Rattan garden sofas dominate UK outdoor furniture because synthetic rattan (PE rattan, polyethylene weave) stands up to British weather without the seasonal storage that wood and rope demand. Quality varies sharply with the underlying frame: a budget rattan sofa wraps the weave around a steel tube that rusts at the joints within 2-3 years; a quality rattan uses a powder-coated aluminium frame that survives 8-10 years of full outdoor exposure. Aosom UK, Cheap Furniture Warehouse and Cheaper-Online.co.uk cover £19-£5,315 across the range. Look for round-section weave (more durable than flat-section) and double-weave thickness; cheap single-weave loosens within a season. Cushion fabric matters as much as the rattan itself; marine-grade Olefin or Sunbrella holds colour and shape for 5+ years where polyester fades within two. Most rattan garden sofas sell as part of a 4-7 piece set rather than standalone.