A garden chair seems like a simple purchase, until you notice your knees hitting the tabletop, the armrests not fitting under the table, or the chairs getting in the way all winter. In this buying guide we cover everything to think about when buying garden chairs: which type suits you, the right seat height, armrests, adjustable or stackable, material and maintenance. With a choice test, a checklist for your order and six examples from the range.
In short: first decide what you'll use the chair for: eating, lounging, both, or as an extra chair for guests. At a garden table of around 75 cm, a seat height of 44 to 48 cm works well, and the armrests need to fit under the tabletop. Short on storage space? Choose stackable or folding. Aluminium is the easiest to maintain. Not sure which type you need? Take the choice test.
What types of garden chairs are there?
The most important question is not which material or colour, but how you're going to use the chair. The shape follows from that, and with it the seat height, the depth and whether it needs armrests.
| Type | Seat height (examples) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dining chair or armchair | 44 to 46 cm | Eating at the garden table |
| Stacking chair | Like a dining chair | Lots of chairs, little storage space |
| Adjustable chair | 43 to 48 cm | Eating and leaning back |
| Lounge armchair | 36 to 42 cm | Lounging at a low table |
The seat heights in the table come from the chairs later in this article. Alongside these four you'll also see hanging chairs, rocking chairs and bistro chairs. A bistro chair is a small dining chair for a little table for two: you can read more about that in buying a bistro set. If you want to see models side by side straight away, have a look at the best garden chairs of 2026.
Choice test: which garden chair is for you?
Four questions about how you use the chairs and where they go when you're not sitting in them. For each question, choose the answer that sounds most like you.
Dining, stacking, adjustable or lounge: which garden chair is for you?
What will you be using the new chairs for most often?
- Eating at the garden table almost every evening
- As extra seats when visitors come
- Eating first, then sitting on for ages with a book
- Having drinks and sinking back with a cocktail
Where do the chairs go once the season is over?
- Just around the table, under a cover
- Tucked away in a full shed or storage room
- On the terrace, as I also sit outside in spring and autumn
- Under the canopy, next to the lounge table
How many chairs are you looking for?
- Four or six, a fixed set around the table
- A few more, because everyone pulls up a chair at birthdays
- One or two, for my own regular spot
- Two side by side, with a side table in between
Which sentence best matches your wishes?
- I want to sit upright and easily pull up to the table
- I want chairs I can put away in a few minutes
- I want to decide for myself how far I lean back
- I want to sit outside the way I do on my sofa indoors
Dining armchair You're looking for a dining chair with armrests and a seat height around 44 to 48 cm, such as the Fiji or the wooden Ibiza. Do check the clearance under your tabletop.
Stacking dining chair You'll get more from chairs you can stack after use, such as the Oklahoma. Make sure stackable is actually stated in the product information.
Adjustable garden chair You switch between upright and leaning back. A backrest with a gas spring, like the Osborne, lets you choose any position.
Need a complete set with a table? Then the selection guide can help you further, or read how to choose a garden set for 4 people.
Seating comfort: the measurements that matter
You can't try a chair online, but the specifications tell you a lot. These are the measurements to look at:
- Seat height: at an ordinary garden table of around 75 cm, about 44 to 48 cm works well. There's then enough space between the seat and the tabletop for your legs. Check whether the measurement was taken with or without a cushion.
- Seat depth: around 45 cm lets you sit upright at the table. A deeper seat, like on lounge armchairs, invites you to sink back. If you're not very tall, a seat that's too deep will be less comfortable.
- Seat width: dining chairs are often around 46 to 52 cm, a lounge armchair can be much wider. The Colorado has a seat width of 83 cm.
- Cushions: a thin cushion of 4 to 5 cm suits a dining chair, thick cushions suit a lounge chair. A removable cover is handy: that way you can wash it.
You can read how these measurements together determine the feel of a seat, and how to judge comfort online, in which garden chair is the most comfortable?
With or without armrests?
Armrests turn a chair into an armchair. They give support when you stand up, and you sit more comfortably after a meal. A chair without armrests is narrower, lighter and slides in more easily, which is handy at a small table or with lots of guests.
The key point is the height. The armrests of the Fiji and the Ibiza sit at 70 cm. If the clearance under your tabletop is lower, the armrests will bump into the table and you won't be able to pull up to it. On the garden tables we compared earlier, the underside of the top sits between 66 and 72 cm, so it's worth measuring. With armrests you also need a little more table edge per person: allow 60 to 70 cm per chair. You can read more about this in how much space you need for a garden table.
Grab a tape measure and measure the distance from the ground to the underside of the top on your own table. Compare that with the armrest height in the specifications. That one number prevents the most common wrong purchase of garden chairs.
Adjustable, stackable or folding?
These three features each solve a different problem. Only choose what you really need.
Adjustable
An adjustable backrest lets you eat upright and then lean back. There are chairs with fixed positions, such as the position chairs from Hartman and Kettler, and chairs with a gas spring, which you adjust steplessly. Adjustable chairs are often taller and heavier than an ordinary dining chair. You can read about the difference between the systems in what to look for in an adjustable garden chair.
Stackable
Stackable chairs go on top of each other after use. That saves a lot of floor space in the shed and clears the terrace in winter. Don't rely on the word in the product name alone: check that stackable is also in the specifications. For the Oklahoma, it's stated in both the specifications and the description. The Manitoba and the Barista from Taste by 4 Seasons also list stackable in the specifications.
Folding
A folding chair goes flat and fits in a narrow cupboard or behind the shed door. That's useful on a balcony or if you only use the chairs now and then. The Danzig relaxstoel has a folding design according to the description. More choice can be found under folding chairs, for example the relax chairs and butterfly chairs from Lafuma.
Never stack with cushions in between
Take the cushions off the chairs before you stack them. They get squashed and don't dry out between the frames. You can read how to store them most cleverly in storing garden cushions.
Material and maintenance
The material determines how the chair feels, how much maintenance it needs and whether it can stay outside. A brief overview:
| Material | Maintenance | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Soapy water, soft cloth | Little time, modern |
| Rope on aluminium | Lukewarm water, soft brush | Soft and airy |
| Wicker | Brush, rinse off | Warm, classic look |
| Wood, such as acacia | Oil or wax per season | Natural garden |
| Plastic | Soapy water | Light and affordable |
Wicker here means plastic woven material, not the same as natural rattan. For which material suits you best, with a material test of your own, read the best material for garden chairs. How long each material lasts is covered in how long do garden chairs last?
Can they stay outside?
Most modern garden chairs can cope with rain. An aluminium frame with powder coating doesn't rust, and rope, textilene and wicker are made for outdoor use. Wooden chairs can also stay outside, but they need upkeep. Two things remain important:
- Cushions don't belong in the rain. The covers are water-repellent, not waterproof. Store them dry in bad weather and in winter.
- A breathable cover helps in winter. It keeps leaves, bird droppings and dirt off. Choose a cover that's large enough for your chairs or stack, and measure that yourself. You'll find them under protective covers.
Researched per material, with tips against blowing over: which garden chair can stay outside?
The right chair in 5 steps
Write down what you'll mainly use the chairs for: eating, lounging, both, or as extra seats for guests. That determines the type of chair.
Measure the height of the tabletop and the clearance underneath. That tells you the seat height to choose and whether armrests will fit.
Allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person. That way you know how many chairs will really fit, and whether you want stacking chairs for guests.
Will they stay outside under a cover, or do they need to go in the shed? Limited space makes stackable or folding chairs more appealing.
Compare seat height, seat depth, armrest height, material and cushions. If something like stackable or adjustable isn't in the product information, don't assume it.
Six garden chairs from the range
To make the choices concrete, below are six garden chairs of different types. The measurements come from the product information; you can see the current prices on the cards.
| Model | Type | Seat height |
|---|---|---|
| Fiji | Dining armchair, rope | 45 cm |
| Oklahoma | Stacking dining chair | 46 cm |
| Osborne | Adjustable, wicker | 48 cm |
| Colorado | Lounge armchair | 42 cm |
| Danzig | Relax chair, folding | 36 cm |
| Ibiza | Wooden dining chair | 44 cm |
Fiji: dining armchair with rope
A dining chair with armrests, an aluminium frame with powder coating and taupe rope. With a seat height of 45 cm, a seat depth of 46 cm and a seat width of 51 cm, you sit upright at the table. Two 5 cm cushions come with it.
Fiji dining garden chair rope taupe
Note: the armrests sit at 70 cm. Measure whether they fit under your tabletop.
Oklahoma: stacking dining chair
A sleek aluminium dining chair in taupe that is stackable. It weighs 8 kg, needs no assembly, and the cushion has a removable cover with a zip that can go in the washing machine. The seat height is 46 cm and the seat width 48 cm.
Oklahoma dining chair taupe
Why: ideal if you need lots of chairs and want to store them compactly after summer.
Osborne: adjustable with gas spring
You adjust the backrest steplessly with a gas spring on the side. The aluminium frame is wrapped in wicker in a light brown tint. With a seat width of 62 cm, a seat depth of 47 cm, a seat height of 48 cm and 5 cm cushions, this is a chair for long lingering.
Osborne adjustable garden chair wicker
Why: eating and leaning back in the same chair.
Colorado: wide lounge armchair
A low, wide lounge chair with a dark grey aluminium frame. The seat width is 83 cm, the seat depth 49 cm and the seat height 42 cm. The back and seat cushions are 9 cm thick. At 12 kg it's still easy to move.
Colorado lounge garden chair
Note: this chair is neither folding nor stackable, and too low for a dining table.
Danzig: low relax chair that folds
A relax armchair with an aluminium frame with powder coating, a textilene seat and a thick, water-repellent cushion. With a seat height of 36 cm, you sit low and relaxed. According to the description, it has a folding design, handy on a balcony.
Danzig relax chair carbon black
Ibiza: wooden acacia dining chair
A dining chair in acacia wood with a white wash finish and rounded lines. The seat height is 44 cm and two 5 cm cushions come with it. The wood needs oil or wax once or twice per season.
Ibiza dining chair acacia white wash
Why: the warmest look in this overview, if you don't mind the upkeep.
Also worth a look:
Ceasar plastic chair
View chair →
Osaka adjustable, textilene
View chair →
All garden chairs
View range →Checklist for your order
Go through these points before you order. Tick them off while you read the product information.
- I know whether I mainly eat, lounge or do both
- The seat height suits my table (around 44 to 48 cm for a dining table)
- The armrests fit under my tabletop
- There is 60 to 70 cm of table edge per chair
- Stackable or adjustable is really stated in the specifications
- I know where the chairs and cushions will go in winter
- The maintenance of the material suits my time
How to recognise a good garden chair
- Full measurements in the specifications: seat height, seat depth, seat width and armrest height
- A frame that can stay outside, such as aluminium with powder coating or treated hardwood
- Cushions with a removable cover and a water-repellent fabric
- A maximum load that is stated in the product information
- Warranty: for the chairs in this article it is 2 years
Common mistakes
A lounge chair at the dining table
A low, deep chair is lovely to sit in, but at a dining table you sit too low and too far away. For the table, choose a chair of around 44 to 48 cm.
Armrests that don't fit under the table
If the armrests stick out above the clearance under the top, you can't pull up to the table. Measure it before you order.
Assuming stackable based on the name
A chair that looks stackable isn't always. Check the specifications and, if in doubt, ask the shop.
Choosing wood without time for maintenance
Wood is beautiful, but it needs attention every season. If you don't fancy that, choose aluminium, perhaps with a wood look.
Leaving cushions outside
Water-repellent is not waterproof. Wet cushions will go mouldy, so store them dry when it rains.
Frequently asked questions
What should you look for when buying garden chairs?
Start with how you'll use them: do you eat at the table, want to lounge, or both? Then check the seat height in relation to your table, the height of the armrests, whether the chair needs to be stackable or folding, the material, and how much maintenance you're willing to do. Finally, check whether the seat cushion covers are removable and where you'll store the chairs in winter.
What seat height should a garden chair have?
For a chair at a standard garden table of around 75 cm high, a seat height of roughly 44 to 48 cm is comfortable. A lounge armchair sits lower, often around 36 to 42 cm, and suits a low lounge table. Check whether the seat height is measured with or without a cushion, as a cushion raises you a few centimetres.
Are garden chairs with armrests better?
Armrests provide support when you stand up and make sitting after a meal more comfortable. They do need to fit under your tabletop, though. Measure the clearance under the table and compare it with the armrest height in the specifications. If the armrests stick out above the table, you won't be able to tuck the chair in.
Which is better: stackable or folding garden chairs?
Stackable chairs are usually full dining chairs that you can stack on top of each other at the end of the season. Folding chairs lie flat and fit in a narrow cupboard or behind the shed door, but they're often built more lightly. If you have a lot of chairs and little floor space, choose stackable. If the chairs really need to be put away, for example on a balcony, folding is more convenient.
How many garden chairs fit around my garden table?
Allow 60 to 70 cm of table edge per person. At 60 cm you'll sit just side by side, while at 70 cm chairs with wide armrests will also fit. A 160 cm long table therefore seats four people, two along each long side.
Which garden chairs need the least maintenance?
Aluminium chairs with a powder coating, optionally with Textilene or rope, need the least: a bit of soapy water and a soft brush is enough. Plastic is also hassle-free. Wooden chairs, such as acacia, need oil or wax once or twice a season to keep looking good.
