5 Best Outdoor Chairs in Australia: Resin, Aluminium, Rope and Sunbrella Compared

Prove  /  Chairs Compared

The best outdoor chair is the one that suits your climate, your storage and how long you sit. Here is how five good ones compare.

Outdoor Furniture Ideas  ·  7 min read

Nardi Doga armchairs on a timber deck. Resin and aluminium chairs like these can live outside all year.

For most Australian patios and decks, the best outdoor chair is a lightweight, stackable chair in resin or aluminium. Neither rusts or rots, both wipe clean, and both stack away when you need the space. If comfort matters more than storage, choose an upholstered chair with a solution dyed fabric such as Sunbrella. The five chairs below cover each of those choices, and you can browse all outdoor chairs to compare the full range.

There is no single winner, because chairs are used differently. A pool deck needs something that dries fast. A small balcony needs something that stacks. A dining table that seats six needs arms that fit. Pick the one that matches your use, then check the dimensions against your table.

No. 01

Nardi Net: The Best All Rounder

The Nardi Net armchair is a resin chair with a perforated back, so rain drains straight through instead of pooling. It is made in Italy from UV stabilised fibreglass reinforced resin and is independently CATAS tested for year round outdoor use. At 3.9 kg it is easy to move, it stacks, and it arrives fully assembled.

It is 60.5 cm wide, 58.5 cm deep and 80 cm high, with a seat height of 46.5 cm and arms at 69 cm. Each chair is rated to 160 kg, the maximum load Nardi certifies for its chairs. It comes in seven colours and a coordinating Sunbrella seat cushion is sold separately. Nardi backs it with a 2 year warranty.

Choose it if you want one chair that works at a dining table, on a balcony and around a fire pit. Think twice if you want a fully upholstered seat. The resin seat is firm without the optional cushion.

The Nardi Net in Agave Green. The perforated back lets rain drain straight through.

No. 02

Pebl Sunset: The Easy Coastal Chair

The Pebl Sunset armchair is all aluminium, with a single moulded perforated shell for the seat and back. There is no rope, timber or cushion to bring in, so it can stay out through winter. It weighs 4.75 kg, stacks, and has clear footcaps that stop it scraping tiles and pavers.

It is 60 cm wide, 58 cm deep and 79.5 cm high, in Charcoal, Mocha or Green. The frame is Tiger powder coated aluminium. Pebl advises rinsing with fresh water and wiping with mild soapy water, and rinsing more often in coastal areas to clear salt spray.

Choose it if you live near the coast or a pool and want a chair you never have to pack away. Think twice if you want cushioned comfort. Its comfort comes from the shaped shell alone. See the wider aluminium outdoor chairs range for more options.

The Pebl Sunset in Mocha: all aluminium, with nothing to bring inside.

No. 03

Eve Rope Chair: The Soft Look That Still Stacks

The Eve outdoor rope chair is made from acrylic rope in light grey or charcoal. It stacks up to four high, the seat cushion is removable so it can be cleaned, and it weighs 5.56 kg. It suits patios and decks where you want a woven look without the weight of a timber chair.

Choose it if you want texture and a softer style. Think twice if you want the lowest maintenance option. Rope and cushions need more care than resin or aluminium. Browse all outdoor rope chairs to compare styles.

The Eve in light grey. The seat cushion lifts off for cleaning.

No. 04

Ambition Sunbrella: The Comfortable Dining Chair

The Ambition Sunbrella dining chair pairs a powder coated aluminium frame with Sunbrella upholstery. Sunbrella is solution dyed, so the colour is in the fibre rather than printed on the surface. The fabric carries a 5 year warranty and the frame and components carry 2 years.

It is 61 cm wide, 65.5 cm deep and 81 cm high, with a 50 cm seat height, and weighs 8.5 kg. The arms are 61 cm across, which still lets you fit six chairs around a normal outdoor table. Some assembly is required. Charcoal and light grey are available.

Choose it if you sit for long meals. Think twice if you need to stack chairs for storage. It is the heaviest chair here, so check the table clearance first.

The Ambition in charcoal Sunbrella, the most comfortable chair here for long meals.

No. 05

Nardi Doga: The Widest Colour Choice

The Nardi Doga armchair is a single body resin shell with a horizontal slat back and seat. Air moves through it and rainwater drains away. It weighs 4.8 kg, is 60 cm wide and 83.5 cm high, and stacks for storage. It comes in eight colours: White, Anthracite, Cappuccino, Menta, Agave Green, Pera, Marsala and Tobacco.

Like the Net, it is rated to 160 kg, CATAS tested and backed by a 2 year Nardi warranty. For the darker colours, Nardi suggests a shaded position to help preserve the colour. The outdoor resin chairs category shows the wider Nardi range.

Choose it if colour matters to you. Think twice if you want a cushion built in. The Doga shell is not upholstered.

The Doga slat design lets air move through and rain drain away.

Side by Side

The Five Chairs Compared

How to Choose

How to Choose in Four Questions

• Where will it sit? Near the coast or a pool, choose aluminium or resin and rinse regularly. Under cover, rope and upholstery are easier to live with.
• Will you stack it? If storage is tight, choose a chair that stacks.
• How long will you sit? For long meals, choose the upholstered chair or add a cushion to a resin one.
• Does it fit the table? Measure table clearance and allow for the depth behind an occupied chair. Our guide to plastic and resin outdoor chairs goes deeper on the value end of the range.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best material for outdoor chairs in Australia?

Resin and powder coated aluminium are the easiest. Neither rusts, both wipe clean, and both are light enough to move and stack.

Can outdoor chairs stay outside all year?

Resin and aluminium chairs are built for it. Pebl notes that the Sunset has no cushions or fabric to store, so it can stay out through winter. Cushions and fabric are better stored or covered in extreme weather. A set of outdoor furniture covers helps for long periods out of use.

How do I clean outdoor chairs?

Wash with water and a mild detergent, wipe with a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. Avoid abrasive pads and solvents, which can dull a finish.

Do outdoor chairs come assembled?

It varies. The Nardi Net ships fully assembled. The Ambition Sunbrella needs some assembly.

How many chairs fit around an outdoor table?

That depends on the table and chair width. The Ambition arms are 61 cm across, which Outdoor Furniture Ideas lists as still fitting six around a normal outdoor table. Check the table size guide before you buy.