Even if you’re deep in suburbia, hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, the best pool lounge chairs can transport you to a sandy tropical beach. Just sip a piña colada (or your favorite mocktail), squint a little and you’ll be so comfortable that your backyard pool will start to look a lot like the Pacific.
Of course, we’re exaggerating a bit, but you get the idea. The best lounge chairs can transform your backyard into an oasis, and since buying a luxe chaise lounge is far cheaper than booking a vacation to the Bahamas, it’s a worthy investment — especially if you pick one of the models in this expert-vetted guide. We spoke to design professionals and patio experts who provided lounge chair-buying tips as well as a few of their favorite poolside loungers.
How should you choose pool lounge chairs?
At brick&batten, an online exterior design firm, co-founder Allison Vaccaro says they look for four qualities while selecting outdoor furniture for clients: style, comfort, maintenance and maneuverability.
“Our philosophy in design is always ‘form follows function,’” Vaccaro says. “Pool furniture’s function is to be stylish, comfortable and nearly maintenance-free.”
Interior designer and TV personality Mikel Welch adds that your outdoor design should also complement your home’s interior. “There should be a connection … a cohesive flow from the inside to your outdoor spaces,” he explains. If your home trends traditional farmhouse — barn doors, plank flooring and shiplap galore — you’ll probably want to match your home’s rustic appeal and choose something made of teak or wicker.
What is the best material for pool lounge chairs?
“One crucial consideration when picking an outdoor lounger is choosing a material that fits your design scheme and matches your lifestyle,” says Gladys Charity, an online merchant of patio at The Home Depot. Typically, you’ll have four choices when it comes to lounge chair materials: wood, metal, wicker and plastic.
While there’s no single best material — each one has its benefits and drawbacks — teak and aluminum are brick&batten’s favorites. “Teak is weather-resistant, which helps increase its functionality in different areas. In addition, aesthetically, it can be used in traditional to contemporary environments and almost everything in between,” Vaccaro says.
Welch shares Vaccaro’s enthusiasm for teak, calling it the best material for pool lounge chairs. “A close-grained hardwood with a high natural oil content, teak is exceptionally hard-wearing, highly resistant to rotting and almost impervious to the effects of sun, rain, frost or snow.”
For an even more durable, low-maintenance option, look into aluminum. “It’s lightweight, weather-resistant and the brands we recommend have a UV-inhibiting coating that’s far more durable than paint,” Vaccaro says.
Outdoor furniture and decor need to withstand the elements, whether it’s blistering hot or hailing golf balls, so there are also some materials you should avoid. Charity says consumers should skip pool lounge chairs made of untreated wood and unprotected fabric. “Opt instead for outdoor-ready materials like those featured in the Hampton Bay Cambridge Brown Wicker Outdoor Patio Chaise Lounge With Sunbrella Beige Tan Cushions ($299), which boasts all-weather resin wicker and Sunbrella fabrics for seating built to withstand outdoor conditions.”
Unlike everyday fabrics, Sunbrella uses acrylic that is solution-dyed, Vaccaro says, which means the company dyes its fibers with color before they’re spun into yarn, ensuring the pigment soaks in completely. “This creates lasting color, which will look great for years and years of wear,” she adds. “In addition, it’s naturally mildew-resistant, so it’s great for poolside.”
How much space do you need around a pool for lounge chairs?
Bigger isn’t always better, at least when it comes to pool lounge chairs, Charity says. Think critically about how much seating your pool and yard can accommodate and remember that you’ll probably want to decorate (so leave space for other types of patio furniture!).
When brick&batten designs an outdoor space, for example, they organize it into sections. “So poolside, our client might have a lounging space, a dining space and a sunning space,” Vaccaro says. “Furniture will dictate the function of the space. Then, we use planters, rugs, flooring and levels to create even more differentiation.”
Whatever your size or design constraints are, we’ve put together a diverse list of the best pool lounge chairs. Want an adjustable chair with armrests that won’t break the bank? A luxe chaise from an award-winning designer? It’s all here.
Best pool lounge chairs under $100
Outdoor patio furniture is expensive, but it’s possible to find pool lounge chairs on a budget. For under $100, you can pick up this adjustable steel recliner that’s ready to use right out of the box. It’s lightweight and folds up when not in use, making it an excellent portable option.
At first glance, this chaise from Ostrich looks like your typical affordable lounge chair. It’s made of metal and fabric, and it’s not going to win any design awards. But the Ostrich chaise has a fun extra feature: You can remove the pillow to reveal a “face hole,” which lets you comfortably lie on your stomach.
StyleWell’s “zero gravity” chair doesn’t actually defy the laws of physics. Rather, it seems to defy gravity because of how it redistributes your weight to minimize strain and pressure, giving you an (almost) weightless feeling that’s perfect for chilling by the pool.
Best pool lounge chairs under $500
This Amazon bestseller looks a lot like some of the expensive wooden recliners on our list, and yet it’s about 16 times cheaper. Apart from the price, the difference is that it’s made of acacia, which isn’t as durable or weather-resistant as teak. Even so, a wooden lounger equipped with cushions, wheels and a pullout drink tray is a steal at this price.
With this patio chaise from Hampton Bay, you get outdoor-ready materials like all-weather resin wicker and Sunbrella fabrics for a low price. And for extra peace of mind, The Home Depot throws in five-year and three-year limited warranties for the fabric and frame, respectively.
“Plastic lounge chairs offer the advantage of being lightweight, ideal for those planning to move their chairs from place to place,” Charity explains. This adjustable model from Carnegy Avenue comes in four colors and boasts hard-wearing materials like HDPE faux wood with UV fade resistance. It may not turn heads at your next pool party, but it’s practical, affordable and maintenance-free.
Durable wooden lounge chairs don’t come cheap. But Hampton Bay manages to make the Woodford relatively affordable, likely because it uses eucalyptus instead of teak. While it won’t be as durable as our most expensive picks, both the wood and cushions are designed to resist the elements.
“Create a luxurious space with cabana-style chaise lounges, known for their large size, plush cushions and squared-off design,” Charity says. Wade Logan’s Ardelis, available in red and white, fits the bill, boasting a resort-worthy design with a retractable canopy, drink trays on either side and plush cushions. But all those features come with one caveat: This thing weighs an unwieldy 57.5 pounds, so it’s not easy to move around.
Best pool lounge chairs under $1,000
Easy to assemble, low-maintenance, durable and backed by a limited 20-year warranty, Polywood chairs make a compelling case for plastic patio furniture. This three-piece set, which includes two chairs and a side table, has everything you need to start sunbathing this summer.
With this eucalyptus and mahogany chaise, West Elm offers a more sophisticated luxury lounge chair at an entry-level price point. The wood is sustainably sourced and moisture-resistant, while the Textilene fabric seat (essentially polyester coated with PVC) stays cool in the hot sun.
Have you ever wanted to lounge in the water? Ledge’s in-pool chaises let you do that. Made of a single piece of water-friendly, UV-rated resin that conforms to your body, the Signature Chaise sits comfortably in up to 9 inches of water. Or you can upgrade to the brand’s Autograph Chaise for a larger, more ergonomic lounge chair that works in and out of the water.
Direct-to-consumer brand Burrow makes buying large, well-made pieces easy with free shipping and headache-free assembly. Exhibit A: This tasteful midcentury lounge chair comes together in minutes thanks to its modular design, which also features all-weather fabric and sustainably sourced teak. Add in a custom-fit cover and a teak care kit for the full package.
Best pool lounge chairs over $1,000
Vaccaro says RH's Balmain and Mesa collections are brick&batten’s go-tos for lounge chairs. “We use these on a ton of designs because of their versatility, clean lines and easy pairing with other items,” she explains. The Balmain Aluminum Chaise, also available in teak, reclines in up to five positions and comes with durable, weather-resistant cushions available in performance fabrics from Perennials and Sunbrella.
For a more natural look that takes inspiration from midcentury modern home design, consider the Mesa Teak Chaise from the award-winning Spanish designer Mario Ruiz. The elegant teak frame — harvested sustainably from forests in Indonesia — comes wrapped in all-weather handwoven wicker. And like all the RH pieces on this list, you can choose from over 70 different fabric colors.
Designed by Kara Mann, Harbour's Formentera Slatted Sun Lounge is about as posh as pool loungers get, featuring a twisted rope base, a bronze-coated aluminum frame and Dacron cushions available in 16 different neutral colors. “It's organic luxury that offers ease of use with an absolutely striking silhouette,” Welch says, adding that the blend of materials is “to perfection.”