Modern Outdoor Benches
MODERN DESIGN is characterized by simplicity of style. It has an unadorned, uncluttered, “less is more” minimalism. LINES are clean, crisp, and straight. COLORS are neutral, although bold accent colors can provide focal points and create some visual interest. MATERIALS are natural (such as wood), or perhaps reflective (polished metals such as chrome as opposed to heavy wrought iron).
Modern benches are streamlined for efficiency and don’t have any superfluous details. The end result is a calming, airy vibe. They made a space feel open, expansive, and uncluttered.
Below you will find our reviews of some of the best rated modern outdoor benches available at Amazon in 2019.
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This wood and metal bench by GDF Studio is currently a big seller at Amazon for good reason: It’s gorgeous, beautifully stained, sturdy, easy to assemble, and a great value for the modest price.
It arrives carefully packaged, partially assembled, and with extra parts and easy-to-follow instructions. One person can generally finish the assembly in less than half an hour.
This indoor/outdoor bench is often used in a home’s entryway, where people might need a place to drop their stuff and sit down to change shoes. It is also quite suitable for restaurants and retail stores.
It weighs 39 pounds and measures 63” long, 14.5” deep, and 17.5” high.
Made of good thick acacia wood and an iron frame, this solid and handsome bench often exceeds the buyers’ expectations.
>>Click here to see the GDF Studio 300496 Outdoor Wood & Metal Bench at Amazon.
Here’s the bench for people who want a snazzy, innovative design that comes in a wide variety of playful colors.
This one is made of REAL WOOD (pine) and comes in over 20 colors including such yummy shades as Purple Berry, Espresso Brown, and Buffalo Wing. If your surrounding décor is neutral-colored and sparse, this bench can provide just the right focal point.
It measures 54” long, 15” wide and 17” high. The shipping weight is 33 pounds. The legs provide impressive stability.
It arrives partially assembled, and you can finish the job in about 10 minutes with a screwdriver. It’s made in the USA (yeah!) of eco-friendly wood and stainless steel. The wood is coated with an all-weather, UV-resistant stain finish.
We like this GloDea bench for its modern, clean lines and innovative design. If we ever get to meet Ignacio Santos, the Brazilian designer, we’ll tell him, “WELL DONE!” (In Portuguese, that’s BEM FEITO!)
>>Click here to see the GloDea XQBC60YPCH Outdoor Bench at Amazon.
This Lifetime Glider Bench looks like it’s made of real wood, but made of super durable wood-simulated polystyrene. Unlike wood, it will stay looking good over the years without any maintenance. It won’t warp, crack, chip, peel or fade over time, and it won’t get overly hot in the sun. It’s easy to clean, too – just wipe it down with a damp cloth.
It arrives in a 75 pound package, which tells you how solid it is (still light enough to move around, but heavy enough to withstand strong winds). With a weight capacity of 500 pounds, it’s plenty sturdy enough for two adults. The bench measures 48” (4 feet) long and 34” high. The seat itself is 44” by 18.5”.
It comes in your choice of four colors: putty, harbor gray, mocha (a darker brown), and walnut (a lighter brown). Add your own cushion for extra comfort, a splash of color, and to express your own distinctive style.
What people love best about this bench is the fact that it glides so smoothly and quietly (thanks to the steel ball bearings). The rocking motion is soothing and relaxing for adults, just as it is for babies!
Lifetime – a Utah company known for excellent customer service – always does a good job of careful packaging. The back and seat come pre-assembled, so that spares you lots of work. The rest can be easily assembled, even by one person. The clear, easy-to-follow instructions have no words – just pictures are enough.
Holes are pre-drilled. Lifetime includes everything you need, including tiny tools, but use your own full-size tools if you have them. It would be helpful – but not necessary – to have a Phillips-head screwdriver (or a power drill with that attachment) and a hex key (or Allen wrench set).
This bench is best used on hard surfaces. If you put it on a patch of soft grass, the gliding mechanism may not work properly, and you may have to add some firm supports under the legs.
The Bottom Line: Glider benches are insanely popular these days. They are so much nicer, quieter, and more comfortable than the creaky old rocking chairs of yesteryear. You can certainly find these in stores for three or four times the price, but this one by Lifetime is perfectly adequate for most people and a great value for the money.
>>Click here to see the Lifetime 60055 Glider Bench at Amazon.
The convertible bench (also called convert-a-bench) is a brilliant invention that allows you to convert two benches into one full-size picnic table. Even if you just have one bench, you can convert the back into half a table, which means you have a bar to sit at, perhaps for working, reading, eating, or just enjoying a drink and a nice view.
Lifetime’s conversion lever works easily and smoothly. One person can single-handedly convert the bench into a table in seconds.
This bench looks like it’s made of real wood, but it’s actually weather-resistant simulated wood (polystyrene) in your choice of brown or gray. It can take rain, snow, and direct sun for years and it won’t splinter, warp, fade, crack, chip, or peel. And you’ll never need to sand, stain, or varnish it. The powder-coating on the steel frame protects against rust, and the bench is UV protected to prevent fading. It’s sturdy and durable, and also nice looking!
People love the easy maintenance. If it needs cleaning, just wipe it down with a damp cloth or spray it with a hose.
The designers of this bench added some thoughtful touches: Narrow spaces between the wood-textured slats allow for quick water drainage. The legs have built-in quality rubber guards. And when this bench is in the table position, you can easily get in and out of the seating area without banging your legs on a bar.
Here are some essential numbers for you:
- The bench seat is 55.5" long, 14.2" wide, and 18.8" high
- The seat back (table width) is 14.2"
- The weight of the bench itself is 67 pounds
- Each bench has a weight capacity of 500 pounds, so it can accommodate at least two adults, maybe three.
Assembly is simple. Holes are predrilled, hardware is labeled, the instructions are clear, and the delivery box includes small tools.
The Bottom Line: When it comes to all-season outdoor benches, the Lifetime Convertible Bench is a real winner because of its versatility and durability. Lifetime makes some excellent all-season chairs, tables, and benches, and their customer service is the best in the business.
One Final Note: I hope we’ve made it clear that you’ll need to purchase TWO convertible benches to create ONE full-size picnic table.
>>Click here to see the Lifetime 60253 Convertible Bench at Amazon.
Keter makes this very popular bench that includes 70 gallons of under-the-seat storage. What do people stash in that storage space? Anything they want to keep clean, safe, dry, and hidden. That would include seat cushions, kid toys, garden tools, barbeque supplies, delivery packages, and more. For security, the lid is lockable (you provide the lock).
It is made of very durable resin and supports a whopping 770 pounds. For colors, choose all brown or a beige/brown combination.
Assembly is a cinch, and when you are done the bench will measure 54.6” long, 23.4” wide, and 32.8” high.
The Bottom Line: We like practical, economical furniture that does double duty. This bench gives you what every porch or patio needs: (1) a place to sit down and relax, and (2) a place to stash the clutter so that you can relax in a tidy environment. Very nice!
>>Click here to see the Keter Eden outdoor storage bench at Amazon.
First off, if you are planning on using this as an OUTDOOR bench, we hope you’ll put it under a COVERED porch or patio, because this wooden bench is too darn nice to leave out in rain and snow.
If this looks familiar to you, it’s a very affordable version (“knock off”) of the George Nelson masterpiece that sells at some sites for considerably more than this one.
The top is made of solid rubber wood (that’s a light-colored, medium-density tropical hardwood). The legs are made of solid birch. The result is a VERY sturdy, incredibly stylish bench with a mid-century look. You can choose either Natural color (with a clear finish) or Walnut.
This is a very versatile piece of furniture. Indoors, it is often used as a seating bench, a coffee table, or at the foot of a bed. We’ve seen them in locker rooms and home gyms, too.
It measures 60” long, 19” deep, and 14.5” high. (That’s a bit low to the ground, so this would not be suitable as a dining bench.) The spaces between the slats measure 3/4”.
The bench itself weighs 32 pounds, and it has a weight capacity of 350 pounds. As with all benches of this style, it may tip if someone sits on the extreme end when nobody is weighing down the middle.
Assembly is a breeze. The bench arrives in three pre-assembled pieces, along with eight screws and a tightening device. That’s all you need, and the job takes about five minutes.
Buyers love this George Nelson Platform Style Bench for its sharp, clean lines, its stylish and classy look, and its wonderfully affordable price. It’s sturdy and gorgeous!
>>Click here to see the Poly and Bark 5-foot bench at Amazon.
Would you like to build your own modern outdoor bench? In this 5-minute video, Mike Montgomery shows you how: