We all love sitting in the garden when the weather allows and the best plastic garden chairs are a practical garden furniture solution offering you a fuss-free, weatherproof seating option for your outside space. Plastic garden furniture is a contemporary choice that looks great in all gardens and can work anywhere you want to position it - on lawns, patios, decks, terraces, and balconies. Plus, there are so many styles of plastic garden chair available that you're sure to be able to find one to suit your garden's unique style.
In our opinion, plastic is indeed fantastic. Opting for plastic offers many benefits over alternatives such as metal, wood, or rattan garden furniture - it's lightweight and therefore highly portable, it's practically maintenance-free, and if your plastic garden chairs do get grubby you can simply give them a light scrub and rinse them off with a bucket or a watering can. Plastic garden chairs are often more affordable than traditional versions too, giving you more spare cash to spend on fun garden-themed purchases, such as lawn games.
Best plastic garden chairs at a glance:
• Best traditional plastic garden chair: Two Resol Green Blanes Plastic Sun Lounger Garden Chairs - View on Amazon UK
• Best designer plastic garden chair: Habitat Serpa Set of Two Plastic Garden Chairs - View on Habitat
• Best Adirondack-style plastic garden chair: Sleek Space Adirondack Folding Chair for Garden, Patio, or Deck - View on Amazon UK
While there's a lot to be said for traditional-style plastic garden chairs, there are also more exciting designer options around that will add a touch of chic to your patio, deck, or balcony. We especially love that thanks to how they're manufactured, plastic garden chairs are often available in different tones that can add a pop of colour to your outside space. We're considering both traditional and modern types in our roundup of the best plastic garden chairs currently available for you.
Best plastic garden chair for your outside space
Best traditional plastic garden chair
Resol/AmazonThis pair of chairs has an injected polycarbonate construction that makes them strong and durable, with manufacturer Resol stating they are "designed to last for years". They have been given UV protection so they won't fade or crack if you leave them out in the sun. There are five different reclining positions so you can find an angle to suit, whether that's leaning back to enjoy the sun or sitting at your garden table.
Customer review: "Excellent chairs, to replace similar which finally died after at least a decade of use. Very comfortable indeed, with good back and head support, and well worth the price. Advantage is that, being made totally of plastic, they can be left out overnight and in the rain."
Pros
- Five recline positions
- Foldable design
Cons
- Only available in green
Best stackable plastic garden chair
Adali/La Redoute www.laredoute.co.uk
These striking Adali chairs will bring some Portuguese terrace-style good looks to your garden. Available in sand, nude pink, taupe and this striking mustard, they are a fun and colourful alternative to traditional green or white garden furniture. Made of polypropylene, these chairs have a high back with molded detail, comfortable arm rests, and tapered legs. You can stack these chairs for space-saving storage.
Customer review: "The chairs are definitely comfortable with the high backrest. The material seems robust, it remains to be seen how long they will last. I find the retro style quite funny. Thanks to the different colours combined, it still looks modern."
Pros
- Stackable design
- Available in a range of colours
Cons
- Not foldable
Best designer plastic garden chair
Habitat www.habitat.co.uk
This two-piece set from Habitat is an elegant option that channels the spirit of Mid-Century, hairpin-style furniture. The stylised legs are made from sturdy steel while the curvaceous set, arms, and back are practical plastic. While the legs look delicate, the chairs can handle a weight of up to 110 kilograms. Habitat states this set is smart enough to bring indoors if you need extra seating and we tend to agree.
Customer review: "Had my eye on these for a while! Larger and more substantial than I anticipated. Although I will bring them back inside for the winter. Sturdy plastic seat on metal legs (which easily attach with the supplied allen key and screws). Also have adjustable screw feet, so no wobbling on uneven pathing. Look so good using them in my dining room until weather picks up."
Pros
- Striking looks
- Metal legs for added sturdiness
Cons
- Requires some assembly
Best contemporary plastic garden chair
www.therange.co.uk
Keter's 'Julie' chair is a modern, no-nonsense choice that offers a solid outdoor seating solution. We like this chair's eye-catchingly blocky design. This plastic garden chair has high rise legs, angular arms, and back with a slatted finish. The design of the back looks attractive but also offers a bit of airflow on warmer days. This polypropylene chair comes in two sophisticated colours; deep graphite or sparkling grey.
Pros
- Available in two shades of grey
- Modern design
Cons
- Maximum user weight 100 kilograms
Best Adirondack-style plastic garden chair
Sleek Space/AmazonNamed after the American mountain area the chair hails from, an Adirondack chair is a perennial garden favourite. This is thanks to its clever design, with a seat that's lower at the back, which almost forces you to relax into it. There's a tall back and wide armrests, ideal for a book and a cheeky G&T. This Sleek Space option brings the design up-to-date with a weather-resistant polyethylene finish and a choice of five cool colours.
Customer review: "Sturdy and very realistic. They replaced wooden ones that I had to paint and are great for low maintenance but with the look of wood. Lovely chairs."
Pros
- Ever-popular Adirondack design
- Wide armrests for added comfort
- Foldable for easy storage
Cons
- Large footprint
Best plastic garden dining chair
Outsunny/Robert Dyas www.robertdyas.co.uk
These outdoor armchairs from Outsunny can be used as garden dining chairs, but thanks to their four-position reclining action, can also double as loungers. We're not in love visually with the expanse of white plastic they offer, but these are designed to be used with seat and backrest cushions, so you can add a cheerful pop of colour with some outdoor-friendly chair pads. These chairs fold neatly up for space-saving storage.
Customer review: "Happy with first purchase - has now added another purchase - would recommend these items."
Pros
- Drainage holes for water run-off
- Four recline levels
Cons
- White plastic - not the most appealing
Best kid's plastic garden chair
Daniel James/AmazonKids need garden seating too! A small-scale chair, like this Daniel James Housewares option gives children an appropriately-sized, safe seat, and stops them clambering over your grown-up garden furniture. This chair is made from durable, wipe-clean plastic and is available in five bright, kid-friendly colours; blue, green, orange, pink, red. If you need more than one kiddie chair, these are stackable for easy storage.
Customer review: "Good quality. The chairs are excellent, my grandchildren loved them."
Pros
- Available in five fun colours
- Suitable for age two and up
Cons
- Only available in one size
How we chose the best plastic garden chairs
All of these plastic garden 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 plastic garden 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.
What to look for when buying a plastic garden chair
Weight capacity - like all chairs, plastic garden chairs have a maximum weight capacity. If that could be an issue for you or anyone in your household, it's worth looking into.
Seat height - do you want to use your chair to sit at the garden table? Most of the designs we've featured here are suitable for that, but some, like the Adirondack chair, are made purely for relaxing in.
Chair weight - plastic garden chairs are generally lightweight, but if you need something ultra-ultra-portable then check the specs.
Storage options - if you have limited garden storage space you may want to look for a foldable option. Anyone with a little more space can consider a stackable choice.
How to look after your plastic garden chairs
As we've already highlighted, plastic garden chairs need very little maintenance other than an occasional wipe down with a damp cloth.
One major plus of plastic garden chairs is that they can be left outside in all weather. However, in order to extend their longevity, we'd recommend storing them when they are not in use in a garage, garden shed, or even greenhouse. If you don't have those options, consider investing in a garden furniture cover.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.