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Oct 22, 2024

The 6 Best Adirondack Chairs of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. These pieces of outdoor furniture are tops for your bottom. In This Article Food &

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

These pieces of outdoor furniture are tops for your bottom.

In This Article

Food & Wine / The Home Depot

Having comfortable seating for outdoor gatherings is non-negotiable. From cozy nights around the fire pit to afternoons spent grilling and sipping cocktails, the Adirondack chair is a classic backyard seating option. While they share design aspects like a tall back, sloped seat, and large armrests, these lounge chairs are available in countless variations. There are wood and plastic options, fold-up ones for easy transport and storage, and even models with integrated cup holders and rocking bases.

We sat down on the job to find the best Adirondack chairs, testing 22 highly rated and recommended models. After months of professional lounging, we picked favorites for all kinds of outdoor gatherings, from poolside entertaining to patio relaxation. Read on to learn more about our findings, plus get advice from an interior (and exterior) designer.

This comfortable and sturdy chair has an adjustable back and folds nearly flat for storage.

It's very expensive.

With nearly foolproof assembly, sturdy construction, and three adjustable back positions, the Highwood Hamilton chair was the clear choice for our best overall pick. We appreciated that the comfortable plastic surface feels smooth on bare skin and wipes clean easily and that the chair features nice cutouts on the armrests, ideal for larger-bodied individuals or for leaning to the side of your chair. There are no cup holders on the armrests, but they are flat and wide enough to set down summer cocktails while relaxing. And if you need to put the chair away for the winter, it folds to almost flat for easy storage.

Our biggest issue with this chair is its cost. It's well above average, the third-most-expensive model we tested and the priciest one not made of real wood. It's also a bit of a pain to adjust: You need one hand to lift the back and the other to position the supports, so you can't move the back while sitting in the chair.

Dimensions: 36.4 x 29.4 x 33.9 inches | Materials: Plastic, engineered wood | Weight: 34 pounds | Capacity: 400 pounds

This is a comfortable chair with an adjustable back at an excellent price.

The seat is very low, and it's so lightweight that it may be unstable in high wind or on wet surfaces.

This under-$200 chair is made of tough plastic and comes in 16 colors, but we love the wood-grain pattern; it really does look authentic until you get up very close. Yet it's completely waterproof and can handle hosing off, scrubbing, or lots of rain and snow. Even after six months out in the elements — including subzero winter storms — our test model was just as stable and bright as when it came out of the box. Assembly was almost completely foolproof, though it took nearly half an hour to screw the many pieces together.

The Yefu's reclining back adjusts easily, even while you're sitting in the chair. It's a very traditional Adirondack design, with a low, tilted seat that can be tough for some to get into and out of — more for lounging than for dining. It's lightweight, a plus for mobility, but we're honestly worried it might slide around on wet pavement or even blow away in hurricane-level winds.

Dimensions: 34 x 36.6 x 20.3 inches | Material: Plastic | Weight: 30 pounds | Capacity: 350 pounds

This sleek chair looks great and feels great to sit in.

Assembly is quite complicated and difficult, and you can't adjust the back.

Instead of the rounded top that most Adirondack chairs offer, this one is flat for a subtly modern aesthetic. We found it perfect to sink in and relax, with a comfy seat and very stable construction that didn't flex, squeak, or tip in any tests. We were able to remove sticky barbecue sauce and melted marshmallows from our salted caramel s'mores with just a few wet paper towels and a dab of dish soap — no residue or stains were left behind. Polywood's chair isn't adjustable, but you can buy extras like an ottoman or attachable table to add versatility.

The problem with this chair is its annoyingly complicated assembly — and annoyingly minimal printed instructions, which leave out some steps and parts. We had to watch the video on the Polywood website a few times to get all the pieces oriented correctly and screwed together properly. A wrench and hammer were both helpful, too.

Dimensions: 29.25 x 34.66 x 32.11 inches | Material: Plastic | Weight: 34 pounds | Capacity: 350 pounds

This one-piece plastic chair is light, stackable, and dirt-cheap.

The seat is narrow, the weight capacity is fairly low, and it can blow over in even moderate wind.

This molded-plastic Adirondack chair requires no assembly, and it held up to a full Iowa winter with minimal deterioration. It costs less than a tenth of what you'll pay for our best overall pick. If you want to surround an entire pool or supply a whole neighborhood's worth of porches, you can pick up several, and then stack them up to stick in the garage or shed for the off-season.

RealComfort's chair is indeed comfortable to sit in (albeit with a somewhat narrow seat), and we were big fans of the curved lumbar support. It did reasonably well in our stability tests, but the thin, flexible plastic is far weaker than the rest of the chairs we tried. This model can hold much less weight than competitors, and our tester showed up with some cosmetic scratches from just the shipping process. It weighs well under 10 pounds, which is nice for portability but makes it pretty vulnerable to tipping over in a gust of wind.

Dimensions: 37.5 x 30 x 34 inches | Material: Plastic | Weight: 7.25 pounds | Capacity: 250 pounds

This classic teak Adirondack chair is well-built and weather-resistant.

Wood is generally more expensive and requires more upkeep than plastic.

Grandin Road’s lovely chair is equally comfortable and stylish, thanks to its warm, smooth wood surface. We appreciated that it was at a pleasant height for sitting: Too many traditional Adirondack models have a seat so low and so slanted that it's a struggle to get in and out. Assembly was simple, though you will need a screwdriver.

Teak is a popular wood for outdoor furniture because it can hold up well to rain, wind, and temperature changes, and Grandin Road's chair is built to last for years. But the truth is that any kind of wood requires more maintenance than the plastic chairs on the rest of our list. The golden color of the teak will turn to a silvery patina unless you apply wood sealant regularly, and you'll need to oil or sand the chair occasionally to keep it in top condition. We also found it needed a bit more scrubbing than others to remove food spills. Still, if your current patio decor includes linen tablecloths, an outdoor rug, and rustic outdoor lanterns, this pick will fit in perfectly.

Dimensions: 38 x 28.5 x 33.5 inches | Material: Teak | Weight: 22.5 pounds | Capacity: 250 pounds

This sturdy chair comes with retractable holders for standard or stemmed glasses.

It's bulky and difficult to fold up for storage, and our model shipped with a misshapen screw.

Lounging in an Adirondack chair is better with beverage in hand, and this model makes sure you'll never spill. Both arms feature flip-out cup holders: one specialized for stemmed wine glasses and the other a round holster for your cell phone, cans, highball or old fashioned glasses, so pull it up next to your beverage tub or cooler and you can relax for hours. It's a much better option than balancing a vessel atop the arm, where you're prone to bump it with an elbow.

Another benefit of the Outer Banks chair is that it can match any decor thanks to the 21 color options, from black or white to bright fire-engine red. The hefty plastic construction can handle most any weather, which is helpful because we found it a pain to fold the chair up unto storage mode. Also, setup would have been simple were it not for a deformed screw that required a pair of pliers to install full. Once it was put together, the chair was extra-comfortable to sit in thanks to its curved back, and it was a breeze to hose off both food and drink spills.

Dimensions: 37.5 x 30.25 x 35.5 inches | Material: Plastic | Weight: 39.5 pounds | Capacity: 350 pounds

We chose the Highwood Hamilton Folding & Reclining Adirondack Chair as our best overall pick because of its design, adjustability, comfort level, and ability to fold up for winter storage. For a budget option, the Yefu Plastic Adirondack Chair offers top-quality construction at bottom-shelf prices.

To determine the best Adirondack chairs on the market, we chose a total of 23 models to compare head-to-head. We rated the chairs on general comfort and design and put them through a series of specific tests.

Once the tests above were complete, we revealed the retail prices of the chairs to consider value. At the time of testing, the prices ranged from $30 to $749, with an average of $292. We also continued to use the chairs after initial testing, checking in after one, three, and six months to see how they held up to the weather and performed in the longer term.

“Traditionally, Adirondack chairs were made out of wood, but more recently, companies have started making them out of HDPE, which is recycled plastic that’s incredibly durable and weather resistant,” says Kaitlin McQuaide of architecture and design firm McQuaide Co. Plastic chairs have the benefit of being lower maintenance, easier to clean, and durable enough to leave outside in all weather conditions, but they can't perfectly replicate the look and feel of natural wood.

Wood tends to be a bit more expensive on average than plastic, and it requires a bit more maintenance. Strong and weatherproof teak is a common choice for outdoor chairs, but there are lots of types available in different colors. You might need to oil, sand, or refinish a wooden chair periodically to keep it looking its best; check the manual for your chair for details about how to do so.

The classic Adirondack chair is made for lounging and relaxing. It's low to the ground, with a tall, rounded back, wide armrests, and a backward-tilted seat. But it can be difficult to get into and out of, especially for someone with knee, hip, or back problems. “A great thing about Adirondack chairs is there are so many riffs on the original design — you can choose a lower chair with minimal straight back slats for something more modern, or you can go with a higher, more-curved back for something a bit more traditional,” says McQuaide. “The HDPE chairs come in an array of colors, and I think this is a great way to bring in a pop of color to your outdoors.”

The wide arms of most Adirondack chairs can often hold glasses and plates, but some have extra features like cup holders or mini-tables to make them more versatile. Many modern models also include adjustable reclining backs or seats, and there are Adirondack rocking chairs that combine a soothing rocking motion with a distinctive design. A few other features seek to make the chairs more portable and storable: Some fold down near-flat, or stack up together to save space.

A handful of Adirondack chairs ship fully assembled (and a few are a single piece of molded plastic), but in most cases, you'll have to do some light setup. This typically involves nothing more complicated than putting some screws or bolts into pre-drilled holes, but you might need a screwdriver or wrench, and an electric drill might accelerate the process. It can also be helpful to have a second person on hand with a larger or heavier chair. If you find the included directions unhelpful (or missing), be sure to check the maker's website for video instructions or additional info.

A plastic Adirondack chair should require the least maintenance. A bit of soapy water and a rinse from the hose or a bucket is all that's needed for cleaning. If you get any sticky spills or stains, try a dishcloth or scrubby sponge. Avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaners, which may cause fading.

Wood is a bit more complicated, as it can be damaged by rain, sun, or freezing. You can wipe off most stains like with plastic, but a deep clean once a year using a pressure washer can help maintain the color. Many wooden models come with a weather-resistant stain or sealant that you might have to re-apply every few years. Others need to be sanded and oiled periodically to maintain their smoothness, color, and pliability. Check the manual for your chair's recommendations. A teak chair can handle almost any kind of weather without special precautions, but keep in mind that the wood will gradually weather to a silvery-grey color unless sealed.

You might be surprised to learn that the Adirondack chair was originally a medical device! In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York were home to many sanatoriums — woodsy retreats where people sought treatment for the then-common lung disease tuberculosis. The Adirondack chair was created for these patients: Its shape forces you to lean back and put your arms up on the armrests, which is meant to open up the chest and make breathing easier. The fact that it's really comfortable and perfect for backyard lounging was merely a side benefit at first.

There's no one right answer to that question. Wood and plastic are the two main materials used for Adirondack chairs, and each has its own positive and negative qualities. Wood chairs are typically more expensive and need careful upkeep, while plastic chairs tend to be cheaper and less affected by rain and snow. But plastic doesn't have the same look and feel as wood, and cheap versions will start to crack and chip where a quality wooden chair can last for generations. Either one might be right for you depending on your needs, climate, and outdoor space.

“No matter the material your chair is made of, I always recommend covering any outdoor furniture when not in use or during inclement weather,” says McQuaide. “Covering your furniture ensures it will last as long as possible and reduces how often it needs to be cleaned.”

If you're in an especially cold region, it can also be a good idea to bring your Adirondack chairs into a garage, basement, shed, or other protected storage area in the winter. Repeated freezing and thawing can create and then expand cracks in any material, wood or plastic.

In windy areas, you might need to hold down lightweight chairs to keep them from blowing away. There are lots of inexpensive anchoring systems made for outdoor furniture, including ones that attach to a deck or dock, or that screw into the ground.

Ultimately, it depends on the material of your chair and how well it's been maintained. “If taken care of, teak furniture can last up to 75 or more years!" McQuaide says. High-quality plastic can also survive that long, though cheaper versions will start to crack after just a few years in the sun.

L.L. Bean All-Weather Classic Adirondack Chair ($329 at L.L. Bean)

This L.L. Bean chair is comfortable to sit in but requires two sets of hands to assemble and quite a bit of elbow grease to get marshmallows out of the plastic grooves. It's a decent option, but there are similar cheaper ones.

Union Rustic Dewitt Acacia Outdoor Bench ($244 at Wayfair)

This unique two-seater design lets a couple share the same Adirondack chair. It's a fun choice at a good price, but we found noticeable fading to the wood just from scrubbing off a single round of spills. That could be problematic over time.

Highland Dunes Welshire Solid Wood Adirondack Chair ($79 at Wayfair)

This chair was the second cheapest we tested but still has a sturdy feel while you sit in it. However, its color started to deteriorate after only a short testing period.

Of the various other Adirondack chairs we tested, both wood and plastic models from brands including West Elm, Polywood, and Christopher Knight didn’t make the cut. Difficult assembly was a big problem, thanks to chairs that needed multiple people and multiple hours to put together. Other common issues included a lack of back support that made long-term sitting uncomfortable and a shortage of distinctive features or design elements on expensive chairs.

Jacqueline Weiss is a professional food writer with over five years of experience and a lifelong passion for working in the kitchen. Her writing has appeared in Eat This Not That, EatingWell, AllRecipes, Simply Recipes, and more.