Outdoor Gliders
A glider gives you the gentle back-and-forth of a porch swing without a beam, chain or hook to hang it from. If you are choosing for a porch, patio or corner of the garden, the first question is simple: do you want a bench to share, or a chair that is yours alone? This page walks through the styles on offer so you can match one to your space.
Glider chairs: a seat for one
A glider chair suits a reading nook, a narrow porch or a spot beside a small table. The retailer describes the pace as yours to set, "without consultation", so it is a good fit for someone who likes quiet time. It takes up far less floor than a bench, and two chairs can face each other for a conversation corner.
The Treated Pine Starback is a plain, straightforward chair. The Crossback chair is described as having gentle, fluid motion and smooth, controlled movement.
If you like decorative detail, the Heartback chair has a heart shape outlining a picket fence pattern. The Crossback with Heart chair has a carved heart-and-scroll design, a straight back, a curved seat and a rounded front.
Red cedar chairs
Red cedar is described as solid, hand-crafted and decay-resistant. The American Classic chair follows the gliders seen on front porches in the 30s and 40s. The Royal Highback chair is for someone who wants a seat to keep to themselves, with the high headrest the style is named for. The Blue Mountain Fanback chair is the most ornate of the three.
Classic and sweetheart benches
The American Classic is the traditional front-porch glider, and it comes in 4, 5 and 6 foot widths. It suits a porch where the bench is the main seat and the look should feel familiar. The Sweetheart adds built-in lumbar support and a curved seat, which suits people who plan to sit for a while.
Fanback and Blue Mountain benches
The Fanback design looks like an elegant fan, and the retailer notes it lets a breeze flow through the back. That makes it a natural choice for a sunny spot where you want the seat to feel open. The Blue Mountain version is in red cedar. The treated pine Fanback comes in 53 and 64 inch widths.
Highback and treated pine benches
The Royal Highback bench is built for comfort: a high headrest, a deep seat and built-in lumbar support. It suits taller sitters or anyone who likes to lean back and stay a while. Smaller 53 inch treated pine benches, such as the Crossback with Heart and the Curveback, fit tighter spaces and are a way to get a bench shape at a smaller footprint.
How to choose
- Bench or chair: choose a bench if you want to sit with someone, and a chair if you sit alone or have little room.
- Width: measure your space first. Benches run from 4 to 6 feet, or 53 to 64 inches in treated pine. Leave room front and back for the glide.
- Material: red cedar is described as decay-resistant. Treated pine is the lower-cost route and is described as sturdy.
- Back style: fan backs let air through, high backs add a headrest, and heart or scroll designs add decoration.
- Comfort details: look for lumbar support and a curved or deep seat if you plan long sits.
Questions people ask
Do I need to hang anything?
No. These gliders move on their own frame, so you do not need a beam or ceiling hooks.
Can I buy a matching set?
Yes, for some styles. There is a Blue Mountain Fanback collection that bundles pieces together, and several designs come as both bench and chair.
Which wood is better?
Neither is better in every case. Red cedar is described as decay-resistant and treated pine as sturdy, so it comes down to your budget and look.
How much space does a glider need?
More than a fixed bench, because the seat moves. Check the maker's dimensions and follow the manual for assembly and placement.