Benches

Benches: indoor and outdoor

Benches divide into three quite different uses, each with its own buying logic. Dining benches replace dining chairs along one or both long sides of a table. Hallway and entryway benches sit by the front door for putting shoes on. Garden benches are weatherproof versions of either, sized for outdoor use.

Dining benches: same height as dining chairs (45-47cm), same length as the side of the dining table they sit against. Backless benches save floor space and tuck under the table when not in use; backed benches are more comfortable for longer meals. Upholstered benches read more formal; bare-wood benches read country and family-friendly. Pairs of dining benches (or a bench plus chairs at the head and foot) work better than one bench plus four chairs.

Hallway and entryway benches: 40-45cm seat height (lower than dining benches so it's easier to sit and put shoes on), 80-120cm wide. Storage built in (lift-top, drawers underneath, or shoe rack below) is the practical upgrade — a bench-with-storage replaces a separate shoe cabinet. Cushion top is comfortable but adds 5-7cm to the effective height.

Garden benches: weatherproofed timber (teak, eucalyptus, acacia) or powder-coated metal handles British outdoor use. Pressure-treated pine is the budget option but needs annual treatment. Sizing follows the patio or path: 120cm bench seats two adults, 150cm seats two adults plus a child, 180cm seats three adults. Storage benches in the garden double up as seasonal cushion store and outdoor bench in one piece.

The brands and retailers we list

We pull around 7,200 benches across the UK retailer network.

The Range and Robert Dyas cover the broadest selection across dining, hallway and garden benches in the £80 to £400 bracket.

Oak & More covers solid-oak dining benches in matched ranges with their dining tables.

Filter the grid above by colour, material, size or price to narrow things down. Prices update daily.