A deep seating patio set is outdoor lounge furniture built for leaning back, not sitting upright: a sofa, sectional or club chairs with a long front to back seat, a lower seat height, and thick cushions. Cushion makers put typical deep seating seat depth at 20 to 25 inches, deeper than a patio dining chair. The listings we carry pair 5 to 7 inch cushions with seat heights from 14 to about 18 inches. This guide explains how to read those numbers, how deep seating compares with chat and dining sets, and how to size a set to your patio.
What makes a deep seating patio set different
Deep seating is about posture. A dining chair keeps you upright; a deep seating sofa or club chair lets you sink back or tuck your legs up. Three things create that feel:
- Seat depth. ZIPCushions describes typical deep seating seat depth as 20 to 25 inches, and calls that front to back dimension the feature that separates deep seating from a dining chair.
- Seat height. Lounge seats sit lower. Room and Board’s outdoor comfort guide groups 14 to 16 inch seats as low and relaxed, 17 to 18 inches as standard, and 20 inches as closer to dining chair height and easier to get in and out of.
- Cushion thickness. Separate seat and back cushions, usually several inches thick, do most of the comfort work.
How to read seat depth and seat height on a listing
Listings mix three different depth numbers, so check which one you are reading:
- Overall depth is the full footprint, front edge to back of the frame. Use it for floor planning.
- Cushion depth is the size of the seat cushion. Our 4-Seat Outdoor Wicker Conversation Set lists a 28 inch deep seat cushion on 33 inch deep chairs.
- Seat depth is the usable sitting space. Room and Board measures it from the inside of the back cushion to the front edge of the seat, so it is always shorter than the cushion once the back cushion is in place.
On sectionals with a chaise, a “seat depth” figure may describe the chaise, not a standard seat. Our Rove Concepts Bora Outdoor Sectional lists a 53.5 inch seat depth on a 61.8 inch deep piece, which is chaise territory. Call us for the regular seat depth.
Seat height should be stated with the cushion on. The 4-seat wicker set above lists 13 inches without the cushion and 18 inches with it. If a listing gives only one number, ask which it is.
Cushion thickness, fill and fabric for outdoor deep seating
ZIPCushions calls 3 to 5 inches the practical range for replacement deep seating cushions and recommends quick dry foam outdoors because it drains after rain instead of holding water. What our listings state:
- 5 inch open-cell foam with polypropylene and olefin covers on the fully assembled wicker sets, listed at 1.6 lb per cubic foot density and 40 to 45 IFD firmness, with machine-washable zippered covers.
- 7 inch high-density foam with Sunbrella covers on Cozy Corner Patio sets such as The Crater 5pc.
- Fast dry foam with a firm feel on Rove Concepts sectionals.
Thicker is not automatically better: a 7 inch cushion raises the seat, while a 5 inch cushion keeps it lower. Fabric choices and how they handle sun and rain are covered in our patio furniture material guide, so we will not repeat them here.
Deep seating vs chat set vs dining set
| Set type | Posture | Seat height | Table | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep seating | Reclined, lounge | 14 to 18 in on our listings | Low coffee table or fire table | Long evenings, naps, watching the yard |
| Chat set | Upright but relaxed | Higher than deep seating; see our fire pit chat set guide | Chat height table, often a fire table | Conversation around a fire |
| Dining set | Upright | Dining chair height | Dining height table | Meals, games, working outside |
If you want both, Castlery’s roundup of outdoor dining and lounge sets shows how a separate dining zone and lounge zone can share one patio. One middle ground we list: the Elegant Outdoor Sectional Set, whose table adjusts from 23 to 27 inches for coffee or casual dining use.
Sizing a deep seating patio set to your space
Deep seats take more floor than you expect. Yardbird’s outdoor space planning guide suggests:
- About 3 feet of walking space between furniture groups and along main paths, plus 6 to 12 inches more if someone in the household has limited mobility.
- 12 to 18 inches between the sofa and the coffee table or ottoman.
- 2 to 4 inches between seats and side tables.
Measure the overall depth of each piece, add the coffee table depth and the 12 to 18 inch gaps, then keep walkways clear around the outside. For example, the Elegant set’s L-shaped sectional measures 82.5 by 110.5 inches before any walkway. Using a fire table instead of a coffee table? Clearance and footprint math are in our fire pit chat set guide.
Sectional vs sofa plus chairs
Sectionals give the most seats per foot of wall and suit a corner or an L-shaped patio. Modular pieces can be rearranged: the Outdoor 7-Person Wicker Conversation Set includes 13 sectional components plus a lounge chair, joined with clips.
Sofa plus club chairs works better in open spaces where people approach from several sides, and the chairs can move for parties. The Patio Resorts Del Rey 8-Piece blends both, with sectional pieces plus a club chair and ottoman. For help choosing sofa length, see loveseat vs sofa. If you want a place to stretch out fully, a chaise piece or a separate lounger may serve you better; our chaise lounge buying guide covers those.
Covers and storage
Rove Concepts recommends its custom-fit outdoor covers, sold separately, for its sectionals. Frame care by material is in our material guide.
Deep seating patio sets we sell
Prices come from our live listings and can change. Specs are the manufacturer’s.
| Set | Pieces or seats | Key specs | Frame | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Seat Wicker Conversation Set | Seats 4 | 18 in seat height with cushion, 5 in cushions | Aluminum, HDPE wicker | $1,716.99 |
| Elegant Outdoor Sectional Set | Seats 6 | 18 in seat height, 28 in deep sofas | Steel, resin wicker | $2,003.99 |
| Cozy Corner The Crater 5pc | 5 pieces | 7 in foam, Sunbrella | Aluminum, PE wicker | $3,195 |
| 7-Person Wicker Conversation Set | Seats 7 | 18 in seat height with cushion, 5 in cushions | Aluminum, HDPE wicker | $3,685.99 |
| Rove Concepts Mika Sectional | 2 pieces | 113 x 68.5 x 27 in | Aluminum | $3,919 |
| Patio Resorts Del Rey 8-Piece | 8 pieces | Sectional pieces 33 x 33 x 25 in, Sunbrella | Aluminum, wicker | $4,119.70 |
| Rove Concepts Bali Sectional | 4 pieces | 14 in seat height, 106.3 x 61.9 in | Aluminum, acacia platform | $4,899 |
| Rove Concepts Bora Sectional | Sectional with chaise | 18.3 in seat height, 127.9 x 61.8 in | Solid acacia | $6,159 |
See the full Rove Concepts outdoor range, or browse more categories in our guide to buying designer furniture online.
Frequently asked questions
What seat depth counts as outdoor deep seating?
ZIPCushions puts typical deep seating seat depth at 20 to 25 inches. Room and Board labels its 24 to 26 inch outdoor seats as deep.
What cushion depth should I look for?
Cushion depth is larger than usable seat depth because the back cushion takes space. Our fully assembled wicker sets list 28 inch deep seat cushions. Taller people often like deeper seats; shorter people may prefer a back pillow.
Is a lower seat better for deep seating?
Lower seats feel more relaxed but are harder to get out of. Room and Board suggests a higher seat, around 20 inches, for anyone with knee or back pain.
Can a deep seating patio set stay outside all year?
Frames rated for outdoor use can, but covers and dry cushion storage extend their life. Check the warranty on each listing.
Get help choosing your set
Send us your patio measurements and we will help you compare depths, heights and layouts. Call 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Freight shipping is free on orders of $999 or more, with a $200 flat rate below that. See our return and refund policy for return terms.
