Outdoor Table and Chairs NZ: Materials, Sizes and Types

Seats on a small table: 2–4 people (Trade Tested (NZ product guide)) · Table space per person: about 60cm (Bunnings New Zealand, hardware retailer buying guide) · Clear space behind each chair: around 1 metre, or 100cm (Mitre 10 NZ (hardware retailer guide))

The table below lists the figures that matter most when you compare sets, with each value traced to its publisher.

What types of outdoor table and chairs are sold in NZ?

Retailers separate outdoor dining from lounge seating, and the split shapes which set you end up with. Dining sets are built around a table and chairs for meals, while lounge suites are for sitting back. Both come in aluminium, wicker and timber versions.

Dining sets and lounge suites

• Danske Møbler’s catalogue lists aluminium and woven wicker chairs and tables, which makes it a useful reference for both materials (Danske Møbler, NZ furniture catalogue).
• iFurniture’s BONDI 7PC Aluminium Outdoor Lounge/Dining Set shows that one listing can mix lounge and dining seating (iFurniture, NZ outdoor retailer).

Start with the set type that matches how you use the space. A dining set suits meals; a lounge suite suits long afternoons. Mixing both on a small balcony usually means losing walking room.

Round versus rectangular tables

• Round tables take up less floor width and suit compact layouts.
• Rectangular tables allow extra seating at each end or a bench seat, which helps larger groups.
• Extendable options add flexibility: one Trade Me listing pairs a dining setting with 8 chairs that extend to a 10-seater, priced at $310.00 reserve-met (Trade Me (NZ marketplace)).

Pieces that work indoors and outdoors

• Some lightweight pieces move easily between rooms and the deck, which is why aluminium is common for this use.
• Heavier timber and teak pieces are built more for permanent outdoor placement.

The type question is really a placement question. Decide where the set will sit before you pick the style.

The implication: Choosing a dining set or a lounge suite is the first filter, and it removes half the listings before you compare anything else.

Which materials suit outdoor table and chairs in NZ?

Material decides how the set handles sun, salt and rain. The listings give a clear pattern, with aluminium and resin favoured for exposed or coastal sites and timber preferred where there is shelter.

Aluminium and steel frames

• Powder-coated aluminium is the most rustproof option for coastal conditions (Trade Tested, NZ product guide).
• Aluminium is lightweight, while steel is generally heavier and needs its protective finish maintained to help prevent rust (Mitre 10 NZ, hardware retailer guide).

Teak and reclaimed teak

• Teak adds natural warmth and is weather resistant when it is good quality, but timber chairs need an annual coat of oil (Bunnings New Zealand, hardware retailer buying guide).
• iFurniture describes its BALI range as made from eco-friendly natural plantation teak wood, handcrafted (iFurniture (NZ outdoor retailer)).

Wicker and woven finishes

• Synthetic wicker gives a relaxed look (Mitre 10 NZ, hardware retailer guide).
• PE wicker and rattan last longer in covered areas than in full exposure (Bunnings New Zealand, hardware retailer buying guide).

Use this table to compare the three main options at a glance.

“Powder-coated aluminium is the most rustproof option for coastal conditions.”

Trade Tested (NZ product guide)

The implication: Material is not a style choice alone. It sets how often you will spend time maintaining the set.

What size outdoor dining table fits your space?

Seat count is the number everyone checks first, but it does not tell you how much room the table takes up. Floor clearance decides whether a set is comfortable or cramped.

Seating capacity from four to twelve people

• Small outdoor tables usually seat 2–4 people, while larger outdoor dining tables can seat up to 8 (Trade Tested, NZ product guide).
• Harvey Norman advises a 4–6 seater suits families, and extendable tables give room for larger gatherings (Harvey Norman NZ, national retailer).

Measuring usable floor area

• Allow about 60cm of table space per person (Bunnings New Zealand, hardware retailer buying guide).
• Allow around 1 metre of clear space behind each chair (Mitre 10 NZ, hardware retailer guide).

“Allow around 1 metre of clear space behind each chair so people can sit down and get up without bumping the wall or railing.”

Mitre 10 NZ (hardware retailer guide)

Round tables for compact layouts

• A round table suits a compact layout because it avoids corners that catch chairs.
• Check the clearance rule above before you choose a round size, since the table footprint alone does not show whether chairs can pull out.

The implication: Measure the floor first, then pick the table. The seat count should come second.

Where can you buy outdoor furniture in NZ?

Buying channels differ in what they show you. Big-box and hardware stores list many options, specialist stores focus on design, and marketplaces mix new and used stock.

Large home and hardware retailers

• The Warehouse lists a Buy 1 Living & Co Serra Table & 6 Living & Co Serra Chairs deal at $349.99 (The Warehouse, national discount retailer).
• Mitre 10 NZ’s outdoor furniture guide sets out the clearance and table-edge rules used in this article.

Specialist furniture stores

• iFurniture lists its BALI 3PC Solid Teak Outdoor Dining Set at $112–$227 (iFurniture, NZ outdoor retailer).
• Your Home and Garden NZ compares retailers, including Freedom’s Pair Concrete Outdoor Table at $2,089 (Your Home and Garden NZ, shopping guide).

Online-only sellers

• Marketplace listings can show a teak table at a single price point, so check whether the price is a retail rate or a one-off sale.
• Archipro gives a broad price range for NZ outdoor dining furniture, which helps as a loose benchmark only (Archipro, NZ design directory).

The implication: Compare the same set across two retailers before you buy, because the price spread is wide and the listings are not dated consistently.

How do you maintain outdoor table and chairs in NZ weather?

Upkeep depends on the material, and the retailer guides agree on the basics. Timber asks for regular oil, while aluminium asks for little more than a wipe down.

Cleaning timber and teak

• Timber chairs need an annual coat of oil to hold up outdoors (Bunnings New Zealand, hardware retailer buying guide).
• Mitre 10 notes that timber offers natural warmth but needs regular maintenance (Mitre 10 NZ, hardware retailer guide).

Protecting metal and wicker

• Aluminium is easy to care for and rust-resistant, which is why it is the common choice for exposed sites.
• Steel needs its protective finish kept intact to help prevent rust.

“A good rule of thumb is to allow about 60cm of table space per person.”

Bunnings New Zealand (hardware retailer buying guide)

Checking manufacturer care instructions

• Read the care instructions on each listing before cleaning, because finishes and oils differ by material.
• Keep a note of the coating type so you can match future cleaning products to it.

• Buyers in exposed NZ locations should weigh the care schedule as heavily as the price tag, since a missed oil coat shows up quickly on timber.

The implication: Pick the material you are willing to maintain. A set that goes unoiled or unfinished loses its value fast.

For a buyer with a coastal balcony, the choice is clear: measure 1 metre behind each chair (Mitre 10 NZ, hardware retailer guide), choose powder-coated aluminium for the exposed spots (Trade Tested, NZ product guide), and save timber for sheltered areas where you will keep up the oil.

Related reading: NZ sizing guide for home measurements · Living & Co air fryer review

Frequently asked questions