We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Outdoor & Patio Patio Decor The 11 Best Lawn Chairs of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Kick back, relax, and enjoy the outdoor views. By Barbara Bellesi Zito Barbara Bellesi Zito Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, NY with more than 18 years of experience covering home and lifestyle topics for a variety of publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 05, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Final Verdict How to Shop FAQs Take Our Word for It Photo: Real Simple / David Hattan Nothing is more relaxing than pulling up lawn chairs to sit outside with friends and family in fine weather—unless, of course, you’ve got a set of rickety chairs that won’t make it through the season. The good news is that there are seemingly countless options on the market at various price points, and we spent hours researching them to find the best looking and most comfortable options. You’ll want to consider what type of style you’re after and whether you want to keep your chair exclusively at home or have the option of toting it to a campground or beach. Many also feature good-to-have extras, like a cup holder for your drink. Take into account the durability of the chair, too, so that you not only know the price up front, but also the value over time. Sustainability is important, as well. “If you’re interested in reducing your environmental footprint at home, look for brands that are manufactured domestically and are consciously crafted from recycled or sustainably sourced materials,” says Lindsay Schleis, VP of business development for Polywood. Warranties backing that craftsmanship are also important to consider. “If a brand is willing to stand behind its product for years or even decades, chances are they do so because they know it’s built to last.” Our Top Picks Best Overall: Kijaro Dual Lock Camping Chair at Amazon $48 Jump to Review Best Budget: SALE Amazon Basics Folding Outdoor Camping Chair at Amazon $30 $25 Jump to Review Best Adirondack: Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair at Amazon $249 Jump to Review Best With Canopy: GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker With SunShade at Amazon $80 Jump to Review Best Zero Gravity: PHI VILLA Oversized Zero Gravity Chair at Amazon $120 Jump to Review Best Rocking: GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Chair at Amazon $70 Jump to Review Best With Footrest: SALE ALPS Mountaineering Escape Lounge Camping Chairs at Amazon $70 $50 Jump to Review Best Compact: SALE Cliq Camping Chair at Amazon $130 $110 Jump to Review Best Oversized: SALE Ever Advanced Oversized Folding Camping Chair at Amazon $130 $100 Jump to Review Best Vintage Style: Lawn Chair USA Folding Aluminum Webbed Chair at Amazon $70 Jump to Review Best Overall Kijaro Dual Lock Camping Chair PHOTO: Walmart $48 at Amazon $50 at Home Depot View on Publiclands.com What Stands Out It’s a large, sturdy, and lightweight chair that folds and locks for easy transport to the campsite or a tailgating party. What Could Be Improved The seat is slightly higher than the standard, so it may take some getting used to for shorter people. As lightweight and portable as this lawn chair is, it's also super supportive. The sturdy diamond ripstop polyester supports up to 300 pounds and is perfectly taut, so you won't find yourself sagging in this seat. Breathable mesh runs right up the seat back, allowing for optimal airflow so that you stay cool even when the temperature says otherwise. If you like extra features on your lawn chair, this one has plenty. There are two cup holders, a zip mesh pocket for small items, an attached carry strap, and a carry bag. The unique dual-locking feature that gives the chair its name makes it easy to fold up and secure the chair for convenient transport and storage. If you’re planning to take this tailgating, you can even purchase a Kijaro with your favorite NFL team’s logo emblazoned on it (it just costs a little extra). If you’re not a football fan, there are nearly a dozen fun colors to choose from. Dimensions: 26 by 35.4 by 37 inches | Material: Diamond ripstop polyester | Weight: 9.4 pounds | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds Best Budget Amazon Basics Folding Outdoor Camping Chair PHOTO: Amazon $25 at Amazon What Stands Out It’s a sturdy, comfortable chair at a great price. What Could Be Improved It only comes in one color. Amazon Basics is a go-to brand for many good-quality, budget-friendly products, including this lawn chair. It’s portable, so you can take it camping, to the beach, or even in and out of your shed easily. The polyester mesh fabric panels won't have you feeling overheated if you plan to sit outside on a hot summer day, and the seat is comfortable, though there is an option to upgrade to the padded or XL version for slightly more. This lawn chair makes it easy to stay hydrated with your beverage of choice, thanks to a built-in cup holder and a cooler pouch that attaches to the armrest (it’s spacious enough to hold four 12-ounce cans). There's another side storage pouch for personal items, like sunglasses and body sunscreen. Don't let the low price point fool you: This chair is made from heavy-duty steel, yet it folds up compactly to fit inside the trunk of your vehicle. If you're walking instead, there's a carry bag with a shoulder strap that makes it easy to get where you're going. Dimensions: 21 by 28 by 36 inches | Material: Polyester, alloy steel | Weight: 6.9 pounds | Weight Capacity: 225 pounds Best Adirondack Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair PHOTO: Amazon $249 at Amazon $289 at Wayfair $179 at Home Depot What Stands Out The classic Adirondack style gets an upgrade with weatherproof materials. What Could Be Improved It’s the heaviest and priciest chair on our list. There’s a reason Adirondack chairs are classic. Not only is their simple, supportive design conducive to comfortable sitting, but they also look beautiful in the backyard, on the front porch, or by a campfire. We were immediately sold on the comfort and durability of this model from Polywood. It has a supportive seat, tall back, and wide arms perfect for resting a drink, book, or even a plate of food. It’s the best Adirondack chair we’ve ever tested. Those who love the look of an authentic Adirondack chair will appreciate the wood-like design, though it’s actually made from sturdy, all-weather, and UV-protected recycled plastic called HDPE. In testing, we dumped barbecue sauce and a melted marshmallow on the chair and found both were quite easy to clean up. The faux wood texture even stands up well to water; we noticed it simply beaded up when wet, so you won’t have to lug it inside every time it starts to rain. After three months of use, we’re happy to say this chair looks good as new. Despite it being out in the sun, it hasn’t faded, cracked, or shown any evidence of being damaged. We’ve even kept it out on our deck uncovered to show just how weatherproof the material is. This chair is the priciest on our list, but given that it will stand up to the elements season after season, it’s a worthy investment for your yard. The hardest decision will be which of the dozen colors to choose from. Dimensions: 32.11 by 29.25 by 34.66 inches | Material: Resin, plastic | Weight: 34 pounds | Weight Capacity: 350 pounds Real Simple / Rachel Marek Real Simple / Rachel Marek Best With Canopy GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker With SunShade PHOTO: Amazon $80 at Amazon View on Basspro.com View on Publiclands.com What Stands Out The canopy offers UPF50 protection. What Could Be Improved You might prefer a chair with a higher back. If you want to sit outside but don’t exactly want the sun beating down on you, this camping chair from GCI comes with a canopy that promises UPF 50 (UPF measures the amount of radiation that can penetrate fabric and reach your skin, per The Skin Care Foundation). Wait, it gets better: It’s also a rocking chair. Although it may not look like the old, wooden rocker your grandma had in her home, this one has a smooth spring-action technology for you to move back and forth at your leisure. The powder-coated steel frame provides plenty of sturdy support—up to 250 pounds—yet it folds up into the included carry bag for easy storage and transport. Considering just how much this chair does, we think it's a great value for the price, and there are plenty of color options to choose from. Dimensions: 40.6 by 30 by 50.8 inches | Material: Alloy steel | Weight: 13.22 pounds | Weight Capacity: 250 pounds Best Zero Gravity PHI VILLA Oversized Zero Gravity Chair PHOTO: Amazon $120 at Amazon View on Bed Bath & Beyond $119 at Home Depot What Stands Out The anti-gravity recliner can lock in place once you find your perfect recline. What Could Be Improved The recline feature might not be right—or enough—for everyone. A zero-gravity chair sounds like it should be floating somewhere in space, but rest assured, this one belongs in your yard. You can sit upright in this chair, but the real magic happens when you shift the lever and engage the reclining function. Once you find a position between 0 and 170 degrees, you can lock it into place and sink into the padded seat and pillowed headrest. A removable side tray holds a drink or your personal items for easy access. While this chair does take up space in a reclined position, it can shift back easily to the original position and fold compactly for storage or transport. This Phi Villa chair is a great value for the money, but the one-year warranty and lifetime customer support will make you feel even better about your purchase. Dimensions: 35 by 29 by 45 inches | Material: Oxford cloth and powder-coated steel | Weight: 24 pounds | Weight Capacity: 400 pounds Best Rocking GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Chair PHOTO: Amazon $70 at Amazon $70 at Walmart $70 at Dick's What stands Out The steel frame and shock absorbers invite you to rock for a while. What Could Be Improved Even though it folds easily, it’s still rather large for storage. Rock on in the great outdoors with this lawn chair rocker from GCI. At first glance, it looks like a high-quality lawn chair, but a glance at the sturdy steel frame with the shock absorbers tells you that this is no ordinary seat. It supports up to 250 pounds, and the mesh backing provides ventilation so you can sit, relax, and enjoy your time wherever you are. There’s even a built-in cup holder to keep your beverage at hand. When you're done rocking and it's time to go home or store it for the season, just step on the base of the chair leg and pull the handle up to fold it. It weighs just 11.8 pounds, so it makes for easy transport, too. Dimensions: 24.75 by 24.5 by 34 | Material: Polyester and alloy steel | Weight: 12 pounds | Weight Capacity: 250 pounds Best With Footrest ALPS Mountaineering Escape Lounge Camping Chairs PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon View on Alpsmountaineering.com What Stands Out The attached footrest folds up with the rest of the chair for easy portability. What Could Be Improved The fabric colors are a bit drab. While all of the lawn chairs that made our list are comfortable, there's something to be said for one that comes with its own footrest. This chair from ALPS is the next best thing to dragging your favorite armchair and ottoman outside. The adjustable armrests even feature a convenient cup holder. Don't be fooled by the lightweight design. The fabric seat and attached footrest are stretched out over a sturdy, powder-coated steel frame that comfortably supports up to 225 pounds. The chair comes in rugged-looking cactus and gray/blue that are perfect for outdoors, but we do wish there were brighter colors to choose from. These chairs fold up easily and pack into a shoulder bag, so it's simple to store or tote to the beach, the game, or anywhere else you want to sit for a while. Dimensions: 17 by 32.5 by 41.5 inches | Material: Polyester and alloy steel | Weight: 10 pounds | Weight Capacity: 225 pounds Best Compact Cliq Camping Chair PHOTO: Amazon $110 at Amazon $110 at Walmart View on Cliqproducts.com What Stands Out It supports up to 300 pounds yet folds down to the size of a water bottle. What Could Be Improved You might prefer a chair that has a back for more support. This petite lawn chair proves that bigger doesn’t always mean better. It takes just seconds to set up, and although it is much smaller than its counterparts, it supports up to 300 pounds and is made with twice-stitched ripstop ballistic nylon, making it waterproof and tearproof. The frame is rust-proof and scratch-resistant aircraft-grade aluminum. Its real superpower, however, is that it can fold up to the size of a water bottle. It's easy to stow in an overnight bag, and there are six colors to choose from, including red, black, and camouflage. Dimensions: 22 by 22 by 26 inches | Material: Nylon and aluminum | Weight: 3.65 pounds | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds Best Oversized Ever Advanced Oversized Folding Camping Chair PHOTO: Ever Advanced $100 at Amazon View on Everadvanced.com What Stands Out The 2-foot-wide seat allows for plenty of comfort. What Could Be Improved It only comes in two colors. If you think a lawn chair needs to be small to be portable, think again. The spacious Ever Advanced lawn chair allows 2 feet of seating room for you to settle in without feeling like the arms are digging into your sides. The swivel cup holder is situated under the arm rather than in it, too, so you can rest your limbs freely. A built-in mesh pocket makes it easy to stow personal items like your phone or keep snacks close by. This chair sits on a sturdy steel frame that supports up to 500 pounds. Choose from either blue or black. Dimensions: 19.7 by 24 by 40 inches | Material: Metal and alloy steel | Weight: 12.4 pounds | Weight Capacity: 500 pounds Best Vintage Style Lawn Chair USA Folding Aluminum Webbed Chair PHOTO: Walmart $70 at Amazon $70 at Walmart View on Lawnchairusa.com What Stands Out This vintage-style chair comes in a variety of sizes and colors. What Could Be Improved You may prefer something with cupholders. To be fair, you might already have a set of similar chairs handed down to you from someone in the family. Consider yourself lucky if you do because there’s a good reason this classic folding lawn chair is still around. The sturdy, fade-resistant webbing provides a supportive seat as it wards off UV rays. These chairs can be stored flat, so they're easy to add to a trunk or a garage shelf, too. Choose from five different sizes in more than 30 color combos, including classic black, white, and bright bolds, to complement the color palette of your space or favorite team. These lightweight chairs fold up like a dream, making it easy to tote them to a tailgating party or even to store them in your shed for the off season. Dimensions: 24 by 23.78 by 32.76 inches | Material: Aluminum | Weight: 4.2 pounds | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds Best for Kids Coleman Kids Quad Chair PHOTO: Amazon View on Campingworld.com $25 at REI View on Thetwistergroup.com What Stands Out It holds up to 160 pounds, so your kid can use it as they grow. What Could Be Improved We’d love to see more of a color selection. As much as the kiddos look adorable as they try to get settled into one of the huge adult lawn chairs, they really deserve their own seat at an outdoor gathering. The roomy tip-resistant seat is low enough for them to get comfortable on their own, but don’t worry—the strong steel frame that locks in place will keep them secure, supporting up to 160 pounds. The glow-in-the dark design (in pink or teal) is sure to delight them, and the mesh cup holder will keep their cup from spilling. When it's time to head indoors, the chair folds up into its own carry bag. This sturdy chair is inexpensive and comes with a one-year limited warranty. Dimensions: 26.5 by 9.75 by 2.87 inches | Material: Polyester and steel | Weight: 4 pounds | Weight Capacity: 160 pounds Final Verdict The Kijaro Dual Lock is sitting pretty in our top spot because of its comfort, style, and portability. Football fans in need of a new chair for the next tailgate party will love sitting in one that sports their team’s logo. For a budget-friendly pick, you can’t go wrong with the Amazon Basics Portable Camping Chair. How to Shop for Lawn Chairs Like a Pro Style Personal preference is everything when it comes to style, Schleis says. If you like a classic style, go for an elegant lawn chair in an earth tone. If you want something more transitional—somewhere between traditional and modern-style decor—go for something sophisticated with subtle curves and clean lines in a neutral color. While neutral and earth tones do blend well with a variety of different colors and patterns, don’t be afraid to go bolder with chair color. “Chances are they’ll be a hit with guests when you entertain and will lend a whimsical, coastal camping vibe to your outdoor parties,” Schleis says. “And who couldn’t use more whimsy in their lives?” Material “Choose materials that fit not just your style preference but also your willingness to spend time maintaining them,” Schleis says. If you don’t mind some upkeep, go with wood or metal furniture, she says. If you’re more of the set-it-and-forget-it type when it comes to outdoor furniture, she suggests looking for chairs made from easy-to-maintain recycled HDPE lumber. Comfort The best lawn chairs are comfortable, inviting you to sit and stay a while. Schleis says an Adirondack chair, like the Polywood Modern Adirondack Chair, Black, is an ideal blend of function and classic style. They have wide, sturdy arms perfect for holding a drink, plate, or a book, plus the contoured seat offers great back support. While there’s nothing quite like sitting in an Adirondack chair, other chairs on our list offer a supportive seat with room to spare for a drink, too. Portability Portability is key for lawn chairs, especially if you’re taking them to a tailgating party, on a camping trip, or to enjoy a day at the beach. A lightweight chair makes it easy to pick up and move as needed, but a chair that folds up is even easier to transport and stow. The CLIQ ClassiQ Chair wins the top prize as far as compactness goes, as it folds up to roughly the size of a water bottle. Additional Features When is a lawn chair not just a lawn chair? When it can hold your drink, provide a bit of shade, or offer a matching footstool so you can really take a load off. Some of the chairs on this list do indeed have these features, but it’s all up to you if you even want them. “Honestly, I prefer chairs that are simple, iconic and provide that traditional comfort,” Schleis says. “I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles as long as the chairs are built sustainably and made to last.” Questions You Might Ask How long should a lawn chair last? As with all things, you get what you pay for with lawn chairs. While you might be drawn to budget-friendly options, Schleis says investing in heirloom-quality furniture is smarter in the long run and more environmentally friendly than many inexpensive options that end up in landfills after a few seasons. What kind of lawn chair is most durable? Look for lawn chairs made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. Schleis says this material can not only handle harsh elements, but it also requires less maintenance than wood or metal. Don’t worry about sacrificing looks for durability. Advances in technology allow even recycled plastic lumber to look nearly indistinguishable from standard wood and come in vintage finishes for a traditional appearance, Schleis says. Can you leave lawn chairs outside all year? It all depends on the material they’re made from. Schleis says traditional wood chairs can rot and splinter when left exposed unless you’re up for regular coats of paint, stain, and/or sealant to protect them. Metal chairs are also prone to rust if they’re not covered or even stored away when inclement weather is in the forecast. There is one type of chair material that increases your chances of keeping your lawn chairs in good condition, even if you do leave them out all year: HDPE. “If the chairs are constructed from HDPE, it’s fine to leave them outside all year as they’ll be resistant to the weather and temperature fluctuations,” Schleis says. Take Our Word for It This article was written by Barbara Bellesi Zito, a freelance lifestyle writer based in Staten Island, NY. To compile this list of best lawn chairs, she researched products from top brands while considering factors like style, material, comfort, and portability. For expert advice on what consumers should know when purchasing lawn chairs, she consulted Lindsay Schleis, VP of business development for Polywood.