The Complete UK Garden Furniture Buying Guide

Buying garden furniture comes down to five questions: how you'll use it (eating, lounging or both), how many people it needs to seat, how much space you really have, which material suits your weather and patience for upkeep, and where it will live over winter. Answer those first and the choice between hundreds of sets narrows quickly. This guide works through each one, with checklists you can use before you buy.

Start with how you'll use it

Dining or lounging?

This is the most common regret. Lounge sets look inviting, but their low seats and coffee-height tables are awkward for a proper meal. If you eat outside often, choose a dining set; if the garden is mainly for relaxing, choose a lounge or corner set. If you want both and have space, a dining set plus a pair of loungers or a swing chair often works better than one compromise set.

How many people, and how much space?

Count the people who will use it regularly, not the biggest party of the year. Then measure the area you have and remember that chairs need room to pull out and people need room to walk past. As a rough guide, allow about 60cm of table edge per diner and around 75–90cm of clear space behind each chair. Our guide to what size garden furniture set you need has full measurement tables for 2, 4, 6 and 8-seat sets.

Garden furniture materials compared

Which?'s garden furniture buying guide describes metal as durable, low maintenance and good for smaller spaces, and PE rattan as more weatherproof than natural wicker but lighter and more prone to wind damage. The RHS recommends checking metal furniture for rust and repainting every two to three years, and storing plastic furniture indoors over winter to reduce the risk of it becoming brittle.

In short: for low maintenance in British weather, PE rattan or aluminium are the easiest choices. Hardwood gives a natural look but needs regular care, steel needs rust checks, and plastic is cheapest but can fade. Match the material to how much upkeep you're prepared to do.

Rattan furniture

Almost all outdoor rattan sold today is PE rattan over a metal frame. It's popular because it combines a soft, woven look with good resistance to rain. How well a set lasts depends as much on the frame, fixings and cushions as on the weave. Our article Is PE rattan waterproof? explains what survives a British winter, and our rattan price guide shows what you get at different budgets.

Comfort: what to check

• Seat height: dining chairs typically sit around 45cm from the ground. Check this against the table height.
• Seat depth and width: deeper seats suit lounging; taller people need more depth. For example, some corner sofa sets offer seats around 67cm wide.
• Back height and armrests: high backs and arms are more comfortable for long meals.
• Cushion thickness and foam: thicker, denser foam holds its shape better.
• Weight capacity: check the per-seat rating. Our 5-piece dining set, for instance, lists 120kg per chair and a 45cm seat height.

Weather resistance, covers and storage

No garden furniture is maintenance-free in the UK. Plan for three things before you buy:

1. Where the cushions go. Foam cushions absorb rain. A weatherproof garden storage box near the patio makes bringing them in quick enough to actually do it.
2. Whether you'll cover the set. A fitted, tie-down cover keeps it clean over winter. Check a cover exists for the set's shape; we stock covers such as an L-shaped corner sofa cover for 250 x 250cm sets.
3. Wind exposure. On exposed patios and roof terraces, heavier sets or pieces that can be secured are safer.

Maintenance by material

• PE rattan: brush out debris, wash with soapy water, check the frame.
• Metal: wash, check for rust, touch up chips with rust-preventing paint.
• Wood: clean, let it dry, and apply the oil or treatment recommended for that timber.
• Plastic: wash, and store indoors over winter if you can.
• Cushion covers: wash according to the care label, and dry thoroughly before storing.

Setting a budget

Price mostly tracks size, frame material and features rather than a simple "cheap vs quality" divide. A small folding bistro set can cost under £200, while large corner sofas and dining sets with fire pit tables run into four figures. Our guide to garden furniture under £200 covers small-patio options, and remember to budget for a cover and cushion storage alongside the set itself.

Outdoor entertaining

• For regular family meals, a dining set sized for your household plus one or two guests works well.
• For relaxed evenings, a corner sofa with a coffee table seats more people in less space than individual chairs.
• For shade and showers, pair the set with a parasol or a gazebo. Our gazebo size guide shows which sizes fit which furniture.

Buying checklists

Before you shop

• Dining, lounging or both?
• How many people, regularly?
• Measured patio area, including clearance around the furniture?
• How sunny, windy or exposed is the spot?
• Where will cushions and the set go in winter?
• What's the total budget, including cover and storage?

On the product page

• Table and chair dimensions (not just the photo)
• Frame material and finish
• Weight capacity per seat
• Seat height and depth
• Cushion thickness and whether covers are removable and washable
• Assembly required, and what tools are needed
• Any weather or storage guidance from the manufacturer
• Delivery and returns terms for large items

Frequently asked questions

What garden furniture material lasts longest?

With the right care, aluminium, good-quality PE rattan on a sound frame, and durable hardwoods can all last many seasons. The best choice depends on how much maintenance you're willing to do: aluminium and PE rattan need the least.

How much space do I need for a garden dining set?

Allow for the table, about 60cm of edge per person, and around 75–90cm of clear space behind each chair. A 4-seat set with an 88cm square table typically needs a clear area of roughly 2.4–2.7m square.

What should I look for when buying garden furniture?

Check the dimensions against your space, the frame material, weight capacity, seat height and depth, cushion covers, assembly requirements and any weather guidance, and plan for winter storage and covers.

Can garden furniture be left outside all year?

Some frames can, if cleaned, covered and checked, but cushions should come indoors. Always follow the manufacturer's guidance for the specific set.

Is rattan or metal better for a windy garden?

Heavier furniture copes better. Cast aluminium and heavier steel sets are generally more stable than lightweight rattan or aluminium pieces, which may need securing or storing in strong winds.

Ready to choose?

Work through the checklists above, then browse by type: rattan furniture, garden tables, garden chairs and seating, sun loungers and swing chairs.

Written and checked by the Hackerprice® editorial team. Product details were checked against our live catalogue when this guide was written. Material comparisons are drawn from Which?, and care guidance from the RHS. Last updated: 30 September 2026.