The 7 Best Outdoor Bar Stools of 2023

Best Overall

West Elm Slope Outdoor Bar Stool

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West Elm makes the best outdoor bar stool. This one is made of rust-resistant steel and features a protective sealant to safeguard it from the elements while making it a breeze to hose down or wipe clean. Though it's designed for outdoor use, you'll still want to cover it in the off-season if you live in a particularly wet climate. But you can stack up to six chairs together for easy storage.

The simple sloped design is decidedly modern yet endlessly versatile. Available in eight colors ranging from sleek black to deep olive to warm terracotta, it'll go with a metal bar setup or a wooden dining table for some visually appealing contrast. This bar stool is comfortable too. It's got a slightly curved back and a built-in footrest for extra support.

As a contract-grade product with an impressive 300-pound weight capacity, the Slope Bar Stool is built for long-lasting durability. You can count on it to hold up under heavy everyday use, whether you're designing an at-home outdoor living space or al fresco seating on a restaurant patio. The price per stool is somewhat steep, but it arrives fully assembled—and with West Elm, you know you're getting high-quality craftsmanship.

Price at time of publish: $469

_{Dimensions: 40 x 23 x 19.5 inches | Seat Height: 30 inches | Material: Steel | Swivel: No}

Best Budget

Super Deal Wicker Rattan Bar Stool Chairs

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For folks on a budget, we recommend Super Deal Wicker Bar Stools. They have powder-coated iron frames that stand up to rust and corrosion, even in rainy or snowy environments. Meanwhile, the synthetic wicker helps protect them from year-round damage, including sun fading, warping, cracking, or decaying. In other words, you can depend on these seats to hold up in any weather—and you don't have to worry about covering them or placing them under a covered deck or patio.

These outdoor bar stools are designed for comfort. They have tall backrests, curved armrests, and built-in footrests. With a 350-pound weight capacity, they're impressively strong and durable too. You'll have to assemble the stools at home, but it should be a pretty quick and easy process. Available in sets of two or four, they come out to less than $50 apiece. Though we wish they came in more color options, they're undeniably versatile and can be incorporated into a range of outdoor bar ideas.

Price at time of publish: $74 for 2

_{Dimensions: 46 x 24 x 20.5 inches | Seat Height: 30 inches | Material: Powder-coated iron, synthetic rattan | Swivel: No}

Best Splurge

CB2 Katja Rattan Outdoor Bar Stool

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If you have more to spend on furnishing your outdoor entertaining space, consider the Katja Rattan Bar Stool from CB2. This attractive, high-end seat has a powder-coated steel frame, so you can bet it resists all types of weather damage, including rust, corrosion, splitting, and fading. The frame is wrapped in a handwoven, all-weather synthetic wicker that also stands up to the outdoor elements, even in wet climates. (But we should note that CB2 recommends storing this stool under a cover in extreme weather.)

These materials aren't just durable and outdoor-friendly. The dark and light neutral tones and combination of smooth and woven textures offers a visually appealing contrast that'll make a subtle statement in your outdoor seating area. This bar stool is conveniently compact and easy to tuck under an overhanging bar top or patio table. However, it doesn't have a back, so it's not as supportive as other designs—the footrest does add some stability when sitting down, though. Nearly $500 for a single stool is definitely a lot, but if it's within your budget, we say go for it.

Price at time of publish: $499

_{Dimensions: 30 x 20 x 20 inches | Seat Height: 30 inches | Material: Powder-coated steel, synthetic wicker | Swivel: No}

Best with Back

Article Zina Bar Stool

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Prefer something with a back? Check out Article's Zina Bar Stool. It has a powder-coated steel frame and soft yet durable woven polypropylene rope for the seat and backrest. Both materials are resistant to rust, warping, cracking, discoloration, and sun fading. While the manufacturer advises against pressure washing, you can easily clean this chair with a mild detergent and a soft-bristle brush to remove dirt and mildew, or wipe it down with a damp cloth as needed. Either way, it'll air-dry quickly in the sun.

The other thing to note is that, like most patio sets, indoor storage is recommended during the off-season to preserve the materials. Alternatively, you can get outdoor furniture covers if you don't have a shed, garage, or basement to store your stools. This stool is available in four colors to complement a range of patio decor schemes. We also appreciate that it arrives at your home fully assembled and ready to use.

Price at time of publish: $209

_{Dimensions: 40 x 23 x 20 inches | Seat Height: 31 inches | Material: Powder-coated steel, polypropylene rope | Swivel: No}

Best Swivel

Noble House Tobias Swivel Plastic Outdoor Bar Stool (Set of 2)

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Swivel stools make it easy for people to turn and talk to the bartender, those sitting next to them, and people hanging out behind them on the patio. We like this set of two from Noble House. The chairs have powder-coated iron frames and basket-woven polyethylene (thermoplastic) wicker seats and backrests. Suitable for heavy outdoor use, both materials are resistant to rust, cracking, warping, discoloration, and fading in direct sunlight.

One thing to note is that the seat height is slightly shorter than average. Most bar stools are roughly 30 inches, and this one sits 27 inches from the ground—but depending on the height of your bar table or serving station, this may not be an issue. Also, you'll have to assemble your stools at home, though the process is pretty simple. (All you have to do is attach the seat to the base.) It would be nice if these outdoor bar stools came in a few more colors, but the deep brown finish is definitely versatile enough to go with various outdoor furniture sets. In the end, we think the price is more than reasonable.

Price at time of publish: $245 for 2

_{Dimensions: 41.5 x 21 x 18 inches | Seat Height: 27 inches | Material: Powder-coated iron, polyethylene wicker | Swivel: Yes}

Best Wooden

George Oliver Acacia Wood Patio Bar Stool (Set of 4)

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For those partial to wooden furniture, we recommend the George Oliver Acacia Wood Patio Stool. As the name suggests, it's made of solid acacia wood. One of the best materials for outdoor use, it stands up to warping, cracking, splitting, and other types of water damage. However, this type of wood will fade from a golden hue into a lighter, more grayish color over time. To slow down the process, store your stools inside during the off-season, and consider placing them in a covered area to protect them from direct sunlight.

In addition to the wood base, the stool features natural rattan rope on the seat, which offers an organic, slightly rustic appeal without sacrificing sophistication. While there's no backrest, the built-in footrest bar provides some support, and the side handles make it easy to move around. Though at-home assembly is required, it's a quick process, and you'll get all the necessary tools with your shipment. These outdoor bar stools aren't sold individually, but if you're in the market for a set, the price for four is an excellent value.

Price at time of publish: $330 for 4

_{Dimensions: 30 x 20 x 14 inches | Seat Height: 30 inches | Material: Solid acacia wood, natural rattan | Swivel: No}