If you’re organising a festival or outdoors event, getting the right seating can take a bit of thought. More demanding than setting up inside, seating is still essential if you want your guests to feel comfortable and enjoy their time.

While expensive and heavy chairs may not be the best pick for an outdoor event, there are a number of other types of chair which will keep your guests comfy while making it easy for you to set up. Here’s a look at your options.

Folding Chairs

One of the simplest and most economical options, folding chairs are ideal for large events. Moving around hundreds of chairs can be a huge task but if you’re able to fold the seat down and move several at once - without the use of a trolley - it’s a major asset.

Although there are some types of metal folding chairs that are heavier than other, the vast majority of folding chairs are light and easy to move. Folding chairs are designed to be portable so they’re the obvious choice for big events.

The other factor to consider with folding chairs isn’t just the time taken to set-up and clear away, it’s the practicalities of storing them. You can store folding chairs in a much smaller space compared to conventional types of chair.

Banquet Chairs

Banquet chairs are extremely versatile and can be used indoors or out. When used inside they’re typically called Banquet Chairs but often when used outside, they’re referred to as Event Chairs - so the clue really is in the name!

This type of seating comes in a range of styles and sizes so you can pick the features that are important to you. For example, it’s possible to find banquet chairs both with or without a seat pad so the choice is yours to make. If you think there’s a good chance of wet weather, you might prefer to forego the fabric pad and just stick the chair frame instead.

All types of banquet or event chair are a good fit as they don’t have arms which means they won’t take up too much space. Once set out, you’ll be able to get a good number of people into your space without accidentally crowding them.

Most banquet chairs are stackable so it’s easy to set them up and clear them away. If you opt for a aluminium frame, you’ll find they are especially lightweight and convenient. A banquet chair trolley will make life much easier and speed up the process too! Some banquet chairs are folding rather than stacking, giving you even more benefits!

Opt for Plastic

Wooden chairs are a beautiful addition for any event but if you’re outside there’s a much greater risk that they’ll get damaged. Whether it’s by an individual kicking the chair and splintering the legs or damage caused by mud and the wet, timber chairs are best preserved for smaller gatherings or inside events.

Plastic chairs work perfectly though, being easy to wipe clean and resilient enough for bad weather. If you’re looking for good value, high-quality plastic chairs for your event, check out the selection we’ve got available online.