How to choose the best porch swing?
A porch swing or swing bed is a great place to relax and enjoy your outdoor living space. By choosing the right type of porch swing, it will instantly add a touch of style to your home that will be the envy of all your neighbors. A stylish homefront can increase the value of your property, so is well worth the investment. And of course, a porch swing or swing bed is a great place to relax outdoors in the comfort of your own home.
Things to think about.....
There are practical considerations such as clearance spacing, distance from the wall and porch swing dimensions. What material is best for the climate where you live? For heavy duty swings, poly is a popular choice due to their resistance to all weather conditions. Then there are aesthetic considerations such as color and style. From modern to traditional or vintage porch swings, there are hundreds to choose from online.
Before you buy a porch swing, there are some aspects to consider such as the size, type and material it’s made from. So we’ve put together this handy guide to help you choose the right swing for you.
Our 10 Tips
1. What Size?
Porch swings come in many sizes, from 4ft to 6ft or even larger sizes. The most common size of swing are 4 foot and 5 foot swings. The depth of the seat can also vary. You might find them as small as 18 inches, or as large as 46 inches.
Generally speaking, here are the standard porch swing sizes and the number of people they can accommodate.
2 foot porch swing- holds one person
3 foot porch swing- holds two people
4 foot porch swing- holds two people
5 foot porch swing- holds two or three people
6 foot porch swing- holds three or four people
When deciding what size swing to buy, you’ll first have to make sure the size of the swing will fit comfortably on your porch or patio area. Make sure you measure the outdoor area you’d like to hang your swing against the planned dimensions of your particular swing. For how much clearance space you’ll need for a swing and the minimum distance it should be from the wall, see tip no. 6 below
2. What type of material? (Poly, Cedar, Pine)
Most of the time, swings will be hung outdoors so you’ll want to choose a material that works for the climate you live in. The three main types of porch swing material are poly, cedar, and pine. You can also buy swings made of metal too.
Poly Swings
Poly swings are a popular choice for extreme climate conditions such as the snowy winters in Minnesota or hot summers in Florida. This is because poly swings are made from recycled plastic, which is a highly durable and weather resistant material. Poly swings are also UV resistant, and do not absorb moisture so they don’t rot, crack, or fade over time.
Poly swings are the best type of swing if you want a durable swing that will last for years to come, and doesn’t need replacing or repairing. For this reason poly swings are priced a little higher than other types of swing, such as wooden swings. A popular poly swing brand is Luxcraft, who stand by the quality of the swings they manufacture by providing a lifetime limited warranty on their poly swings.
Pine Swings
This is a softwood favored for its yellow color. It’s not as durable as teak or cedar, which means it is cheaper. It must be sealed on a regular basis to ensure durability.
Cedar Swings
This is a wood that is stellar for holding onto finishes and colors, so paint away. It’s resistant to moisture, mold and rot all thanks to the natural oils in the wood. It doesn’t even get very hot in the summer heat, so you can swing on it comfortably all day long.
Teak Swings
This is considered the premium wood when it comes to wooden porch swings. It is the most durable of all the woods and lasts the longest, so teak swings are the most expensive type of wooden swing. However you won’t need to replace or maintain a teak swing. Note that teak swings shouldn’t be painted or stained, they look and perform best when the natural teak material is left unfinished.
Metal Swings
Iron or aluminum swings are great for garden settings or if you live in a windy place. They are very prone to getting hot in the summer though, so they are not a good choice if you live in a place that hot year-round. Putting swing cushions on iron, metal or aluminium swings are a good idea, to protect your skin from hot metal and getting any burns.
How much weight can porch swings hold?
The weight each porch swing can hold varies according to the size and material of the swing. There are models that hold 250lbs all the way up to 800lbs and beyond. It’s always a good idea to check with the manufacturer on the approximate weight capacity of the swing. As a rule of thumb though, if a 3 person swing can comfortably fit 3 persons sitting on it, then that will be it’s maximum load bearing capacity and it wouldn’t be wise to add more weight onto that.
Cost of porch swing
The prices of porch swings can range from $200 to $700 when you shop with us on MyPorchSwings.com
It all depends upon the size, material and type of porch swing. Poly porch swings cost a bit more, but they are more durable and have a longer lifespan than wooden swings. Wooden swings are beautifully made and may suit the aesthetic of your home much better, for example if you want a rustic or farmhouse look for your porch area.
At myporchswings.com we offer a price match guarantee on all our products, so you don’t have to worry that you could get a better price elsewhere. Click on our Price Match Guarantee page for more info.
- Hanging Chains or Rope ?
To safely hang your swing, you are going to need chains or ropes, and the appropriate hardware to go with it. They must also have a rating that is designed to bear loads of 500 lbs or greater.
Make sure to choose the one that best suits the style of your swing. Steel chains are often the better choice because they are quite durable, but a rustic setting may call for rope.
- Make sure your porch has enough space
The porch swing distance from the wall should be 26-36 inches. You are going to need at least 48 inches of space located behind the swing, and then 14 to 16 inches’ worth of clearance on both sides of the swing. Make sure you also install the hooks, eye bolts or screws’ eyes 2-4 inches wider than the length of the swing so that the weight is distributed evenly, and the chains are not rubbing on the swing. You should aim to hang your swing at least 17 to 19 inches off the floor.
- Choose the style, adirondack design or farmhouse look?
One great thing about choosing your porch swing is the variety of styles you can choose from to fit your home’s look.
There are farmhouse style swings such as our Amish Traditional English porch swing, or Royal English porch swing.
Next up is the Adirondack style of swings. These look great in any setting, or can complete a look if you already have adirondack furniture in your outdoor living space. They are reminiscent of the popular style of adirondack chair, and they come in wood or poly material.
The Luxcraft Adirondack swings are one of our bestselling porch swings. They are available in over 30+ Luxcraft colors. From classic white to tropical color swings such as tangerine on white.
- Do you want cupholders to go with your porch swing?
Some porch swings are sold with cup holders that can be added on, and slide in and out. These are just great for those of us that like to relax with a cup of coffee on the patio. If you want your cup holder built into the actual swing itself, you could consider models such as the Luxcraft Amish Poly Porch Swing, which features a flip-down center console and two cup holders.
You can also take a look at our cup holders which can be added on. These durable poly cup holders match all Luxcraft furniture, such as gliders, swings and chairs. These are easy to assemble, and make it easy to enjoy sodas, beers, and more with friends and family when they come over.
- Don’t have a porch ceiling ?
If you don’t have a porch or ceiling from which to hang your swing, why not try an A-Frame swing with a stand or a freestanding swing? This is the perfect alternative, if you don’t have a ceiling or are unsure of it your ceiling structure will safely support the load of a porch swing.
They come in a variety of colors and styles, making them a beautiful addition to your home’s decor. Consider the 4 foot wood swing and A-Frame Stand Set b All Things Cedar. This lovely A-Frame swing stand can be purchased by itself or with the swing. It’s made of red cedar wood and rust-resistant zinc-plated hardware.
If you prefer poly furniture, we’ve got you covered with our Luxcraft Vinyl A-Frame stand. This one comes in Clay or White color, and is made by the Amish.
- Porch Swing Cushions
Add the finishing touch to your porch swing by adding a porch swing seat cushion and pillows.
We offer plenty of colorful cushions that are easy to care for and add personality to your swing. Browse our collection of swing cushions and mattresses. From 4ft swing seat cushions to larger twin size matteresses for swing beds – we’ve got you covered.
We use sunbrella fabric on our swing cushions, which is the industry choice for outdoor fabric. If you purchase a cushion, mattress or pillow on our site, simply tell us the Sunbrella fabric name and code and we can create a custom order for you. All our outdoor cushions and mattresses are waterproof and made for outdoor use.
Conclusion
We hope our guide has been helpful to you in choosing a porch swing. Porch swings are a simple, but wonderful addition to your home. They can transform an ordinary porch into a place of tranquility and relaxation. All our porch swings are top quality, made well, and you’re going to be swinging for years to come.
Finally, if you don’t find anything that meets your needs in the quest for the perfect porch swing, why not tell us what your requirements are and we can customize a porch swing for you ! Simply fill in the contact us form. Happy porch swinging !
