10 of the best modern garden benches

Benches are a lot more hardwearing than other garden furniture, and are more permanent features than other patio furniture. With the addition of planters, a bench can even be part of your garden design, holding climbers, small fruit trees or seasonal displays and at the end of the day a well-placed bench offers a stylish but practical place to rest.

For more garden furniture inspiration, check out our guides to the best garden sofas, garden egg chairs, or garden loungers.

10 of the best garden benches

Argos Home Wooden 4 Seater Picnic Bench

This simple, unfussy bench from Argos is great for families. It can be used for dinners, after-work drinks, kids’ crafts sessions, and much else besides. A classic A-frame picnic bench at a relatively low price.

Price: £100

Buy the Argos Home Wooden 4 Seater Picnic Bench from Argos

Lahan Garden Planter Bench

This glass-reinforced concrete bench would look fantastic in modern, Medditerreanean-inspired gardens and includes a large planter at one end. You could fill it with a small olive or bay tree to enhance the Mediterrean feel, and even provide some ingredients for your kitchen.

Price: £299

Buy the Lahan Garden Planter Bench from Made.com

Pacific Lifestyle Richmond Light Teak Acacia Wood Bench with Pop-Up Table

This bench has an interesting special feature. Either seat three, or pop-up the middle of the bench for a handy drinks rest.

Price: £199.99

Buy the Pacific Lifestyle Richmond Light Teak Acacia Wood Bench with Pop-Up Table from Robert Dyas

SOVANA Acacia Wood Garden Bench with Storage

This acacia bench is great for offering discreet seating midway down the garden. Its low, boxy feel offers seating without any extra fuss. We especially like the handy storage underneath - great for storing garden cushions.

Price: £299.99

Buy the SOVANA Acacia Wood Garden Bench with Storage from Beliani

Sohan Foldable Garden Bench in Acacia & Metal

This bench is made of warm, hard-wearing acacia. We especially like that it folds, so it's great for easy storage through the colder months, or for moving around when giving your garden a redesign.

Price: £189.05

Buy Sohan Foldable Garden Bench in Acacia & Metal from La Redoute

Amara Fatboy Toni Banksi Outdoor Bench

This metal bench is ideal for bright gardens, because it comes in several colours. With UV-resistance and waterproofing, this is a tough bench that needs little upkeep so it's great for busy gardeners.

Price: £660

Buy the Amara Fatboy Toni Banksi Outdoor Bench from Amara

Edson Concrete Garden Bench

For a hard-wearing bench, it’s tricky to top this one. Crafted from glass-reinforced concrete and metal this bench is great for contemporary, modern gardens.

Price: £299

Buy the Edson Concrete Garden Bench from Made.com

Argos Home Newbury Wooden 2 Seater Garden Bench

A simple, classic garden bench that seats two, this traditional design is great for contemporary and country gardens alike. Its light wood means this bench is suitable for painting or varnishing, so it's also a satisfying DIY project that will match your garden style.

Price: £60

Buy the Argos Home Newbury Wooden 2 Seater Garden Bench from Argos

Arianna Wooden Planter Bench

This simple wooden bench has two planters on either side. It’s great for incorporating seating into orderly planting and will help to instantly soften a hard seating area such as a patio or deck.

Price: £89.99

Buy the Arianna Wooden Planter Bench from Wayfair

Crocus Lutyens-style Bench

Our guide wouldn’t be complete without a Lutyens-inspired bench. This handsome example marries classical ornamentation with more simple lines and is made of hard-wearing, FSC-certified eucalyptus.

Price: £229.99

Buy the Crocus Lutyens-Style Bench from Crocus