The Best Outdoor Furniture Covers We've Ever Tested

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Protect your outdoor furniture investment with these weather-resistant covers.

In This Article

Real Simple / Kevin Schmitz

Whether you’re closing up your patio for the season or trying to prevent the sun from damaging your outdoor furniture, you’ll need protective covers that fit well and stay secure through all weather conditions. Just as there is a myriad of choices for patio furniture, there seems to be even more with protective covers. How do you choose the right ones for your outdoor living space?

To find the best outdoor furniture covers, we tested 15 models in real-world conditions while assessing their quality, performance, durability, fit, and value. We consulted Eddie Karr, founder of Bellareed Luxury Pools, and Maida Cameron, director of design at textile manufacturer Milliken & Company, for insight on what to know about protecting outdoor furniture so it lasts. Whether you have a sofa, dining set, lounger, or Adirondack chair, we’ve got you and all of your outdoor furniture covered—literally.

It doesn’t fade, even in strong sunlight.

You can’t use this cover on concrete furniture.

Uncovered patio chairs can be a recipe for disaster when rain is in the forecast, but not if you have yours tucked under these heavy-duty covers. We were impressed with the well-made construction, particularly the waterproof coating on the interior side. It effectively protected our cushions from rain debris, even when blowing sideways onto the patio. Throughout six months of use, we've noticed no changes in quality.

The cover is super roomy and easy to slip over and secure on the chair. Plus, the buckles and straps kept it in place, even during strong winds. Our patio tends to get a lot of sunlight, but we didn't notice any fading or shrinking throughout testing.

Type: Chairs | Size: 6 sizes, from 26 by 33 by 35 inches to 40 by 40 by 36 inches | Material: Nylon | Water Resistant: Yes

The covers stayed in place well and kept moisture out.

The light color could get dirty over time.

The best outdoor furniture covers are able to endure the elements, and we were impressed with how well these heavy-duty covers held up in rain and sun. We noticed no moisture underneath the covers, nor did we observe any fading overtime. Given the covers' durability, we expect our patio furniture to emerge unscathed after snowfall and winter weather.

During testing, we didn't notice any movement or shifting, even in strong winds. The cords at the bottom make it super easy to adjust over all types of furniture, including swivel patio chairs. Overall, we thought these durable covers were a great value for the price.

Type: Sofa, lounge, and chairs | Size: 6 sizes, from 58 by 32.5 by 31 inches to 88 by 40 by 33 inches | Material: Oxford fabric | Water Resistant: Yes

It protects furniture against falling branches and other yard debris.

It's a bit unwieldy for one person to install.

We were delighted by how much furniture we could fit under this cover—two couches, two chairs, a large table, and two small tables—when you push it into a neat, large square (or rectangle). We like that the straps on the corners are sturdy enough to keep these in place, even in wind storms. It did take some effort to pull the cover over the four corners of our table—it's not heavy, but it is a bit unwieldy, so you may want to enlist a helper for installation if you have one.

The cover held up to rain and the seemingly never-ending tumult of falling branches and leaves from the trees around our house. After six months of use, we noticed no changes in quality. However, it's worth noting that water does pool on the cover with no draining mechanism, so you will have to dump the excess water often. Nevertheless, the price is low for such a quality cover—it's an excellent deal.

Type: Table | Size: 12 sizes; 54 by 54 by 28 inches to 74 by 136 by 28 inches | Material: Polyester | Water Resistant: Yes

The waterproof coating is excellent.

The cinching could be tighter.

Round patio dining sets can be a hassle when searching for an outdoor furniture cover that will fit it all. This cover from F&J Outdoors is nearly perfect—our chairs don’t fit underneath the table, so we pushed them as close as possible and were happy to see that the cover slipped right over the whole set.

The cover appeared well made, with strong stitches and seams and a waterproof interior coating that made us feel confident our furniture would make it through another winter season. It's thick enough to protect our furniture but lightweight enough to maneuver, as well, taking us only five minutes to install. The clasp and straps worked well to secure it, though we would have liked the cinching to be a bit tighter to keep the cover more snug. Since it's lightweight, make sure you latch it so that it doesn't blow away.

After six months of use, this cover has endured snow, ice, wind, rain, sleet, and sun with no signs of wear or tear. It proved especially effective in the winter, as the cold weather seemed to almost freeze it in place. We did notice that some rainwater pooled on the chairs after heavy rainfall, but no water seeped underneath the cover.

Type: Table and chairs | Size: 5 sizes, from 62 by 27.5 inches to 110 by 27.25 inches | Material: Waterproof woven material | Water Resistant: Yes

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

The cover is roomy but stays in place well.

It may experience slight tears after long-term use.

If you want your patio dining set to last more than just a season, keep it protected and covered with this table and chair cover from Duck Covers. We were impressed with its sturdy fabric and stitching, which didn’t budge during testing, even in intense rainstorms and wind. After six months of use, we observed a few tears on the edges of the cover, but there was no significant damage.

Even better, there was no moisture built up underneath the cover, so you won’t have to deal with mildew growth in the off season. Despite being exposed to strong sunlight throughout testing, we didn’t notice any fading or shrinking. We liked that the cover was roomy and large enough to touch the ground on all sides of the furniture, plus the adjustable clips made it easy to secure everything in place.

Type: Table and chairs | Size: 96 by 70 by 32 inches, 140 by 80 by 32 inches | Material: PVC fabric | Water-Resistant: Yes

Real Simple / Gabrielle Renslow

There are multiple sizes available to accommodate small and large sofas.

Very high heat and pooled water may compromise the fabric.

These waterproof covers are made from a high-quality fabric with durable stitching and seams. We liked the handles on both ends of the covers and that all four corners had clasps and ties to secure a tighter fit. Our furniture stayed protected in the rain, and we appreciated the air vents on the sides to prevent mildew growth. Even in strong winds, these covers stayed put.

Overall, we thought the cover was a great product for the price and would even pay more for it, thanks to the heavy-duty construction. It endured six months of use with no signs of wear or tear—a testament to its durability. Just keep in mind that this pick is a bit bulky, making it a bit challenging to store when not in use. Despite its bulk, it wasn't too heavy to maneuver.

Type: Sofa | Size: 6 sizes, from 60 by 35 by 35 inches to 93 by 40 by 35 inches | Material: Polyester | Water Resistant: Yes

This hefty cover stays put, even in high winds, and is flexible enough to roll and partially cover furniture.

It’s a bit pricey.

We were impressed with the heaviness of this cover. It comes with clasps at the corners for added security, but we felt that it was large and hefty enough to stay in place over our furniture without them. This theory was proven correct during the testing period, as this cover stayed in place during rain and high winds.

This cover stands out for its flexibility: The fabric is malleable enough to roll, allowing us to cover part of our furniture without covering the entirety. This pick didn't fade or shrink at all after six months of use—it looks just as good as the day we got it.

Type: Sofa/loveseat | Size: 93 by 40 by 35 inches | Material: Not listed | Water Resistant: Yes

The ample size makes it quick and easy to store cushions and pillows.

It’s recommended that you store the bag indoors, not outdoors.

This storage bag is huge and made quick work of storing all our outdoor patio furniture cushions and pillows with plenty of room to spare. We liked that this tough cover has a zipper that moves in either direction and multiple sturdy handles. It also has a thick bottom for added protection against water and outdoor elements.

We appreciated that it was super easy to carry, which was helpful when we had to bring it indoors to store. It's easy to open and close, taking us only a few minutes to unzip and unload. Given that we only needed one storage bag for our pillows during testing, it’s a fair value for its size and quality. We recommend this bag for those seeking a large-capacity, indoor storage solution.

Type: Cushions | Size: 45.5 by 13.75 by 20 inches, 60 by 20 by 28 inches | Material: Polyester | Water Resistant: Yes

It stayed in place during windy weather.

It isn't long enough to touch the ground.

Some patio furniture covers are for a single purpose, like covering chairs or a sofa. If you want more variety with what you can cover—and how much you can cover—we recommend the Ruimoy Patio Furniture Covers. We fit a wicker sectional (with four sections), a side chair, and a metal fire table under one. We do wish it were a bit longer though. Since it doesn't reach the ground, it allows wind to get underneath.

Fitting the material over furniture was surprisingly easy, thanks to the cords and buckles. The cover is made from thick, high-quality polyester similar to a high-quality grill or smoker cover. Even better, it stayed in place amid considerable rain and wind during the six-month testing period, experiencing no tears, fading, or discoloration. This cover is also a value pick, and combined with its durability and ease of use, it's a great purchase.

Type: Table, chairs | Size: 10 sizes, from 62 by 42 by 28 inches to 128 by 82 by 28 inches | Material: Oxford cloth exterior | Water-Resistant: Yes

Rather than select one furniture over as the best, we chose covers suited to different types and styles of outdoor furniture. If you need to protect many cushions from inclement weather, opt for the Classic Accessories Veranda Patio Cushion and Cover Storage Bag, which has an impressive capacity and durability. For people who need to cover an outdoor dining set, the F&J Outdoors Outdoor Patio Furniture Covers is your best bet.

To find the best outdoor furniture covers, we tested 15 models in real-world conditions over a period of two weeks. First, we opened our furniture cover and inspected the quality of the fabric, stitching and seams, and the strength of any clasps, clips, or ties. Then we placed the cover over the appropriate sized outdoor furniture pieces and secured it in place with any ties, clips, or cords that came included.

After putting the cover in place, we examined how well it protected our outdoor furniture, noting days with extreme weather including high winds, storms, or a high UV index. Once the two week period was complete, we removed the cover and closely inspected our furniture for any damage. Throughout the testing period, we also considered how well the cover fit over our furniture, how easy it was to adjust the cover, how well it stayed in place through various weather conditions, how much fading and/or shrinkage happened to the cover, how protected our furniture was from water, and how water behaves on the cover (whether it beads up, absorbs, pools, or puddles). We used these insights to rate each outdoor furniture cover on attributes including quality, performance, durability, fit, and value.

For long-term insights, we evaluated each cover's performance after six months of use.

Outdoor furniture covers come in all shapes and sizes. It’s a good idea to measure your furniture to ensure the covers you buy will fit properly. (Remember that you can stack chairs so that you only need one cover for them all.) However, there are some furniture covers that are universal in design, meaning they are large and flexible enough to cover groups of furniture, like a sectional couch or a patio table with chairs.

Durability is everything when it comes to choosing the best outdoor furniture covers. Karr stresses the importance of water resistance, noting that it's the most important factor to consider. "You want to consider [cover] material that is water repellent so that you can hose it off when pollen season is in effect or if you have a lot of trees that shed leaves all over,” he says. Of course, water resistance is also a good barrier against rain and snow, allowing you to keep your furniture outdoors even during the off season. Cameron adds that, along with water resistance, you should also look for materials that resist fading and stand up to mold and mildew.

Still, that doesn’t mean you have to choose the ugliest covers you see, assuming they are the strongest and fittest for the job. “When choosing a performance fabric, color and design shouldn’t take a back seat in exchange for durability,” Cameron says, noting that outdoor covers that are up to the task do come in a variety of materials, which offers some choice in color and design. Cameron says your best bet is to choose covers made from acrylic or another type of synthetic performance fabric. “They stand up best to the unpredictableness of the outdoors,” she says.

Always check your furniture’s care guidelines before purchasing any protective covers. Some furniture surfaces might react to PVC or other types of waterproof linings.

Assuming you’ll be keeping your furniture out in the open while it’s covered, you’ll want a water-resistant barrier that keeps out rain and snow, and sun protection to keep your furniture from fading. But just because your furniture is being kept clean underneath those covers doesn’t mean the covers themselves don’t need some TLC every now and again.

“Another consideration [for outdoor patio covers] is cleanability,” Cameron says. “It's important to note that no matter what brand you select, if it has a high-quality fabric, it will be bleach cleanable—including oil-based stains that are absorbed—as long as you follow the manufacturer's cleaning techniques."

Article Hofte Lounger Cover: We liked that this cover didn’t have the overly plastic feel of other outdoor covers. The bungee cords make it easy to secure over furniture. While it protected our furniture during a rainstorm, we thought the material could be more heavy-duty considering the price tag.

Ultcover Waterproof Outdoor Sofa Cover: We were impressed with how thick these heavy-duty covers are, and the stitching and seams are high quality. The clasps are thick, and the bungee cords are sturdy, so we could easily secure the covers around our furniture. These covers protected our furniture from wind and rain without needing to be adjusted.

Yes—in fact, that’s exactly what outdoor furniture covers are for! “Outdoor furniture is rated for the elements, but it does have to be maintained regularly, so it can keep its vibrant colors and look,” Karr says. “You have to wash them off, cover them perhaps when there is a big storm, and every once in a while even put them in the laundry or [use a] professional cleaner.”

Outdoor furniture covers are weatherproof and are indeed designed to be used outdoors in rain and other inclement weather. “When purchasing them, take a look at the labels and the maintenance instructions to ensure you are using them properly,” Karr says.

Yes! “You can ask yourself this: Do you want to buy new furniture every year, or get the covers that maintain the integrity of the furniture so you can use it for years to come?” Karr says. He says you can consider the covers as “insurance” that protects your outdoor furniture investment.

This article was written and updated by Barbara Bellesi Zito, a freelance lifestyle writer based in Staten Island, N.Y., and updated by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. To compile this list of best outdoor furniture covers, we tested 15 products in real-world conditions while considering factors like performance, quality, durability, and size options. For expert advice on what consumers should know when purchasing outdoor furniture covers, she consulted Eddie Karr, founder of Bellareed Luxury Pools, and Maida Cameron, director of design at Milliken & Company, a textile manufacturer.