Patio and Furniture
POLYWOOD vs Wood Adirondack Chairs: Which Is Worth It?
Quick answer
Choose POLYWOOD if the chairs live outside all year and you never want to paint, stain or seal: the POLYWOOD Classic Adirondack cleans with soap and water for $199.00. Choose wood if you want natural grain, a cooler seat in sun and chairs you can sand and refinish, and you will reseal them regularly.
POLYWOOD chairs are made from HDPE plastic lumber, a dense material that includes recycled plastics and is colored all the way through. Wood Adirondack chairs are usually cedar, acacia, pine or teak, finished with paint, stain or oil. The chair shape is the same; the ownership experience is not. Plastic lumber trades a higher price for almost no upkeep, while wood trades regular refinishing for a natural look and lower cost up front.
Wood Adirondack chairs are not in our verified catalog, so we do not list prices for them here; browse cedar Adirondack chairs for current options. If you are building seating around a fire, size the circle first with the fire pit size calculator.
On this page
- How do POLYWOOD and wood Adirondack chairs compare?
- Which should you choose, POLYWOOD or wood?
- Is POLYWOOD worth the money compared with wood?
- Do POLYWOOD chairs get hot in the sun?
- What about cheaper resin and faux wood Adirondack chairs?
- How far should Adirondack chairs sit from a fire pit?
- Which Adirondack chairs are worth buying?
How do POLYWOOD and wood Adirondack chairs compare?
| Factor | POLYWOOD | Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Example | POLYWOOD Classic Adirondack, $199.00 | Cedar Adirondack chairs (not in our catalog; no price listed) |
| Material | HDPE lumber including recycled plastics, color throughout | Cedar, acacia, pine or teak with paint, stain or oil |
| Maintenance | Soap, water and a soft brush; no painting, staining or sealing | Periodic sealing, staining or painting to resist weather |
| Weather | Built for hot sun, snowy winters and coastal wind; not prone to splinter, crack, chip, peel or rot (maker) | Can check, split, gray and rot if finish is neglected; cedar and teak resist decay better |
| Hardware | Marine-grade (Classic); 18/8 stainless (Modern) | Varies; look for stainless or coated screws |
| Weight and wind | Heavy; owners commonly report chairs stay put in wind | Varies by species; lighter chairs can blow over |
| Surface in sun | Dark colors get hot to the touch in direct sun (owner reports) | Stays cooler to the touch |
| Color | UV inhibitors for color retention on the Modern (ColorStay) | Fades or grays unless refinished |
| Repair | Cannot be sanded and refinished like wood | Sand, reseal or repaint |
| Winter storage | Can stay out year-round | Lasts longer covered or stored |
| Lower-cost plastic options | Keter Alpine resin 2-pack, $255.00; Lifetime faux wood, $199.00 | Unfinished pine kits cost less but need finishing |
POLYWOOD properties are from its listings. Wood characteristics vary widely by species, finish and climate.
Which should you choose, POLYWOOD or wood?
Choose POLYWOOD if
- The chairs stay outside through every season.
- You never want to sand, stain or paint furniture again.
- You live near the coast or in a wet climate where wood decays quickly.
- You want a heavy chair that does not blow around, like the POLYWOOD Classic Adirondack Chair or POLYWOOD Modern Adirondack Chair.
Choose wood if
- You love natural grain and the look of real cedar or teak.
- Your chairs sit in full afternoon sun and you want a cooler seat.
- You enjoy refinishing, or want to paint chairs to match the house.
- You can store chairs under cover in winter.
Is POLYWOOD worth the money compared with wood?
Over many years, often yes. The POLYWOOD Classic Adirondack Chair costs $199.00 and needs only cleaning, and POLYWOOD backs its dining sets, such as the POLYWOOD Lakeside 7-Piece Outdoor Dining Set, with a 20-year limited residential warranty on the listing. A wood chair can cost less up front, but sealer or paint, brushes and a weekend of work every year or two add up, and a neglected softwood chair can rot at the feet and joints within a few seasons in a wet climate. If you already enjoy maintaining wood, or keep chairs on a covered porch, that math changes and wood is a fine buy. The honest answer depends on whether you will really refinish them.
Do POLYWOOD chairs get hot in the sun?
Dark colors can. Owners commonly report that black, navy and other dark POLYWOOD chairs get hot to the touch after hours in direct summer sun, as dark plastic absorbs heat, while lighter colors like white, sand and slate grey stay more comfortable. Wood stays cooler to the touch. If your chairs face afternoon sun, pick a light color or add a cushion, or place them under shade such as a EliteShade 9 ft. Market Patio Umbrella (Acrylic). For warm-climate decks, this is the most practical reason people choose wood.
What about cheaper resin and faux wood Adirondack chairs?
They cost less and weigh less, with trade-offs. The Keter Alpine Adirondack Chair (2-Pack) is molded polypropylene resin with a cup holder and a 350 lb rating per chair, sold as a pair for $255.00. It is light enough to rearrange easily, which also means it can move in wind. The Lifetime Faux Wood Adirondack Chair uses UV-protected polystyrene simulated wood rated to 300 lb that will not crack, chip or peel, for $199.00. Neither has the heft of plastic lumber, but both beat unfinished wood for low upkeep on a budget. See best Adirondack chairs for more.
How far should Adirondack chairs sit from a fire pit?
Set chair fronts roughly 3 to 4 feet from the rim of a wood fire pit, farther for large fires, and always follow the fire pit maker's clearance guidance. That keeps knees and feet out of the worst heat and leaves room to tend the fire. Both plastic lumber and wood are combustible, and plastic can soften or deform with sustained high heat, so do not pull any chair tight to the flames. A spark screen reduces embers landing on seats. Plan the full circle with the fire pit size calculator and see best fire pits for the pit itself.
Which Adirondack chairs are worth buying?
Two POLYWOOD chairs and two lower-cost plastic alternatives from our catalog.
POLYWOOD Classic Adirondack Chair
$199.00The classic POLYWOOD Adirondack in weatherproof HDPE lumber with marine-grade hardware, needing only soap and water.
Best for: fire pit seating that stays out all year
Check price on Amazon
POLYWOOD Modern Adirondack Chair
$279.00A made-in-USA modern Adirondack with a waterfall seat front, wide arms, ColorStay UV inhibitors and 18/8 stainless hardware, measuring 32 by 29.25 by 34 inches.
Best for: clean-lined modern patios
Check price on Amazon
Keter Alpine Adirondack Chair (2-Pack)
$255.00Two lightweight polypropylene Adirondacks with arm cup holders and a 350 lb rating each, cheaper per chair than plastic lumber.
Best for: a matching pair on a budget
Check price on Amazon
Lifetime Faux Wood Adirondack Chair
$199.00UV-protected simulated wood rated to 300 lb that will not crack, chip or peel, with a painted-wood appearance.
Best for: people who want the wood look without maintenance
Check price on AmazonHow we chose
We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
Is POLYWOOD better than wood for Adirondack chairs?
POLYWOOD is better for year-round outdoor use with almost no maintenance: it cleans with soap and water and is built not to splinter, crack, chip, peel or rot. Wood is better if you want natural grain, a cooler surface in sun and the option to sand and refinish. For chairs left outside in rain and snow, the POLYWOOD Classic is the lower-effort choice.
Does POLYWOOD fade in the sun?
POLYWOOD is colored all the way through and uses UV inhibitors, which it calls ColorStay technology on the Modern Adirondack, for lasting color retention. Like any material in years of direct sun, some gradual change is possible, but it does not peel the way paint does. Cleaning off dirt and pollen with soap and water keeps the color looking even.
How do you clean POLYWOOD Adirondack chairs?
POLYWOOD lists soap, water and a soft-bristle brush as the only maintenance needed. Scrub off dirt, pollen and bird droppings, then rinse with a garden hose. There is no sealing, staining or painting. Avoid harsh abrasive pads that can scuff the surface. A pressure washer on a low setting with a wide fan tip can speed up cleaning, but keep the nozzle at a distance.
Can you leave POLYWOOD chairs outside in winter?
Yes. POLYWOOD lists its lumber as built to withstand hot sun, snowy winters and strong coastal winds, so chairs can stay out year-round. Brush off heavy snow so it does not load the chair, and avoid chipping ice off with metal tools. Wood chairs last much longer if you store them in a shed or garage, or at least cover them, through winter.
Are POLYWOOD chairs heavy?
Yes, compared with molded resin chairs. HDPE lumber is dense, and owners commonly report POLYWOOD Adirondacks feel solid and stay put in wind, which is a real advantage on open decks and near the coast. The trade-off is that rearranging them takes more effort. If you want light chairs you can move easily, the Keter Alpine resin chairs weigh far less.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.