Outdoor Bar Stools Materials Guide 2023 Update

When shopping for outdoor bar stools for your home or business, the right material selection ensures longevity, comfort, and aesthetics. Our outdoor bar stool buying guide will help you understand the various material choices and their benefits. It also provides insights to help you find the best bar stool for your outdoor entertaining space.

Wooden Outdoor Bar Stools

Wooden furniture has a unique charm that connects your patio or outdoor space to the surrounding natural environment. Wood’s authentic touch, feel, and aesthetic bring warmth and character to outdoor settings and is ideal for homes and businesses looking to create a rustic, cottage or farmhouse-style vibe.

Various types of wood are used to construct wooden outdoor bar stools. Popular choices include beechwood, teak, eucalyptus, cedar, and acacia. Teak stands out for its longevity and resistance to rot, making it a favorite for outdoor furniture.

Eucalyptus and acacia balance durability and affordability, while cedar naturally repels insects. Beechwood is sturdy and can support heavy weights; its fine grain lends the final product a polished, smooth look.

Using wood for outdoor bar stool chairs means you benefit from the natural beauty of wood grain patterns, the strength it offers, and eco-friendly manufacturing practices.

However, wood can be susceptible to weather-induced wear and pests and might require more maintenance than metal or plastic alternatives. This means they may be unsuitable for homes or commercial settings in humid or rainy climates.

The Vertical Slat Schoolhouse Bar Stool from Seats and Stools is crafted from elegant solid beechwood and comes with your choice of dark mahogany or walnut finishes. Its slat-back design is perfect for country-style homes and restaurants, and with a seat height of 30", it offers a comfortable seating option for your outdoor dining area.

Metal Outdoor Bar Stools

Metal is a popular outdoor furniture material for bar stools used on patios, decks, and poolside lounges, creating a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. Most metal outdoor bar stools are made from galvanized or powder-coated steel to resist corrosion, rust, and moisture damage.

Metal bar stools offer unmatched durability. This makes them an excellent choice for high-traffic areas, such as busy bars, restaurants, or large family homes. They’re weather-resistant, their sturdy build ensures they stand firm against strong winds, and many come with protective finishes to combat rust and UV damage.

Our Industrial Black Steel Bar Stool seamlessly blends function with style. It offers a range of adjustable heights, between 24" and 30". The screw fastener that secures the round seat to the metal frame allows you to easily adjust the stool from counter height to bar height, providing maximum versatility for your outdoor dining space.

Wicker and Rattan Outdoor Bar Stools

Wicker and rattan outdoor bar stools have the perfect combination of elegance and comfort to transport you to a beachside cabana or a relaxed garden. While these materials are often associated with tropical settings, they add texture and warmth to modern or mid-century outdoor spaces.

Wicker isn’t a material but a weaving method. The materials used in this weave can include rattan, bamboo, seagrass, and even synthetic resins. Rattan is a specific natural material from tropical palms and is incredibly flexible, making it perfect for weaving into intricate designs.

Wicker and rattan are lightweight yet durable. The intricate weaves allow for airflow, making seating cooler during hot days. This makes them an excellent choice for homes or businesses in warmer climates or seasonal seating around a pool or beach bar.

However, natural wicker and rattan can deteriorate or become moldy when exposed to excessive moisture or left out in the rain. While synthetic wicker options resist weathering better, they can lack the authentic appeal of natural fibers.

You can apply a sealant to minimize moisture damage or invest in covers or indoor storage to protect your bar stools during inclement weather.

One of the most beautiful and versatile woven bar stools is the Gamma Breuer Bar Stool. The seat and back are crafted from cane, a rattan plant derivative. They are curved to fit your body’s contours, and the wooden surrounding frame adds warmth and provides long-lasting durability. The seat and back are attached to a tubular chrome-plated steel frame with a cantilever design that keeps the bar stool’s airy vibe while providing maximum strength and a weight capacity of up to 263 lbs.

Plastic Outdoor Bar Stools

When it comes to patio dining sets and bars, plastic bar stools are a contemporary, versatile option. These stools are made from various resilient plastics, the most common being polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC. Plastics are appreciated for their durability against the elements, wide range of colors, and adaptability to be molded into ergonomic designs.

Unlike traditional materials like wood, high-quality plastic withstands outdoor conditions without rusting, fading, or splintering. They’re lightweight, making rearrangement or storage a breeze.

They’re often stackable, which is beneficial for small homes or restaurants that need to save space. Plastic bar stools are usually cheaper than metal or wood, making them popular for commercial venues requiring bulk seating.

However, while plastic bar stools are easy to maintain, they may lack the aesthetic and feel of natural materials. They can also be less environmentally friendly unless made from recycled or biodegradable plastic. Additionally, low-quality plastic can become brittle over time, especially when subjected to extreme temperatures.

For high-quality plastic bar stools, try the Iceberg CafeWorks Cafe Bistro Stool at Seats and Stools. The rugged steel base and high-density polyethylene seat ensure long-lasting durability with dent and scratch-resistant properties. Its 30" seat height complements the easy-to-clean, sleek graphite design, ensuring comfort and a modern aesthetic, while non-mar feet preserve your flooring. The bar stools are also compatible with the CafeWorks Bistro dining table./p>

Fabric Outdoor Bar Stools

Fabric outdoor furniture materials exude casual elegance and comfort that’s hard to match. These stools use various fabrics to withstand the outdoor elements, ensuring style and durability. Common choices include polyester blends and vinyl, which offer a unique texture and easy maintenance.

Fabric upholstered outdoor bar stools offer the ultimate comfort. It’s soft and breathable and comes in numerous colors and patterns, allowing you to personalize your outdoor spaces. Water-resistant vinyl repels moisture, making it an excellent option for poolside settings.

However, while fabric bar stools can be treated for weather resistance, they may retain moisture longer than hard materials, potentially leading to mildew. Fabric can also be more susceptible to staining and fading if placed under direct sunlight for extended periods.

To prolong the lifespan of your outdoor patio furniture, choose bar stools with high-quality fabric or vinyl upholstery from Seats and Stools. One of our most popular options is the Saddle Bucket Bar Stool. The channel quilted upholstery is padded to provide maximum spinal support, while the ring footrest promotes a better seating posture for a cozy, welcoming seating area.