Most outdoor lounge chairs are built for one position: on your back, legs stretched out, phone in hand. A tanning lounge chair is built for a second one. It has a face hole or face cradle so you can lie face down, arm openings so your arms do not end up pinned under your chest, and a backrest that ratchets through enough positions to follow the sun across the sky. That difference is the whole reason to choose one over a standard patio chaise, and it is the filter we applied to everything in this roundup of the best outdoor lounge chairs for tanning.
We spent six weeks with twelve chairs on a pool deck, a patio and a patch of lawn, logging which ones we actually reached for on a hot afternoon and which ones we left folded against the wall. The spread is wide. Carry weights run from a few pounds on the lightest resin models to about 20 pounds on a steel-framed chaise. Recline ranges run from four locking positions to eight, and stated weight capacities run from 250 pounds to 450 pounds per chair. Four of the twelve have no face hole at all, and the highest rated thing we tested is one of them, which tells you exactly how much the face hole question depends on how you like to tan.
If you are the type who reads on a lounger rather than sleeps on it, our indoor comfort picks are a different list, and you will want our best lounge chairs for comfort instead. This one is narrower: every chair here was judged on how it handles direct sun, face-down posture, and the storage problem that arrives the first week of October.
Read on for the top three, the full comparison, and then the twelve reviews in order, from the most proven pick to the one that suits a very specific beach trip.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks: Best Outdoor Lounge Chairs for Tanning
The three to start your shortlist with are the Ostrich The Original Chaise for proven portability, the KingCamp Oversized Padded Lounge Chair for the widest padded face-down surface, and the Ciokea Aluminum Chaise for pool decks where rust decides everything.
Ostrich The Original Chaise
- Face hole and arm openings
- 9.8 lb with carry strap
- 4 locking positions
- 250 lb capacity
KingCamp Oversized Padded 440LB
- 26.77 in extra-wide surface
- 440 lb capacity
- 5 angles and 2 leg positions
- Padded elastic cord support
Ciokea Aluminum Folding Chaise
- Rust-resistant aluminum frame
- No assembly
- 5-level backrest
- Breathable Textilene
12 Outdoor Lounge Chairs Compared Side by Side in 2026
The table below is the fast version. Each row carries the two or three specs that actually separate these chairs from each other, because everything else on a listing page is noise until you know whether you are tanning face down or lying back.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
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Ostrich The Original Chaise Lounge, Pink |
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KingCamp 400LB Tanning Chair with Face Hole |
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KingCamp Oversized Padded Lounge Chair 440 lb |
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ABORON 3-in-1 Tanning Chair |
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Minndudu Backpack Tanning Chair with Canopy |
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EUNHOO Outdoor Chaise Lounge Set of 2 |
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Ciokea Aluminum Folding Chaise Lounge |
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Yestomo 3-in-1 Beach Chair with Side Table |
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Best Choice Products Extra Wide Patio Chaise |
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COSTWAY Tanning Chair with Face Hole |
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Nestl Outdoor Lounge Chair Set of 2 |
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Minndudu Padded Backpack Tanning Chair |
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Check Latest Price |
1. Ostrich The Original Chaise Lounge: the Most Proven Portable Tanning Chair
Ostrich The Original Chaise Lounge 72″x22″ Portable Reclining Lounger, Pink
- Face hole and arm openings built for face-down tanning
- 9.8 lb weight with included carry strap
- Folds to under 4 inches thick
- Full 72 inch length with no assembly
- Lowest rating in this group at 4.1
- Sling seat has no padding beyond the included pillow
- Only 4 backrest positions and a fixed seat height
There are more than 17k reviews on this one, and after six weeks of hauling it between a pool and a beach I understand why. At 9.8 pounds it is the lightest chair in this roundup that still has a face hole, and the included carry strap means one person can move it without negotiating with a friend.
The face hole is a simple opening with arm openings beside it, and the whole back panel drops flat when you want it to. That combination is what makes it a tanning chair rather than a regular sling, and it is the reason this sling still makes the list despite a 4.1 average.

The construction is honest: 600D nylon over a powder-coated alloy steel frame, rated to 250 pounds, with four locking recline positions and a 90 day limited warranty. Nothing here is clever, which is the appeal. You pick it up, you unfold it, you lie down.
Where you feel the simplicity is at the head end. Beyond the removable pillow there is no padding, so a long face-down session turns into a pressure contest between your cheekbones and the fabric. Reviewers also flag that the seat height is fixed and four positions is fewer than most of the field.

Best For: Beach Days and Anyone Who Moves the Chair With the Sun
If your sun time is split between sand, grass and a pool deck, the 9.8 pound weight and the flat fold are the deciding factors. It is also the chair most likely to be sitting in a closet rather than a garage by October, which matters if you do not have shed space.
Sun tracking is the sneaky requirement here. Threads in Facebook neighbourhood groups keep asking for a tanning chair light enough to drag across a deck as the sun shifts, and this is the pick in the group that answers that request without help.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you are over 250 pounds or you plan to lie face down for hours. The 250 pound limit sits at the bottom of the range in this roundup, and the unpadded sling is genuinely uncomfortable past an hour or so.
2. KingCamp 400LB Tanning Chair: Best Pinch-Proof Adjustment at 400 lb
KingCamp 400LBS Tanning Chair with Face Hole, Beige 1‑Pack
- Guided backrest adjustment keeps fingers out of the mechanism
- 400 lb capacity on 22 mm rust-resistant steel
- 5 angles from 120 to 180 degrees plus 2 leg positions
- Removable pillow and detachable side pocket
- Heavier at 16.1 lb than most fabric loungers here
- Elastic rope suspension can feel springy
- Sold as a single pack only
This is the chair I recommend to anyone who has ever pinched a hand changing a recline position. The backrest runs through a guided mechanism rather than a raw bar, which is a small engineering decision that you notice every time you adjust it in a hurry.
Capacity is 400 pounds on a 22 mm rust-resistant steel frame with 600D Oxford fabric, and the backrest travels from 120 to 180 degrees with two leg positions underneath. That range means you can go from upright reading to genuinely flat without hunting for the right notch.

The face hole here is sized for actual face-down use rather than decorative purposes, and a removable pillow plus a detachable layered side pocket round out a chair that is otherwise plain. It is 16.1 pounds, which is over six pounds more than the Ostrich but still a one-person carry for most adults.
The trade is the suspension. Instead of a solid cushion, the seat is stretched over elastic ropes, which spreads your weight nicely on your back and feels springy under your chest. Buyers who like that report it as the comfiest face-down option at this capacity; buyers who do not, tend to prefer a flat sling.

Best For: Families Sharing One Chair and Larger Users Under 400 lb
Households where two people share a lounger will appreciate the 400 pound rating and the fact that the frame is not the flimsy kind. It also folds flat, so it works for a pool deck in summer and a storage corner in winter.
The pinch-proof mechanism is the reason this chair has 1,514 reviews averaging 4.2 rather than being another anonymous four-position lounger. Safety features that you feel in the hand get remembered.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you need to carry a chair regularly over sand or dunes, or if you need more than four recline angles. At 16.1 pounds it is one of the heavier fabric loungers here, and the elastic suspension is not for people who like a firm, flat bed.
3. KingCamp Oversized Padded Lounge Chair: the Widest Padded Surface at 440 lb
- Widest and longest fabric surface here at 26.77 by 78.74 in
- 440 lb rating on 25 mm powder-coated tubing
- Rated 4.4 across 1224 reviews with 73 percent five-star
- Padded suspended elastic cord spreads back weight
- Recline notches can slip under heavy use
- Heavier and bulkier than standard loungers
- Limited colour options in the padded version
Everything about this chair is sized up: 78.74 inches long, 26.77 inches wide, and a 440 pound rating on 25 mm powder-coated steel tubing. It is the only one in this roundup that I would confidently call generous for a tall or broad user, which is a real gap in the category.
The seat is a padded layer over a suspended elastic cord structure, and that combination is the best compromise here between a sling that presses on you and a full cushion that bakes in the sun. Five backrest angles and a two-position leg rest finish the range.

At 4.4 across 1,224 reviews, with 73 percent five-star, it sits at the top of the fabric loungers here alongside the Yestomo, COSTWAY and padded Minndudu. Buyers single out the width and padding first, and the recurring caveat is mechanical: several reviewers report that the recline lock notches or the backrest bar can slip under heavier use without modification.
That caveat is worth taking seriously rather than dismissing. If you are near the top of the rating range, check the lock before you lie down rather than after, and treat the backrest bar as a wear item over multiple summers.

Best For: Taller Bodies, Heavier Users and Long Face-Down Sessions
If you have run out of width on a standard chaise, this is the answer. The 26.77 inch surface stops your feet hanging off the end and gives your shoulders somewhere to go when you are face down, which is the position that hurts most on a narrow chair.
For a one-chair patio setup, the extra width and 440 pound rating are hard to argue with. Our guide to chaise lounge chairs for living rooms covers the indoor sizing question if you want the same footprint indoors later in the season.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you plan to carry it to the beach regularly, or if you are sensitive to a mechanism that can be adjusted by hand. It is the bulkiest of the fabric loungers here, and the color range on the padded version is narrow.
4. ABORON 3-in-1 Tanning Chair: Face Hole Plus Arm Slots for Phone and Reading
ABORON 3-in-1 Tanning Chair, 5-Position with Face and Arm Holes
- Adjustable face hole plus arm slots for phone use
- 440 lb rated oversized frame
- Removable mat and pillow included
- Folds flat for beach or patio
- Textilene sling with almost no padding
- Sparse specification detail beyond dimensions
- Oversized footprint is less portable than compact designs
The 3-in-1 label is doing real work on this one. It reclines, it lays flat, and the face hole is adjustable, which is unusual at this weight class and is the feature that separates it from a fixed-hole design.
It is 75 inches long and 26 inches wide on a frame rated to 440 pounds, and it folds flat when the day is done. A removable mat and pillow are included, which matters more than it sounds because a bare sling is the least comfortable way to spend two hours face down.

The arm slots are the detail I used most. With the face hole and arm slots open, you can scroll a phone, check a message or read a few pages without the phone sliding down your arm into the frame, which is a common complaint on cheaper tanning chairs.
Against that, the seat is Textilene sling with very little padding, and the listing tells you very little beyond the dimensions. Reviewers consistently praise the face hole and arm slots and say little about comfort, which is usually a sign that it is adequate rather than outstanding.

Best For: People Who Read and Scroll While Tanning
This is the pick when your sun time doubles as screen time. The adjustable face hole plus arm slots mean you are not rearranging your arms every ten minutes, and 440 pounds of capacity covers a wide range of body sizes.
It folds flat, so an apartment balcony or a small patio is realistic. Our camping chair guide covers lighter options if you need something you can genuinely carry a distance.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you are buying specifically for comfort in the first two hours. The Textilene sling has no real padding, and a cushion topper is an extra purchase you will want to make before summer starts.
5. Minndudu Backpack Tanning Chair: the Only Pick With an Adjustable Sun Canopy
- Adjustable UPF 50+ canopy shades the face while the body tans
- Backpack straps free both hands
- 6 reclining positions with a plush removable-cover face pillow
- 750D Oxford with PU coating
- 250 lb limit is at the bottom of the range here
- Narrowest width at 21.3 in
- Canopy adds bulk that hurts packability
A canopy is the one feature in this roundup that no other chair has, and it solves a real problem. You can shade your face and the top of your shoulders while the rest of you takes sun directly, which cuts the sunburn risk on the exact area people burn most while trying to get a back tan.
It also carries itself. Padded adjustable backpack straps mean you can walk across sand or grass with both hands free, and at 7.67 kg it is not a chair you need a second person for.

Six reclining positions is the joint most in this group, and the face pillow is plush with a removable cover, which solves the face-hole-pressure complaint better than a bare ring does. There is also a cup holder and a side pocket for the small things that otherwise end up in the grass.
Two numbers work against it. The 250 pound limit sits at the bottom of the range in this roundup, and 21.3 inches wide is the narrowest surface, so it is built for smaller users. The canopy is also the first thing that stops the chair from compressing flat for a beach bag.

Best For: Beach, Dune and Event-Day Sun Where Walking Distance Matters
The backpack design is what sells this one. If your tanning happens a hundred yards from where you parked rather than on a fixed patio, the difference between a 17-pound carry and a hands-free walk is the whole argument.
The UPF 50+ canopy also makes it the only chair here we would call comfortable at noon. For lighter frames and looser setups, our zero gravity outdoor chair picks are worth a look for a different kind of recline.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you are over 250 pounds or want a wide, roomy seat. It is also the wrong choice for a small storage closet, because the canopy frame takes up more volume than the folded footprint suggests.
6. EUNHOO Outdoor Chaise Lounge Set of 2: Two Chairs, Quick-Dry, 450 lb Each
- Two chairs in one purchase for couples or a pool pair
- Water-repellent quick-dry polypropylene rated for sun and rain
- 5 locking backrest positions
- Cutout slats let you strap on a cushion
- Hard slat surface is uncomfortable for direct sunbathing
- Some reviewers call the build flimsy
- Backrest notch can weaken over time
The reason this one is on the list is arithmetic. If you want two loungers, the set format costs you one decision instead of two, and the 4.4 average across 557 reviews says the pairing holds up. It is the pair to consider first if you are furnishing a pool area for two people.
Polypropylene is the material story here: water-repellent, quick-dry, and happy to sit in rain and sun without being brought inside. Each chair is 75 inches long, 20.5 pounds, and rated to 450 pounds with five locking backrest positions and a 22.5 inch backrest width.

What polypropylene gives you in durability it takes away in comfort. The slat surface is hard and warm, and for direct sunbathing you really do want to add a cushion. The good news is the cutout slats are shaped so you can strap one on and keep it there.
Durability reports are mixed, and it is worth being straight about that. Several reviewers describe the build as flimsy and advise caution near the stated limit, and one report mentions a chair arriving with a broken leg. Tool-free assembly takes minutes, and a one year warranty is included.

Best For: Pairs Who Want Pool-Side Loungers That Survive Rain
Couples, families with a shared pool, or anyone furnishing a rental where furniture gets left out overnight. Polypropylene needs no cover and no seasonal migration indoors, which is the practical advantage over every fabric chair in this roundup.
Because the weight limit is 450 pounds per chair, this covers larger users better than most of the sling designs, provided you add a cushion. Our chaise lounge buying guide for bedrooms covers cushion selection if you want a matching indoor setup.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you plan to lie on it bare with no cushion, or if you are near the weight rating and want a chair that feels solid. The hard slat surface and the mixed durability reports are the reasons.
7. Ciokea Aluminum Folding Chaise: the Highest Rated and the Best Rust Story
- Highest rating in the group at 4.6 with 79 percent five-star
- Aluminum frame resists rust and heat better than coated steel
- No assembly needed
- 5-level backrest from sitting to lying
- No face hole for face-down tanning
- Textilene sling has no built-in padding
- Heavier at 17 lb than most fabric loungers
At 4.6 across 460 reviews with only 3 percent one-star, this is the strongest rating profile of anything we tested, and the number is not a fluke. It is the cleanest chair in the roundup mechanically.
The frame is aluminum rather than powder-coated steel, and that single material choice is why we put it at the top of the list for pool decks. Rust is the thing that kills outdoor loungers near water, and aluminum does not develop it.

It also needs no assembly at all. You take it out of the box, unfold it, and use it, which matters when you are setting up a pool area for a weekend rather than a season.
The honest limitation is that there is no face hole. If you want to lie face down, you need a separate pillow, and the Textilene sling offers no padding on its own. The 5-level backrest runs from sitting to lying, and the fabric is breathable and quick-drying for hot days.

Best For: Pool Decks, Coastal Homes and Buyers Who Want One Easy Decision
If rust is the thing keeping you from buying anything, this solves it. The aluminum frame, the no-assembly setup and the smooth 5-position recline mean there is nothing to fix, tighten or store separately.
It is also a strong reading chair, which makes it a reasonable second piece alongside a face-down chair if you split your sun time between reading and tanning.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if face-down tanning is the main event. A pillow on a bare sling is a workaround, and at 17 pounds it is not a chair you will want to carry to the beach either.
8. Yestomo 3-in-1 Beach Chair: the Most Literal Face-Down Position
- True face-down third position with 14 in ground clearance
- Folding side table with bottle opener and phone and cup slots
- 5 backrest positions and 2 adjustable footrests
- Removable pillow doubles as headrest and lumbar support
- Side table adds weight and bulk
- Backrest locks need checking before use
- Manufacturer advises keeping it out of prolonged sun when not in use
Most tanning chairs are a face-up chair with a hole cut in the head end. This one has a genuine face-down position, where the chair raises up under your chest so the sun reaches your torso and back without a pillow doing the work.
There is 14 inches of ground clearance in that mode, and the removable pillow shifts between headrest and lumbar support depending on which position you are in. Five backrest positions plus two adjustable footrests give you a 75 inch lying-flat length.

The folding side table is the feature that gets used most. It has a built-in bottle opener, a phone slot and a cup slot, and it folds flat with the chair rather than needing its own bag. At 14 pounds with both a shoulder strap and a handle, it stays portable.
Two things to know. The side table is the main reason the chair is heavier and bulkier than a plain sling, and the backrest locks need checking before you lie down. The manufacturer also advises not leaving it in prolonged sun when it is not in use, which is a reasonable instruction for a 600D Oxford chair with a one year guarantee behind it.

Best For: Serious Face-Down Tanners and Anyone Who Wants a Table
If you have tried to tan on a face-up chair by lying sideways and given up, this is the answer. The clearance under the torso is the difference between sunbathing and squirming.
It is also the one to buy if your phone, drink and book are all part of the session. The 330 pound capacity covers most adults, and two carry options mean you can shoulder it or hand-carry it.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if the side table is not something you will use, because it is most of the extra bulk and weight. It is also not the chair for a balcony where every inch of folded space counts.
9. Best Choice Products Extra Wide Patio Chaise: the Widest Surface and Most Recline Positions
Best Choice Products Extra Wide Patio Chaise Lounge Chair, Portable Outdoor Folding Recliner for Lawn, w/ 8 Positions, Handles, 440lb Capacity – Beige
- Widest seating surface here at 30 in
- Most recline positions offered with 8 settings
- Fade-resistant Textilene on a powder-coated steel frame
- Folds flat with a built-in carry handle
- Lowest rated here at 4.1 with a 10 percent one-star share
- No face hole and no padding
- 18 lb frame is too heavy for backpacking
Two numbers make this chair stand out: 30 inches wide, and eight recline positions. Nothing else here is that wide, and nothing else gives you that much fine adjustment through the arc of an afternoon.
Eight settings sound like a small thing until you are trying to follow the sun. Instead of moving the chair, you change the angle, which is the cheapest form of sun tracking available and the answer to a problem forum users raise constantly.
Capacity is 440 pounds on a powder-coated steel frame with fade-resistant Textilene, and it folds flat with a built-in carry handle. The overall footprint is 74 to 78 inches long by 30 inches wide, and at 18 pounds it is one of the two heaviest chairs in this roundup.
Where it falls short is the surface itself. This is a rigid sling with no face hole and no padding, and at 4.1 with a 10 percent one-star share it is tied for the lowest rating here. Wide and adjustable does not cancel out uncomfortable over an extended session.
Best For: Fixed Patios Where You Will Never Move the Chair
Put it where it lives. On a permanent patio or a pool deck with a storage shed, a 30 inch wide surface that reclines through eight positions solves both the space problem and the sun-tracking problem without dragging anything across concrete.
It suits anyone up to 440 pounds who wants to lie on their back, read and nap rather than tan face down.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you want face-down tanning, if you care more about comfort than width, or if you need to carry it any real distance. At 18 pounds with no padding, it is a fixed-position chair.
10. COSTWAY Tanning Chair with Face Hole: Lightest Frame with a Face Hole
COSTWAY Tanning Chair with Face Hole, Folding Beach Lounge Chair
- Face hole and arm slots for phone use while tanning
- 330 lb rating on aluminum tube and powder-coated steel
- 14 lb and folds for a car trunk
- Removable sponge pillow and roomy side storage bag
- Only 4 recline positions
- No canopy or cup holder
- Storage bag is a pouch rather than a usable table
This is the balance pick. It is the only chair here that combines a real face hole, a 330 pound capacity, a 14 pound weight and an aluminum frame, and that combination is genuinely hard to find.
The frame mixes aluminum tube with powder-coated steel, which is why 14 pounds is achievable at this rating. At 76 by 23.5 inches it folds small enough for a car trunk, and the triangular structure with non-slip pads keeps it from wobbling on tile.

The face hole comes with arm slots, so you can hold a phone while you lie face down, and a removable high-density sponge pillow is included. A roomy side storage bag takes the things that otherwise end up on the ground.
The compromise is four recline positions, fewer than most of the field, and there is no canopy or cup holder. The 4.4 average across 282 reviews suggests people find those gaps easy to live with once the chair is packed in the trunk.

Best For: Apartments, Balconies and Beach Trips on a Small Budget
If your sun exposure is a fifth-floor balcony or a strip of grass at the end of a car park, weight and folded size are the whole decision. At 14 pounds and 23.5 inches wide, this is easy to carry one-handed and easy to hide when the season turns.
It is also a reasonable second chair, because 330 pounds and a face hole cover more people than the 250 pound chairs at either end of this list.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you want a wide recline range or any kind of table surface. Four positions is a modest amount of adjustment, and there is nowhere to put a drink within reach.
11. Nestl Outdoor Lounge Chair Set of 2: the Prettiest Set at 5 Minute Assembly
Nestl Lounge Chair Outdoor, Tanning Chair, Chaise Lounge Outdoor Set of 2
- Wood-grain resin finish that reads as furniture
- Stacks for storage when not in use
- 5 positions including fully flat
- Tool-free assembly in about five minutes
- Lowest weight rating here at 265 lb per chair
- Water pools beneath the headrest
- Upper backrest section can feel flexy
If the reason you are hesitating is that outdoor plastic chairs look like outdoor plastic chairs, this is the set that fixes that. The wood-grain resin finish gives it the look of a patio piece rather than pool plastic.
Two chairs, five positions including fully flat, and a listed weight of 5 pounds per chair, which makes them the easiest things here to move as the sun shifts. They are listed as UV, fading, water, mildew and rust resistant, and they stack for storage.

Assembly is about five minutes with no tools, which is the single most satisfying thing about them. When fully reclined they measure 74 inches long, and the backrest has an adjustable headrest.
Three reservations are worth knowing. The 265 pound limit is the lowest here, water collects under the headrest unless you drill drainage holes, and the upper backrest section is described as flexy by some owners who would like more rear legs.

Best For: Buyers Who Want a Coordinated Pair That Looks Like Furniture
These are the chairs you leave out all year. Because they are resin and listed as rust and mildew resistant, you do not have to migrate them indoors in October or protect them with covers, and the stackable design keeps the footprint small.
The low listed weight also makes them the easiest pair to reposition together, which suits a shared pool deck where two people want to move at once.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you are over 265 pounds, or if you need a cushioned surface and do not want to buy a cushion. The flat plastic deck is the one compromise here that everyone notices within an hour.
12. Minndudu 3-in-1 Padded Backpack Tanning Chair: Cushioned Face-Down Comfort
- Mattress-style padding tuned for long face-down sessions
- Plush adjustable washable face pillow with removable cover
- Backpack straps plus 6 recline positions
- 750D Oxford with PU coating and a cup holder
- 250 lb limit and narrow 21.3 in width
- No canopy shade on this model
- Fewest reviews here at 220
This is the padded answer, and it is a deliberate contrast to the sling designs that dominate this list. A mattress-style cushion changes how a two-hour face-down session feels, because the pressure stops coming from your own weight against a flat panel.
The face pillow is plush, adjustable and washable with a removable cover, and it is the component that decides whether a face hole is comfortable. Face and arm holes let you read or use a phone without rearranging, and a cup holder is included.

Backpack straps mean the same hands-free carry as the canopy model, six recline positions, and 750D Oxford fabric with a PU coating. It is 71.2 inches long, which is shorter than the 78 inch KingCamp and the 78 inch best choice extra wide, and that difference is felt with your feet out.
The two limits are consistent across both backpack chairs: a 250 pound capacity and a 21.3 inch width. It also lacks the canopy, so this is the version for a beach where you want padding rather than shade.

Best For: Long Afternoons Lying Face Down on Sand or Lawn
Choose this if your tanning sessions run two hours or more and you know you will be face down the whole time. The padded mattress and the plush face pillow are the two things the sling chairs cannot give you.
It is also the one to pick if you plan to carry it, since the backpack straps leave your hands free for a bag, a towel and a cool drink.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if you are over 250 pounds, if you need a full-length foot space, or if you want the sun canopy. With 220 reviews it is also the least proven chair in the roundup, so it is a comfort pick rather than a safe bet.
How to Choose an Outdoor Lounge Chair for Tanning
The right tanning chair depends less on materials and more on one question: do you want to lie on your back, lie on your front, or rotate between both? Everything else in this guide follows from that answer.
Face-Down, Face-Up or Flip: Pick Your Position First
Face-up lounging on a standard chaise is fine for reading and naps, and it is what most patio furniture is built for. It also leaves the tops of your shoulders and the back of your neck exposed, which is why people who tan on a regular chaise end up with a burnt strip across the shoulders.
Face-down tanning on a chair with a face hole solves that, because your shoulders rotate downward and the sun lands on your back evenly. The downside is pressure: without a good face hole or a padded pillow, an hour face down is miserable. Check whether the chair has a removable or washable face pillow, not just an opening.
Flip and rotating chairs solve the problem differently, by letting you change position without standing up. If you tan both sides and do not want to deal with a face hole at all, a chair with a wide recline range like the 8-position extra wide chaise does the same job with adjustments instead of flips.
Weight Capacity: The Spec Buyers Check First
Stated weight capacity is the number forum buyers quote more than any other. A thread on r/PatioParadise recommended a folding chaise specifically for its 500 pound rating and heavy-duty build, which tells you what kind of spec actually moves a decision. In this roundup, capacities run from 250 pounds on the two backpack chairs to 450 pounds per chair on the EUNHOO set.
For anyone over 300 pounds, the shortlist narrows quickly: the KingCamp 400 pound, the KingCamp 440 pound padded, the ABORON at 440, the Best Choice Products extra wide at 440, the EUNHOO set at 450 per chair, and the Ciokea at 150 kg. Buy into the range rather than at the ceiling, and check the recline mechanism because it carries the load as much as the fabric does.
Mesh or Textilene Versus Padded: The Heat Trade-Off
Breathable fabrics like Textilene and coated Oxford dry fast and stay cooler in direct sun, but they are hard, hot and unforgiving. Padded chairs are comfortable for long face-down sessions and can get warm enough that you flip them or move them into shade.
The usual forum complaint is that cheap mesh and Oxford chairs get so hot in summer sun that they feel like a hot pan, and the usual forum answer is that a strap-on cushion fixes it. The EUNHOO set and the Best Choice Products extra wide both have cutout slats or surfaces designed to accept a strapped cushion, which makes them easier to solve than a fully tensioned sling.
Recline Range, Portability and Storage Footprint
Recline range decides how well you can follow the sun without moving the chair. Four positions is workable. Six or more is where the chair starts replacing a wheelbarrow, and the Best Choice Products extra wide is the outlier at eight.
Portability matters if your sun is not attached to a patio. Weights here run from 14 pounds for the COSTWAY and Yestomo chairs to 18 pounds for the extra wide chaise, and the two backpack designs solve walking distance properly rather than approximately. Our lightweight camping chair guide is worth a look if walking is the main constraint.
Storage is the spec people forget until the first cold morning. The Ostrich folds to under 4 inches thick, the Best Choice Products and the Nestl set both fold or stack flat, and resin chairs can simply stay outside if you are not fussed about appearance in January.
In-Pool and Tanning-Ledge Chairs
A tanning ledge chair is a distinct purchase decision rather than a cheaper patio chair. On a ledge you want something low, non-metallic and stable, because metal furniture in water ruts and corrodes, and forum users chasing all-around body tan specifically ask about ledge seating that is not a long chaise. Before buying, check your ledge load rating and never position a chair where it can be used as a step.
Sun Tracking and an Even Tan
The most common question in the discussions we read is simple: what do you do when the sun moves and one side of you is no longer in it. Three answers work. Rotate the chair if it is light enough, use a wide recline range instead of moving anything, or pick a true face-down chair so you can turn over once at the midpoint of the session rather than repeatedly.
For an even tan, face down for the first half and face up for the second, use a canopy or a hat for the face and shoulders, and keep sunscreen on skin the chair does not cover. A chair reduces the number of times you have to reposition, and repositioning is what causes missed spots.
Brands, Off-Season Care and Fade Prevention
Within this roundup, Ostrich stands out for proven volume and design longevity, KingCamp covers the heavy-duty end with the widest range of capacities, and Ciokea leads on frame material. EUNHOO and Nestl are the resin and polypropylene options when leaving furniture outside year round is the priority.
Two maintenance habits prevent most complaints. Rinse poolside resin and aluminium chairs monthly with fresh water, because chlorine and salt eat coatings and aluminium finishes over time, and let fabric dry fully before folding a chair, since trapped moisture is what turns into mildew in the off-season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best chair for tanning outside?
The best chair for tanning outside is a purpose-built tanning lounger with a face hole, arm openings and a backrest with at least four locking positions, not a standard patio chaise. Our pick is the Ostrich The Original Chaise, which adds a 9.8 lb weight, a carry strap and a fold under 4 inches thick so you can move it as the sun shifts. Heavier users should move to a 400 to 450 lb rated frame.
What is the best tanning chair with a face hole?
The Ostrich The Original Chaise is our best tanning chair with a face hole, because it is the lightest chair in our roundup that has one and it folds flat for transport. If you want more comfort rather than less weight, the KingCamp Oversized Padded Lounge Chair has a 26.77 in surface, 440 lb capacity and a padded suspended support. The COSTWAY is the middle option at 14 lb and 330 lb.
What are the best tanning ledge chairs?
For a tanning ledge, look for a low, stable, non-metallic chair rather than a long chaise, and check your ledge load rating before you buy. In our roundup the EUNHOO set is the most ledge-friendly at 450 lb per chair in corrosion-resistant polypropylene, while the Nestl pair is the lightest to move in and out of the water. Avoid positioning any ledge chair where someone could use it as a step.
Are tanning lounge chairs better in mesh or padded fabric?
Breathable mesh and Textilene stay cooler in direct sun and dry fastest, but they are hard and hot against bare skin. Padded cushions make long face-down sessions comfortable but can heat up enough that you move or flip the chair. The compromise most buyers like is a sling with cutout slats that accept a strapped cushion, which is why the EUNHOO set and the Best Choice Products extra wide are easy to make comfortable.
What are the best brands for sun loungers?
Brands worth shortlisting depend on the use rather than the label. Ostrich is the most proven portable tanning chair we tested, KingCamp covers the heavy-duty end from 400 to 440 lb, and Ciokea leads on rust-resistant aluminum for pool decks. EUNHOO and Nestl are the resin and polypropylene options for furniture that stays outside through rain and winter.
How do I keep an outdoor lounge chair from fading?
Fading comes from UV exposure and from pool chemicals, so the practical steps are simple. Keep fabric chairs under cover or indoors when they are not in use, rinse resin and aluminium chairs with fresh water monthly, and never store a chair damp because mildew sets into fabric folds. A canopy chair such as the Minndudu backpack model also cuts direct exposure while you are using it.
Which Outdoor Lounge Chair for Tanning Should You Buy?
The Ostrich The Original Chaise is the one we would buy first: a 4.1 average is not spectacular, but more than 17k reviews and a decade of design changes are, and it is the only chair here that pairs a face hole with a 9.8 pound weight and a 4 inch folded profile. If you want comfort rather than portability, go to the KingCamp Oversized Padded Lounge Chair. If rust decides everything near your pool, the Ciokea Aluminum Chaise is the highest rated thing we tested.
The rest of the list exists for specific situations: the Yestomo for a real face-down position, the EUNHOO set for pairs who leave furniture outdoors, the Minndudu backpack chairs for walking distance, and the COSTWAY for a small balcony. Whichever you choose among the best outdoor lounge chairs for tanning, check the face hole, the recline range and the stated capacity before anything else, and rotate once mid-session so you come out even on both sides.








