10 of the best modern garden benches
See our favourite contemporary benches for your garden
A good garden bench is a practical as well as stylish addition to your patio, decking or grass area. A bench is a good place to unwind by yourself, but can also form a crucial social space. They can be everyday garden furniture on a deck or patio, or part of a quiet corner away from the house.
Benches are a lot more hardwearing than other garden furniture, and are more permanent features than other patio furniture. With the addition of planters, a bench can even be part of your garden design, holding climbers, small fruit trees or seasonal displays and at the end of the day a well-placed bench offers a stylish but practical place to rest.
For more garden furniture inspiration, check out our guides to the best garden sofas, garden egg chairs, or garden loungers.
10 of the best garden benches
Argos Home Wooden 4 Seater Picnic Bench
This simple, unfussy bench from Argos is great for families. It can be used for dinners, after-work drinks, kids’ crafts sessions, and much else besides. A classic A-frame picnic bench at a relatively low price.
Price: £100
Buy the Argos Home Wooden 4 Seater Picnic Bench from Argos
Lahan Garden Planter Bench
This glass-reinforced concrete bench would look fantastic in modern, Medditerreanean-inspired gardens and includes a large planter at one end. You could fill it with a small olive or bay tree to enhance the Mediterrean feel, and even provide some ingredients for your kitchen.
Price: £299
Buy the Lahan Garden Planter Bench from Made.com
Pacific Lifestyle Richmond Light Teak Acacia Wood Bench with Pop-Up Table
This bench has an interesting special feature. Either seat three, or pop-up the middle of the bench for a handy drinks rest.
Price: £199.99
Buy the Pacific Lifestyle Richmond Light Teak Acacia Wood Bench with Pop-Up Table from Robert Dyas
SOVANA Acacia Wood Garden Bench with Storage
This acacia bench is great for offering discreet seating midway down the garden. Its low, boxy feel offers seating without any extra fuss. We especially like the handy storage underneath - great for storing garden cushions.
Price: £299.99
Buy the SOVANA Acacia Wood Garden Bench with Storage from Beliani
Sohan Foldable Garden Bench in Acacia & Metal
This bench is made of warm, hard-wearing acacia. We especially like that it folds, so it's great for easy storage through the colder months, or for moving around when giving your garden a redesign.
Price: £189.05
Buy Sohan Foldable Garden Bench in Acacia & Metal from La Redoute
Amara Fatboy Toni Banksi Outdoor Bench
This metal bench is ideal for bright gardens, because it comes in several colours. With UV-resistance and waterproofing, this is a tough bench that needs little upkeep so it's great for busy gardeners.
Price: £660
Buy the Amara Fatboy Toni Banksi Outdoor Bench from Amara
Edson Concrete Garden Bench
For a hard-wearing bench, it’s tricky to top this one. Crafted from glass-reinforced concrete and metal this bench is great for contemporary, modern gardens.
Price: £299
Buy the Edson Concrete Garden Bench from Made.com
Argos Home Newbury Wooden 2 Seater Garden Bench
A simple, classic garden bench that seats two, this traditional design is great for contemporary and country gardens alike. Its light wood means this bench is suitable for painting or varnishing, so it's also a satisfying DIY project that will match your garden style.
Price: £60
Buy the Argos Home Newbury Wooden 2 Seater Garden Bench from Argos
Arianna Wooden Planter Bench
This simple wooden bench has two planters on either side. It’s great for incorporating seating into orderly planting and will help to instantly soften a hard seating area such as a patio or deck.
Price: £89.99
Buy the Arianna Wooden Planter Bench from Wayfair
Crocus Lutyens-style Bench
Our guide wouldn’t be complete without a Lutyens-inspired bench. This handsome example marries classical ornamentation with more simple lines and is made of hard-wearing, FSC-certified eucalyptus.
Price: £229.99
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