Best Outdoor Rocking Chairs: Modern, Wicker, and Wooden

To get ready for outdoor entertainment this season, consider adding the best outdoor rocking chairs to your front porch, patio, or balcony. But ranging from modern rocking chairs to classic wooden options, these chairs are for a lot more than parties. Well-made, easy to assemble, and most with removable and weather-resistant outdoor rocking chair cushions, these chairs are also a great way to get a little alone time with a steaming cup of coffee or a warm cup of tea. Or, instead, when the weather is nice, steal a precious moment rocking your grandchild or your family’s new arrival. Find out what you’ve been missing. Coming up next are the five best-rated outdoor rocking chairs in a variety of styles, including wicker and modern, and all at a price you can afford.

Our Top Picks

Take a seat. Here’s a quick look at what we liked about each outdoor rocking chair we reviewed.

A Closer Look: Best Outdoor Rocking Chairs

What are the best rated outdoor rocking chairs? That answer is coming up in our next section. 

The PHI VILLA outdoor metal rocking chair is up first in our ranking of the best-rated outdoor rocking chairs. Made from metal with four color options, these PHI VILLA chairs offer cushioning that is easy to remove and clean. There’s also the freedom to recline the chair up to 30-degrees for extra relaxation. Or enjoy the gentle rocking motion by the poolside, in the yard, or on the deck.

These chairs look great, with attractive and modern geometric design, and bold, modern color choices. Best of all, you can buy a single chair or pick up two for company. Assembly is required with PHI VILLA, but you get everything you need with purchase, and it all goes together easily. Maximum weight limit with PHI VILLA is up to 300 lbs, and there’s also non-slip shock absorption to protect your deck, or for indoor-outdoor use. 

Those who’ve tried the chairs call them great deck rockers for relaxation with adequate padding. Some don’t find them comfortable when reclining, however, but overall, most call them sturdy and well built.

The best price outdoor rocking chairs come from Ebern Designs. Though affordable, these reclining back or front porch chairs come in three color options: blue, beige, and red. They’re made from solid steel and durable fabric. We particularly like the elastic rope suspension for added comfort, and the soft head pillow for when it’s time to relax. They also fold up nicely for storage or to take them without on a camping trip.

The seat could be a little deeper, according to some who’ve tried the chair. Still, overall, feedback calls the chairs sturdy and well built, with most reporting how well they rock, whether they’re used on a big back porch or by the pool. Grandparents, in particular, like the chair for rocking their grandkids, and the chairs truly are easy to fold up and travel with. They’re also convenient to store.

For that classic wooden rocking chair look, choose the next chairs in our ranking: The Candel Acacia wooden patio rocking chairs from Christopher Knight Home. These chairs come in two natural wood colors — gray and teak — but they don’t recline. There’s ample cushioning, however, and it’s made from 100% polyester. The cushions can be removed when it’s time to clean them, which is always convenient, and assembly is easy, according to reports.

The Acacia wood the chairs are made from is also completely sustainable, which we liked to hear. Overall, these wooden rocking chairs are well-made and beautiful, rocking nicely without ever making you feel off balance. It is best to put the chairs on as flat of a surface as possible, according to reports. The weight capacity is about 250 lbs, and the chairs are spacious enough to sit cross-legged: a great choice for reading a book and watching the sunset.

Construction: Powder-coated steel/Polyester blend Color Options: 4 Reclining: No Price: $98.99

Do the words “rocking chair” bring to mind images of some old grandma rocking back and forth on her front porch knitting? The truth of the matter is, modern rocking chairs are quite stylish—for example, the modern sling rocking chair from Quintin. Available in four bold color options, this modern rocker made from powder-coated steel with polyester-blend cushioning doesn’t recline. Still, it’s lower than many other rockers with a footrest bar for added comfort.

The outdoor rocking chair cushions are removable when it’s time to clean them, and assembly is required. Otherwise, it rocks back and forth smoothly and quietly, fitting well on patios or in a backyard. The cushion is very comfortable, according to reports. It doesn’t recline, but some describe the experience of sitting in the chair like laying down — a better choice for sunbathing than having a conversation, some say.

For extra-durable outdoor rocking chairs, consider the best wicker outdoor rocking chairs in our ranking from Devoko. Their three-piece bistro set comes with two chairs and a glass coffee table to complete the look and perfect for guests. The chairs are made from steel, wicker, and rattan (rattan is the material, wicker is the weave style). They are available in three attractive and modern rocking chair color choices. 

Though some people find wicker to be uncomfortable after prolonged sitting, these chairs are cushioned. However, these particular chairs don’t recline. There’s also a footwear mat for added protection. The set looks great and they’re easy to assemble, with relatively deep seats, according to reports. And petite people found the chairs comfortable. Some recommend, however, buying this set for only a small balcony or patio space.

How We Chose

Here’s what we looked for when evaluating each chair included in our ranking, and a few things you should consider before choosing chairs for your yard, patio, deck, or balcony:

Perhaps the most important consideration, though, is size: the size and shape of the people using the chair, but also the size of your available outdoor space. Don’t choose an outdoor rocking chair that just won’t fit.

Our Process

For this guide on outdoor rocking chairs, our team spent 5 hours researching the most popular options from over 25 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about twenty-five user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each outdoor rocking chair. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 5 outdoor rocking chairs on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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