The pool heater is back on, the deck has had its spring pressure-wash and the first warm weekend is already booked out. Then someone unstacks last summer's loungers: a sling sagging in the middle, a strap gone brittle, two backrests that no longer lock at the same angle. Replacing commercial sun loungers in September is far easier than doing it with guests on the deck.
This guide for hotels, resorts, strata pools, gyms and holiday parks covers frames, seats, backrests, wheels, deck spacing and care, using loungers from our commercial sun loungers range.
Choosing commercial sun loungers: aluminium or reinforced resin
The Casablanca Sun Lounger (Pack of 2) ($1,863) pairs a lacquered aluminium frame with legs in glass fibre reinforced polypropylene. Its seat is Batyline fabric by Serge Ferrari, which resists tearing, mould and stains. Each lounger weighs 13kg and carries a 150kg safe working load, with a 3 year warranty. The price covers two.
The Pacific Sunlounger (Pack of 2 chairs) ($1,288) takes the other route. Its frame is UV stabilised polypropylene reinforced with glass fibre, and its breathable Serge Ferrari fabric seat is replaceable when it wears. It measures 680mm wide and 1930mm long, weighs 16.5kg and is rated to 150kg. Frame and fabric both carry a 3 year warranty.
The trade-off is finish against upkeep. Aluminium gives a slim, tailored line, and the Casablanca is the lighter of the two. The Pacific's frame has no metal in it at all and will never rust or decay, so there is no lacquer to chip on a coastal deck.
Sling or cushion seats
A sling is fabric stretched tight across the frame. It dries quickly after a swim, lets air through on a hot afternoon and needs nothing packed away at night.
A cushion is softer for a long stay and looks more like a resort. The cost is care: cushions soak up sunscreen, need drying after rain and wear out sooner than the frame.
The Slim Sunlounger with Cushion (Pack of 2) (from $1,909) shows that split in its warranty. The glass fibre reinforced frame has 3 years and the cushion has 1 year.
The Slim is also pool-friendly for shallow water, best in depths up to 12cm, which suits a beach-entry edge or a very shallow ledge. Its 300mm seat height is low, which some older guests find harder to rise from. No adjustable back is listed, so guests who sit up to read are better served by the Casablanca or Pacific.
Backrests, wheels and stacking
The Casablanca and the Pacific both have 5 position backrests.
Wheels matter because staff reset the deck each morning and guests chase shade all day. The Casablanca has rubber wheels, the Pacific small wheels and the Slim hidden wheels, all with non-slip feet.
Every lounger in this guide stacks, so a season's worth can winter in a small plant room. Weight counts when staff lift all day: the Aqua Sunlounger (Pack of 6 chairs) ($1,572) weighs 10kg each, against 16.5kg for the Pacific.
The Aqua is made for light commercial use and comes as six white loungers. It has a 135kg safe working load and a 1 year structural warranty, against 150kg and 3 years for the others here. For a gym terrace, holiday park or strata pool where quantity leads, that can be the right call. For a hotel deck in daily use, the stronger ratings earn their place.
Comparing the loungers side by side
| Lounger | Frame and seat | Back and wheels | Load rating and weight | Warranty | Where it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casablanca (pack of 2) | Lacquered aluminium, Batyline sling | 5 positions, rubber wheels | 150kg, 13kg | 3 years | Hotel decks wanting a tailored look |
| Pacific (pack of 2) | Glass fibre reinforced polypropylene, replaceable sling | 5 positions, small wheels | 150kg, 16.5kg | 3 years, frame and fabric | Coastal properties, family resorts, holiday parks |
| Slim with Cushion (pack of 2) | Glass fibre reinforced polypropylene, cushion | No recline listed, hidden wheels | 150kg, 15kg | 3 years lounger, 1 year cushion | Resort and day-spa pools, shallow-water edges |
| Aqua (pack of 6) | Material not listed; weather resistant, white | Not listed | 135kg, 10kg | 1 year structural | Gyms, strata pools, light commercial use |
Spacing the deck, side tables and lounges
A lounger is close to two metres long, so draw the deck to scale before ordering. The Pacific runs 1930mm long and the Slim 1800mm. The Aqua is 500mm wide and the Slim 720mm.
A simple pattern works on most decks: two loungers with a side table between them, then a gap before the next pair. The Ocean Side Table (Pack of 2) ($265) is 450mm square and 460mm high, and it is listed as the Pacific's matching table. It is resin with glass fibre reinforced legs, UV stabilised, 3kg and backed by a 5 year warranty. It comes in Anthracite, Black, White and Taupe, the same four frame colours offered on the Slim.
Leave a clear walkway of about a metre between the lounger ends and the pool edge, so staff with trays and wet swimmers can pass. Keep loungers and tables clear of the pool fence too. NSW pool safety rules cover tourist and visitor accommodation and require chairs and other climbable objects to stay out of the 90cm non-climbable zone at the barrier. Victoria's barrier checklist asks the same.
Twelve loungers in pairs need six side tables, which is three packs of the Ocean. The loungers themselves are six packs of a two-lounger product or two packs of the Aqua.
For shaded areas away from the water, add armchairs and sofas from the commercial outdoor lounges range and low tables from the commercial outdoor tables range. If a pool bar or kiosk also seats guests indoors, our guide to choosing commercial cafe furniture covers chairs, tops and bases.
Sun, chlorine and salt air: the Australian pool season
Australian pool decks are hard on furniture: strong UV, salt air on the coast and chlorinated or salt water dripping off every swimmer.
The Casablanca, Pacific and Slim are all listed as UV stabilised, so they will not fade. Hose loungers and side tables down with fresh water regularly, especially after salt spray, because dried chlorine and salt wear down fabric and finishes.
Bring cushions in overnight and before storms, stand them on edge to dry, and store them inside when the pool closes for winter.
The season builds through the spring school holidays and peaks over summer, so September is the time to order. Most items dispatch within 3 to 12 business days, and made-to-order items take longer, as shown on each product page.
The Pacific, Slim and Aqua are supplied assembled, while the Ocean side tables arrive flat-packed. Deliveries go to the ground-floor entrance, so plan the carry for a rooftop or podium pool.
Commercial sun loungers — frequently asked questions
What is the best sun lounger material for a coastal property?
A frame with no metal in it, such as the glass fibre reinforced polypropylene of the Pacific, is the lowest-upkeep choice near the sea. It will never rust or decay, and its sling seat dries quickly between swims.
How many sun loungers fit around a pool?
Work it out from the deck frontage rather than the room count. A pair of loungers with a 450mm side table between them takes roughly 1.5 to 1.9 metres of frontage, plus the gap you leave before the next pair.
Are stackable sun loungers strong enough for commercial use?
Yes, when they carry commercial ratings. The Pacific is tested to EN 581-1 and EN 581-2 for static load, fatigue, impact and stability, and is rated to 150kg. The Aqua is made for light commercial use and rated to 135kg.
Should a hotel pool have sling or cushioned sun loungers?
Choose slings for a busy family pool and cushions where guests stay longer and staff can manage the upkeep. Slings dry fast and can stay out overnight, while cushions are softer but need drying, storing and replacing sooner.
Shop the range
Browse the commercial sun loungers range for sling, cushion and resin rattan styles in packs of 2 and 6. The commercial outdoor tables range has side tables to sit between them. For a rust-free all-rounder, start with the Pacific Sunlounger. Metro delivery is a flat $75 per order, and prices include GST.
