We've all seen the British weather wreak havoc on a friend's unsuspecting outdoor furniture, the kind that gets used for one or maybe two summers before it's ready for the tip. To make sure your garden tables and chair don't end up with the same fate, now is the time to equip it with a weatherproof cover.
In this article, we go over what to look for when choosing outdoor furniture covers. Whether you're wanting to protect your sun loungers off-season, or require covers for an entire patio set, we've ranked the top 10 best waterproof, wind resistant and mould-free covers on Amazon, eBay and Argos. From heavy-duty Oxford cloth, to deciphering denier count, read on to learn more!
Quick List - Top Outdoor Furniture Covers
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From this simple buying guide you'll come to know what makes an outdoor furniture cover stand out over its lesser-equipped peers. We've looked at materials, waterproofing, shape and a few other defining features to make choosing a furniture cover that little bit easier.
Oxford fabric is fast becoming the benchmark material for outdoor furniture covers. So what is oxford fabric you ask? It's primarily 100% polyester, woven in a particular way to create a heavy-duty, premium fabric that's perfect for outdoor products.
It is often selected for its unrivalled strength and durability. This material has increased elasticity, breathability, water-resistance and stiffness, while also benefiting from a thicker weave. Basically, without getting into the nitty gritty, it's the material of choice for almost all premium outdoor furniture covers today.
Other fabrics you will find used commonly in outdoor furniture covers include nylon, and the plastic composite of polyethylene. Both materials have their own water-resistant properties. However, polyester is seen as the superior fabric, as it retains the least amount of water.
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC coatings are used to give furniture covers a super-powered, smooth vinyl backing. When paired with polyester oxford fabric, the two create a double-act of outstanding resistance against the harshest of climates.
The hardened coating is fire-retardant and gives the cover UV stabilisers and increased mildew and water resistance at the same time. This improves the effectiveness of the cover and boosts its longevity with a toughened finish.
Outdoor furniture covers are commonly categorised by their denier count. The denier count refers to the weight and thickness of the fibre. A higher denier count equates to a heavier cover that is stronger, longer-lasting and subsequently more expensive.
The highest denier count you'll likely come across online is 600D. However, 240D and 400D covers will also be suitable for protecting garden furniture. If a brand chooses to skip over the material's denier count entirely, that'll be a good indicator that it's probably on the lower-end of the denier spectrum.
There's an infinite amount of outdoor furniture in the UK, catering for every kind of occasion and families of all sizes. With this in mind, there are still some industry standards for outdoor furniture in regards to shape and size.
The most common shapes are round, rectangular and square. From these three shapes, you'll likely be able to put together a set to cover a majority of tables and chairs. Other less common shapes include designs to fit sun loungers, stacked chairs and L shaped sets.
When it comes to sizing, thankfully many brands have included a wide range of options to accommodate furniture great and small. Just make sure to check the dimensions to avoid any disappointment.
Each brand will have their own take on the air vent. However, their two main purposes remain the same; to prevent mildew build-up inside the cover, and to reduce the chance of wind lofting.
Wind lofting is when wind funnels in and becomes trapped, inevitably putting unwanted strain on your cover. Over time, this could rip the cover, potentially sending both the cover and your furniture flying.
Buckles and velcro straps give furniture covers added resistance against the wildest of weather. When those roaring Atlantic fronts move across the UK, creating hysteria in neighbourhoods the nation over, you don't want to be one of the less-fortunate folk who can't batten down their outdoor furniture hatches.
Some of the premium covers have up to 4 buckles to really give your furniture a fighting chance against those wicked winter storms. These buckles or straps should be an accompaniment to the standard drawstring that every cover should have. If it doesn't at least have a drawstring, then you're better off looking for one that does.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Arizec Sqaure Garden Table Cover With Air Vent | ![]() | Everything You Need to Defend Against the Elements | |
2 | Dokon Garden Table Cover With Air Vent | ![]() | Make Wind Lofting a Thing of the Past | |
3 | King Do Way Rectangular Outdoor Furniture Cover | ![]() | A Large Premium Cover at an Amazing Price | |
4 | INMUA Heavy-Duty Stacking Chair Cover | ![]() | Versatile Cover to Fit Stackable Patio Chairs | |
5 | Yeemoutylo Round Waterproof Table Cover | ![]() | Inexpensive Round Cover With a Strong Velcro Strap | |
6 | Raword L Shaped Garden Furniture Cover | ![]() | An L Shaped Beast to Cover Your Outdoor Loungers | |
7 | Argos Home Deluxe Extra Large Oval Patio Set Cover | ![]() | Highly Popular Extra Large Patio Cover From Argos | |
8 | MVPower Garden Furniture Cover | ![]() | Rectangular Furniture Cover With 210D Oxford Fabric | |
9 | FY Round Garden Table Cover | ![]() | Small Cover With a Reflective Strip to Help You Steer Clear | |
10 | Argos Home Heavy Duty Round Patio Set Cover | ![]() | A Basic Cover to Fit Small Round Table and Chairs |
This cover ticks all the right boxes when it comes to materials. The thicker-than-usual 600D material is PVC coated, meaning that this rectangular masterpiece is destined for outdoor furniture cover success!
It's also stacked on the feature-front with handles, air vents, buckles and a drawstring. This guarantees that your cover will stay in place, with enough ventilation to ensure your furniture will be in good nick once summer finally rolls around again.
Dokon are a well-established brand in the outdoor furniture market. They offer many different styles of cover, with most shapes and sizes catered for. Although it was a hard decision, we've chosen their small, round cover for this list!
Comprising of a toughened 600D polyester oxford fabric outer with PVC backing, this small yet strong cover is one of the best for protecting outdoor tables. It also has 4 buckles, 2 air vents and a drawstring, eliminating any chance of wind lofting and mould forming underneath.
Coming in hot with over 6,000 positive Amazon ratings, this rectangular cover is premium quality. Made from 600D polyester oxford fabric with a PVC coated backing, it'll be a force to be reckoned with when up against natures strongest of forces.
Designed to fit up to a 10 seater table, it should have even the grandest of outdoor furniture sets covered. With the inclusion of 4 buckles, drawstring and strap, it's down right astonishing that it comes in at just under £20. Wow!
Inmua ensure that all your wayward outdoor chairs will be covered with this unique design. Comprising of three varying sizes, this is a collection of stacking covers to fit every chair under the sun.
Constructed from polyester oxford fabric with a denier count of 420D, this cover is set to keep your furniture safe. With 4 buckles to keep it strapped down, you can rest easy at night knowing this cover won't be flying freely away.
This 420D oxford fabric cover is the cheapest on our list at the lower than limbo price of £11.99. This is a really good deal as it incorporates all of the aforementioned material plus points, while remaining competitive in price.
It also comes with 6 velcro straps, including 2 side straps and 4 table leg straps, which is another astonishing feat when it comes to value for money. The only reason it's not higher up the list is the 420D denier count. However, all things considered, we highly recommend this cover.
Constructed from polyethylene, this oxford fabric cover has a premium denier count of 600D. This ensures its weatherproofing merit, while also providing a super-durable finish.
Designed to cover your outdoor lounging furniture, or possibly two tables at once, this cover is large, loud and proud. It comes in two sizes, with this being the smaller of the two, making it a winner when it comes to versatility.
This deluxe cover from Argos Home comes very highly recommended from many happy shoppers. This is because of its waterproofing prowess coupled with an oval shape, which is a rarity in the furniture cover game.
Made of strong and durable polyester with a PVC coating, it's a fine example of a cover made to withstand the elements. The only real downside is the price. In fact, it's the most expensive cover on this list.
This rectangular cover from MVPower is perfect for tables that seat between 4-6 people. Constructed from oxford fabric polyester with a PVC coating, it has increased durability and UV protection.
The denier count is again on the lower end of what has come to be the standard in outdoor furniture covers. So if you're aiming to cover a particularly fragile set, or one including cushions, then opting for a higher denier count could be smarter. It does, however, come with a drawstring and fixing clip, so not all hope is lost.
Here is another round cover designed for outdoor tables with a diameter of 128cm or less. The material is made from 210D nylon oxford fabric, which is on the lower-end of the denier count, but should still suffice in times of rain.
It's most striking and defining feature is the green reflective strip that wraps around the lower part of the cover. It's designed to bring awareness to the cover in the darkness of the night, something that could certainly come in handy if you have kids, or you like a tipple or two on a night out.
This army-green cover should blend inconspicuously into your gardens setting. Designed to fit a round table with 4 chairs, it's made from polyethylene, giving it decent waterproofing properties.
It comes highly rated on Argos for doing the job it's intended to do. Although unfortunately, it's lacking in the features department, with all but a simple drawstring. It's also not the cheapest of covers at £25, so make sure you really want that army-chic before buying.
From BBQs to garden parties, there's nothing better than entertaining outdoors during the height of the summer months. But, to make the most of the best days of the year, you'll need to be prepared ahead of time. Luckily, we have a few more articles to help you get your garden and patio up to scratch!
Nothing perishes quite like coverless outdoor furniture left to its own devices. Hopefully, this list has equipped you with a cover to keep your outdoor furniture safe, secured and in the kind of condition you can be proud of, reaping the rewards for plenty more summers to come!
Author: Connor Macanally
No. 1: Arizec|Sqaure Garden Table Cover With Air Vent
No. 2: Dokon|Garden Table Cover With Air Vent
No. 3: King Do Way|Rectangular Outdoor Furniture Cover
No. 4: INMUA| Heavy-Duty Stacking Chair Cover
No. 5: Yeemoutylo|Round Waterproof Table Cover
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