Our pick of the best sun loungers will help you to create a luxury resort in your own backyard; even if your outdoor space is more paddling pool than infinity pool.
The minute the sun comes out we all want to head straight to the garden for some well-earned relaxation, and the best sun loungers on the market will allow you to kick back in comfort, whether that's on a luxury sun lounger, a decadent daybed or versatile reclining chair.
Want more ideas for enjoying the garden? Browse the best garden furniture you can shop this year in our comprehensive edit. Otherwise, read on to find the best sun loungers for catching the rays this spring/summer; we've plenty of the Gardeningetc team's top picks listed further down this page, as well as quick links to guide you to the retailers with the best selections of loungers this season right here:
- Browse sun loungers at Amazon
- Browse sun loungers at Argos
- Browse sun loungers at John Lewis & Partners
- Browse sun loungers at Maisons Du Monde
- Browse sun loungers at Robert Dyas
- Browse sun loungers at Wayfair
The best sun loungers
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Ready to get shopping? Here's the Gardeningetc edit of the best sun loungers you can shop today, with options for every type of garden style and budget.
For resort-style sunbathing at an affordable price point, this contemporary sun lounger is hard to beat.
Made from waterproof, UV-resistant polyester with a lightweight rust-resistant aluminium frame, it's perfect for the poolside, or just for soaking up some rays in the garden.
The backrest has five adjustable positions to ensure you can find just the right angle for book reading or full-on horizontal lounging, and the folding design makes for easy transportation and space-saving storage.
Plus, there are four great colour options to choose from; classic black, blend-into-the-foliage khaki green, bright turquoise, and on-trend terracotta. Overall a great option to achieve a high-end look without the accompanying price tag.
It may be an investment, but if you want a sun lounger that offers versatility and that you'll be more than happy to give pride of place to on the patio, then this luxury rattan-effect recliner chair and footstool from John Lewis & Partners nails style, practicality, durability, and comfort.
The easy-to-operate handle on the side of the lounge chair allows you to recline to any position you prefer, including fully horizontal, with the accompanying thickly cushioned footstool allowing plenty of space to stretch out.
The low-maintenance and timeless in style PE-rattan upper is combined with a rust-resistant and lightweight aluminium frame that can easily withstand the elements, making it well worth the investment, and the lounge chair can also be paired with the brand's coordinating Dante outdoor collection to create a cohesive outdoor living area.
You may not be able to lay on your front with this option, but this reclining chair sun lounger is lightweight, foldable, and perfect for packing up and taking to the beach, park, or campsite for versatile seating away from home.
In the garden, it also makes a super comfortable place to soak up some rays, with a detachable headrest and multi-position recline function to allow you to find the perfect mode for relaxation, reading, or conversation.
In fact, the ergonomic reclining positions have been carefully calculated to raise your legs slightly above the heart for optimum weightless and gravity-defying relaxation.
Available in teal or taupe, this reclining chair is also a great option for anyone who struggles with the height of a low-to-the-ground sun lounger.
Rattan garden furniture has timeless appeal, and if you want a sun lounger that will blend in with a more classic patio space then this PE-rattan option from Homebase will suit a wide range of outdoor spaces.
Although you won't be able to fully recline on this wave-shaped sun lounger, the curved form is designed to offer ergonomic comfort when laying on your back, and thanks to the concertina padding we found it a comfortable spot to lay back and relax. To enable you to get a better angle for reading or sitting the backrest also adjusts into a seated position.
Plus, when it comes time to pack away the summer garden furniture then the two-part design, which stacks neatly one section on top of the other, makes for space-saving storage in the garage or shed.
If you're looking for an affordable sun lounger that can easily be packed up and stored away when it's not in use, then this budget option from Habitat is high on our radar.
It offers three reclining positions and comes in a wide array of stylish colours and prints, including a tropical foliage print, quirky leopard design, and this playful lemon print, as well as more muted black, grey, and monochrome geometric prints.
The metal used in the frame isn't specified, but at this price point it's unlikely to be hardwearing and rust-resistant aluminium as the first choice in our round-up offers, so you will need to make sure it's stored somewhere dry, and potentially it may not be quite as robust an investment, but at under £40 it's definitely one of the cheapest sun loungers you'll come across.
This wooden sun lounger offers classic good looks at what - for a timber build - is a good value price point.
The solid acacia wood design may not be quite as long-lasting and durable outdoors as a teak option, but you will save a good few hundred pounds by opting for fast-growing and affordable acacia wood.
The lounger itself offers three reclining positions, a handy pull-out tray for resting your book or a drink, and rear wheels for easier manoeuvre into the sunshine.
Just bear in mind that wood will need a little maintenance to prolong its lifespan - a yearly top-up with wood preservative should do it - and acacia wood will last far longer if stored indoors during inclement weather, so you will need a fairly substantial storage space for over-wintering this recliner.
Designed to allow you to enjoy feelings of weightlessness as you tip back into serenity, the zero-gravity chair has become a very popular choice for the garden over the past few years, and this super affordable (and super colourful) option allows you to relax for less.
Available in cheerful sunshine yellow, bright turquoise, or stylish dark grey, this sun lounging chair offers a multi-position reclining function, plus a foldable design that allows for easy storage.
The design may not be quite as robust as other options on our list, but if budget is guiding your purchase then this low price point design offers plenty to like.
If you want to really get comfortable outdoors then this stylish rattan-effect sun lounger comes with plenty of padding thanks to its three-part full-length cushion.
There are four recline positions to ensure you can create just the right angle for snoozing in the sun, reading a book, or sipping a nice cold drink, and the simple and timeless design will blend easily into a wide range of garden styles.
The PE-rattan upper also makes for a low-maintenance option that requires very little upkeep, although to protect the metal frame it's best to store the lounger under cover over winter. Storage is made easier by the three-part design that allows you to dismantle the sun lounger sections for more space-saving storage.
Unless you opt for a foldable sun lounger that will be packed up and hidden away at the end of each sunbathing session, then a recliner is going to take up a fair bit of room, and become a visible part of your garden's aesthetic.
This stylish curved sun lounger is one that you definitely won't want to hide away, with its sculptural organic shape adding some statement design to the patio.
Designed by brothers David and Harry Rich, past winners of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and presenters of BBC One's Garden Rescue, the lounger is inspired by the rolling hills of their native Wales, combining galvanised metal and slatted acacia wood.
The lounger is also complemented by the wider Rolio collection of curvaceous outdoor dining table, chairs, and bench seat.
If you're a serious sun worshipper then you need a sun lounger that makes following the rays as easy as possible, and this lightweight, wheeled option is, for us, one of the most practical and stylish you can buy.
It's made with an aluminium frame which offers rust-resistance, outdoor durability, and lightweight manoeuvrability, combined with a plastic-coated canvas upper that is easy to wipe clean, resists moisture, and has built-in padding for comfort.
A multi-position recline function means getting the right angle is easy, and thin armrests are perfect for a little support whilst you read.
Although this option doesn't fold, the wheels make taking it in and out of storage a cinch, and if you opt for more than one then the loungers are stackable to save space on the patio or poolside when they're not in use.
This rocking sun lounger adds an extra dimension to outdoor relaxation, allowing you to sway back and forth, rocking gently into a daydream as the sun beats down.
The modern design with a powder-coated metal base and curved shape makes a sleek and sculptural addition to an outdoor space, with the textoline fabric offering a durable, waterproof, and breathable place to lounge.
Price-wise this also a fairly affordable option, although the design will need a little space for storage out of season.
Yes, you can invest in one of the best garden parasols to cut out the sun whilst you're reclining outdoors, but having the option to shade your book as you read, or to combat the full sun on your face without hauling a patio umbrella around offers some great additional practicality.
This affordable sun lounger offers both an adjustable sunshade designed to cut out the glare, as well as an adjustable headrest our adjustable positions of recline. Plus, there are four neutral colour options to choose from.
On top of that this design is foldable for easy storage, so packing away once the sun disappears, as well as over winter storage, is a hassle-free experience.
Where to buy sun loungers in-stock now
This year garden furniture is selling out fast. If our top picks of sun loungers aren't in stock right now and you don't want to wait, use our handy tool below to find sun loungers that are in-stock and ready to buy today.
Just click on the option you like best to be taken straight through to the retailer to shop, or keep scrolling right to discover more options.
How to choose the best sun lounger for you
You might think choosing a sun lounger is all about comfort, but as well as how welcoming a sun lounger is to lay back and relax in, there are also some practical points worth considering before you shop.
What are the best sun loungers to buy?
Most manufacturers will advise storing a sun lounger indoors during the winter, or at least under one of the best outdoor furniture covers you can find if you don't have a garage or shed that's big enough. However, it's inevitable a sun lounger will come into some contact with the elements outdoors, so considering its construction will help you to make sure you're investing in the best sun lounger that your budget allows.
An aluminium frame is generally the most durable and rust-resistant choice, whether that's a folding metal frame or the base construction of a PE-rattan number. Aluminium also has the added benefit of being lightweight, which if you're likely to move your sun lounger around the garden to follow the sun, is a useful plus point.
However, aluminium tends to be expensive. The cheapest sun loungers tend to be made from powder-coated steel. This offers a budget solution but powder-coated steel garden furniture will need more careful storage to prevent rusting and isn't likely to offer as much longevity as aluminium. It's also more likely to weather quickly in a coastal setting which is prone to corrosive salty air and wind damage, and a steel frame will be heavier to move about.
A wooden sun lounger makes for a classic look, whether you invest in durable (yet expensive) teak wood or a faster growing and therefore more affordable option like acacia wood or eucalyptus. Just bear in mind there will be some maintenance needed to prolong wooden garden furniture's lifespan, so factor in topping up with a wood preservative about once a year. And again, wood can be heavy, so if you opt for a wooden sun lounger it can be best to source one with wheels for easier manoeuvrability.
Then there's PE-rattan. Opting for some of the best rattan garden furniture is always a timeless option for the garden, and the same can be said for a rattan sun lounger. As a plastic, PE-rattan, just like metal, is a low-maintenance solution that doesn't require any upkeep other than a quick brush down or soapy wash occasionally to clean off any dirt. In terms of longevity, its lifespan is largely determined by the metal used to construct the frame; aluminium providing the most outdoor durability, and steel likely to need more protection and storage away from the worst of the elements.
To fold or not to fold...
As mentioned, most sun loungers, other than those made of more expensive rust-resistant aluminium or weather-resistant teak wood, will need storing indoors during the worst of the winter weather to prolong their lifespan. Plus, depending on the size of your garden, it may not be practical to leave a sun lounger outdoors all year round taking up space. As such storage requirements are likely to factor into your purchase.
A folding sun lounger is a great option if storage space – whether in the garage, shed, or inside an apartment – is at a premium. And the added benefit of a foldable sun lounger is the ease with which you can pack it up, pick it up, and take it with you to the beach, park, or just easily transport it from storage to your balcony or patio space.
If you go for a solid sun lounger then it can be worth looking for stackable options to save on storage space, or recliners that dismantle into parts for neat packing away.
Comfort and practicality
A padded or cushioned sun lounger is always likely to be the most comfortable option for reclining on. However, any kind of outdoor upholstery comes with practical considerations, such as where you'll store the cushions when the sun lounger isn't in use. If you're likely to be using a sun lounger by the pool where it will regularly get damp or lying down with suncream on, then padded cushions can also be trickier to keep clean.
A meshed sunlounger can offer the best of both worlds, allowing a little flexibilty to make lying down more comfortable than a rigid wood option, but still allowing breathability on a hot day, drying quickly, and being easy to wipe clean.
It's also well worth considering the sun lounger's height, width, and maximum weight capacity to ensure the best comfort depending on your body type. Often sun loungers can be fairly narrow which can make turning over without hitting the metal frame a little uncomfortable, plus widths can differ greatly between designs, so it's always worth checking the small print.
If you struggle with a sun lounger being too low, or just want some added flexibility, then a reclining chair or zero-gravity chair offers the best of both worlds; giving you the height to sit comfortably, and the option recline to a comfortable angle when you're ready for a snooze.
For more garden seating options, make sure to check out our guides to the best hammock and best garden benches.
How we chose the best sun loungers
To find the best sun loungers for this list we lay down on the job to try out some of the most popular designs, grilled the Gardeningetc team for their expert knowledge on the best outdoor materials, asked friends and family for their top-rated products, and took into account third party reviews on retailer websites. Click here to find out more about how we review products on Gardeningetc.
