Hanging garden chair: egg chair or hammock chair?

A hanging garden chair can mean two quite different things. One is a basket-shaped egg chair on its own stand. The other is a fabric or rope seat that hangs from a beam, branch or separate frame. A swing bench is different again: it seats more people and needs room to move. Decide which sort you mean before comparing colours or cushions.

Start with the place it will stand

Measure the floor space and the clear space around it. An egg chair can look compact in a product photo, but its base, basket and gentle movement all need room. Leave a path past the chair rather than placing it tight against a wall or near a door. If you want a seat under a pergola or from a tree, check that the structure is suitable for hanging furniture. Do not assume an ordinary garden beam is designed to take a moving load.

A freestanding chair is easier to place because the support is part of the set. Check the listing carefully, though: a picture of a hanging seat does not mean the stand comes with it. The Outsunny folding egg chair explicitly lists a stand and safety strap. The Outsunny cotton rope hanging chair is a fabric option with a cushion; read its product details to work out what you will hang it from.

Egg chair or hammock chair?

An egg chair has a shaped basket and a more upright seat. It works when you want to sit with a book and not rearrange the fabric each time you get in. Baskets vary in shape, and some are made to fold for storage. If you prefer to stretch out, look at the egg chairs with a footstool. The Outsunny rattan chair and footstool set lists both the stool and cushions; check its dimensions rather than guessing from the picture.

A hammock chair is softer and less rigid. Cotton rope or fabric seats take up less storage space when removed, but hanging them is a separate decision. Some listings are for the seat alone, others for a frame alone. Our hammocks and hanging chairs range includes both. For example, the Outsunny metal hammock stand is a stand, not a complete chair. Do not buy a stand and assume the seat is in the box.

How is a swing seat different?

Garden swing seats are closer to a bench. They are worth comparing if two people want to sit together, or if you want a canopy overhead. Their frame takes up more floor space than a single hanging chair. Have a look at our garden swings if that sounds more useful than a one-person seat. Our separate guide to garden swing chairs covers swing benches in more detail.

What to check on the listing

Start with the contents of the box: chair, stand, hanging fittings, cushion and footstool are not interchangeable parts. Then check the assembled dimensions, the stated weight limit and the instructions for the surface where the frame will sit. A seat beside a narrow patio door may fit on paper but still block the route once it moves. If you plan to bring it in at the end of the season, look for a basket that folds or a frame you can dismantle, and make sure the stored pieces will fit where you intend to keep them.

Fabrics and frames need different care. Look at the material named on the product page and follow that item's care instructions. Bring loose cushions in when they are wet rather than assuming every cushion can stay outdoors indefinitely. For a rope seat, inspect the hanging points as well as the fabric before use. The product instructions, not a generic guide, should decide which fittings and supports are suitable.

Questions shoppers ask

Does a hanging chair come with a stand?

It depends on the listing. Our folding Outsunny egg chair above names a stand in its title. The separate metal hammock stand is just a frame. Check the included parts on the individual product page before ordering.

Can I use an egg chair indoors?

Some listings describe both indoor and outdoor use, including the folding egg chair linked above. Measure doorways and floor space first; a stand and basket take up more room than a dining chair.

Is a hammock chair the same as an egg chair?

No. A fabric hammock chair hangs as a soft seat. An egg chair has a shaped basket, often suspended from a freestanding frame. Browse both types before deciding which feels right for your space.

These seats are part of our wider garden furniture range. Choose the style first, then compare the dimensions and included parts of the actual chair you are buying.