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10 best sun loungers for your garden this summer
In years gone by, investing in one of the best sun loungers on the market was only deemed a worthwhile purchase when accompanied by a swimming pool. However, the last few summers have seen many of the best garden furniture shops (read, our favourites) selling incredibly chic options that fit well with garden tables, rattan garden furniture and outdoor sofas, too, instead of just garden parasols.
A sun lounger in the garden is an instant way to up the style stakes and transport your British garden (or balcony) to a level worthy of the Hamptons. What's more, they help you make the most of every bit of sunshine we get in our short summers. The great thing about a sun lounger as opposed to, say, a garden chair is that they support your whole body. This means they really are much more relaxing and help take the weight off if you've been doing a spot of gardening in the sun and are feeling quite weary. The downside of them is that they are larger, given their shape, and so they sadly won't fit on most people's balconies, so they are a piece of garden furniture reserved for more generous outdoor spaces. If you do have the space, they are worth the investment and many styles can be neatly folded down and tucked away when you're not using them. Browse our edit below to see our favourite pieces, including rattan, wooden and reclining styles of garden lounger.
What's the best sun lounger, at a glance?
Don't have time to read our full guide? We've compiled quick fire information below, so you can shop and go.
- Best overall sun lounger: Marlow Lounger, £650 from Cox and Cox
- Best affordable sun lounger: Jericho Solid Wood Sun Lounger with Adjustable Backrest, £97.49 from La Redoute
- Best metal sun lounger: Alvaro Outdoor Chaise Lounger, £2,995 from Soho Home
- Best wooden sun lounger: Charles Bentley Garden Sun Lounger, £175 from Next
- Most stylish sun lounger: Sudbury Sun Lounger, £1,148 from Rowen & Wren
- Best adjustable sun lounger: Cabrera Sun Lounger, £695 from Oka
Best sun loungers to buy for summer 2025
Dimensions: H 91 x L 200 x W 74cm (fully upright), H 49 x L 200 x W 74cm (fully reclined)
Why we love it: Cox and Cox have long been one of our go to garden furniture shops, and this year's offering has done nothing to help our addiction. This high-backed lounger is crafted from faux rattan, which is more durable than genuine rattan. The piece comes with a comfortable cushion pad upholstered in weatherproof and UV resistant fabric, and is fully adjustable, whether you want to prop yourself up to read, or lie flat and snooze. The stylish appearance of the piece will make it feel like you're at a rather expensive resort, not in your back garden.
Dimensions: 62 cm x 181 cm x 127 cm
Why we love it: At under £100 reduced, this La Redoute sun lounger is firmly on the more affordable end of the scale. The Jericho is available in three colours, from the navy blue above, to a cream and a deep grey. The classic wooden deckchair style incorporates an adjustable back, weather resistant fabric, as well as a nifty little canopy to provide some sun protection whilst lounging, without requiring the use of a parasol.
Dimensions: H32 x W205 x D85cm
Why we love it: This stylish Soho Home piece is packed with gorgeous design details that will make it subtly stand out in a garden, from the gently flared legs, to the wave design around the perimeter of the frame. It's good enough to use in an orangerie as a chaise longue style daybed and hardwearing enough to plonk by the pool for sunbathing. The piped, upholstered cushion in a delicate dusty pink colour is the luxurious cherry on top. A real investment piece that will last for summers to come.
Dimensions: L180cm x W68cm x H54cm
Why we love it: The most affordable sun lounger on this list certainly offers more than its price suggests. Made from certified acacia wood, it's a durable and sustainable pick that'll last well outdoors. But this lounger doesn't just look good, it's a practical choice too, with a handle and foldable mechanism that makes it portable and convenient for storage.
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Dimensions: L105cm x W65cm x H79cm
Why we love it: The frame of this lounger and matching footstool is solidly crafted from hot-dip galvanized steel, which is incredibly hardy against the weather so can be left uncovered throughout the year. The cushions, sold separately, are a glorious and joyful striped design, which will bring some serious style to any garden, while the green colour of the cushions will pair harmoniously with any surrounding lush foliage.
Dimensions: L190cm x W71cm x H53cm
Why we love it: Oka's Cabrera Sun Lounger is high on our wish list for summer. As with all of their products, the quality is top notch without compromising on style. The Cabrera has a metal frame, wrapped in a durable faux rattan, alongside comfortable but firm cushions. Our favourite feature? The six ‘lean’ settings available which mean you're guaranteed to be comfortable whether napping or reading on this garden daybed.
Dimensions: L190cm x W65cm x H86.5cm
Why we love it: You might be a little shocked to learn that most sun loungers don't come with a cushion or seating pad, so, when we stumbled across the Kettler Elba Sun Lounger, we were pleasantly surprised. At under £300, it sits at a comfortable price point within this guide, and we think you get plenty of value for the investment. Made from aluminium, this sun lounger is safe to leave out year round, making it a practical choice (and one that doesn't require bags of storage).
What is the best sun lounger to buy?
Material matters when it comes to sun loungers as some of them can't be left outside for long periods of time. Rattan sun loungers need to be properly cared for, so opt for rattan-effect or faux rattan if you're after a low maintenance lounger. Metal is hard-wearing and weatherproof, but it may not suit your style, while wood should not be kept outside in the winter or it'll wear much quicker. People often wonder whether wooden sun loungers are comfortable or not and the answer is, not really. However, if you add a cushion to them, then they are as comfortable a sun lounger as you'll find anywhere. They're not designed to be sat on without a cushion in theory, so choose a shape and colour of wood that you like and an accompanying cushion. The benefit of this is that you can always replace the cushion or reupholster it when you need. Consider buying a cushion covered in fabric that is hardwearing outdoors for a longer-lasting solution.
What material is best for a sun lounger?
Gone are the days where flimsy aluminium sun loungers reigned supreme, or that nylon type that caused a perpetually sweaty back (don't lie, we've all experienced it). We have entered a new age of stylish rattan sun loungers and wooden styles optimised for outdoor living, that will look just as good in your garden as they will when used as furniture in a conservatory over winter. They are not just reserved for actual sun bathing either; upright ones made of rattan, wicker or wood make excellent reading spots and reclining sun loungers are great as they can be adjusted and adapted to ensure premium comfort. Pop a stylish cushion on top – we love a stripe for a sun lounger – and you have yourself a versatile and jolly piece of kit.
What to look for in a sun lounger?
When shopping for a garden sun lounger, there are a number of important features to look for. Adjustable backrests and headrests will help to customise the sun lounger to your body, providing several different reclining positions so you can snooze, sunbathe, read or chat on a more supportive and comfortable piece of furniture.
Folding sun loungers are useful in smaller spaces, such as balconies or city gardens, but don’t tend to be as comfortable or supportive as non-foldable ones. They’re often made of slightly flimsy aluminium frames or steel frames that don’t have the capacity to support in the same way as acacia wood does.
More sun loungers we love
A reminder of our top three picks
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