications | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Alfa (bistro) | Table Ø60 cm, chair 51.5 x 42 cm | Narrow balcony |
| Terni (dining set) | Seat depth 43 cm, seat height 47 cm | Fixed dining spot |
| Talara (lounge) | Chairs 87 x 80 cm | Spacious balcony |
| Danzig (relax) | 75 x 93.5 cm | One person |
Mind the packaging size
On an upper-floor flat, the route to the balcony is sometimes tighter than the balcony itself. The product information often lists the size of the box. A few examples from our range: the Alfa comes in a box measuring 106 x 27.5 x 65 cm, the Terni in 77 x 64 x 88 cm, the Talara in 92.5 x 89 x 92.5 cm, and the Danzig relax chair in a flat box measuring 128.5 x 20 x 83 cm. A flat, long box is usually easier to carry up the stairs than a large cube. If no packaging size is given, ask the retailer for it.
Weight: light or heavy?
With a balcony set, weight matters in two ways.
- The weight of the set itself. A light set is easy to carry up, easy to move aside when you want to sweep, and easy to bring indoors in winter. The downside: lightweight furniture shifts more easily in the wind. A heavier set stands more firmly, but you won't want to haul it up the stairs.
- What your balcony can bear. This varies by building, so there is no fixed figure. A balcony set on its own is rarely the problem; large planters with wet soil, water features and heavy paving tiles add up much faster. If you're unsure, check with the owners' association (VvE), your landlord or the building manager.
The weight of a set isn't always listed in the product information. If it matters to you, for example because you live without a lift, ask before you order.
Wind on a high balcony
The higher you live, the windier it tends to be, and a balcony between two buildings can get quite a draught. This affects your choice:
- Cushions: loose cushions are the first thing to blow away. Choose a set with textilene or rope seating that you can sit on without cushions, or take the cushions indoors after use.
- Open weave: an open weave such as textilene catches less wind than a solid surface and dries quickly after a shower.
- Putting away: chairs you can fold or lean against the facade are handy on a windy balcony. A fixed set is better kept in the lee of the wall.
- Parasol: always close it when you leave. A slim parasol catches less wind than a large round one; also read which parasol handles wind best.
After the first stormy evening, set your furniture out again where you'll find it in the morning. If it's ended up somewhere different from where you left it, look for a spot closer to the facade or choose chairs you can fold away.
If you want to block the wind at your seating spot, look at a screen or balcony screen. The options are covered in windbreaks and privacy screens for garden and balcony.
Materials compared
On a balcony you want a material that can handle rain, needs little maintenance and isn't too heavy. Here's how the common materials compare:
| Material | On a balcony | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Light, doesn't rust | Blows away more easily |
| Steel | Sturdy, heavier | Rusts where the coating is damaged |
| Textilene | Dries quickly, open weave | Feels harder without cushions |
| Acacia wood | Warm and natural | Needs oiling every year |
| Rope or wicker | Soft, lounge look | Often comes with cushions |
Read the specifications carefully: sometimes the product information for the same set mentions both steel and aluminium. If the material is decisive for you, check with the retailer. You can read more about the differences in can an aluminium garden set rust? and aluminium or teak. You can find all aluminium sets in our aluminium garden sets.
Seat height and table height
In product photos, small sets all look cosy. The specifications tell you whether they're comfortable for eating at or better for sitting back and relaxing:
- For eating: a seat height of around 43 to 47 cm with a table of roughly 72 to 75 cm. The Alfa has a seat height of 43 cm with a 72 cm high table, the Terni a seat height of 47 cm.
- For lounging: lower and deeper. The Talara has a seat height of 41 cm and a seat depth of 50 cm, the Danzig relax chair a seat height of 36 cm. A low side table goes with it.
- Seat depth: the deeper the seat, the more floor space the chair takes up. The Alfa has a seat depth of 34 cm and stays compact as a result, the Terni 43 cm.
- Cushions: the Terni comes with four 5 cm cushions, the Talara with 13 cm cushions. Thicker cushions are softer to sit on, but they're also more of a hassle to store indoors.
Storing and covering
A balcony rarely has a shed next to it. That's why it's worth thinking about winter and rainy weeks before you buy:
- Foldable: a set you can fold up can be laid flat against the wall or stored in a cupboard. Check the specifications to make sure it's really foldable; with some sets, the product information contradicts itself. The Kettler Calvia chairs are listed as foldable, and the Balcony tables and chairs from Lafuma fold up.
- Fixed and outdoors: a set with an aluminium frame can stay outside, preferably under a breathable cover. Store cushions somewhere dry; read how to store garden cushions.
- Wood: treat acacia wood every year and, in winter, ideally store it dry or cover it well.
Measure your set once it's assembled and choose a cover that's slightly larger. A round cover suits a set with a round table, a square one suits a set with an angular table.
AeroCover garden set cover Ø150
View cover →
AeroCover garden set cover 130 x 130
View cover →All protective covers
View range →Both AeroCover covers are breathable, which helps prevent mould, and both come with a storage bag. The round cover has a drawstring with two stoppers for a good fit. If you have some floor space to spare for a box, take a look at storage boxes.
Maintenance in five minutes
Keep aluminium and textilene clean with a mild soapy solution and a soft cloth or brush; rinse with clean water and let everything dry thoroughly before covering it. You can read more in maintaining aluminium garden furniture and maintaining textilene garden furniture.
Four balcony sets from our range
To make the choices concrete, below you'll find four examples: from a compact bistro set to a lounge corner and a single relax chair. You can see the current prices on the cards.
Alfa: compact for the narrow balcony
The Alfa balcony set consists of two chairs and a round table of Ø60 cm and 72 cm high. The chairs measure 51.5 x 42 x 84 cm, with a seat height of 43 cm and a seat depth of 34 cm. The seating is textilene, which is breathable and dries quickly. According to the product description, the table and chairs are foldable; the specifications are not clear on this, so check with the retailer if folding is decisive for you.
Alfa 3-piece balcony set in taupe
Why: the smallest footprint in this overview, and a table and seat height that work well together for breakfast.
Terni: fixed dining set for two
The Terni is a dining set with an aluminium frame and tabletop in carbon black. The seats have PE seating in sand, and four 5 cm cushions come with it. With a seat height of 47 cm, a seat width of 48 cm and a seat depth of 43 cm, you sit upright at the table. The set is not foldable.
Terni aluminium balcony set
Note: because it doesn't fold, the Terni needs a fixed spot and stays outside. So budget for a cover too.
Talara: lounging on a spacious balcony
The Talara consists of two lounge chairs measuring 87 x 80 x 68.5 cm and a round side table of Ø51.5 cm, 48 cm high, with a white terrazzo top. The frame is made of FSC-certified acacia wood in white wash, with taupe rope seating. The seat height is 41 cm and the cushions are 13 cm thick.
Talara 3-piece lounge set
Note: two 87 cm chairs really do need a spacious balcony. According to the manufacturer, acacia wood should be treated every year with teak oil or a wood care product.
Danzig: one relax chair
If you mostly sit outside on your own, one good chair is often smarter than a set. The Danzig relax chair is 75 cm wide and 93.5 cm deep, with a seat height of 36 cm. The aluminium frame has a powder coating, the seat is textilene, and a thick, water-repellent cushion comes with it.
Danzig relax chair in taupe / valley sand
Place a small table beside it; for that, take a look at our balcony tables.
You'll find more models in our bistro and balcony sets, balcony garden sets, lounge sets for 2 people and lounge garden chairs. If your balcony is really more of a small terrace, also read the best lounge set for a small garden or balcony.
Common mistakes
Only measuring the table
A 60 cm table fits almost anywhere, but with two chairs and room to stand, you need much more floor space. Always allow for the seat depth and the room to walk.
Forgetting the route up
A large box that doesn't fit through the stairwell or lift is an unpleasant surprise on delivery day. Compare the packaging size with the narrowest point on the route.
Assuming it's foldable
A light frame doesn't automatically mean a set is foldable, and sometimes the specifications contradict each other. If folding matters to you, check before you order.
Low chairs at a dining table
Lounge chairs with a seat height of around 36 to 41 cm are lovely, but eating at a 72 cm table is uncomfortable. Choose chair and table as a pair.
No plan for wind and winter
On a high balcony, loose cushions and lightweight chairs blow away, and without a shed, a fixed set has to spend the winter outside. Decide in advance where the cushions will go and budget for a cover.
Checklist for your order
Tick off what you've already checked; your browser remembers your progress.
- Usable floor space measured, without the swing of the door
- Seat depth and roughly 60 cm of walking room included in the calculation
- Packaging size compared with the lift, stairs and door
- Seat height matches the table height
- Material and foldability checked in the specifications
- Plan for wind: cushions indoors, chairs against the facade
- Place for winter, or a suitable protective cover
How to choose quickly
- Narrow balcony: a bistro set with a round table
- You often eat outside: a fixed dining set with a seat height of around 45 cm
- Spacious balcony and mainly relaxing: a lounge set for two
- Mostly on your own: one relax chair with a side table
Frequently asked questions
How big does a balcony need to be for a balcony set?
That depends on the set. A bistro set with a round Ø60 cm table already fits on a narrow balcony, as long as you place the chairs alongside the table against the wall. A dining set or lounge set for two needs more depth. Measure the floor, subtract the swing radius of the door and leave about 60 cm of clearance beside the set.
Is a folding balcony set useful?
Yes, if you also use the balcony for other things or want to store the set indoors in winter. You can quickly fold chairs and tables away against the wall or in the storage room when it's windy or raining. Do check that it is actually stated in the specifications: not every set with a lightweight frame is foldable.
Which material is best for a balcony set?
Powder-coated aluminium is lightweight, doesn't rust and needs little maintenance, which is why you see it so often on balconies. Textileen as a fabric dries quickly after a shower. Hardwood such as acacia looks warm, but needs oiling every year. Steel is sturdier and heavier, but it can rust where the coating is damaged.
What should you do with a balcony set in strong wind?
Bring loose cushions indoors, fold away folding chairs or stand them against the wall, and always secure a parasol. Lightweight furniture can slide across or tip over on a high balcony. Place the set in a sheltered spot against the wall rather than loose at the railing.
Which seat height suits a balcony table?
With a dining table of around 72 to 75 cm high, you'll sit comfortably on a chair with a seat height of roughly 43 to 47 cm. The Alfa combines a 72 cm table with a 43 cm seat height, while the Terni has a seat height of 47 cm. Lounge chairs with a seat height of around 36 to 41 cm suit a low side table, not a dining table.
