It is the first warm Saturday in October, six people have turned up instead of four, and the alfresco has seating for four. Somebody ends up perched on an esky. A teak folding chair solves that problem twice over: it seats the extra guests, then folds flat against the shed wall until the next time you need it.
This guide covers what folding seating is genuinely good at, how teak behaves in Australian conditions, and when a folding chair beats a fixed one. You will find live prices, a side-by-side comparison and straight advice on oiling. Browse the full Outdoor Chairs & Benches range as you read.
What makes a teak folding chair worth the space
Most outdoor seating is bought for the biggest day of the year and then sits outside for the other 360. Folding chairs invert that. They come out for the BBQ, the school holidays and the Sunday lunch that grew, then go back under cover where the weather cannot reach them.
That storage habit is the reason folding seating often outlasts fixed seating. Timber that spends most of the year in a shed is not being bleached by a Queensland summer or soaked through a Melbourne winter. The Teak Folding Chair ($149) is the version most people start with, because it looks right at a dining table and still works on the lawn.
The trade-off is honest. A chair with a hinge has more moving parts than a chair without one, so open and close it a few times before you commit. A folding action that feels stiff or vague on day one rarely improves.
Beach, picnic, dining: one chair, four jobs
The first job is dining. Two folding chairs at the ends of a six-seater turn it into an eight-seater for the afternoon, and they disappear again by dinner. This is the cheapest way to add capacity without buying a bigger setting.
The second job is the beach and the park. Here a low-slung, lightweight chair beats a dining-height one, because you want to sit back rather than sit up. The Lesands Beach Chair ($69.95) is built for exactly that: sand, a book, and a boot that has to close afterwards.
The third job is the spare room that does not exist. Folding chairs slide into a cupboard, behind a door or into the boot of the car, which is why renters and apartment owners lean on them so heavily.
The fourth job is overflow seating that stays out. If you would rather not carry chairs in and out, a backless piece does similar work without the hinge. The Teak Backless Bench ($283) tucks under a table when it is not in use, pulls out for three at a pinch, and comes in several lengths.
Folding, stacking or fixed: a quick comparison
The three formats solve different problems, and the wrong choice is usually a storage decision rather than a comfort one. Use the table below to work out which format matches the way your outdoor area actually gets used.
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Folding timber chair | Occasional dining guests, picnics, homes with shed or garage storage | Hinges need an occasional check; not a chair to leave out all year |
| Low folding beach chair | Sand, parks, camping, watching the kids at nippers | Too low for a dining table; not a substitute for a dining chair |
| Stacking or fixed dining chair | Everyday seating at a permanent outdoor table | Takes up floor space whether or not anyone is sitting in it |
| Backless bench | Squeezing extra people around a table, narrow courtyards | No back support, so less comfortable for long lunches |
If the chairs will live at the table all year, buy for comfort instead of portability. A more substantial everyday seat such as the Callala Bay Chair ($169) makes more sense there, with a pair of folding chairs kept aside for the days when numbers climb. You can see how the two approaches pair up across our Outdoor Dining Settings.
Oiling, silvering and storage in the Australian climate
Teak weathers to a soft silver-grey when it is left in the sun. That is a surface change rather than damage, and plenty of Australians prefer the look. Oiling holds the warmer honey colour instead, so it is a decision about appearance, not survival.
If you do oil, work in the shade on dry timber, and expect to repeat it once or twice a year depending on how much sun the chairs cop. Folding chairs make this easier than most furniture, because you can carry them to a cool corner of the garage and lay them flat. We go much deeper on the two approaches in our guide to oiling teak or letting it go silver.
Storage matters more than finish. Fold the chairs dry, never damp, and stand them upright rather than stacking them in a pile on a concrete floor. Concrete wicks moisture, and a chair left flat against it through a wet Sydney fortnight will show it.
Salt air adds one step. If you are in Glenelg, Byron Bay or anywhere within a few kilometres of surf, rinse the chairs with fresh water after beach trips and let them dry fully before they go away.
Balconies, strata and small courtyards
On a balcony, folding chairs are often the only seating that works. Floor space on a typical apartment balcony is measured in a couple of square metres. A chair that disappears when the guests leave is worth more than one that looks good empty.
Check your building rules before you buy. Many strata schemes and body corporates restrict what can be stored on a balcony or fixed to a wall, and some limit what is visible from the street. Rules vary by scheme, state and council, so ask your building manager or local council rather than guessing.
Weight is the other balcony factor. Light chairs move in a gust, so bring folding seating inside on windy days rather than trusting it to stay put. Pairing folding chairs with a compact table from our Outdoor Tables range gives you a two-person setting that packs down to almost nothing.
Teak folding chairs — frequently asked questions
Can you leave a teak folding chair outside all year?
You can, but you will get more years out of it if you do not. Teak copes with weather better than most timbers, and the real cost of leaving it out is faster silvering and more surface grime. If the chair is going to live outdoors permanently, a fixed chair is the more sensible purchase.
Do teak folding chairs need to be oiled?
No, oiling is optional. Untreated teak silvers to grey and keeps performing exactly the same way. Oil it only if you want to hold the original honey colour, and know that it becomes an annual job once you start.
Are folding chairs comfortable enough for a long lunch?
A well-made timber folding chair is fine for a two-hour lunch, especially with a scatter cushion. A low beach chair is not, because the seat height is wrong for a dining table. Match the chair height to the job and comfort takes care of itself.
What is the best way to store folding chairs over winter?
Store them dry, upright and off bare concrete. Wipe them down, let them dry completely in the shade, then stand them against a wall in a shed or garage. Avoid sealed plastic wrapping in storage, which traps moisture and encourages mould.
How many spare folding chairs should I keep?
Two to four suits most households. That covers the dinner that grows by a couple of people without filling your shed with seating you use twice a year.
Shop the range
Folding seating is the cheapest upgrade most outdoor areas can make, because it buys capacity without costing floor space. Start with the folding and beach chairs in our Outdoor Chairs & Benches collection, then add a table if you are building a setting from scratch. We deliver Australia-wide, delivery is free on orders over $100, and installation is available on request.
