Best recliner garden chairs for sunbathing

Put your feet up and feel the benefit of laid-back seating.

Best recliner garden chairs for sunbathing

by Natalie Knowles |
Updated on

Whether you're snoozing in your summerhouse or sun worshipping in your garden, the best recliner garden chairs are designed for your comfort. The summer months are when we get to enjoy using our garden furniture. What could be better than relaxing on your decking, listening to birdsong, with the sun beating down?

Recliners or sun loungers are larger than garden deckchairs and less portable, although they do offer more manoeuvrability than a garden armchair. This portability makes them beneficial if you have more than one spot in your garden that gets good sun. Plus, they tend to have adjustable tilt positions, whereby you can switch between upright and multiple angles of decline until you're horizontal. More versatile than a lounger or a daybed, a recliner can also be upright for reading a book and enjoying a drink and a natter.

Best recliner garden chairs at a glance:

Best all-round recliners set: VonHaus Zero Gravity Chairs – View on Amazon UK
Best value garden recliner set: Outsunny 3PC Zero Gravity Chairs Sun Lounger Table Set W/ Cup Holders – View on Aosom
Best garden recliners for ergonomic support: SUNMER Sun Lounger Padded Garden Chairs With Cup And Phone Holder, Set of 2 – View on Amazon UK

While deckchairs and sun loungers are designed for outdoor relaxation, there are some key differences between the two. Deckchairs are typically smaller and more lightweight, making them easy to move around your garden or patio. They usually feature a simple, foldable frame and a single adjustable backrest position.

There's always a good balance to be found between value and quality. We've made sure to include the best recliners - from luxury to great value - in a range of materials and varying weights and levels of flexibility.

Best recliner garden chairs

Best all-round recliner set

Kicking off our first choice is this set of two modern sun loungers from VonHaus – we love their attached sun canopies for creating shade. Wave goodbye to newspapers and hats over your face because this will let you relax in peace without the sun blinding you. VonHaus Zero Gravity Chairs have a drinks holder as well as being foldable, flexible and zero-gravity. They are an absolute steal and our all-rounder for the features. Reviews say that they're well made and sturdy, which will do well in years to come. It's a more practical option than wooden chairs, which need treating every year. A review praises the design as "easy to store when not in use so don’t have to be left out in the weather".

Pros

  • Well-made
  • Efficient and practical
  • Sturdy
  • Sun visor for face

Cons

  • Some reviews have commented that they were slightly heavier than expected

Best value garden recliner set

Outsunny 3PC Zero Gravity Chairs Sun Lounger Table Set
Price: £61.99 (was £89.99)

www.aosom.co.uk

The Outsunny 3PC Zero Gravity Chairs Sun Lounger set gets our vote for being outstanding value for a zero-gravity table and chair set. Benefit from the ergonomic design that has double bungee support for extra comfort. You can repose at any angle and let the padded headrest cushion your head and neck. The breathable mesh fabric cover on the chairs is easy to wipe clean and repels water. A customer praises the table as a "little handy addition that comes in handy to hold your drinks".

You get the lovely little side table with two cup holders – which are collapsible (like the chairs) – so everything can be quickly folded away if a sudden rain shower occurs. Equally, you could take this set on a camping holiday or to the beach.

Pros

  • Portable
  • Fantastic value
  • Ergonomic
  • Zero-gravity recliners

Cons

  • One customer felt they were a little flimsy

Best garden recliners for support

Sunmer Sun Lounger Padded Garden Chairs have folding and lightweight steel frames, enabling you to move the seating with ease. The chair can be reclined to 30-degree and 90-degree angles – perfect for sun-worshipping. Customers like that the chairs are pre-assembled and easily fold flat for storage.

The seat is made from high-quality Textilene fabric, which can be wiped clean and is water-repellent. With padding to support your neck and back, these extremely well-reviewed loungers are supportive and designed for your comfort. Bask in bliss and relaxation. Or, as one review sums up: "Such high quality and comfort... I am so pleased with them."

Pros

  • Highly rated on Amazon
  • Comfortable
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Foldable

Cons

  • Some customers had issues with the locking mechanism - but minimal faults

Best luxurious garden recliner

This luxurious lounge set is the ultimate way to recline and reach your sunbathing goals at an affordable price. Outsunny 3 Pieces Patio Lounge Chair Set includes two reclining daybeds on wheels and a handy side table. Additionally, the loungers come with foam-padded cushions for extra comfort. Imagine yourself poolside with a cocktail and adjust the angle to one of five positions to best suit your comfort.

Customers say it's easy to assemble in about an hour. All the parts are labelled and the instructions are clear. Also, it's good quality, as one customer says: "[It] looks and feels a lot more expensive than it cost, very sturdy and well made."

Pros

  • Weather-resistant wicker and metal frame
  • Five angle positions, including flat
  • Looks expensive
  • Super comfy

Cons

  • Takes a little while to assemble

Best lightweight garden recliners

2 Folding Aluminium Reclining Garden ChairsMano Mano
Price: £94.85 (was £95.99)

www.manomano.co.uk

Recliners come in a variety of materials, from rattan and wooden to metal or plastic, but you can be sure that with aluminium, your garden chair will be lightweight and weatherproof. These Folding Aluminium Reclining Garden Chairs fold flat so they can be packed in a car boot and taken camping. Customers praise its comfort and practicality.

The breathable mesh fabric adapts to your body to provide support and good ventilation so you won't get sweaty patches. Additionally, the high backrest helps promote good posture. With seven tilt settings, these are a very good spec reclining chair and a bit of a step up from the old-fashioned deckchair. Accessorise with cushions for a pop of colour.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Versatile uses
  • Comfortable

Cons

  • Some customers have commented that their chairs arrived scratched due to inadequate packaging

Best recliner for comfortable padding

Luxury Gravity Garden Sun LoungerB&Q
Price: £74.99

www.diy.com

The advantage of this Luxury Gravity Garden Sun Lounger is that, unlike most garden recliners, it comes with a full-body padded cushion that's super comfortable to relax into.

It has a sturdy yet lightweight frame, so you can move it around the garden to catch the best rays. The recliner function is adjustable to any position, so it's a leisure chair that offers fully flexible comfort. Plus, it's a very reasonable price. One customer said: "Bought this sun lounger as it was the cheapest price on the net, it’s solid and well built."

Pros

  • Removable padding for comfort when needed
  • Fully adjustable recliner
  • Robust frame and UV-resistant material
  • Good value for money

Cons

  • Not suitable to be left outside in all weather

Best garden recliner for contemporary style

Lafuma Air Comfort Futura Sun LoungerJohn Lewis

This bright and breezy Lafuma Air Comfort Futura Sun Lounger will look outstanding in any modern garden. Plus, it's incredibly comfortable too. A customer commented that it helped with her lower back pain. Another said: "This is probably the most comfortable chair I have ever sat on, outdoors or indoors."

It's a high-quality option at a higher price point than other recliners, but customers praise its luxurious comfort. Plus, it folds away for space-saving storage.

Pros

  • Very comfortable
  • Firm back support
  • Fully adjustable reclining

Cons

  • A little heavier than other recliners

Best garden recliner with sun shield

Monaco Zero Gravity Reclining Garden ChairRobert Dyas
Price: £59.99 (was £69.99)

www.robertdyas.co.uk

This Monaco Zero Gravity Reclining Garden Chair has it all, with it's fully adjustable design, side tray and sun shield. A customer praises the design of this chair: "Really comfortable with no bar across the back of the knees." It's definitely an all-in-one solution to safe and luxurious sun bathing in the garden. Reposition the shade as the sun moves across the sky.

Plus, with its lightweight yet strong metal frame you can enjoy this garden recliner for many summers to come. Customers also like price point, as one comments: "They were competitively priced."

Pros

  • Adjustable sun shield
  • Fully reclines
  • Strong frame for durability

Cons

  • A customer comments that it's a little heavy to carry

Best outdoor reclining armchair

Outsunny Outdoor Recliner ChairDebenhams/Outsunny
Price: £232.99 (was £349.99)

www.debenhams.com

This Outsunny Outdoor Recliner Chair is designed for comfort, with its padded backrest, armrests and side tray table. Sink back and relax in a sturdy outdoor armchair/ The frame can be kept outside as it's weather-resistant. As a relatively new product there's not a lot of customer reviews but Outsunny is a long-established brand and their garden furniture has always been well received.

Be aware that some assembly is required.

Pros

  • Substantial armchair that's built for comfort
  • Reclines and has a leg rest too
  • Comes with padded cushioning for added support

Cons

  • A little bulky

Best convertible garden recliner

An outdoor armchair that's also a sun lounger – it's a great way of making the most of your garden with a single piece of furniture. It has a side table too which is ideal for perching a book or a chilled drink. The backrest and footrest move in unison to recline back to an almost 180° sunbed position. It's easy to change the angle with a simple button control. Customers comment that they enjoy the comfort and stylish appearance of this garden armchair. Plus, there's a range of colours to choose from to suit your garden décor. Use all year round, as this customer has done: "It’s great in the conservatory and will be out in the garden when the weather finally warms up!"

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Use as an armchair or a sun lounger
  • Handy intergrated side table
  • Sturdy and weather-resistant

Cons

  • Some assembly is required

How we chose the best recliner garden chairs

All of these recliner garden chairs have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered comfort, sturdiness and value for money in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching recliner 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.

FAQs: Best recliner garden chairs

What to look for:

Before you can get your sunbathing on, there are a few points to consider. First, the price of a garden recliner can be an indication of the quality and materials it's made from. However, a high-quality wooden recliner is going to be a lot less moveable than a lightweight aluminium lounger. Assess how you'll be using the chair and whether you want it to be static or portable.

British weather is changeable, so a lightweight and foldable recliner is a good option if you're frequently taking it in and out. On the other hand, you can buy heavier, sturdy recliner chairs that are weatherproof and can stay outside all year round. Just remember to bring the garden cushions in.

A type of recliner worth looking out for is the zero-gravity recliner. Their ergonomic design that can stay sturdy at any angle - supporting your body - is ideal if you want to fully repose and take a nap in the sunshine. Additionally, some have extra features which can include footrests, side tables or built-in shade canopies that you may consider valuable in your purchase.

As with all furniture, but especially with seating, it's worth trying before you buy by visiting a showroom or a garden centre. There's nothing worse than parting with money only to find that you're disappointed with the level of comfort or that the frame is too big or small for your body.

Do I need to assemble my garden recliner?

It depends on the chair. Some deckchairs come fully assembled, while others require some basic assembly. Check the product description before you buy to know what to expect.

Can I adjust the position of my garden recliner?

Some deckchairs have adjustable reclining positions or footrests, while others are fixed in place. Look for a chair with the necessary features to ensure you're at your most comfortable when relaxing in the garden.

Can I leave my garden recliner outside in all weather conditions?

It depends on the material of the chair. Look for chairs made from weather-resistant materials if you plan to leave them outside year-round. Wooden garden chairs should be treated with a protective coating to help prevent weather damage.

How do I store my recliner garden chairs?

We recommend folding up your recliner garden chairs, if they are collapsable, to save space. A shed or a garden is ideal, or a dry covered area, that will protect them from rough weather.

Should I cover my outdoor furniture every night?

Yes, it's a good idea to use outdoor furniture covers that can be put over garden chairs at night. A weatherproof cover, such as the Dokon Garden Folding Reclining Chair Cover, helps to protect from moisture, dust and harsh weather. It prolongs the lifespan of your garden furniture.

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Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in garden trends. When she's not flexing her mow-how, Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.

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