7 Best Outdoor Recliners For Maxin’ & Relaxin’ in the Sun

Don’t Have Time To Read? Here are our Best Picks

  1. Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chair

    Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity ChairCheck price

  2. Set of 2 Adjustable Zero Gravity

    Set of 2 Adjustable Zero GravityCheck price

  3. Sunjoy Zero Gravity Chair

    Sunjoy Zero Gravity ChairCheck price

Not all reclining needs to be done indoors. Especially during the summer months, many people like to spend time outside. There are plenty of opportunities to use a good recliner to enjoy the great outdoors.

Some of the places you might want to enjoy the best outdoor recliner include your backyard patio, a group barbecue, a day at the beach, or a weekend camping trip. These different scenarios may call for different criteria in recliners.

Let’s talk about some of your options.

Best Outdoor Recliners Reviews

Caravan Sports Infinity Zero Gravity Chair – Editor’s choice

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This lightweight chair holds up to 300 pounds. It’s a great chair to take with you if you are going on a solo outing, such as a camping trip, where you don’t need to be able to separate it from other chairs brought by other people.

It is made of Textilene fabric with a steel frame and comes in beige, blue, black, burgundy, grey and camo.

It doesn’t come with any extras, like a detachable tray. If you don’t want the extras, you may feel this is a good thing. You may also be able to buy a tray or cup holder separately for an extra charge.

Recommendation

Recommended if you need a lightweight basic reclining chair for home or for outings.

Pros

  1. Supports up to 300 pounds.
  2. The chair weighs 18.85 pounds.
  3. Reclines to multiple positions.
  4. It has an easy locking system.
  5. Comes with detachable headrest.
  6. Folds down to 6.3 inches.
  7. No or minimal assembly required.

Cons

  1. No tray or cup holder.
  2. It does not lay completely flat.
  3. It May not be sturdy enough for the big and tall crowd.

Best Choice Products Set of 2 Adjustable Zero Gravity Lounge Chair Recliners – Best Camping Recliner

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This lightweight model comes in your choice of seven colors and is sold in sets of two chairs. It also comes with a detachable tray for each chair to hold cups, magazines, phones, and so forth.

These chairs are lightweight enough to fold up and take with you, yet the built-in trays add just enough amenities to make them work on their own without tables. This makes them ideal for outings, such as a day at the beach with friends or family.

There are frequent complaints that this chair is prone to rust. It is possible to use a sealant or lubricant to protect against rust, but be aware that you should take that extra step, especially if you live in a damp climate.

The removable, adjustable headrest is included. Made with UV-resistant mesh and a metal frame. Coordinating furnishings available so you can outfit your patio or backyard seating area.

Recommendation

Recommended if you need a set of recliner chairs for outings away from home. Not recommended if you don’t want to regularly apply sealant or WD40 to protect from rust.

Pros

  1. Comes in a set of two.
  2. Chairs weigh 16.3 lbs apiece.
  3. Includes cup holders.
  4. Weight capacity of 250 pounds.
  5. Minimal assembly required.

Cons

  1. Prone to rusting. Pre-treating is advised.
  2. The locking mechanism is a potential pinching hazard.
  3. May not be enough chair for the big and tall crowd.

Sunjoy Zero Gravity Chair – Best Group Barbecue Recliner

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This super lightweight chair comes in six colors and is sold individually. It’s fine for hanging out in the backyard near the pool, but it’s lightweight makes it especially well suited for taking with you.

If you regularly go to work-related outings or other social gatherings, like church picnics, a great idea would be to pick a unique color that you can readily tell apart from everyone else’s chair. Your color options for this chair are black, burgundy, beige, blue, brown, or gray.

Made of Textilene fabric with a steel frame. Holds up to 300 pounds. Comes with detachable headrest.

It is possible to purchase an attachable tray separately for an extra charge. This can help upgrade the chair if you want that kind of functionality.

Recommendation

Recommended if you need an affordable, lightweight chair for home or for outings.

Pros

  1. Includes a detachable pillow.
  2. The chair weighs just 11 pounds.
  3. It comes in your choice of six colors.
  4. No or minimal assembly required.

Cons

  1. It does not include a tray or cup holder.
  2. Lock design is a potential pinching hazard.
  3. It does not lay flat.

Timber Ridge Zero Gravity Locking Patio Outdoor Lounger Chair – Best Of Both Worlds

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This chair is a little heavier than the above chairs and has more padding, yet is still foldable and portable. If you want something a little more comfortable and a little more like regular furniture to take with you, this may be the chair for you.

It has about a half-inch of padding, yet is otherwise designed largely like the above-listed chairs. It comes with a detachable headrest in three-striped color options, plus one camouflage pattern.

Some people feel it would work just fine indoors as part of the rec room, den, or informal living room. The chair is sturdy, yet has a nice texture, more like upholstered furniture than like your usual outdoor portable recliner.

The frame is painted steel, so plan to keep it indoors or on a covered patio. It is not designed to be left out in the weather full time.

The chair supports up to 350 pounds. It is made from polyester fabric in a steel frame.

It has a patented easy-lock mechanism to help hold your favorite position in place. The design of the locking mechanism is not a pinching hazard.

Recommendation

Recommended if you are looking for a slightly more comfortable chair that is still portable. Recommended if you are looking for something a little more like regular furniture, but not too much so.

Pros

  1. It comes with wood armrests.
  2. Has a detachable headrest.
  3. It comes with a detachable cup holder.
  4. Has a padded seat.

Cons

  1. Not as lightweight as other folding chairs.
  2. Not designed to be out in the weather full time.
  3. It comes with a cup holder only, no tray.

Best Choice Products Folding 2 Person Oversized Zero Gravity Lounge Chair – Best Snuggle Up Recliner

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Whether you have a hot date in mind or just want to read a book to your grandchild outside without having them sit in your lap, this two-person recliner has got you covered. The chair is designed to let two grown adults comfortably sit side by side.

It also comes with a cup holder on each side, so there’s no need to fight about who gets the side with the cup holder. The answer is: you both do!

It comes in your choice of three colors: brown, orange, or tan. You can also get coordinating pieces to go with it to outfit your favorite outdoor space.

Made from UV-resistant material. Holds up to 450 pounds. Comes with detachable headrests.

It has the same general design as folding one-person chairs, making it portable. You can take this with you to the beach, the park, or social gatherings where the norm is “bring your own chair.” However, since it is a two-seater, it weighs more than individual recliners, which is a potential problem.

Recommendation

Recommended if you want a two-person outdoor recliner in place of two one-person recliners.

Pros

  1. Seats two comfortably.
  2. It comes with a detachable tray on each side.
  3. Foldable and portable.

Cons

  1. The total weight limit is a little low for two people.
  2. Limited color selection.
  3. The chair weighs 34 pounds, a potential impediment to portability.

Brown Outdoor Wicker Recliner – Best Patio Recliner

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This more heavy-duty, cushioned outdoor recliner is the well suited to furnishing a covered patio. The chair comes with a brown wicker-style frame, plus your choice of four different cushion colors. Choose beige, khaki, blue, or red.

Some assembly is required, however, it is easy to assemble. Since this is more like regular furniture, it doesn’t come pre-assembled like most folding outdoor recliners. All accessories and instructions included.

Made of UV-resistant materials with a powder-coated aluminum frame. It’s designed for outdoors but would do best on a covered patio or screened porch. It really shouldn’t simply be left in the rain all the time.

It’s potentially a great look for a casual indoor space that needs more rugged, low maintenance furnishings. It is not foldable or portable. This is not a chair for taking with you on outings to the great outdoors.

Recommendation

Recommended if you are looking to permanently furnish a protected outdoor space. Not recommended if you are looking for a portable outdoor chair to take with you for various outings.

Pros

  1. Easy to assemble.
  2. Instructions included.
  3. More like regular furniture for creating an outdoor room.
  4. Holds up to 330 pounds.

Cons

  1. Some assembly required.
  2. The chair weighs 43.2 pounds and is not designed to be portable.
  3. Cushions should not be left out in the rain.

Outdoor Resin Wicker Patio Recliner – Best Outdoor Living Room Recliner

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This outdoor recliner has a design much more like an indoor recliner, but with outdoor styling. If you are looking to create an outdoor living room, this may be the chair for you.

It would be ideal for a covered patio or in a climate that gets very little rain, like Southern California and parts of the Southwest. In a climate like that, you may be able to put it in an uncovered area and just plan to move it on rare occasions when it rain.

If you live in a rainy area, like the Deep South, you will want it in a sheltered area. It would work fine on a covered deep porch.

Recommendation

Recommended if you are trying to create an outdoor living room. Not recommended if you need a portable chair for outings.

Pros

  1. More like a regular indoor recliner in design.
  2. Holds up to 300 pounds.
  3. Comfortable and well-cushioned.

Cons

  1. It does not lay flat.
  2. Not designed to be left full-time in an unsheltered area.
  3. Weighs 43.2 pounds.
  4. Not designed to be portable for outings away from home.

Buyer’s Guide

best outdoor recliners reviews

Outdoor recliners can help give you some of the comforts of home while in the backyard or away from home on an outing. But you need to be clear about what they are designed to do.

These are not chaise lounges, so they typically do not lay flat. If you are looking for a chair that lays flat so you can work on your tan, these are not the chairs for that scenario.

They are also not beds. If you are trying to creatively repurpose them for uses they weren’t designed for, don’t be shocked if they don’t hold up to such uses.

Portable Chairs

Some outdoor recliners are foldable and portable. They work fine for the backyard patio or poolside, but also can be taken with you to various outings.

If you know you want a chair for camping, group barbecues away from home or a day at the beach, you need to get a portable, foldable chair designed for that purpose. Don’t buy one of the designs that are more like regular indoor furniture, but with an outdoor aesthetic.

If you are buying a folding chair intending to take it with you, pay attention to how much it weighs. Be realistic about just how much you are reasonably willing and able to carry back and forth between home, vehicle, and intended place of use.

If you don’t have a lot of strength and stamina, be realistic and get something very lightweight. This may mean it won’t last very long, but if you can’t carry it, you won’t actually use it for the intended purpose. A cheaply made chair that you can actually carry will see more use than a sturdier chair that simply weighs too much for the intended purpose.

Folding chairs typically have bare metal frames. If you are tall, you may find that your feet hang off the end. This can put you in the uncomfortable position of having your ankles or lower legs resting on bare metal. A potential quick fix is to purchase some foam or pipe insulation cheaply at a hardware store to pad the bare metal.

Chairs For Outings

If you are buying a folding chair to take with you, you should also think a bit about the type of outings you attend. Is this just you alone on a camping trip or is this you and your closest 300 friends at a church picnic? Is this work-related?

If it is for solo trips or family-only trips, you may be able to comfortably pick whatever color or look floats your boat. If it is for a group get-together, you may want to pick a color no one else has or pick a look that will not draw undue attention.

Church outings or work-related outings may call for a more conservative look than outings with friends and family. So stop and think about which social circle will be seeing this chair and choose accordingly.

You may also want to think about details like cup holders or detachable trays. This can help make a chair stand on its own, with no need to get a table. It can make it a much more carefree experience than a chair without such.

Metal Frames in Outdoor Recliners

Most of these chairs have metal frames. The frames are often coated or painted, but metal plus water leads to corrosion, also known as rust.

This is not a defect in the chairs. This is basic physics.

There are ways to reduce rusting. Some of those involve toxic chemicals that are not suited to residential use. So the reality is that metal outdoor furniture is something that will generally be prone to rust.

You may get lucky and find that your metal outdoor stuff never rusts. But if you take such chairs to the beach, use them poolside, leave them out in the rain regularly, or just live in a very damp climate, it would be wise to go ahead and treat the metal with a lubricant and rust protector, like WD40.

If you are proactive and regularly apply a rust protector, even an inexpensive chair may be able to last for several years without any sign of rust. If you take zero precautions, don’t be surprised if you wind up with rust in short order on even a pricey chair.

Are There Moving Parts in Outdoor Recliner?

All recliners have moving parts. This can be an issue for both indoor and outdoor recliners, but outdoor recliners are probably at greater risk of having a locking mechanism that is a pinch hazard.

If you have small children or are personal accident-prone, you may want to pay special attention to the locking mechanism. If you know your family will be the one to get a finger caught and get seriously hurt, err on the side of caution and choose a model that seems unlikely to pinch.

Creating An Outdoor Room

If you want to create an outdoor room, you will probably want to look for outdoor furniture designed more like indoor furniture. If you live someplace that gets a lot of rain, you may need to plan to have a covered space protected from the rain or some means to remove the cushions or bring the furniture in during inclement weather.

There are places with pleasant weather most of the year, like parts of the Southwestern United States. If it is dry and not overly hot or cold, you may be able to furnish an outdoor room similar to how you would an indoor room, only with an eye towards materials that will withstand being outside all the time.

This means you will want to buy furniture designed for outside and not just repurpose regular indoor furniture. Even if the weather is nice most of the time, most indoor furniture will not stand up to direct sunlight, wind, or even occasional light rain.

If you do want to create an outdoor room, you may want to also look around at potential matching or coordinating furniture. You probably don’t want just a stand-alone chair.

Depending on your taste in furniture, you may be perfectly comfortable mixing together a variety of styles. But if you are really conservative and want everything to match, keep that in mind while browsing for items you like.

Our Best Choice

Our overall favorite chair is number 1. Set of 2 Adjustable Zero Gravity Lounge Chair Recliners for Patio. The fact that it comes in pairs and both chairs include a tray that has a built-in cup holder and slots for items like magazines makes this terrific chair for outings.

You don’t need to worry about also taking a table or setting it up near an existing table. You have independence and all your needs met so you can just enjoy the party.

Yes, a fair number of reviews complain that the chair is prone to rust. Just take the appropriate measures to treat it with a rust protector and it should be fine.

  1. James KenwoodJames is a professional in furniture sphere. He has 5 years of experience in working with all types of recliners. And now he shares his knowledge with people, who don't have time for research and who want to make the right choice for the future piece of furniture.