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Stretching out on a luxe lounge chair at the edge of a pool or on a sandy beach is pretty hard to beat. Throw in a book and an ice-cold drink, and we’re really leveling up. Beach towels might be fine for a short stint outside, but the best pool lounge chairs allow you the space to lie in the sun (SPF, please!) for hours. Our favorites are sleek, designed with longevity in mind, and reliable in rain or heat—plus they come in a slew of materials, from honeyed teak to coated metal.
Whether you live in a climate where you can bask outdoors all year round or are basically outside 24-7 at the first sign of warm weather, these pieces can serve as a home base—in a sunny garden or terrace or on a balcony or pool deck—for morning coffee, workdays, and, of course, a round of spritzes at sunset. So go ahead, kick up your feet on our top picks.
Metal Pool Lounge Chairs
For small spaces and low-maintenance backyard owners, lean into the Scandi life with the Palissade chaise lounge from Danish design darling Hay. The mossy green hue is giving Secret Garden vibes. We looked to Joybird for a goes-with-everything pick, and to Olive Ateliers for something more romatntic. And we love how Business & Pleasure’s latest collection has frames that look like bamboo but are actually aluminum.
Wood Pool Lounge Chairs
Splurging on a resort-worthy chair with the power to transport you to your favorite far-off destination is pretty much guilt-free if you know you’ll be getting many years—and compliments—out of it. We love House of Leon’s Ojai Outdoor Daybed for its hardy boxed base made of teak and cushy upholstery (a perk of Soho Home’s Orion lounger, too). If you’re sticking to a strict budget, keep it simple: we unearthed an affordable version below on Wayfair.
Woven Pool Lounge Chairs
We love woven seating that looks a bit retro but not overly campy, and these beautiful braided pieces have just enough interest. What they lack in modularity (juse one of them has an adjustable recliner), they make up for with their strong, maintenance-free fiber. You can leave them out in the fresh air, come drizzle or sun, without a cover.
Upholstered Pool Lounge Chairs
Stripes abound on pool lounger upholstery, from Sarah Ellison’s Stack chaise to Sundays Furniture’s squishy version. West Elm’s Hayami style has perky, quick-dry foam cushions that make an ideal landing pad post-swim.
Pool Lounge Chairs with Sun Shades
Enlist a stylish pool lounge chair with a built-in sun shield for those extra sunny days and quit squinting once and for all. Two of our favorites (which includes an under-$300 option that you can take to the beach!) have adjustable panels that block rays from your face and upper body, along with flexible backrests for when you need to take a quick catnap. If you want to relax in tandem, consider the sling seat from Wayfair that’s got an extra-large canopy.
