Chaise Loungers (Outdoor & Patio Furniture)

A chaise lounger is a single seat 75 to 80 inches long with a back that ratchets through four or five angles, from fully flat to nearly upright, on a seat deck 12 to 16 inches off the ground. Two wheels at the foot end let one person drag it into the sun and back without lifting.

The ratchet is the part that decides the purchase. A notched steel arm with a heavy pin handles daily adjustment for years. A stamped bracket wears its notches round and drops the back under load, which is the common failure in this style. Surfaces split two ways: sling models stretch coated polyester mesh across the frame, so water passes through and nothing goes into winter storage. In contrast, cushioned models add a 2 to 3 inch pad that is far more comfortable and has to be dried and stored. Wheel diameter matters more than it sounds, since a 2 inch wheel jams in the gap between paving slabs that a 4 inch wheel rolls over.

Deep Seating Sets recline a little and seat several people, where this reclines fully and seats one. Adirondack Chairs share the low, laid back angle without ever going flat. Nothing else in the category takes as much floor per person.

Pool decks, sunny lawns and anyone who reads or naps outdoors get the use. Plan roughly 2 by 7 feet per lounger, plus 24 inches between them for a side table and 30 inches of walkway behind, so a pair claims about 8 by 9 feet of deck. People with stiff knees should measure the seat height carefully, because 12 inches is a long way down and back up.

Work the ratchet through every position in the store and listen for grinding. Sit on the foot end and check the frame does not tip. Rinse the fabric weekly through a swim season, since sunscreen and body oil break down coatings faster than sunlight does. Stand the lounger on its end to dry rather than leaving it flat where water pools in the seat.