Poly vs wood Adirondack chairs comes down to upkeep against feel. A poly chair made from HDPE (high density polyethylene, the plastic lumber used in recycled milk jug furniture) needs little more than soap and water, does not rot, and is heavy enough to sit still in a breeze. A wood chair in cedar, acacia, eucalyptus or pressure treated pine usually costs less, weighs less and feels warmer to the touch, but it asks for sealing or staining to keep its looks. Thin molded resin sits below both on durability.
Poly vs wood Adirondack chairs at a glance
| Factor | HDPE poly lumber | Wood (cedar, acacia, eucalyptus, pine) | Thin molded resin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavy; our HDPE chairs list about 41 to 43 lbs | Lighter; our acacia and eucalyptus chairs list about 22 to 40 lbs | Very light, easy to carry |
| Wind | Stays put | Lighter frames can shift | Can blow over |
| Upkeep | Soap and water, hose off | Seal or stain to hold the color | Wipe down |
| Rot and splinters | Will not rot or splinter | Depends on the wood and the finish | Will not rot |
| Heat in sun | Dark colors get warm | Generally stays more comfortable to touch | Dark colors get warm |
| Single chair price in our listings | $255 to $720 | About $170 to $614 | Not listed |
What “poly” really means: HDPE adirondack chair basics
Poly Adirondack chairs are cut from solid boards of HDPE, the same family of plastic as milk jugs. The YardCraft Poly Adirondack Chair ($399 at the time of writing) is described as handcrafted from recycled milk jugs, with hidden fasteners and a curved fan back.
The weight is the giveaway. The Benzara Elisa HDPE Adirondack chair in black ($482.79) lists a product weight of 42.04 lbs, nearly double the 23 lbs listed for a eucalyptus chair of similar size. That mass helps on open, windy decks. For how HDPE stacks up against aluminum, wicker and iron for a full patio set, see our guide to the best patio furniture material.
Resin vs poly adirondack: read the material line
“Resin” on a listing can mean two very different things. On some chairs it is solid HDPE: our white Benzara Elisa is titled “White Resin” but its specifications say HDPE Resin. On bargain chairs it often means thin, hollow molded plastic. Before you buy, check the material line for HDPE or poly lumber and check the weight.
Wood Adirondack chairs: which woods we carry
Wood chairs win on price and weight. The woods in our current listings are:
- Pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine: the YardCraft Wood Adirondack Chair ($319) uses the same fan back design as the YardCraft poly chair.
- Cedar: the Creekvine Designs Cedar Adirondack Rocking Chair ($579) comes unstained or with an optional cedar stain and sealer.
- Acacia: the Benzara Libo acacia Adirondack chair in blue ($358.85) folds for storage and lists 22.05 lbs.
- Eucalyptus: the Benzara Geli eucalyptus chair in gray ($173.30) is one of the lowest priced Adirondack chairs we carry and ships with a hardware kit for assembly.
Teak and acacia have their own care routines and tradeoffs, which we cover in acacia vs teak wood furniture.
Adirondack chair dimensions from our listings
Adirondack chairs are low and deep, so check the footprint and the seat height before you buy, especially for older guests who find low seats hard to get out of. Sizes below are as listed, in inches. YardCraft and Creekvine listings do not show dimensions, so call us for those.
| Chair | Material | Listed size (L x W x H) | Seat height | Product weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benzara Elisa, black | HDPE | 30.5 x 32.5 x 37 | 16.5 | 42.04 lbs | $482.79 |
| Benzara Covi, gray | Wood | 31 x 33 x 37.5 | 16.13 | 37 lbs | $597.54 |
| Benzara Geli, gray | Eucalyptus | 27.5 x 34 x 35.5 | Not listed | 23 lbs | $173.30 |
| Benzara Libo, blue (folding) | Acacia | 30.25 x 35.75 x 34.25 | Not listed | 22.05 lbs | $358.85 |
| Benzara Libo reclining, white | Acacia | 67 x 29.25 x 28.75 (footrest out) | 14.25 | 35.96 lbs | $487.38 |
Most of these chairs need roughly a 31 by 36 inch patch of deck, plus room to stretch your legs. If you are fitting chairs around a dining set as well, our outdoor dining table size guide covers clearance around tables.
Comfort, heat and fading
Both materials use the same classic shape: a sloped, contoured seat, a tall slatted back and wide arms that hold a drink. Comfort differences come from the surface. Wood generally feels warmer in the cool of the morning and stays more comfortable to touch in full sun. Poly in dark colors such as black or navy can get warm in direct afternoon sun, so lighter colors are a safer pick for a south facing deck.
On fading, unsealed wood weathers toward gray over time, which some owners like and some do not. A sealer or stain slows that. Poly has no finish to wear off, but any outdoor material changes a little after years of sun, so a cover or shade helps either way.
Maintenance: sealing and staining vs soap and water
This is the biggest practical difference in the poly vs wood debate.
- Poly: wash with mild soap and water, rinse with a hose. Benzara notes its Elisa HDPE chair can simply be hosed off.
- Wood: plan to clean and reseal or restain on a schedule, more often in wet or sunny climates. Keep chairs off wet grass.
- Hardware: ask whether bolts and screws are stainless or coated steel. Plain steel can rust and stain the wood around it, so check and tighten bolts each spring.
Folding adirondack chair, rocker or recliner?
Folding Adirondack chairs
Folding frames make winter storage easy and suit renters or small patios. The YardCraft Wood Adirondack Folding Chair ($379) folds flat, and its poly twin costs $429. A fixed frame has fewer moving joints, so choose it if the chair will stay out all season.
Adirondack rocker
An Adirondack rocker adds a curved base to the same seat. The YardCraft Poly Adirondack Rocking Chair ($439) costs $70 more than the YardCraft wood rocker ($369). Rockers need a flat, smooth surface, so they are better on a porch or deck than on grass or pavers.
Recliners and footrests
If you want an ottoman built in, the Benzara Libo reclining Adirondack chair ($487.38) has a reclining back and an extendable footrest, but at 67 inches long with the footrest out it needs a lot more floor space.
Cost: poly vs wood from the same maker
Comparing one maker’s poly and wood versions shows the premium clearly. In the YardCraft line, the standard chair is $399 in poly vs $319 in wood, the folding chair $429 vs $379, and the rocker $439 vs $369. That is a premium of $50 to $80 per chair for poly. For more ways to furnish your outdoor space, browse our designer furniture buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which lasts longer, poly or wood Adirondack chairs?
With no upkeep, HDPE poly usually outlasts wood because it cannot rot. A well cared for cedar or treated pine chair can also last many seasons if it is sealed and kept off wet ground.
Is an HDPE adirondack chair worth the extra cost?
In our YardCraft listings poly costs $50 to $80 more per chair than wood. If you live somewhere windy, wet or coastal, or you do not want to restain, that premium buys a chair you only need to hose off.
What are standard Adirondack chair dimensions?
The chairs in our table run about 27.5 to 31 inches long, 32.5 to 35.75 inches wide and 34.25 to 37.5 inches tall. Listed seat heights are about 16 inches on standard chairs and 14.25 inches on the recliner.
Are resin Adirondack chairs the same as poly?
Not always. Some listings use “resin” for solid HDPE, while bargain chairs use it for thin molded plastic. Check the material line and the weight.
Not sure which chair fits your deck? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship with free freight shipping, and orders below that ship for a $200 flat rate. See our return and refund policy before you order.
