Outdoor Furniture Materials Guide
Furnish your patio with pieces that can weather any storm.
From poolside chaise lounges to picnic tables perfect for summer barbeques, outdoor furniture is made to withstand the elements. This guide covers everything from the most durable outdoor furniture to what outdoor furniture lasts the longest – plus some maintenance tips on how to prolong the life of each material.
In this guide:
Outdoor Furniture Materials
Outdoor Furniture Upholstery Materials
Outdoor Furniture Materials
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Outdoor furniture is made with materials that can withstand the weather while also providing a comforting place to sit, put your feet up, or enjoy alfresco dining. We’ve outlined the most common materials – metal, plastic, wicker, and wood – so you can see how they stack up.
Metal Outdoor Furniture
Metal is one of the most durable materials for outdoor furniture, making it a reliable choice for your patio or yard. Read on for an overview of the benefits of each metal. While browsing on Wayfair, find the product's specific metal in the product description's specifications section.
Aluminum
Lightweight yet sturdy enough to stand up against high winds, aluminum is one of the best and most common outdoor furniture materials. Aluminum is highly durable and rust-resistant, so it's great for use around salt water, which can easily corrode and oxidize other metals. It comes at affordable prices and requires little maintenance. Aluminum outdoor furniture is often finished with a protective paint or powder coating, but it can also be covered with wicker or a fabric sling for a softer look and feel.
Care Tips: Clean aluminum outdoor furniture with mild soap, warm water, and a gentle cloth or sponge. Touch up the paint coating or fill in scratches with wax.
Steel
Heavier and harder than aluminum, steel outdoor furniture resists dents and is resilient against high winds. The weight of steel furniture does mean it can be a bit difficult to move around. Plain steel rusts easily, so it's important to choose stainless or galvanized steel for your outdoor furniture.
Care Tips: If your outdoor furniture is plain steel, apply a protective finish to protect it from rust. Wash it with mild soap, warm water, and a gentle cloth or sponge. Make sure to touch up any scratches in the finish with another coat to combat rust.
Wrought Iron
The heaviest of all the outdoor furniture metals, wrought iron will put up the strongest fight against harsh winds. Though many wrought iron pieces are now powder-coated for protection, this rustic metal is much less water-resistant than aluminum or steel and rusts easily without the proper care.
Care Tips: If your outdoor furniture is bare wrought iron, apply a rust protector. To clean, wash with mild soap, warm water, and a gentle cloth or sponge. Touch up dings in the finish with a protective coat immediately. If you notice rust, clean gently, sand the affected areas, and refinish.
Tip!
Uncovered metal furniture, though it withstands sunlight well, can get hot in the sun. We recommend additional seating covers or cushions to protect yourself from possible burns.
Thanks to its natural appearance, wood is a classic choice for an outdoor furniture material. While browsing on Wayfair, you can find the product's specific wood in the product description's specifications section.
Teak & Shorea
Teak and Shorea are extremely hard and durable, making them some of the best materials for outdoor furniture – especially when properly cared for. These tropical hardwoods are resistant to rotting, warping, shrinkage, and swelling. If left untreated, teak and Shorea's natural golden-yellow hues will fade to a light gray patina that takes stain well. Of the two, teak tends to be more expensive.
Care Tips: Teak and Shorea outdoor furniture require similar care. For a detailed look at teak furniture maintenance, check out our guide on Oiling Teak Furniture & Important Teak Care Tips.
Eucalyptus
Though not quite as strong or durable as teak or Shorea, untreated eucalyptus hardwood can be left to withstand the elements for decades without breaking down. It is sustainable and naturally insect-proof, with a gorgeous red-orange color that fades over time to a silvery gray. Eucalyptus does have some natural water-resistance, but it is susceptible to shrinking and swelling with moisture.
Care Tips: Seal your eucalyptus wood outdoor furniture to prevent the negative impacts of moisture. Clean with it mild soap, warm water, and a gentle cloth and ensure it dries completely in the sun.
Acacia
Acacia wood is durable and hardy and can hold its own against all sorts of weather. Because it is such a common wood worldwide, Acacia outdoor furniture is considered an eco-friendly choice. Acacia is a beautiful, rich brown with golden undertones that can be enhanced with a stain or seal.
Care Tips: Make sure to seal Acacia wood outdoor furniture to better protect it against moisture. Clean it with mild soap, warm water, and a gentle cloth and ensure it dries completely in the sun.
Cedar & Cypress
Light in weight and color, cedar is easy to move around and can be stained in almost any color to match the rest of your outdoor arrangement. The resin in cedar wood renders it insect- and rot-resistant. Though just as sturdy as other woods, cedar is softer, so it dents easily. It also tends to retain a lot of moisture and is susceptible to cracking. Cypress wood is similar to cedar wood in that it is lightweight, cream-colored, and contains insect- and rot-resistant resin, though it is more resilient against moisture, dents, and scratches.
Care Tips: For better damage- and weather-resistance, use a sealant on cedar and cypress outdoor furniture. Clean with mild soap, warm water, and a gentle cloth, and ensure it dries completely in the sun.
Wicker furniture is classic in appearance, lightweight, flexible, and comfortable. Because wicker describes the weaving style and not the material, you can find outdoor wicker furniture made from natural fibers like rattan or synthetic materials that are designed for added weather-resistance.
Wicker rattan furniture is made of durable natural rattan fiber strips that are tightly woven in the wicker style. Rattan can fade in sunlight and isn't moisture-resistant, so it's good to bring rattan furniture inside or cover it when it rains or is particularly sunny. Over time, the rattan fibers can loosen.
Most modern wicker furniture is made from synthetic materials, such as resin or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), for its weather-resistance and durability. Its human-made composition makes wicker furniture more resistant to mold, sun-fading, and water damage while maintaining its classic look and lightweight feel.
Care Tips: To clean rattan outdoor furniture, fill a bowl with water and add in a splash of soap. Dip a soft cloth into the bubbles, not the water, and wipe any stains clean. For synthetic wicker, clean by rinsing with water and let air-dry.
Lightweight, inexpensive, and available in a wide variety of colors and textures, plastic furniture (especially resin) can be made to resemble wicker rattan, wood, and more. Recycled plastic and resin furniture is highly durable and resistant to moisture, stains, mildew, and insects. These low-maintenance materials won't peel, crack, or fade, and don't require any additional finishes to remain in good condition. Many plastic outdoor furniture styles can be stacked for easy storage, which is especially helpful before storms, as these materials are easily moved by wind.
Care Tips: Clean plastic outdoor furniture by rinsing it with water, or use mild soap and warm water to remove tougher stains.
Tip!
To keep outdoor furniture durable and long-lasting, cover them with patio covers when not in use.
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Now that you know the type of furniture materials will work best for you, it's time to think upholstery. Whether your patio set comes with cushions or you’re purchasing a set separately, the cushion cover upholstery you choose should reflect your budget, local climate, and quality needs. Acrylic, polyester, synthetic, and cotton-blend upholstery are popular options for topping your patio furniture.
Acrylic Upholstery Fabric
Acrylic patio upholstery fabric combines the best of fade-resistance with mold- and mildew-resistant properties to help you get maximum enjoyment out of your patio furniture for as long as possible. These properties make acrylic upholstery ideal for humid environments, poolside lounging, and sun-loving patio spaces. Sunbrella® acrylic upholstery fabric is specially designed with a solution-dyed acrylic that helps it maintain its quality no matter how much sun and rain exposure it gets. It's typically on the higher end of the price range, but well worth it since it lasts as long as five to 10 years.
Care Tips: Remove stains with mild soap and water and a soft brush. Tougher stains? Let the water and soap solution sit for a few hours before washing it out and leaving the cushion cover to air-dry. Be sure to reference the care tag on the inside of the cushion cover for more.
Polyester and polyester-blend patio furniture upholstery is the most budget-friendly option to add comfort to your outdoor spaces. It keeps its shape well and resists scratches, making it a great pet-friendly choice. Most polyester cushion covers and the cushions themselves are designed to resist mold, mildew, and surface stains for an all-around spill-friendly option.
Care Tips: You can remove most polyester cushion covers and toss them in the washing machine or spot-treat them with a mild soap and water solution.
Synthetic outdoor upholstery fabrics combine the best of polyester and acrylic fabrics for a durable, budget-friendly addition to patio furniture. Most synthetic upholstery fabrics are fade-resistant, so you don't have to worry about sun exposure dimming vibrant cushion colors and patterns. The synthetic properties also help them resist mildew and water damage, so you can get even more use out of them.
Care Tips: Spot-treat synthetic upholstery with warm water and a cleaning rag. If stains persist, add a mild soap with some water and dab to remove.
Cotton-blend upholstery cushions are super breathable, helping you stay cool while you soak up the sun or enjoy alfresco dining. Although not naturally water- or fade-resistant, many cotton-blend fabrics come with finishes that strengthen them against the sun's rays and water damage.
Care Tips: Hand-wash cotton-blend cushion covers with mild dish soap and warm water or wash them on a delicate washing cycle in the washing machine. Then air-dry the cushion covers. Just a small stain? Use a cloth dipped in a soap and water mixture to dab at the area.
Tip!
Need help getting the right fit? Read our guide How to Measure for Outdoor Cushions for sizing tips.
