Outdoor events require more thought about chair hire than indoor ones. This guide covers materials, ground surfaces, wind and damp, and which chairs are suited to outdoor use.
Outdoor events require more thought about chair hire than indoor ones. This guide covers materials, ground surfaces, wind and damp, and which chairs are suited to outdoor use.
The same chairs that work for an indoor wedding reception create problems at an outdoor event if you haven't thought through the specifics. Ground surfaces, wind, rain risk and overnight damp all affect which chairs are suitable and how you manage them.
Polyrattan and resin chairs are designed for outdoor use. They handle rain, humidity and UV exposure without deteriorating. Aluminium and painted steel frames are fine in light rain and don't rust. Untreated timber and fabric-upholstered chairs are not suitable for outdoor use in uncertain weather — they absorb moisture and take time to dry out, which affects the guest using the chair and the condition items come back in.
Check with the hire company which materials their outdoor-rated stock is made from before you book.
Resin chiavari chairs handle outdoor conditions well. They're non-porous, light enough to move easily and maintain their appearance after rain. Aluminium chiavari chairs can be used outdoors but may show water marks on the seat pad or frame if exposed to heavy rain. If your event is outdoors or partially outdoors, confirm with the hire company whether their chiavari chairs are resin or aluminium.
Lightweight chairs — stacking plastic, some polycarbonate styles — blow over in moderate wind. For an open site with no windbreak, this is a genuine safety issue, not a minor inconvenience. Heavier chairs (rattan, steel-framed banqueting chairs) stay in place in normal outdoor conditions.
For exposed sites like field marquees, beach venues or hilltop gardens, ask specifically about chair weight and stability. A hire company experienced in outdoor events will know which chairs are suitable.
Rubber feet prevent chair legs from sinking into soft grass and leave less marking on the ground. Gravel causes instability for standard four-legged chairs — legs settle at different depths and chairs rock. Decking is generally fine. Stone and concrete flag surfaces are the most stable.
Check with your venue whether the outdoor surface is level. Outdoor surfaces are rarely perfectly flat, which affects both chair stability and table setup. A slight slope that's unnoticeable indoors becomes apparent when chairs and tables aren't on a hard level floor.
Condensation forms on outdoor chair covers overnight, particularly in summer when warm evenings cool quickly. If your hire period runs overnight — as it does for most event hires — covers may be damp by the following morning. For outdoor events, either choose weather-resistant linen or skip covers entirely. A bare chiavari or rattan chair looks intentional outdoors; a damp, wrinkled cover does not.
For events that move between indoor and outdoor spaces — a ceremony inside, a reception outside, or a dinner inside followed by outdoor drinks — use the same chair style throughout. Chiavari chairs inside and chiavari chairs outside, rattan inside and rattan outside. Mixing chair styles in the same event creates a visual inconsistency that guests notice even if they couldn't articulate why.
Outdoor chairs come back dirtier than indoor ones. Hire companies expect this. Grass and mud on chair feet is normal from an outdoor event. A quick rinse of chair feet and bases before return helps avoid additional cleaning charges that some hire companies apply for heavily soiled items. Check your hire agreement for the specifics — the threshold between normal outdoor dirt and chargeable cleaning varies by company.
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