Contrary to their name, beach chairs aren’t only for the beach. In fact, versatility marks one key characteristic of the best beach chairs. Aside from that, it comes down to a lot of personal preference. Do you want something that reclines? Do you need a cup-holder on your armrests or a cooler on the back? Will you be walking a lot with it and require a carry strap of some sort? Is a headrest a deal-breaker? Regardless of your needs, we found 11 different beach chair options for you to make your best friend this summer.
Top picks
Every beach chair should feel comfortable to sit in, but some chairs—like the Ostrich Deluxe—bring a whole new meaning to the word. Not only can you buy it in six stylish colorways (including one especially coastal-inspired striped blue), the Ostrich also offers plenty of ways to tailor your lounging experience to your exact specifications with an adjustable frame, a footrest, and multiple pillows for plenty of cushioning. There’s also a carry strap, so you can take it wherever you go this summer.
While Schoolhouse makes one of our favorite quilts, the brand also sells the most darling retro-inspired folding chairs. You can get fade-resistant webbing in three playful colors, and the frame itself is available in two different silhouette options—a high-standing lawn chair choice and a low-profile lounger—depending on your needs for the season.
Anyone who needs double assurance during sunny beach days will appreciate the extra bit of shade the Sunflow offers. With a healthy lather of sunscreen and this chair, your skin will be well-protected. Who even needs a beach umbrella? Plus it’s got shoulder straps, a side pocket storage pouch, and a cup holder.
If you prefer the kind of camping-style beach chairs that fold into themselves but also don’t want to sacrifice any style, then the REI Co-Op Wonderland chair’s for you. Available in flint blue or fresh fig green, the chair’s accented by wooden armrests and a mesh cup holder. There’s a carry strap with a closure system so you can take it on the go, and the seat is made with a water repellent finish.
For those who plan to do some serious napping this summer, you’ll love the Rio Beach folding backpack lounge chair. This chair folds out into a full chaise longue. But don’t be fooled by its large size—the Rio Beach chair collapses into your standard backpack style beach chair for easy transportation. At an affordable price point, this is one beach essential you’ll want for this summer.
This classic, retro silhouette is no frills but that doesn’t make it any less worthy of being one of the best beach chairs. Since it’s got a streamlined profile that easily folds up, you’ll have no trouble storing this in your car or on a back patio. Plus the striped look and eucalyptus wood makes it so you could totally leave this out in your yard all summer long.
Tommy Bahama’s one of the most well-known names when it comes to beach chairs, and when you look at this tropical-printed lounger it makes sense why. Though it’s a chair, the lounger has plenty of reclining positions—including one that allows you to lie completely flat. There’s plenty of storage options as well, like a cooler pouch for water bottles, and the backpack straps allow you to move from one place to the next with ease.
Everything about this striped beach chair screams “Los Angeles ’60s summer pool party” and we’re here for it. It’s got two reclining positions, a sleek white-powder-coated aluminum frame, and it folds up for easy storage. Make sure to also snag the matching beach umbrella as well.
This chair belongs just as much at a Saturday-morning soccer game as it does on the beach—and the four color options it’s available in set it just a few leagues above your average lawn chair. On top of that, you’ll get four different reclining positions, a padded backrest, a cell phone pocket, and backpack straps for enhanced mobility.
Like the Tommy Bahama chair, the Homevative’s got plenty of storage options so you won’t just have to rely on a beach bag. There’s a towel bar on the back, a cooler pouch, another pocket for general storage, and a cell phone/cup holder. And though it packs a punch with storage, it’ll still fold up nice and compactly.
Style-wise, this chair is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It doesn’t use the regular old silhouette of your average beach chair, instead opting for a design with a curved backrest. Combine that with some rosy hued cushions accented in a darker pink, and you’ve got one gorgeous-looking beach chair. It’s pretty functional, too, thanks to some shoulder carry straps and a storage pouch.
