Few things say summer like picnic tables and picnics.
Picnic tables are a slice of American summer nostalgia. Plates of grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, (or veggie burgers, if you’re vegetarian), with all the toppings, potato salad, ice tea and watermelon.
There’s just something about a picnic table that invites a hangout.
Perhaps it’s the memories… perhaps it’s how the backless bench seat invites one to lean into the book…. conversation… game… or meal. Whatever the reason, picnic tables are an invitation to immerse in fun with family and friends.
Picnic tables are inviting hangouts, for good times and good food with family and friends.
Picnic Table Kits
If you’re good with tools and a saw and have a few hours, you can probably make your own in a day. There are handy picnic table plans, and video tutorials readily available online.
There are also ready-to-make picnic table kits you can buy, and all you need to add is the cut lumber. So if you have a table saw and some lumber, add in a picnic table kit and you’ll have a sturdy picnic table put together in no time.
Caution: Wood tables typically warp if left to the elements.
We built one using a steel picnic table frame purchased from our local home store. The frame is fine and sturdy, however the wood boards in it certainly have warped.
Even with lumber that’s treated and stained, if left to the elements, the sun especially, will warp the boards over time. If you’re looking for longevity, you might decide to invest in a polyethylene table.
Polyethylene tables cost more but also last longer, don’t tend to warp and are easier to clean.
DIY Picnic Table Kits
If you’re inclined to build your own picnic table with a kit, here are a few shortcuts you may want to take. Many home stores will shop your order for you and have it ready for you to pick up, so ask yours if they offer any of these services.
Timesaving Tip
- SHOP FOR YOU: Fax your materials list to your local home store, (unless you have good lumber on hand)
- PRICE IT FOR YOU: Ask them to price it out for you before you commit to be sure it fits your budget.
- Or even better, if they’re selling the picnic table kits, chances are they’ll be glad to create the materials list for you/
- PRICE IT FOR YOU: Ask them to price it out for you before you commit to be sure it fits your budget.
- If you decide it’s a good price and worth the dollars it will save you to make it yourself,
- you can ask them to pull the order for you, so it’s ready and waiting when you go to pick it up.
Best Selling Adult Picnic Tables and Kits
The picnic table kit in the photo above is available for free shipping via Amazon Prime, lumber is not included.
No Truck? No Problem!
If you don’t have a pickup truck, the idea of going to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s to pick up a picnic table, is not so simple. Sure, they typically offer delivery services, however that also adds to your cost.
Home Depot charges between $59-$79 for delivery, last we checked. The good news is that it’s the same fee no matter how much you’ve ordered. So if you need a few other big items, that’s the time to get them all at the same time if you can.
Free Delivery to Your Door, Saves Time, Money… and Your Back!
There’s another option we’re using increasingly, these days. Amazon Prime. We’ve gotten our prime membership fee back many times over in the free shipping fees for fast delivery that’s a part of the Amazon Prime program.
Just make sure that the items you’re ordering say on the product listing, “Amazon Prime”. They make it easy by placing the Prime logo where it’s easy to see. However, be sure to price compare with other online and offline sources.
Be sure to price compare the item on Amazon with local options. Just because something is from Amazon or Ebay doesn’t guarantee it’s the best price.
Here’s the thing: even if you have a pickup truck, as we do, you’ll still need to load it to your store cart, then into your truck at the store. Once home you’ll need to offload it again.
If you’re strong and healthy and/or have some help at home, that’s not a problem. But if not, you can save a lot of time and backache by having the delivery truck drivers drop off your order in the best spot for you.
So if you’re interested in possibly ordering a picnic table through Amazon, we’re listing the top selling outdoor tables that have the best reviews and also offer free shipping through Amazon Prime.
The Disadvantage of Online Orders
The biggest disadvantage to online orders—especially of large items—is returns. If there’s any issue that requires a return, such as missing or broken pieces it’s a pain to repackage and return.
Reduce the Hassle of Online Returns
- Open the packaging carefully in case you need to return it
- Save the packaging until you’re sure you’re going to keep the item, and/or it’s past the warranty date for returns
THEN, if you need to return it: - Just repackage it and in the Amazon return window, select the UPS pick-up option and they can pick it up at your door.
OR… - You can take the item to UPS or Kohl’s, (the current free returns locations for Amazon as of this writing in July, 2019.
Top 5 Best Selling Picnic Tables on Amazon with Free Shipping as of June, 22, 2022
Note that these best selling picnic tables, (well any best selling item on Amazon) tends to change positions over time, like race cars on a race track. So just take this as a general guide for the top selling picnic tables organized from first ranked to fifth position.
1. Giantex Picnic Table Bench Set, All Weather, Metal Base With Wood-Like Texture
2. Flip Top BenchTable, Bench, Patio Table, by 2x4basics
We love that this is so versatile and if you get two kits, they can be set side-by-side or back-to-back to make a complete picnic table. Just remember that the price is for the FRAME and does not include the lumber.
3. Lifetime Polyethylene Wood Grain Picnic Table and Benches
4. Cosco Outdoor Living, 6 ft. Folding Wood Grain Picnic Table
Our affiliate link here, takes you to this item on Amazon, sold by Costco’s Amazon home store. So if you have a Costco account, best to check there as it’s likely less expensive.
However, we just checked and they did not have any listed as of 6/22/22, but, it may be a temporary out-of-stock scenario, so worth checking back to search their online store.
5. Heavy Duty Coated Picnic Table, 6 Ft. Made in America
We like the sturdy, long-lasting proclivity of this coated finish and that’s it’s easy to hose down and wipe clean. However, if you’re under the trees with lots of falling bits, including from birds, ahem… then you may do better with a solid polyethylene surface that’s easier to clean.
Wooden Picnic Tables
Most people had issues with most of the wood picnic tables we researched, so just be sure to read the one and two star reviews.
For this reason, we’re choosing the number one ranked polyethylene table posted above. However, we’re including the top selling wooden picnic table that got the best reviews and the least really bad reviews.
Wooden Picnic Table by Best Choice Products
We like the round-table design, the umbrella hole and the split bench seating 6. If your heart is set on a wooden picnic table, then definitely read the negative reviews and decide if you can live with the shortcomings described there.
Sturdy Coated Outdoor Furniture
To get a sturdier, longer lasting picnic table, it’s naturally going to cost more. These coated outdoor tables are some of the best.
Top Rated Convertible Picnic Tables
These work best placed two together to make up one full sized picnic table. We like that you can use these as benches with a back, or rotate over to be a seat with a table. Put two together and you’ve got a full sized picnic table.
The next best thing about these picnic tables is that there are many positive reviews.
Best Selling Kid’s Picnic Table
Kid’s Picnic Table by Lifetime
Yep, this kid’s table is actually the number one seller of all picnic tables on Amazon. Another Lifetime table, it’s super cool for indoor projects and outdoor; easy to clean and perfect for picnics or projects.
If you need a good kid’s picnic table, indoors or out, this is the best choice. If only the adult tables in this genre were rated as highly, it would make choosing a picnic table easy.
There is only one negative on this table for us: it would’ve been better in a dark green, brown or grey to help mask any mistaken coloring on the table with markers. However, most kids markers these days are water soluble, so should wash off without much effort.
Our Favorite Backyard Setup
When the picnic or cookout is over, our favorite backyard setup for enjoying the great outdoors is swings surrounding a fire pit and swings.
Okay! That’s a wrap! Or… a picnic!! 😎🍉☀️
Folding Picnic Table by Lifetime Brands:
Wishing you great gardens, happy harvests and lots of picnic fun!
I’m LeAura Alderson, a garden, herb and plant enthusiast with a passion for discovering the many edible and medicinal benefits of the plants all around us, including the weeds, while transforming the land through regenerative permaculture practice. I am also a writer, editor and media publisher (now mostly retired due to replacement by AI), but which now allows more time to build our regenerative permaculture homestead farm.