Rattan Dining Sets: 4, 6 or 8 Seater? How to Choose

There’s nothing quite like a long summer lunch in the garden. A good rattan dining set makes those moments easy, with comfy chairs you’re happy to linger in and a table big enough for everyone. Get it wrong, though, and you’ll have chairs bumping the fence and a table that wobbles every time someone reaches for the salt.

This guide covers the choices that actually matter: how many seats, which table shape, what the top is made of, how comfy the chairs are and what the frame is built from. Take ten minutes to read it and you’ll shop for your next garden dining set with a lot more confidence.

How many seats do you need?

Think about how many people sit down to eat on a normal weekend, then add two for guests. If that number is six, a 6 seater rattan dining set is the sweet spot. Extra seats are always handy, but an oversized table can swamp a small patio and leave no room for anything else.

Seats	Typical table	Space to allow
4 seater	90 to 110cm round or square	about 2.5m x 2.5m
6 seater	120 to 135cm round, or 150cm rectangular	about 3m x 3m
8 seater	150cm round, or 200cm rectangular	about 3.5m x 4m

Allow around 75cm behind each chair so people can sit down and get up without bumping into walls or plants. Mark the footprint on the patio with masking tape before you order. It’s the quickest way to see whether a 6 seater feels roomy or cramped in your garden.

A 4 seater dining set suits couples and small families, and fits most courtyard gardens. A 6 seater is the most popular size for family gardens, because it copes with Sunday lunch and the odd visitor. An 8 seater is lovely for big families and regular barbecues, but it needs a decent-sized patio and somewhere to store eight chairs in winter. If you only host a crowd once or twice a summer, a 6 seater plus a couple of folding chairs is often the smarter buy.

Round, square or rectangular?

Round tables are sociable because everyone can see and chat to everyone else. They suit square patios, have no corners to catch hips on and often have a parasol hole in the middle. A round dining table does struggle to seat more than six, though, unless it’s very large.

Rectangular tables seat more people in a narrow space and sit nicely along a fence or the back of the house. They’re the obvious choice for an 8 seater and for long, thin gardens. Square tables are a neat choice for four, and two square tables can sometimes be pushed together for a party.

Choosing the table top

• Tempered glass: easy to wipe clean and shows off the weave beneath. Choose safety glass at least 5mm thick. A dining set with a glass top is the most common style, and tinted glass hides water marks better than clear.
• Ceramic or stone-effect: scratch-resistant and looks high-end, but it’s heavier and usually costs more.
• Slatted aluminium or composite: lets rain drain away and feels modern. Crumbs can drop through the gaps, which the birds will appreciate more than you.
• Woven rattan top under glass: looks lovely, but the gaps between glass and weave can collect dust and need an occasional clean.

Whatever you choose, check the height. Most garden dining tables sit around 72 to 75cm high, similar to an indoor table, but casual dining sets can be lower, which matters if you want to eat a proper meal rather than graze.

Chairs that are comfy for hours

Dining chairs come in a few main styles. Upright dining armchairs with seat pads are the classic, and they feel most like eating indoors. Lounge-style “casual dining” chairs are lower and softer, perfect if your meals tend to drift into the evening with a bottle of wine. Stacking chairs are handy if you need to store them in a shed over winter.

Look at the chair arms, too. If they’re too high they won’t tuck under the table, which takes up more room on the patio. Thick, removable seat pads make a big difference, and replacement garden cushions are an easy upgrade if the ones supplied are thin. Swivel and reclining chairs are available on some sets, and they’re comfy, but they’re bulkier and add moving parts that can wear.

Frame, weave and colour

As with all rattan garden furniture, go for PE rattan on a powder-coated aluminium frame if you can. It won’t rust, it’s light enough to move around and it’ll handle the British weather year after year. Steel frames are cheaper and sturdy but heavier, and can rust if the coating gets chipped. Avoid PVC weave, which tends to go brittle after a few summers in the sun.

Colour is personal, but it does change how the set looks in your garden. Grey rattan feels crisp and modern next to porcelain paving, and mid-grey hides dust better than pale grey. Brown and natural brown tones feel warm and traditional, and suit timber decking and cottage-style planting. Natural honey shades give a relaxed, holiday feel but show green algae sooner in a shady spot. Black looks smart and hides marks, but warms up in direct sun. If you’re torn, our grey rattan guide has a few tips on matching colours to your space.

Rattan, teak or aluminium?

Rattan isn’t the only option for outdoor dining furniture, so it’s worth knowing the trade-offs. Teak looks beautiful and ages to a silvery grey, but it needs oiling if you want to keep the golden colour, and it’s usually pricier. All-aluminium sets are very low-maintenance but can feel hard and cold without cushions. Rattan sits nicely in the middle: comfortable, light and easy to look after. The honest downside is that the weave can trap crumbs and needs a brush now and then.

For more on how the different types of set compare, have a look at our rattan garden furniture sets guide.

Dining set or corner dining set?

If you want to lounge and dine but only have room for one set, a rattan garden corner sofa set with a rising table could be the answer. It works as a coffee table in the afternoon and lifts to dining height for dinner. The catch is that you’re eating from low, deep sofa seats, which some people love and others find awkward for a full meal. Have a read of our corner sofa guide to compare, or browse our corner sofa sets.

Short on space? A two-seater bistro set or a cube set with chairs that slide under the table might suit a small garden better than a full dining table and 6 chairs.

Finishing touches and care

A garden parasol keeps the midday sun off and turns a dining set into an all-day spot. Check the table has a parasol hole and get a heavy base, as a gust of wind can tip a light one. Add a lazy Susan in the middle and some festoon lights overhead, and you’ll want to eat out every night.

Looking after an outdoor dining set is simple. Brush off crumbs and leaves, wipe the glass, wash the weave with warm soapy water a few times a year and bring the seat pads in when it rains. A fitted protective cover over winter keeps moss and bird mess at bay. Sets run from around £300 for a compact 4 seater to well over £1,500 for a large aluminium 8 seater. If you’re happy to wait, end-of-season sales can be a good time to buy, as covered in our guide to when rattan furniture goes on sale.

Rattan dining set FAQs

Can I leave a rattan dining set outside?

Yes, if it’s PE rattan on aluminium. Bring the seat pads in and use a fitted cover over winter.

Are rattan dining chairs comfortable?

The weave has a little give, which makes them comfier than hard wood or metal. Thick seat pads help even more.

What size rattan dining table do I need for 6 people?

Look for a round table of around 120 to 135cm or a rectangular one of about 150cm, with roughly 3m x 3m of patio space.

How do I clean the glass table top?

Warm soapy water and a microfibre cloth, then dry it to avoid streaks. Our cleaning guide covers the weave too.

See our full range of rattan dining sets, from cosy 4 seaters to big family tables.