The best garden benches, compared.
Top pick: MXIMU HIPS bench Best value: Garden Vida steel rose bench – Lowest price among rows at 4.3 or above with at least 50 reviews, at about £44.99. Updated October 2026.
A garden bench is a two- or three-person outdoor seat for a patio, porch or lawn. In the UK you buy one so two people can sit together without a full dining set. You recognise a suitable bench by the width against the seat count, a seat height that is a sitting height, a material you can name, and a back if you want to lean. Several benches sold as three-seaters are about 120 to 128 cm wide and about 53 cm deep. That width is a tight three. A backless box that stores cushions is a different product from a seat with a back. Pine needs intact varnish. Painted metal needs chips watched. Rigid plastic and resin need no oil. If a timber line names two species, neither name is settled. Stated loads of 200 to 300 kg are seller figures. BS EN 581-2, as BSI describes it, uses people up to 110 kg and does not cover weather ageing. Width, material and that load line are set out in the [garden bench buying guide](/hub/garden-furniture/garden-bench/sub/garden-bench-buying-guide).
A garden bench is a two- or three-person outdoor seat for a patio, porch or lawn. In the UK you buy one so two people can sit together without a full dining set.
38 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,400 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 11
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What do you want the bench to do?
The MXIMU is a black high-impact polystyrene two-seater with a wood-grain finish, listed at £129.99, about 114 cm wide and 19.4 kg, with a stated load of 300 kg. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.8 from 22 reviews, and 10 of the reviews in the file are from the United Kingdom. Those UK comments call it solid, comfortable for two and easier to wipe than timber, and one buyer ordered a second bench. The listing says no extra tools and about 21 minutes, while one UK review timed about 45 minutes and one buyer preferred two people. A second dimension row swaps 114 cm and 55 cm, there is no seat height, and the all-weather and UV lines are seller claims rather than a cited BS EN 581 test. The staged UK reviews do not cover a winter, non-UK comments about heat and mid-seat load are not UK evidence, and 22 reviews cannot outrank a 4.6 from 2,112.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a rigid plastic two-seater you can wipe, and you accept that 22 reviews are a short record.
Less suitable: You want a large UK review sample, a known seat height, or timber you can oil.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it easy to assemble?
The listing says pre-drilled holes, included hardware and no extra tools. UK reviews call it straightforward. One timed it at about 45 minutes, and one preferred two people.
Does it need a cushion?
The listing says no. It claims a curved seat and a backrest.
How many reviews is 4.8 based on?
22 on the amazon.co.uk line in this file. That is a small sample.
The Grand patio grey-blue bench is a powder-coated alloy-steel seat, 128 cm wide and 90 cm high, with a 42 cm seat height and a listed weight of 17 kg, at £159.98. Across 2,112 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, the largest sample of any backed bench in this set. The technical row says three seats and the bullets say two to three medium-sized adults, and UK reviews describe a comfortable sit for two with room for three only if they know each other. The listing estimates 15 to 30 minutes for two adults, with numbered parts, though some buyers still call the fixings fiddly. Several reviews sit on the metal slats without a cushion, and one mentions adjustable feet that are not in the spec table. A depth row of 55 cm sits beside another line of 51 cm, and the matt, hand-brushed coat surprised at least one buyer who expected a smoother factory finish. Rust is asked about more often than it is confirmed in the staged UK slice, so the anti-rust wording remains a seller claim. It is the top pick here for a backed bench with a large review sample, at the highest price in the file, and it has no storage.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a backed metal bench and you will pay £159.98 for the largest review sample in this set.
Less suitable: You need storage, a bench near £50, or a coating with a recorded winter in these reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this bench need assembly?
Yes. The listing includes instructions and estimates 15 to 30 minutes for two adults.
How many people is it sold for?
The technical row says 3. The bullets say 2 to 3 medium-sized adults. It is 128 cm wide with a 42 cm seat height.
Is a cushion included?
No. Reviews in the file describe sitting on the metal slats without one.
The Garden Vida steel rose is a black powder-coated bench about 125 cm wide, with a 39 cm seat height, a listed weight of 10.5 kg and a stated load of 240 kg, at £44.99. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 781 reviews, and many UK buyers call it sturdier than the light steel frame suggested. The title says a rose pattern and a bullet says tulip, so the flower name is not consistent, and the back is decorative metal rather than timber. One UK pair needed about 25 minutes and two people, and at least one buyer planned to add a cushion. A UK review reports rust spots, another carton arrived badly scratched with feet missing, and a review says scratches might later need paint. At 10.5 kg it is easy to shift, which is also why a light frame in this set is not a cast-iron lump. It is the best value row because it is the lowest price among listings at 4.3 or above with at least 50 reviews. Skip it if you will not watch chips, or if you wanted pine slats.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a decorative metal bench near £45 and you will check the coating for chips and rust spots.
Less suitable: You want pine slats, a heavy cast frame, or a finish you will not repaint.
Specifications
Common questions
Is assembly required?
Yes. Instructions are included. One UK review needed about 25 minutes and two people.
Does it come with a cushion?
No. At least one reviewer planned to add a seat cushion.
What is the stated load?
240 kg on the listing. The bench weighs 10.5 kg.
The Keter Eden in graphite is a resin storage bench at £139, with a 265 litre claim, two seats and no back or arms. The amazon.co.uk line prints 4.4 from 14,228 reviews, and the beige listing prints the same count and the same review text, so this is not a second sample. Dimension rows disagree, including 50 x 128 x 38 cm, 84 x 140 x 60 cm and a bullet of 132.5 x 75 x 18.5 cm, so no single amazon size is safe on its own. Keter’s UK page states 140 x 60 x 84 cm outside, which matches the beige file. Reviews praise tool and cushion storage and a usable two-person lid, and they also describe rain in the first hour or water running in off a wet lid. The listed weight is 13.4 kg, the stated load is 250 kg, and the title mentions a two-year warranty. Seat bolts broke for one buyer in the shared text, a few parts arrived warped, and the bench is a box you sit on rather than a back you lean against.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a backless resin box for cushions and tools, and you will wipe the lid before you open it.
Less suitable: You want to lean back, or you need one agreed size from the amazon spec block alone.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this bench have a back?
No. It is a storage box you sit on, sold for two adults.
Is the storage waterproof?
The listing says the 265 litre box stays ventilated and dry. UK reviews also say rain can get in, especially if you open a wet lid.
What size is it?
The graphite listing prints conflicting dimension rows, so no single size is safe to quote from this file.
The beige Keter Eden is the same storage bench in a beige and brown wood-effect finish, model 226277, at £162.50. External rows on this ASIN agree at about 140 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 84 cm high, and the listed weight is 15.8 kg. It still seats two on the lid, with no back and no arms, a 265 litre claim and a stated load of 250 kg. The 4.4 from 14,228 reviews is the same text as the graphite ASIN, so the extra £23.50 buys the colour, not a separate test. A printed seat height of 33.07 inches tracks the overall height, not a sitting height. Care is a damp cloth, and the title includes a two-year warranty plus a customer-service number. Shared reviews praise the storage and also describe water inside the box and broken seat bolts that this file cannot tie to the beige carton. Choose it when you want the wood-effect panel and you have measured about 140 cm, and leave it if the graphite price is enough or you need a back.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the beige wood-effect Eden and you have 140 cm of patio for a backless box.
Less suitable: You want a cheaper graphite box, a backed bench, or colour-specific proof about seat bolts.
Specifications
Common questions
How is this different from the graphite Eden?
This listing is the beige and brown wood-effect colour at £162.50, model 226277. The review text in the file matches the graphite ASIN.
What are the external dimensions?
The rows on this ASIN agree at about 140 cm wide, 60 cm deep and 84 cm high.
Does it include a backrest?
No. You sit on the lid. The listing says it seats two and offers a lock.
The VEVOR is a black metal bench with a back and arms, listed at £64.99 with 4.4 from 408 amazon.co.uk reviews, of which 16 in the staged file are from the United Kingdom. The kilogram row says 218 kg and the title says 480 lb, on a frame of 8.9 kg with a 42 cm seat height. The technical row says three seats and a bullet says one to three, while the title width is 46 inches and the centimetre rows swap 116.3 cm and 52.5 cm. Assembly is the paperwork fault: the technical row says no, and the bullets and UK reviews describe a build, including one manual for a different bench. UK reviews call it smarter and more solid than the price suggests, and they also say a cushion helps for a longer sit. Rust resistance is not established in those UK reviews, and a US tarp comment in the file is not a UK result. Consider it when you want arms near £65 and you can confirm the width on the live page.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a backed metal bench with arms around £65 and you will check the 46-inch claim before you order.
Less suitable: You need one agreed width, a bench that truly arrives assembled, or a recorded rust result.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it need assembly?
The technical row says no. The bullets include a manual and accessories, and UK reviews describe putting it together. One manual was for a different bench.
Is a cushion in the box?
No cushion is listed. Reviews say a cushion would help for a longer sit.
What is the load?
218 kg on the kilogram row. The title says 480 lb. Both are listing claims.
The Garden Vida slatted bench is pine and iron, 120 cm wide and 82 cm high, with a 36.5 cm seat height, a listed weight of 9 kg and a stated load of 240 kg, at £49.99. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.3 from 1,459 reviews, and UK comments often describe comfort for two adults rather than three. Many buyers found the build straightforward with fittings included, though one carton was missing a brace. Slats are said to shed rain instead of pooling, which does not stop rust: a UK review reports light rust after a short time outside. The manufacturer warranty line says No, and care is a dry cloth. Some reviewers say the slats feel light under a heavier person, so the 9 kg frame is both easy to move and a limit. An included-components row copies a steel rose title, which you should not treat as this box’s contents. It is the stronger wood-look row in the entry band, with a low seat and no storage.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light pine-and-iron bench for two and you will watch the coating and the varnish.
Less suitable: You need a true three-person width, a warranty in writing, or a seat higher than 36.5 cm.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a warranty stated?
The manufacturer warranty line says No.
Will rain sit on the seat?
Reviews say the slats let rain drain. That is not a claim the metal will not rust. One UK review reports light rust.
How heavy is it?
9 kg on the listing, with a stated load of 240 kg. Some reviewers say the slats feel light under a heavier person.
The HLC is a painted metal two-seater at £85.99, with 4.3 from 665 reviews and a listed weight of 10 kg. The title mixes wrought iron, cast iron and cast aluminium, while the frame row says iron and the finish is paint, so none of those metal words is a clean specification. The technical load is 200 kg and the title says 250 kg. Dimension rows disagree on 90, 133 and 49 cm, and a 35.43 inch figure tracks overall height rather than a seat height. Many UK reviews praise the decorative back and call assembly easy, and one leaflet did not help. Nuts arrived stuck or painted over, a bracket was missing on one unit, and a weld was absent rather than snapped in use. Several reviews want a cushion for a long sit, and a UK review says open tube ends will hold rain and rust from the inside. The look is the reason to pay more than the steel rose, and the 10 kg frame is not a foundry casting.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a decorative two-person metal bench and you will check tube ends and fixings on arrival.
Less suitable: You need a single material name, a 200 kg figure you can treat as a test, or a seat that is comfortable for a long sit without a cushion.
Specifications
Common questions
What load should I quote?
The technical row says 200 kg. The title says 250 kg. Both are listing text.
Is a cushion included?
No. Several reviews say a cushion helps for a longer sit.
Does it need tools to assemble?
Yes. Instructions are included. One review found nuts stuck or painted over, and one found a bracket missing.
The Furinno Tioman is an outdoor bench with a back at £117.99, about 149.6 cm wide and 22 kg, with 4.2 from 34 amazon.co.uk reviews. A bullet says dark red meranti treated with teak oil, while the material row says teak, and no FSC code is printed. The stated load is 300 lb rather than kilograms, and a 19.8 inch figure is also printed as item depth, so seat height is not a clean row. Five reviews in the file are from the United Kingdom, they call it attractive and sturdy, and one person built it alone using a chair as a support, with the centre section used for a drink rather than as a box. The bullet says waterproof and weatherproof without a named standard, a one-year limited warranty is stated beside a Malaysia origin line, and 34 reviews with only five from the UK are a thin sample for a bench whose timber name does not agree with itself.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a wider backed bench near 150 cm and you will treat the timber as meranti unless the live page settles the name.
Less suitable: You need an FSC code, a kilogram load, or a large UK review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it teak?
The bullet says dark red meranti treated with teak oil. The frame row says teak. No FSC code is printed.
What is the stated load?
300 pounds on the listing, not a kilogram figure.
How many UK reviews are in the file?
The star line is 4.2 from 34. Five of the reviews in the saved listing are from the United Kingdom.
The Home Discount rose bench is wood slats on a metal frame, 123 cm wide and 53 cm deep, with a 39 cm seat height, a listed weight of 11.5 kg and a stated load of 240 kg, at £47.99. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.8 from 1,550 reviews, so the sample is large and the score is the weak one in this set. Bullets say iron, solid pine, powder coat and varnish, while other rows say plastic, wood and cast iron. UK reviews like the rose back in a garden and often call the price fair once the bench is fully built. The same file describes a shallow seat: a reviewer who is 5 ft 10 in felt they were perching. One build took a couple of hours, one carton was missing screws, and one review says the back is flimsy with no centre support. Cast-iron legs arrived broken in one review, the manufacturer warranty line says No, and at the same money as the steel rose you are buying the wood look with the lower star line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the rose back at the entry price and you will check legs, screws and the centre of the back before you sit.
Less suitable: You want a 4.3-plus star line, a deeper seat, or a warranty stated as yes.
Specifications
Common questions
How deep is the seat?
53 cm on the dimension row. A UK reviewer who is 5 ft 10 in said they felt perched.
Is assembly included?
Hardware and instructions are included. One review took a couple of hours, and one carton was missing screws.
What materials are listed?
Rows say plastic, wood and cast iron, and also iron and wood. The bullets say iron, solid pine, powder coat and varnish.
The Home Discount cross bench uses the same 123 cm width, 53 cm depth, 39 cm seat height, 11.5 kg weight and 240 kg stated load as the rose, at the same £47.99, with a cross-style back. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.8 from 348 reviews. Bullets say iron, solid pine and varnish, while technical rows also list cast iron, hardwood and plastic, and the finish row says waxed. Some UK buyers find it attractive and comfortable, and some say it takes two adults even when it wobbles. Other reviews call the wood cheap, flimsy and poorly sanded, with thin varnish missing in places and chips around pre-drilled holes. One buyer called the instructions useless, critical reviews do not treat it as a settled three-person bench, and there is no storage and no arm spec. You would pick the cross for that back at the entry price, and skip it if the 3.8 line and the sanding comments are what you came to avoid.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cross back at £47.99 and you will inspect sanding, varnish and wobble before you keep it.
Less suitable: You want a higher star line, arms, or slats that reviews describe as well finished.
Specifications
Common questions
What do reviews say about the wood?
Some call it comfortable for the price. Others call the wood cheap, poorly sanded, and thinly varnished, with chips around screw holes.
Is assembly required?
Yes. Instructions are included. One reviewer called the instructions useless.
What is the seat height?
39 cm, on a bench 123 cm wide, 53 cm deep and 74 cm high.
Shelf prices, star ratings and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines for the eleven benches in this comparison. There is no lab test of load, rust, waterproofing or comfort. A seller kilogram line stays a seller claim. None of these listings cites BS EN 581-2. The stored score is the star rating scaled to 70, plus up to 30 from the review count. Price is not inside the score. It is used only for the best-value flag. The two Keter colourways print one shared 14,228-review text, so that count is not two samples.
Stars
70%The amazon.co.uk star rating, scaled to 70. A 4.6 line scores higher on this block than a 3.8 line. The star line is not a safety test.
Review count
30%Up to 30 points from the review count. A 4.6 from 2,112 reviews outranks a 4.8 from 22 reviews. A shared review text is one sample, not two.
Decide the job first: a seat with a back, or a backless box. Then match the width to the seat count, name the material you will maintain, and read the stated load next to the item weight. A seller load is not BS EN 581-2, and a star rating is not a weathering test. Prices below are the amazon.co.uk lines in this file, not a UK-wide index.
A garden bench is a seat for two or three people on a patio, a porch or a lawn. UK buyers are usually choosing among four jobs: pine slats on an iron or steel frame, an all-metal bench, a rigid plastic seat, or a resin box that stores as well as seats. A cover is not the seat. You recognise a suitable bench by checks that stay true when the models change. The back should not flex if you bought a seat to lean on. The coating or the timber species should be a name you can repeat.
Several benches sold as three-seaters are about 120 to 128 cm wide and about 53 cm deep. That is a tight three, and a shallow seat can feel like perching.
Benches of about 9 to 11.5 kg are where reviews mention flex, even beside a stated 240 kg. A decorative metal title is not a foundry casting.
A resin box seats two on the lid and has no back. Rain can run in off a wet lid. Wipe the lid before you open it over dry cushions.
The first check is the job. A backed seat and a backless storage box are different products. Most benches here are seats with a back. A resin box seats two on the lid, stores a claimed 265 litres, and gives you nothing to lean against. Width comes next. Several benches sold as three-seaters are about 120 to 128 cm wide and about 53 cm deep. That is a tight three, and a shallow seat can feel like perching. Read a two-seat claim against the measured width, not the title alone.
Read the stated load next to the item weight. Loads of 200 to 300 kg are seller figures. Benches of about 9 to 11.5 kg are where reviews mention flex, even beside a stated 240 kg. A heavier frame, around 17 to 22 kg, is a different carry. A load printed only in pounds does not belong in the kilogram row. BS EN 581-2:2026 covers outdoor seating for camping, domestic and contract use, not street furniture. Its tests use people up to 110 kg and skip weather ageing. None of these listings cite it.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a back and as little painting as you can get away with. The Grand patio grey-blue bench is powder-coated alloy steel, 128 cm wide, with a 42 cm seat height and 4.6 from 2,112 reviews. The anti-rust wording is still a seller claim.
A bench under about 12 kg is easier to move on a small patio, if the width still fits. The Garden Vida steel rose bench weighs 10.5 kg, is about 125 cm wide, and costs about £44.99. You will need to watch chips and rust spots.
You need storage and you will accept a backless box, including drying the lid before you open it. The Keter Eden in graphite claims 265 litres and two seats, at about £139. The review text is shared with the beige colourway.
The Grand patio grey-blue bench is the top pick. It has the highest score, 94, at about £159.98, with 4.6 from 2,112 amazon.co.uk reviews. Best value is the Garden Vida steel rose bench at about £44.99, with 4.5 from 781 reviews, the lowest price among rows at 4.3 or above with at least 50 reviews. Neither mark is a laboratory result, and neither means the best garden bench in the UK. No listing cites BS EN 581-2.
Garden Vida steel rose bench
Lowest price among rows at 4.3 or above with at least 50 reviews, at about £44.99.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for this comparison, last checked on 22 October 2026. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines saved for this set. There is no laboratory test.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Lee Burkhill (Garden Ninja) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a lab test.
