March 29, 2024

Forbes

Best Patio Furniture 2023 – Forbes Vetted

Longer, warmer days mean there’s more time to spend on your patio, hosting impromptu alfresco dinners and really taking some time to enjoy that afternoon lemonade. But to turn your yard into the outdoor oasis of your dreams, you’ll need to scout out the best patio furniture on the market. A stylish, durable patio furniture set—complete with a dining table, chairs, a sofa and perhaps a porch swing or roomy patio umbrella—can help you make the most of your space and upgrade your hosting game. The good news: Whether your aesthetic is of the clean-lined modern variety or you have your heart set on something more traditional, there’s a vast range of patio furniture to choose from. Our top retailer picks for 2023 include Amazon, Target, Overstock, Serena & Lily, Outer, Lowe’s and many more, all of which are outlined ahead.

Cliff Fong, founder of Los Angeles-based interior design firm Matt Blacke Inc., says he likes to approach outdoor spaces the same way he does indoor rooms. “You want to be able to entertain, read a book or take a nap in a chair that is as comfortable as your favorite chair inside the house,” he explains. In that spirit, ahead, find our curated list of the best places to buy patio furniture online. Whether Parisian-inspired bistro sets or crowd-friendly sectionals are in your future, take a gander at our top picks for the best patio furniture below; then, read our tips on how to protect your patio furniture year-round so your investment can last for decades.


Best Value Patio Furniture

Amazon: A One-Stop Shop For A Variety Of Styles And Prices

Best for: Quick shipping and thousands of helpful customer reviews.

For the most part, you really can’t go wrong with shopping for patio furniture on Amazon. The sheer variety, range of price points and styles offered by the retailer solidifies it as one of our go-to shopping destinations for furniture of any kind—including outdoor pieces.

It’s easy to stay within your budget, but if you’d rather splurge, there are plenty of options on the higher end of the pricing spectrum as well. And we can’t stress enough how helpful the customer reviews can be—particularly the ones accompanied by photos—when it comes to envisioning how the furniture will look on a real patio.


Target: Stylish Pieces At Affordable Prices

Best for: Trendy patio styles at surprisingly low prices (often with fast shipping to boot).

Target offers a great selection of outdoor furniture with affordable options for just about any size or style of backyard,. Fong suggests buying a wallet-friendly outdoor sofa like this simple wooden one and elevating it with a simple tweak, like draping your favorite throw over it.


Overstock: Budget-Friendly Personality For Your Patio Space

Best for: Frequent sales and a seemingly endless array of patio furniture options.

Budget-conscious customers looking for statement-making furniture should give Overstock a try. The sleek iron fire pit above is just one example of the many conversation pieces available on the site (and its price often dips below $500 during sales). There’s much more patio furniture to explore, from poolside lounge chairs to hammocks. Speaking of sales, the retailer almost always has great discounts and free shipping available, so savings are within reach year-round.


The Home Depot: A Trustworthy Source For Your Furniture Needs

Best for: Patio sets of all sizes at a great price

With Home Depot’s stock of well-known brands, you likely won’t need to shop around too much to find something great for your patio. The durable, 6-seater wicker furniture set from Ovios Rimaru will let you maximize your outdoor lounge factor.

Home Depot offers durable, great quality items at reasonable prices, and it’s also got plenty of seasonal catalogs available for you to browse if you’re looking for inspiration. Enjoy free shipping and in-store returns as well.


Walmart: Your Go-To For Convenience And Plenty Of Options

Best for: Thinking outside the dining set—hammocks, cushions, outdoor bars and more abound here.

Walmart has no shortage of patio furniture to choose from—and we can vouch for the great selection. Walmart seamlessly blends affordable picks with more luxurious, moderately priced patio sets like this 4-piece wicker one from Mainstays, so you can have your pick. It’s easy to sort through the available stock, read customer reviews and find a quality item for your home. Discover charming porch swings and benches to this pretty and functional wicker seating set with included coffee table. Walmart’s flexible shipping options sweeten the deal.


Best High-End Patio Furniture

Serena & Lily: Airy Furniture For A Summertime Oasis

Best for: Coastal, preppy styles that double as conversation starters.

Coastal-chic furniture with cottage-core flair might be the best description of Serena & Lily’s high-end pieces. The Cliffside Teak Sofa is an excellent example of exactly that universal appeal. It features an all-weather fabric and a timeless design. If you don’t end up loving your purchase, the brand has great refund policy, too.


Frontgate: Breezy Furniture With Coastal Vibes

Best for: Artful designs, free swatches and excellent warranties, plus free shipping on patio sets.

The beachy, coastal vibe of Frontgate’s patio furniture collection makes any patio setup feel like a mini vacation. Breathable materials like wide-woven wicker and breezy upholstery fabrics only add to that relaxed feeling. Best of all, while Frontgate’s furnishings are certainly luxurious, they don’t feel stuffy or highbrow. We love the chic woven design of the Isola loveseat. Further elevate your outdoor space with one of their vibrant rectangular umbrellas and—if you have a backyard pool—one of these European-inspired wicker chaises.


Joss & Main: Chic, Contemporary And Versatile Pieces

Best for: Ottomans, patio sofa sets and stylish chaise lounges.

If you’re looking for well-crafted wooden patio furniture, look no further than Joss & Main. The brand has become well-known for its wood and natural pieces, this garden bench. Their furniture ranges from teak all the way to eucalyptus wood, and it’s praised for its versatility. Reviewers say the furniture easily blends into both small and large spaces without taking up too much (or too little) space. Accessories and lighting are also available, and Joss & Main offers free shipping over $35 and free returns.


Birch Lane: Durable Furniture Made To Withstand All The Elements

Best for: Patio furniture that’s pretty enough to double as indoor furniture.

Birch Lane’s all-weather, rot-resistant outdoor pieces are incredibly reliable—and that’s a word we don’t throw around lightly when it comes to patio furniture. These sets need to outlast the elements, after all, so the brand’s mildew- and UV-resistant fabrics are incredibly helpful. Still, relying on durable fabrics and materials doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice aesthetics. Birch Lane’s pieces, like the outdoor club chair, are beautiful, so they’ll give your patio as much of a makeover as they give you peace of mind.


Perigold: A Goldmine For Glam Luxury

Best for: Stunning outdoor coffee tables in a variety of striking, modern styles.

If “big and bold” is more your style—and you’ve got the budget to match—Perigold is your best bet. The retailer takes patio furniture to luxurious new heights with daybeds that look positively artful, lavish, resort-quality dining sets and more. And though we love this teak patio sofa, seating is just the tip of the iceberg here: Unique rocking chairs, benches and accent stools are also offered (all at those same top-tier prices). White glove delivery is available for most larger pieces as well.


Best High Top Patio Furniture Sets

AllModern: Minimalist Style And Clean, Sharp Lines

Best for: High top patio bar stools with cool, sleek silhouettes.

As you might expect, AllModern’s patio offerings are, well...ultra-modern, like these simple bar stools. True to its name, the brand’s offerings feature sharp, clean lines. There’s still a lot of variety to be had here, though: The pieces come in all sorts of muted hues and neutral-adjacent colors, and styles ranging including Scandinavian, mid-century and industrial.


West Elm: A Great Option For Sophisticated Basics

Best for: Compact, durable bar tables and all-weather indoor/outdoor stools.

West Elm has made a name for itself via its sophisticated, mid-century aesthetic, and the same style carries over into its outdoor offerings. These stools, for example, have a minimalist and modern look—and their high profile means they fit perfectly with an elevated table. They’re simple enough to spruce up with other accessories, like colorful pillows. The retailer offers a variety of fabric options as well, so you can go for anything from velvet to leather to linen.


Best Performance Patio Furniture

Pottery Barn: Functional For Smaller Spaces

Best for: Bestselling, traditional patio sofas upholstered in water-repellent polyester canvas.

If you’ve got the budget, Pottery Barn’s always-on-trend collections are not to be missed. Whether you’re looking to supply your space with the warmth of a dark wood like this outdoor bar, or the light, contemporary vibe of a metal construction, there’s something here for everyone. The water-repellant upholstery options are a big plus. You can also shop by seating capacity to ensure that you’re looking for pieces with the right number of chairs or seats, and you can sort the selection by material, too. What’s more, eco-conscious shoppers will be happy to know that the retailer is committed to using responsibly sourced wood and cotton.


Outer: Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Pieces That Outperform

Best for: True all-weather durability, thanks to a patented “OuterShell cover” on each piece of furniture.

Outer is committed to making sustainable patio furniture that’s durable, beautiful and thoughtfully designed. Sectionals, ottomans coffee tables and outdoor armchairs like this wicker one are all within reach. Outer’s cushions are also made to look and feel like cotton, so they don’t have the usual stiffness we’ve come to expect of other outdoor fabrics. “Outdoor furniture fabrics have progressed leaps and bounds in the last five to 10 years,” says Fong. “There are now outdoor fabrics that effectively mimic velvet, linen and even mohair.”


Lowe’s: Heavy-Duty Furniture That’s Built To Last

Best for: Durable details (like rust-resistant steel frames) and budget options

With plenty of dining and conversation sets under $600 and a variety of patio accessories under $100, your wallet won’t take a massive hit when shopping at Lowe’s for sets or individual pieces like this round coffee table. And as is the case with other brands on our list, Lowe’s, too, offers a number of different shopping options. You can filter by material or price, and check out configurations and seating capacity. Select items also come with free shipping, and in-store pick-up is offered as well.


Sunvilla: Gorgeous, Quality Core Sets

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Best for: Core seating and dining sets that are chic, durable and attainably priced.

Proof that you don’t have to sacrifice durability to for decor, Sunvilla’s sets are made with strong-but-stylish materials like rust-free aluminum, UV-protected wicker, eucalyptus wood and weatherproof fabrics to withstand the elements. And, we know this firsthand: Our updates editor has the Savana 7-Piece Sectional Set with Ecobella fabric (pictured), and says it has held up beautifully amidst humidity, rain, pollen and plenty of outdoor debris. We also recommend this brand for those looking for a core set to anchor their backyard oasis, as you can shop collections that include seating along with add-ons like fire pits, tables and ottomans.


Best Patio Furniture Quality Basics

Wayfair: A Classic Destination For All Your Patio Furniture Needs

Best for: Excellent customer service and plenty of designs and brands to choose from.

Pages upon pages of high-quality seating sets and leading brand names mean it’s incredibly easy to find something you like at Wayfair. With the variety of prices, brands and customizable options available, finding a set that fits your budget and style —like this vibrant wooden set—is all but guaranteed. And you won’t have to worry about not being totally satisfied, either; Wayfair offers a 30-day return policy for unassembled products.


Floyd: Basics With Bright Colors And Clean Lines

Best for: Lightweight, minimalist outdoor sets that come in a variety of different configurations.

Floyd’s outdoor collection is a wonderful paradox: It’s bright and colorful, but it also strips the whole idea of patio furniture back down to the basics. The result is a streamlined, enjoyable shopping experience that doesn’t require you to spend hours clicking through endless options. The basic “Outdoor Set” collection includes a table, bench and chair made of rust-proof aluminum, which is lightweight enough to move around as often as you’d like. We appreciate the clean, uncluttered feel and summery color options.


SunHaven: A Modular Option That Comes Pre-Assembled

Best for: Entertainers and growing families.

If you like rearranging your furniture, get ready to have some fun: SunHaven’s furniture is fully modular. They also offer extra seating, like with this 11-piece sofa set. You can effortlessly set up, move and set up again according to whatever entertaining situation you’ve got going on. Plus, every piece comes pre-assembled, eliminating the sweat and headaches that typically come with furniture construction. To complement your furniture set, SunHaven also has a wide variety of accessories, including pillows, rugs and lanterns.


Ashley Furniture: Everything You Could Need For Your Patio

Best for: Excellent variety for every style.

Ashley Furniture is a trusted retailer that covers every room in the home, including outdoor spaces. Our advice: Take a look at the brand’s affordable bistro sets, like the metal one here. They’re quintessentially Parisian with classic, just-ornate-enough details. Outdoor barbecues and patio dinners will be that much more lovely—and all for under $300 to boot.


What Is The Best Month To Buy Patio Furniture?

Arguably, the best time to buy new patio furniture is when the need for specific pieces arises. Are you planning on entertaining every weekend this month? Check out Adirondack chairs. Did you suffer a nasty sunburn while reading on your porch last weekend? Don’t wait to pick up a new patio umbrella. If you’d rather hold off on making any purchases until pieces are discounted, though, more on that below.

How Do I Get The Best Deal On Patio Furniture?

If you want to snag the best prices on patio furniture, purchase pieces during the off-season (or toward the end summer). August and September are great months to buy because that’s when brands are trying to clear out their summer inventory to make room for fall pieces. If you want to score even bigger discounts, shop in late October, which is when brands start making room for their winter inventory—meaning, any remaining summer products have really got to go.

Another way to score markdowns is to shop during holiday weekends—specifically, Memorial Day, the 4th of July sales and Labor Day—when brands commonly slash prices and offer sitewide sales. Just be sure to act fast, as these sales generally don’t last too long and hot items typically sell out quickly.

What Type Of Patio Furniture Is The Most Weather-Resistant?

Patio furniture that can withstand the elements is essential. You want pieces that can stand up to rain and wind and won’t show substantial wear after one season. If wood furniture fits your outdoor aesthetic, look for pieces made of teak, which is durable and water-resistant. Other lightweight, weather-resistant materials include aluminum, resin and plastic.


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