The 10 Best Outdoor Furniture Covers
Special Honors
Covers & All L-Shape Sofa Cover If you have a long sectional couch outside, you can use the Covers & All L-Shape Sofa Cover to protect this expansive seating area. It can be custom ordered to the exact dimensions you need, so finding the right size shouldn't be an issue, and its Cover Max fabric is both waterproof and UV-resistant. It has a three-year warranty and is available in several colors. coversandall.com
Hampton Bay High Back Outdoor Patio Chair Cover The attractive two-tone Hampton Bay High Back Outdoor Patio Chair Cover is made of durable polyester and is resistant to mildew and UV damage, and is waterproof. With an elastic hem cord and quick-connect leg buckles, it's easy to attach to your seat, and its rugged handles let you adjust it with little effort. homedepot.com
Editor's Notes
July 18, 2020:
In selecting our outdoor furniture covers, we looked for features that will make these products easy to put on, adjust, and secure. We also sought out long-lasting materials, as these will, naturally, be exposed to sun, rain, wind, and more. Including a good variety of shapes and sizes was a priority as well, so that your many deck and patio pieces can have protection.
In terms of user-friendly elements, we like that the Khomo Gear Titan and the Ultcover General Purpose both have adjustable toggle cords, making it easy to tighten them onto your furniture and get a secure fit. The Dola Sectional and the AmazonBasics 3-Seater Lounge stood out too, because they have handles that make them convenient to shift the items as needed. With its elastic corner loops that slip easily over table or chair legs, the Classic Accessories Terrazzo also earned a spot on our list.
As mentioned, we wanted to make sure we included covers for all types and sizes of furniture. With that in mind, we add the Protective Covers 1124-TN and the AmazonBasics 3-Seater Lounge for those with large sofas. For those who stick to tables and standard chairs, the Ultcover General Purpose is a smart choice, as it accommodates rectangular and circular tables. The Patio Watcher Medium Round and the Duck Covers Ultimate are also suitable for table-and-chair combinations, such as bistro sets.
When it comes to strong materials, we appreciated the bound edges on the Patio Watcher Medium Round, the double stitching on the Dola Sectional, and the 600-denier Oxford fabric of the Vailge Heavy Duty Patio Bench.
April 30, 2019:
Outdoor furniture covers are essential to keeping patio furniture in tip top shape for years. After all, nothing is immune to the elements forever, no matter how well-made it is. We'd like to point out that, while we have included covers for specific pieces of furniture, such as a love seat, table, etc, this should not be your deciding factor when choosing which brand to buy. The majority of brands make covers for a variety of furniture items. The smartest guiding principle for choosing the right option is to look for one that works well in the climate you live in. For example, if you live in a location that receives a lot of rain and has high humidity, you should check out the Dola All Weather, Duck Covers Ultimate, Ultcover Canvas, and Vailge Heavy Duty. All of these models are designed specifically to handle those kinds of conditions. Anyone who lives in an area that experiences below-freezing temperatures in the winter would do well with the Classic Accessories Terrazzo, Khomo Gear Titan, and Ultcover Canvas. If your are just as worried about your outdoor aesthetic as you are protecting your furniture, we think you'll appreciate the two-tone design of the Duck Covers Ultimate or the attractive vinyl exterior of the Protective Covers 1124.
Why It's Important To Cover Your Furniture
The weather isn't the only part of nature coming after your bistro table, either.
It's understandable that after spending a decent amount on your gorgeous patio furniture you don't feel like taking on the extra cost of buying covers for it. However, consider these items an investment. You may be spending a bit more now, but you'll be saving a tremendous amount of money later when you don't have to replace your deteriorated outdoor chairs and tables. Perhaps you say you'll just store your furniture inside during the off-season, but you probably have better ways to make use of that extra space in your home or garage. Furniture is bulky and can quickly eat up all the storage space you have. If you get good covers, then you can leave your outdoor sets on your deck or around your pool year round and still protect them.
If you live in a tropical, temperamental climate where you see sudden downpours one day and sunny skies the next, putting your outdoor furniture away for every bout of rain makes no sense. You'll be lugging your sets indoors and out several times a week. It's much more convenient to simply put covers over your furniture when the forecast calls for rain, and remove them the next day when things clear up and you feel like dining al fresco again.
Another excuse you may have for skipping the covers is that your outdoor pieces are made from all-weather materials that are intended to withstand the elements. While that may be true, furniture that has been covered for months will always stay in better condition longer than that which has not. There's also only so much abuse your furniture can take. Over time, moisture can cause mildew to grow on your pieces. You can go to other great lengths to prevent or remove the nasty stuff, but it's much easier to just use a quality furniture cover. Even if you aren't worried about mold and moisture, sharp balls of hail can tear up your lovely wicker rocker, and the harsh sun can make that bench you painted bright yellow slowly fade to an eggshell hue. The weather isn't the only part of nature coming after your bistro table, either. It's almost impossible to keep birds from defecating on your belongings or other critters from chewing on them, as well.
What To Look For In A Furniture Cover
Once you're ready to pick out your furniture covers, there are some features you should look for to make sure you get the most out of this item. Let's talk first about preventing water damage. You'll see covers that are water-resistant and waterproof, which are two different things. The former will repel raindrops, while the latter will completely stop even the heaviest of downpours from penetrating the material. If you live somewhere with severe storms, then you need waterproof covers. Just make sure yours have vents. If you get a cover that is 100-percent airtight in the hopes of keeping water out, it will also trap humidity inside, causing many of the very problems you are trying to prevent. It's important that your furniture can still breathe, otherwise you will most likely wind up with mildew.
You'll see covers that are water-resistant and waterproof, which are two different things.
While you sit outdoors beneath your patio umbrella to get your limited, but healthy amount of sun exposure, you have to remember that your furniture remains out there long after you've gone indoors. It's exposed to ultraviolet rays and solar heat, both of which can cause fading and discoloration. Look for covers made from a thick, UV-resistant material that won't crack from too much sun exposure.
When it comes to putting the covers on or taking them off, you'll appreciate ones with either zippers or buckles. These make it easy to loosen the cover for quick removal, as well as tighten it to ensure it stays on during windy days. Some strategically-located grab handles will also come in handy during application. Look for rigid, well-formed corners that will conform to your furniture, as well as strong seams. On days you take the covers off, you'll be grateful for ones that come with storage bags.
Preparing Your Patio And Yard For Winter
In addition to covering your furniture, there are a few other things you should do to prepare your outdoor recreation areas for the stormy seasons. Before covering your furniture for a prolonged period of time, remove any dust or debris from it. If left sitting pressed against furniture for months on end beneath a cover, things like colorful leaves can stain certain materials. You may still want to enjoy your outdoor seating area even in the winter. If so, consider adding ceiling-to-floor shades to your cabana or roof overhang. These can keep away some of the wind chill while you sip hot cocoa outside. You could also add some twinkle lights to illuminate the area since the days will be much shorter.
You may also want to remove pots and planters for the winter.
Don't forget to tend to your barbecue. Once the weather starts cooling, down you'll probably do less of your cooking outdoors. Neglecting to clean your grill and store it properly can result in it being in poor condition once spring arrives. If you have a charcoal model, remove any old coals and clear away the ash. Gas barbecues should be unplugged and their tanks should be removed and stored somewhere away from the elements. Apply a cleaning agent that removes grease and rinse the whole unit down.
Make sure all gutters and downpours are cleared of debris to prevent any pooling water. You may also want to remove pots and planters for the winter. Strong winds can easily blow these over and break them. As for nature that falls onto your deck, like leaves and pine needles, brush these away as they pile up. Debris like this holds a lot of moisture that you don't want sitting on your wood deck for a long time. If it snows, you don't want these to freeze beneath the powder since they can stain your deck.