You've decided: it's going to be a lounge set. You roughly know the shape you're after, how much space you have and which material you like. Then the real work begins: the product page. Everything you need to know is there, but spread across a title, a description and a long list of specifications. If you don't read them carefully, you only find out 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 goes through what to check before you order, using real product pages as examples.
In short: first read what's included in the set: "4-piece" counts furniture, 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 about it. At the bottom is a tick-off 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 eating: lounge set or garden dining 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 on delivery. Still unsure what kind of garden furniture you want? The selection tool can 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 | 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 solid wood |
| Seat cushion thickness | Number and thickness | Seating 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 is 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, it says: 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 there's no table included. A lounge dining set does include a dining table; with the Bahama that means a corner sofa, a table and two stools measuring 40 x 40 cm.
If it isn't stated, it isn't included
Don't assume that 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. This is the external size: use it to see whether the set will fit on your terrace. How much walking space to add to that is explained 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, reduce seating space but give you a place to put your glass.
For seating comfort, the 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 states "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:
- Tabletop 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 it'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 lounge dining 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 finish on aluminium. With the Decala it's a "light teak look finish of the aluminium frame". That isn't wood and needs no oil.
- Vironwood: a plastic with the appearance of wood, often used for tabletops. More about it in what is Vironwood.
- Rope, TPU rope and wicker: synthetic woven material or rope on the frame. You can read the difference in rope or wicker.
- Acacia or teak wood: real wood, which does require maintenance. You'll find sets with wood in the wooden lounge sets, for example the Montera and Puccini from 4 Seasons Outdoor with teak, or the Sling from Apple Bee with a teak frame.
Don't just look at the filter or the "material" spec. That value is sometimes too simplistic, for example "teak" for a set that only has 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 one paragraph you'll see what the set requires from 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 and that wear out first. On the product page, check:
- Number of cushions: seat and back cushions combined. More cushions also means more storage space needed 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 isn't 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 an storage box. You'll find tips in storing garden cushions. If you later want new or extra cushions, look at the lounge cushions.
Weight and packaging
Two specs that many people skip, but which suddenly become important on delivery:
- Packaging size: this is what has to get through your hallway, staircase or garden gate. The Decala comes in packaging of 80 x 80 x 217 cm, the Levanto in 91 x 163 x 93 cm. Measure your passageway and think about corners.
- 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 stated: for the sets in this article it's 100 kg per seat.
Left, right or loose?
With corner sofas and lounge dining sets, the configuration is often stated 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 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 tells you more than a single number.
- Dimensions: trust the dimension drawing or the description with the full size (length x width x height) more than an individual 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 directly from the product information of 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 that are 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. 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 isn't included. With a seat height of 42 cm, a seat depth of 61 cm, armrests 12 cm wide and 11 cushions that are 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, factor it into your budget and your space separately.
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 clear 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 included, it isn't included.
Take the external 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 maintenance tips require.
Compare the packaging size with your door, hallway or gate. Consider 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 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?
- Delivery 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 is covered, and does it also apply to the cushions?
For the sets in this article, a 2-year warranty is stated. What you can expect from that, and which parts wear out first, is explained in how long does a lounge set last. Also 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 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 checked 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 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 the specifications and the description contradict each other, don't choose 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 staircase.
Ordering a cover based on its name
"Cover for corner set" says 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 is slightly larger. You'll find them under protective covers.
Will the set stay outside?
Then read on the product page what the maintenance tips 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. For example, the Decala 4-piece lounge set consists of a three-seater sofa, two lounge chairs and a coffee table, plus 10 cushions. For a corner sofa, the corner element, sofa sections and any middle element each count as one piece. 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 listed 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 varies per product page. For the Decala, it is explicitly stated that the seat height of 41 cm includes the cushion. If it isn't stated, 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 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 ordering.
How do I know whether a lounge set will fit through my door or gate?
Check the packaging dimensions on the product page. This 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 access route and allow for bends.
Does a lounge set come with a protective cover?
Only expect one if it is listed in the set's contents. 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.
