What is the best material for Adirondack chairs?

Adirondack chairs are typically made from either wood or plastic, and both materials have pros and cons. Wood is unlikely to chip, warp, or peel over time, but you might have to refinish it every few years to keep it in tip-top shape. Plastic tends to be more affordable and easier to clean, but it can chip, peel, or crack—meaning it might have a shorter lifespan. If you’d prefer a chair that’ll last with a little care and upkeep, opt for a wood Adirondack chair. If you’d rather pay no attention to your Adirondack chair—and if you don’t mind the thought of buying a new chair every few years—consider a plastic one.

How do you clean Adirondack chairs?

The cleaning process for an Adirondack chair tends to be pretty simple: You can typically wipe your chair with soap and water, and then rinse it with a hose. That said, some Adirondack chairs require a little more upkeep, so be sure to read the care instructions before giving yours a scrub.

How do you store Adirondack chairs?

Many Adirondack chairs are designed to hold up in any weather, so you can leave them outside, rain or shine, without giving it a second thought. But some aren’t. If yours isn’t, you might need to bring it inside during inclement weather, or you can leave it outside under a chair cover. Be sure to check the care instructions for the Adirondack chair you’re eyeing to find out whether it needs to be stored inside or underneath a cover. You can always snag your chair and your cover at the same time.

The 6 Best Adirondack Chairs of 2021

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Commerce Photo Composite — The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

The Adirondack chair is one of the most classic pieces of outdoor furniture around, and it’s not hard to see why. The chair offers the comfort of a recliner and the sturdy structure of a more classic chair. Plus, it's incredibly easy to decorate with. “I adore putting a circle of Adirondack chairs around a fire pit,” says Kristin Bartone, creative director and principal designer at Bartone Interiors. “You can add pillows for comfort.” Or you can leave the chairs out year-round and bring out the pillows on special occasions.

Even better? Adirondack chairs are durable and weather-resistant, and they’re available in a range of styles. While the classic Adirondack chair boasts a wooden form and slightly rounded back, there are now colorful Adirondack chairs, plastic Adirondack chairs, rocking Adirondack chairs, and more. So no matter what you’re looking for, you can pretty reliably find it.

To jumpstart your search, we’ve rounded up the best Adirondack chairs worth considering for your backyard.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

OT Qomotop Adirondack Chair at Qomotop.com

This durable yet stylish Adirondack chair with a built-in cupholder is a summer must-have.

Read Review

Best Budget:

Mainstays Wooden Adirondack Chair at Walmart

With six colors to choose from and a budget-friendly price tag, this chair is an affordable way to spruce up your backyard.

Read Review

Best Rocking:

World Market Natural Wood Adirondack Rocking Chair at World Market

Crafted from acacia wood and featuring a classic silhouette and rocking capabilities, this chair is both versatile and stunning.

Read Review

Best Plastic:

Polywood Modern Adirondack Recycled Plastic Chair at Amazon

Made from high-density polyethylene, this plastic Adirondack chair is sure to withstand all the elements.

Read Review

Best Wood:

Grandin Road All-Natural Teak Adirondack Chair at Grandinroad.com

This chair is made with all-natural teak wood and has been left unfinished, so you can easily DIY it to accent your space.

Read Review

Best Colorful:

L.L. Bean All-Weather Waterfall Adirondack Chair at L.L.Bean

With eight vibrant colors to choose from and durable, weather-resistant material, this chair is perfect for any outdoor space.

Read Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
Why Trust The Spruce

View On Qomotop.com

Material: Polystyrene (composite wood) | Weight Capacity: 350 pounds | Seat Width: 22 inches | Return Policy: 30 days

What We Like

Available in three colors
Durable and waterproof
Built-in cupholder

What We Don't Like

Material can scratch
Oversize design might be too large for some

OT Qomotop’s Adirondack Chair is a classic Adirondack chair. And because it’s available in three versatile colors—crisp white, sleek black, and soft brown—it shouldn’t be hard to find an option that suits your backyard. The chair is crafted from polystyrene, a durable composite wood material that promises to hold up to the wear and tear of the outdoors. And because the chair is waterproof, you don’t have to worry about bringing it inside on a rainy day.

The chair’s curved seat promises to be comfortable, and its extra-wide armrests are sure to give you plenty of room. Also nice? The chair comes with a built-in cupholder you can take advantage of any time you’re enjoying a drink outdoors.

View On Walmart

Material: Rubberwood | Weight Capacity: 250 pounds | Seat Width: Not listed | Return Policy: 90 days

What We Like

Budget-friendly
Available in six colors
Slats are spread out to maximize drainage
Crafted from solid wood

What We Don't Like

Material can scratch
Might not be as durable as some other options

It can be tough to find a solid wood Adirondack chair at a budget-friendly price point. But such a thing does exist, and Mainstays’ Wooden Adirondack Chair proves it. The budget-friendly chair is crafted from solid rubberwood, a material that’s both sturdy and sleek. And because the chair has been coated with an all-weather finish, you can rest assured knowing it’s fit for outdoor use.

The chair is available in six different colors, giving you plenty of options to choose from. Spring for a bright yellow or turquoise, a sleek white or black, or a warm chocolate brown. Or go the classic route, and stick with a natural wood finish.

World Market Natural Wood Adirondack Rocking Chair

View On World Market

Material: Acacia wood | Weight Capacity: Not listed | Seat Width: 20 inches | Return Policy: 60 days

What We Like

Crafted from solid wood
Finish adds gloss without disrupting the chair’s natural wood look
Especially great for covered porches and patios

What We Don't Like

Not designed to hold up in all weather
Only available in one color

Why choose between an Adirondack chair and a rocking chair when you could simply have both at once? World Market’s Natural Wood Adirondack Rocking Chair combines the classic silhouette of an Adirondack chair with the rocking capabilities of a rocking chair, giving you a chair that’s both eye-catching and comfortable.

This one is crafted from solid acacia wood and finished with polyurethane, which seals the chair without disrupting its natural appearance. Though the chair was crafted with the outdoors in mind, it’s not designed to withstand all the elements. You’ll want to cover the chair or bring it inside during storms and other inclement weather.

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Polywood Modern Adirondack Recycled Plastic Chair

View On Amazon View On Wayfair

Material: High-density polyethylene (composite wood) | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Seat Width: 20.5 inches | Return Policy: Dependent on retailer

What We Like

Available in 14 colors
Not prone to chipping, peeling, or fading
Modern silhouette

What We Don't Like

Expensive

Polywood’s Modern Adirondack Chair is proof that plastic Adirondack chairs don’t have to look inexpensive. The chair is crafted from high-density polyethylene, a durable plastic material designed to look like wood. And because it promises to withstand the wear and tear of the outdoors, you shouldn’t have to worry about chipping, peeling, or fading.

The sleek chair boasts an unusual silhouette—one characterized by straight lines, rather than curved ones. This leaves the chair looking more modern than classic, making it an eye-catching addition to any backyard.

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Grandin Road All-Natural Teak Adirondack Chair

View On Grandinroad.com

Material: Teak wood | Weight Capacity: Not listed | Seat Width: Not listed | Return Policy: 90 days

What We Like

Crafted from solid wood
Unfinished, giving you control over its appearance
Staggered chair back is modern
Designed to hold up in all weather

What We Don't Like

Will patina if you don’t finish it (could be a plus for some)
Not available in more than one color

Grandin Road’s All-Natural Teak Adirondack Chair is sleek, comfortable, and just a little unusual. And did we mention it’s crafted entirely from teak wood? The warm wooden chair boasts a generally classic silhouette, but the wooden panels lining its back are staggered just enough to create a dynamic, eye-catching silhouette. This detail turns the chair into a subtle statement-maker.

And because the chair has been left unfinished, you get to control the way it ends up looking. Want to finish it with a high-gloss polyurethane? Or would you rather leave it alone, so it develops a silver-tinted patina over time? In either case, the chair is sure to look sleek, versatile, and excellent in your outdoor space.

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L.L. Bean All-Weather Waterfall Adirondack Chair

View On L.L.Bean

Material: High-density polyethylene (composite wood) | Weight Capacity: 325 pounds | Seat Width: 20.5 inches | Return Policy: 365 days

What We Like

Available in eight colors
Durable and weatherproof
Great return policy

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Might be too small or low for some

L.L. Bean has made it easy to fill your outdoor space with colorful Adirondack chairs. The brand’s All-Weather Waterfall Adirondack Chair is available in eight different colors, which range from crisp white and versatile sand to vibrant red and dark navy. (You can also score the chair in gray, black, brown, and forest green.)

The classic chair is crafted from durable high-density polyethylene, a composite wood material that promises to hold up to strong winds, heavy rains, and extreme temperatures. Because the chair was designed with the elements in mind, you shouldn’t have to worry about it cracking, warping, or rotting over time. And to clean it, all you’ll need is a little soap and water.

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Durability

Adirondack chairs tend to be pretty sturdy. But some are more durable than others, so consider how involved you want to be in caring for your Adirondack chair. Do you want an all-weather option that’s easy to clean, or would you prefer something a little fancier—even if it means more upkeep? “You can go for the heavy originals,” Bartone says. “Or there are many current models made from heavy-duty plastic that you’ll never have to refinish and [that] are super easy to clean with a garden hose.”

Style

The classic Adirondack chair is crafted from wood paneling, and it boasts a chair back that’s slightly reclined and rounded along the top. These days, you can still find Adirondack chairs that fit that traditional mold, but you can also find more contemporary options with sleeker, straighter lines. And you can snag Adirondack chairs in a range of different materials and in many colors.

Size

Adirondack chairs tend to be large and heavy, with solid wood chairs generally heavier than their plastic counterparts. Weight is only important if you want to move your chair around, such as from your yard to your patio, or if you need to stow it indoors during inclement weather. Also, remember to double-check the dimensions of an Adirondack chair before buying, and make sure to eye the seat size as well as the overall height and width.

FAQ

What is the best material for Adirondack chairs?

Adirondack chairs are typically made from either wood or plastic, and both materials have pros and cons. Wood is unlikely to chip, warp, or peel over time, but you might have to refinish it every few years to keep it in tip-top shape. Plastic tends to be more affordable and easier to clean, but it can chip, peel, or crack—meaning it might have a shorter lifespan. If you’d prefer a chair that’ll last with a little care and upkeep, opt for a wood Adirondack chair. If you’d rather pay no attention to your Adirondack chair—and if you don’t mind the thought of buying a new chair every few years—consider a plastic one.
How do you clean Adirondack chairs?

The cleaning process for an Adirondack chair tends to be pretty simple: You can typically wipe your chair with soap and water, and then rinse it with a hose. That said, some Adirondack chairs require a little more upkeep, so be sure to read the care instructions before giving yours a scrub.
How do you store Adirondack chairs?

Many Adirondack chairs are designed to hold up in any weather, so you can leave them outside, rain or shine, without giving it a second thought. But some aren’t. If yours isn’t, you might need to bring it inside during inclement weather, or you can leave it outside under a chair cover. Be sure to check the care instructions for the Adirondack chair you’re eyeing to find out whether it needs to be stored inside or underneath a cover. You can always snag your chair and your cover at the same time.

As a seasoned lifestyle writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands what a difference a great product recommendation can make. That’s why she makes sure to recommend products that are sleek, reliable, and well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them. When writing this post, she selected Adirondack chairs for their durability, quality of materials, and availability.