The first proper cold snap after Easter is when most of us notice. The setting that was in constant use all summer has gone quiet, and the table is wearing a film of dust and leaf litter that no longer wipes off. An outdoor furniture cover is the obvious fix — right up until you realise nobody sells one labelled "fits my setting".
This guide sorts covers by the one thing you already know: how many pieces are in your setting and how big it measures. Every dimension below comes from a cover we stock, so you can check it against a tape measure first. Browse the full outdoor furniture covers range as you read.
Measure the setting, not just the table
Almost every badly fitting cover starts with measuring the wrong thing. A 7-piece setting is a table plus six chairs, and the cover has to clear all of it at once, with the chairs pushed in. If the piece-count labels are new to you, our explainer on what 7, 9 and 11-piece setting sizes actually mean decodes them before you measure.
Take three numbers. Length is the table at its longest point, plus any chair that will not slide fully underneath. Width is the same, across. Height runs from the ground to the tallest point, which is nearly always a chair back rather than the table top.
Compare those to the cover's stated size and leave a little room. A cover 5–10cm larger in each direction still draws in snug; one 5cm short will not go on at all.
Outdoor furniture cover sizes for 6 to 13-piece settings
Sizes below are the manufacturer's cover dimensions, listed longest side first.
| Your setting | Cover cut for it | Cover size (L × W × H) | How it holds on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square 4-seater, chairs tucked in | Odie Home Premium Square Dining Setting Cover | 112 × 112 × 76cm | Adjustable drawstrings |
| 6–7 piece casual dining, 180–190cm table | Shelta 6-7pc Cover | Cut to the setting, six chairs pushed in | Velcro ties at the chair bases |
| 7 piece rectangular | Cover 7pc Dining Setting | 230 × 150 × 80cm | Pull string |
| 9 piece rectangular | Cover 9pc Dining Setting | 290 × 150 × 80cm | Pull string |
| 9 piece round | Cover 9pc Round Setting | 260 × 260 × 80cm | Pull string |
| 11 piece rectangular | Cover 11pc Dining Setting | 260 × 190 × 80cm | Pull string |
| 13 piece oval | Cover 13pc Oval Dining Setting | 330 × 230 × 80cm | Pull string |
| 13 piece rectangular extension | Cover 13pc Extension Dining Setting | 380 × 150 × 80cm | Pull string |
Two things jump out. First, piece count alone does not decide the size: an 11-piece setting is shorter and wider than a 9-piece, because the extra chairs sit along the sides rather than extending the table.
The Cover 11pc Dining Setting ($139) is 260cm long against 290cm for the Cover 9pc Dining Setting ($125), but 40cm wider. Order on piece count alone and you can end up with the wrong shape.
Second, the common 80cm cover height assumes a standard dining chair back, so measure first if you run bar-height stools or high-backed carvers. The most popular size by a distance is the Cover 7pc Dining Setting ($110), because a six-chair rectangular setting is the Australian default.
Fabric: what you are actually paying for
Covers here run from about $49 for the entry-level FD covers up to $249 for the largest L-shape lounge covers, and the gap is nearly all fabric. Entry-level covers use roughly 200gsm PVC with a polyethylene lining: genuinely waterproof, cheap, and sensible for a setting that only needs covering for a few weeks at a time.
The mid-tier grey covers in the table above use a PVC inner coating with breathable mesh panels sewn into the sides. Those panels matter more than they sound. A sealed cover over a damp setting traps condensation against the frame and the cushions, and that does more harm over a winter than the rain would have.
At the top sit the heavier canvas and 420gsm covers. The Shelta 6-7pc Cover ($145) uses a tough waterproof polyester canvas with Velcro ties that wrap in around the base of the chairs, which is what keeps it on through a windy night. Shelta say a cover like this adds years to the life of outdoor furniture.
The 420gsm premium covers are waterproof and breathable in the one fabric, with drawstrings and corner buckles, mildew resistance, and a UV-resistant coating carrying a two-year UV warranty. Because they breathe properly, cushions can stay on the chairs underneath.
Lounges, sun lounges and the shapes nothing standard fits
Dining settings are the easy part. Lounges are where people give up and drape a tarp over everything: no airflow and no fit.
| Piece | Cover cut for it | Cover size (L × W × H) |
|---|---|---|
| Single lounge chair | Cover Single Lounge | 96 × 91.5 × 83cm |
| Two-seater lounge | Cover Double Lounge | 188 × 91.5 × 83cm |
| Three-seater lounge | Cover Triple Lounge | 245 × 91.5 × 83cm |
| Corner or L-shape lounge setting | Cover Corner Lounge Setting | 260 × 260 × 60cm |
Note the height difference. Lounge covers sit at 60–83cm rather than 80cm, because lounge backs are lower, and a cover cut too tall billows and pools water.
The awkward items each have their own shape: sun lounges, hanging pod chairs, coffee tables and closed cantilever umbrellas. The pod chair cover is the one most often skipped, and the one that needs drawstrings most, because wind gets underneath a hanging chair.
What an Australian autumn and winter actually do
May is the month a cover earns its money, and what it protects against depends on where you live. In Melbourne and Adelaide it is weeks of grey drizzle and settings that never fully dry between showers, so breathability outranks everything. In Brisbane and along the NSW north coast the risk is mould rather than rot, and a sealed cover over damp cushions will grow it within a fortnight.
On the coast from Perth to Wollongong, salt is the real problem. Salt-laden air settles on frames and fixings whether the sun is out or not, so a coastal cover is working all year rather than just over winter. Inland, in Canberra or the Riverina, it is frost and UV: cold mornings on wet fabric, then a hard afternoon sun that fades cushions faster than most people expect.
One habit beats any fabric grade: fit the cover only when the setting is dry, and take it off for a few hours on the first clear day after a wet stretch. If your current cover has never quite sat right, our guide to outdoor furniture covers that actually fit goes deeper on fastenings.
Outdoor furniture covers — frequently asked questions
What size outdoor furniture cover do I need for a 7-piece setting?
A standard 7-piece rectangular setting takes a cover around 230 × 150 × 80cm, with the six chairs pushed in under the table. Measure your table's length and width and the height to the top of a chair back, then match those against the fit table above.
Should an outdoor furniture cover be waterproof or breathable?
It needs to be both, and breathability is the half people forget. A sealed cover keeps rain out but traps condensation underneath, which is how frames corrode and cushions turn musty. Look for mesh vent panels, or a fabric described as waterproof and breathable.
Can I leave the cushions on under the cover?
Only if the cover breathes. The 420gsm premium covers are designed for exactly that, so you are not carrying cushions in and out at either end of the day. With a cheaper sealed cover, bring the cushions inside or store them in a dry box.
How much room should I leave when choosing a size?
Aim for 5–10cm of clearance in each direction. Pull strings and corner buckles take up that slack. An undersized cover will not fit at all, and an oversized one flaps and wears at the seams.
Shop the range
Get the three measurements down on paper, then work through the covers range or the wider cushions and covers collection. If it is a corner lounge that lives on the deck year-round, the Cover Corner Lounge Setting ($149) takes in the whole setting in one piece. Still choosing the furniture? Start with the outdoor dining settings range and buy the cover at the same time. We deliver Australia-wide, delivery is free over $100, and most orders are dispatched in 3–10 business days.
