Updated May 12, 2020

It can be a challenge to find an affordable, high quality, and comfortable patio furniture set. There are cheap sets for a few hundred dollars and overpriced sets for more than ten thousand dollars. How do you know what’s worth the money? We break down everything you need to know about wicker patio furniture so you can make a smart choice at a smart price.

Don't sacrifice comfort just because you’re sitting outside. Here's how to make sure you look forward to falling into your outdoor couch every day.

Having thick cushions with good padding keeps you comfortable longer. Look for cushions at least 5" thick and back cushions at least 8" thick for extra support.

Don't settle for tiny, cramped patio seating. Aim for at least 32'' of chair depth, so everyone can sit comfortably. We design our chairs with at least 34" of chair depth, making our products some of the best in the industry. Also, double check that the back height is at least 30". Ours are at least 32” inches high, so you have enough support to lean back against. Lastly, you want at least 32" of seat width. We design ours with at least 34" of seat width so you have plenty of room to relax.

The top reason to avoid cheap patio furniture is comfort. Cheap patio furniture tends to be smaller to save on material costs. This results in cramped and uncomfortable seating. A cheaper patio set might have less than 30" of seat depth, or the equivalent to a budget airline's seat pitch. This is definitely not something you want to sit in for long periods of time.

If you want your seat cushions to last, make sure they're made with Sunbrella fabric. They’ve been around since 1950 and are the gold standard for all-weather outdoor fabrics. Here's why.

Your outdoor furniture is going to see a lot of sun. Sunbrella’s unique dying process ensures each individual strand is infused with color. This ensures your fabric holds its color through high temperatures, UV rays, and rain. Cheaper fabrics just dye the outer layer of the material and fade quicker.

Sunbrella’s unique acrylic weave won't absorb water like other fabrics do. Moisture will bead up on the surface instead of seeping through. Not only does this prevent mold and mildew, it also means stains and spills are easy to wipe away.

Sunbrella is OEKO-TEX class II certified. This means Sunbrella fabrics contain no identified harmful materials for skin, the health, or the environment. You don’t want to skimp and use a lesser fabric.

Sunbrella isn’t the only all-weather material we use. We thoughtfully chose materials for the frame and wicker weave to ensure your patio set is up to facing the elements, no matter where you live.

Aluminum is one of the best materials for a patio furniture frame because it is naturally rust and moisture resistant. We apply a unique coating finish to further protect our frame from the elements, including moisture and rust. The frame is lightweight, too, making the patio furniture easy to maneuver and low maintenance.

We weave our all-weather wicker around the aluminum frame by hand to create each set. Our high-end wicker is waterproof, fade resistant, and easily withstands rain, snow, sunlight, and humidity.

Look for these two things if you want patio furniture that lasts for years, not months.

Cheap patio sets use PVC or Nylon wicker. These sets cost less, but these brittle plastics crack under the elements. (In fact, drinking straws are made out of PVC.) They're not designed to withstand all-weather conditions or repeated use. We use UV Treated High Density Polyethylene, or HDPE wicker. This is a specially formulated synthetic wicker that is non-porous, longer-lasting, weather-resistant, fade resistant, and more durable than cheap wicker. The other material to avoid is natural rattan, which is brittle and not well-suited for long-term use.

Wicker comes in three dimensions: Full-Round, Half-Round, and Flat. Flat wicker is cheaper and used in low quality sets. It's thinner, has less weight, and often runs into durability issues. It also falls visually flat as it can't create a true sense of depth and texture. Higher quality sets use Half-Round and Full-Round wicker which are thicker and sturdier. We are one of the few brands that use Full-Round wicker because it creates a luxurious sense of depth, texture, and dimension you just can't get with Flat wicker.

Believe it or not, our patio sets are actually made by hand by experienced artisans with over a decade of experience. Each patio set is given the care and attention it deserves. You’ll know each set has been meticulously created and inspected for you.

Nobody wants to assemble a patio furniture set that arrives in 15 boxes with a thick assembly manual and 50 screws. We make it easy by delivering sets that don't require any assembly.

We ship each piece fully assembled. Your set will come in just a few boxes. All you need to do it open the box, remove the lightweight frames, and layer on the cushions.

You get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap patio set, it’s not going to have the quality you’re looking for. Don’t be surprised if it lasts for less than a year.

However, that doesn’t mean you should be forced to spend over $10,000 dollars on some overpriced patio set. Big retailers often have expensive retail and warehouse space they need to pay for, so they pass that cost onto you.

We work directly with our factory to custom make our orders on demand. You might have to wait a bit longer than other places, but each piece is made for you and we pass the savings onto you.

Simply put, you won’t find a higher quality patio at this price point. Comparable sets at overpriced name brands easily run $6,000 a set. Our sets are competitively priced, starting at $2,595 so you can get the high quality set without the retail markup.

"Beautiful furniture with quality comparable to Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware, at significantly lower price. Love the Sunbrella fabric and the wicker is beautiful."

"I went to five outdoor furniture places and all of the comparable sets were so expensive. I happened upon Ajna online. Their set is Half the price. And it is all Sunbrella (waterproof) - great quality. Our set from Ajna arrived so quickly and is more beautiful than anything in the stores"

"We looked all over online and in patio furniture stores. Most other options were either super overpriced or incredibly overpriced, and not even comfortable!!!"