Hanging egg chairs are one of the most sought-after garden chairs; we’re big fans. While we saw lots of single egg seats on the market last year, a host of two- and even three-seater hanging garden furniture are set to invade our outside living spaces this spring and summer.
With its distinctive curves, tactile open-weave and enveloping shapes, these comfy garden chairs add serious style to your patio. And, because they invite you to climb in and gently sway, feet off the ground, they appeal to the child in us all and provide the private, cosy space we all deserve. Nothing works quite like hanging chairs and the best hammocks to make you feel like you are on a mini break.
Best hanging egg chairs at a glance:
• Best hanging egg chair for design: Ella James Monato Indoor Outdoor Egg Chair - View on Not on the Highstreet
• Best value hanging egg chair: New Hampshire Foldable Hanging Chair - View on The Range
• Best classic hanging cocoon chair: Charles Bentley Swing Chair Natural - View on Wickes
In the colder months, you can pile on the cushions, put on some solar lights, layer up the throws and curl up with a good book or podcast. When warmer days arrive, these hanging egg chairs are a welcome escape, half-shaded from the sunshine.
Best hanging egg chairs for your garden
Best hanging egg chair for design
Ella James/Not on the High Streetwww.notonthehighstreet.com
Smart, striking lines in dark grey with a circular shape and all-weather rattan give this hanging chair chic, urban credentials. The tall steel frame takes up little floor space, so it's great for smaller decks and patios, while the charcoal padded cushion makes it super comfy. Ella James has a variety of egg chairs for you to choose from in this price range, including a white hanging chair, a cream egg-shaped rattan chair and more for you to get your hands on. Plus, it’s weatherproof. For indoors and outdoors, you can catch this chair in both grey and black, so the choice is yours.
Customer Review: “Great quality chair, really pleased with my purchase!”
Pros
- Cover is good quality
- Sturdy and strong
- Comes with cushions
Cons
- Dark frame may not fit all garden decor
Best value hanging egg chair
The Rangewww.therange.co.uk
Snatch some quality me-time in this sturdy yet compact New Hampshire Foldable Hanging Chair. With a small footprint, it's perfect for nestling in a quiet corner or on the tiniest terrace. It’s also easy to stash away as the chair cleverly folds flat – concertina style – while the steel base and aluminium frame easily detach. And – it’s weatherproof, too.
Customer review: "Purchased this egg chair last week and I absolutely love it. Was looking at cheaper egg chairs but the fact this folds away is a major plus, its so easy to store away at night time. It is also very comfy, so happy with this purchase!!"
Pros
- Cleverly folds flat for storage
- Available in a single or double size
Cons
- Will need to be stored indoors in winter
Best hanging egg chair deal
Wowcherwww.wowcher.co.uk
There's nothing understated about this curvy cane-style beauty. Available in grey, black, or white, the open egg shape oozes boho charm. Load up with tactile throws and team with a rustic side table for long lazy afternoons. With this deal, you can get this weatherproof garden swing egg chair for under £200.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Weatherproof
- Great value
Cons
- Large footprint
Best hanging egg chair neutral shade
John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
If you're against black-coated steel, John Lewis have designed the Dante Garden Hanging Pod Chair, which comes in a natural stone-coated shade, so it won't stick out if your garden is designed with neutral tones in mind. The hanging chair features a rounded handwoven synthetic wicker design with thick cream cushions for ultimate comfort.
Customer review: "I love this chair, the quality is plain to see, very sturdy. Looking forward to using next summer."
Pros
- Neutral design
- Good quality
- Comfy cushions
Cons
- Lack of finish on the welding reports some customers
- Needs putting away in high winds
Best classic hanging cocoon chair
Charles Bentley/Wickeswww.wickes.co.uk
A clean, grid-like weave and shiny steel frame make this Charles Bentley single-seater hanging egg chair a classic piece. It oozes class and attention to detail, even the black powder-coated stand and chain will ensure it will last for years. It also has a safety belt to control the swing range.
Customer Review: “Over the moon with this egg chair after scouring online for one months & months and being let down by big designer companies! It’s easily the best-looking one I’ve seen with the rattan and the colour of the cushions and it’s also very comfy. Much quicker delivery than expected too so a perfect purchase.”
Pros
- Classic design
- Comfy
Cons
- Cushions are not waterproof
Best hanging egg chair with retractable canopy
Outsunny/Debenhamswww.debenhams.com
This hanging egg chair with a retractable canopy is ideal for those classic British summer days. One moment it's glaring sunshine the next, there's a spot of drizzle. The canopy will keep you covered on both accounts and means the weather won't interrupt any enjoyment sitting outside. It's made from steel, so is pretty sturdy, with a spacious seat and thick cushion that you can easily curl up in. The feet are adjustable and the seat also folds up for easy storage.
Pros
- Retractable canopy
- Sturdy
- Adjustable chair
Cons
- Maximum load 120kg
Best hanging egg chair for two
Dunelm www.dunelm.com
Looking for extra room in a hanging egg chair? Look no further than Dunelm's Double Egg Chair. This egg chair sofa is big enough for two people to enjoy a relaxing moment in the garden. It has an attractive rattan frame and comes with cushions. If you're feeling snoozy, this is comfy enough to lay down on for one person to curl up and take a nap.
Customer review: "Fabulous egg chair, stunning in the flesh, comfortable. Not cheap but great quality. Really pleased and would Highly recommend."
Pros
- Weather-resistant
- Robust rattan frame
- Comfortable cushions
Cons
- Needs two people to assemble
Best luxury cocoon hanging chair
Not on the High Streetwww.notonthehighstreet.com
If you think your garden needs something new and want to splash out on a contemporary piece, get your hands on this Hive Hanging Chair, which stands out as a luxurious design for your garden. Made from top-grade Birch and rope cord, this chair is for the big spenders. There is no construction required, it folds flat, and you can upkeep it by wiping it down every few months. Perfect for those looking to upgrade their garden. And – it’s weatherproof, too.
Pros
- Quirky
- Made from top-quality birch wood
- Folds flat
Cons
- It's an investment buy
How we chose the best hanging egg chairs
All of these hanging egg chairs have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the style, durability, and materials in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching hanging egg chairs to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
FAQs
Why should I buy a garden egg chair?
Happy centre stage on your patio or tucked away in a quiet corner at the bottom of your plot, these hanging chairs are the only place you’ll want to sit in your garden this year. We think this is the best furniture for lounging around.
Big enough to sink into, their unusual egg shape wraps above and around you, creating an immersive and supportive experience. With the seating pod suspended from a sturdy stand, you can sit and sway gently in the breeze, adding to the feeling of pure escapism.
What type of hanging egg chair should I get?
Hanging egg chairs look like no other piece of outdoor furniture. Their arching stands and egg-shaped seating pods immediately catch your eye and instantly become the seat of envy. This year's hottest designs are larger and bolder than before, with room for two or even three people to kick back.
They’re perfect for couples and getting cosy with friends when social distancing is a distant memory. A tactile mix of the open weave, all-weather rattan and a smartly finished metal stand, they also add a sculptural feature to a deck or patio, looking super chic all year round.
These al fresco beauties come in a range of different colours and styles, so you can pick and choose the design that’s best for your individual outside space. Intricate macramé is a big look for furniture this year, and there are plenty of hanging chairs that mimic this fine meshwork. Double up with the new back-to-neutrals trend and the overall effect oozes elegance.
For a dramatic twist, pick out the same intricate design in a darker colour. Charcoal grey and near-black cocoons will both show off the chair’s fine lines and make a graphic contrast to many outdoor settings.
Feeling even bolder or just tempted to try something different? Then go for a retro-inspired, rib-style seat. Reminiscent of chunky bamboo numbers that were a hit in the 1970s, these have cleaner, more prominent lines, often arranged in a grid.
How much should I pay?
Hanging egg chairs differ hugely in cost, so it’s worth knowing a little about how they are made and the different materials used, so you can decide where your budget is best spent. Single designs can start from £280, while larger three-seaters can go up to £1,200.
It’s not just size alone that dictates the price tag – there is a wide variation in the quality of materials used, and this often impacts how they perform and withstand the weather.
Most open-weave chair designs are made from synthetic or all-weather rattan. Known as high-density polyethene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), they have various ingredients added to improve their durability before being woven around a sturdy and curved aluminium chair frame.
These strands are tough and hardwearing and, above all, weatherproof, making them ideal for life outdoors in the Great British climate – but there is one technicality worth noting. The way the strands are coloured can often determine whether any scuffs are noticeable, so do read the small print. In mono-extrusion products, the colour permeates completely, so scuffs are hidden, while with dual-extrusion techniques, only the surface is coloured, so any damage is obvious.
How should I position my egg chair?
With a smaller footprint than your average outdoor sofa, a hanging cocoon seat can sit proudly alone on a deck or be pulled up as an extra garden armchair alongside other garden furniture. Because they hang from a stand so you can still see the ground underneath, they give the illusion of extra space. Position them so they hover over a colourful rug, and the effect will be even more enticing.
Because the seat can usually be quickly detached from the stand, they take far less effort to move than a traditional sofa, so you can easily change your location and view as the mood takes you. Perhaps you’d prefer a sunny spot just outside your back door through the winter but a shady retreat at the bottom of your plot in summer? No problem!
It’s worth remembering that these style statements also work beautifully indoors, so if you have space in your conservatory, why not bring them in for the worst of the winter? Some stands are designed to come easily apart, while others, once assembled, can be harder to dismantle, particularly if they have been left outside for a lengthy period.
The frame is designed to be left outside in most weather, but it’s worth thinking about where you’ll store the cushions during heavy or persistent rain. Adding a storage chest somewhere close by makes it easy.
How do I hang up my egg chair?
You can buy hanging egg chairs on their own to suspend from a tree or pergola if it’s strong enough, but most come with a dedicated metal stand. These are usually made from tubular steel or lightweight aluminium and are powder-coated to create a smart, coloured finish.
They consist of a curved upright section and flat base that neatly bolt together to form a rigid stand. Most bases tend to be circular or oval loops with crossbars for extra strength. While a few models feature more traditional cross legs or a horseshoe design.
When it comes to the quality of the design, details such as the hanging chain, the top-end cap (that seals the stand) and the bolts or rivets that join the frame are all good indicators of a well-made product. The cap and rivets should be smooth and well-finished, and the chain links should hang straight without catching.
What cushions should I get for my egg chair?
Seat cushions are a huge part of any hanging chair, as they provide a delicious sense of comfy contentment. Most chairs come with a single rectangular, quilted pad that wraps around the inside of the chair to form a seat and backrest, while a few designs have shaped cushions with a high back, seat pad and tapered arms. Due to the extra tailoring, these often cost more and come with a separate, tie-on headrest.
Do check how weatherproof the cushions are and decide if you’re prepared to pay extra to minimise the faff of storing them or invest in furniture covers. If there’s no mention of cushion quality, then you’ll need to bring them inside at the slightest glimpse of a shower.
There is an increasing number of cushions that can be left in place except in the heaviest rain, at a cost. Often referred to as all-weather or shower-resistant cushions, these relatively new products have fibre-filled inners that allow water to drain straight through.
Covers come in a range of gorgeous shades. Cream, light grey and charcoal are all on-trend this season, and most are UV fade-resistant, machine washable and quick to dry.
What to read next:
Subscribe to Modern Gardens magazine and get the most out of your outdoor space. Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic, quickly and easily, with hundreds of simple ideas, designer tricks, affordable products and expert advice in every issue of Modern Gardens. View our latest subscription offers to save on shop prices.
Jill Morgan writes regularly for Modern Gardens, and loves everything to do with gardens, plants and outdoor living. Her long thin, town garden is the setting for many family and creative projects from bird feeding and veggie growing to den building and mini-pond dipping.