How to Buy a Garden Bench

Check out the material. Pine won't last long outdoors. Better choices are cedar, cypress or redwood, with teak being one of the finest of all outdoor furniture woods (not to mention one of the most expensive). Metal benches are exceptionally durable, as long as they feel heavy and solidly constructed, but are less comfortable. Stone and concrete are the most durable of all, but are usually the least comfortable.

Check out the construction if the bench is wood. As a rule, the fewer screws and bolts, the better. Look instead for mortise-and-tenon joinery.

Consider size. A 4-foot bench will seat one person comfortably and two people adequately if they don't mind sitting very close together. A 5-foot bench is better for seating those who are just friends.

Consider price. To some extent, you get what you pay for. A $200 4-foot wooden bench of cedar will last perhaps five to eight years, while a $1,000 teak bench will probably last 20. However, with higher-priced benches - which can top $2,000 - the price usually reflects more unusual styling or design.

Buy locally whenever possible. Shipping costs for benches can be hefty - $50 or more. If you see a bench you love in a catalog, take the catalog to your local furniture or garden supply store, where you don't have to pay for shipping. It's possible that your local store deals with the same wholesalers and can order the bench for you.