By Chris, Director at Store Fittings Direct. Last updated 16 October 2026.
An outdoor bench is a fixed seat built to live outside all year round, in a car park, school yard, retail park, high street, hospital grounds or staff area. Commercial benches are made from galvanised or stainless steel, recycled plastic or timber, and are bolted down or concreted in so they can't be moved or stolen. Picking the right one comes down to four things: the material, whether it has a back and arms, how it's fixed, and the budget.
Quick answer: In the UK, commercial outdoor benches cost from about £126 ex VAT for a simple steel perch bench, £230–£460 for a galvanised steel or recycled plastic bench, £550–£680 for a steel bench with a back, and £1,100+ for a stainless steel bench or steel picnic table. Recycled plastic never rots or needs painting; galvanised steel is the toughest for busy public spaces. For accessible seating, UK guidance points to a seat height of roughly 450–480mm, armrests about 200mm above the seat, a backrest at least 300mm high and seats no more than 50m apart on busy walking routes. At Store Fittings Direct our outdoor seating range starts at £126.19 ex VAT, with free delivery on most items.
Contents
- Types of outdoor bench
- Steel vs recycled plastic vs timber
- Outdoor bench prices UK (2026)
- Accessible seating: heights, armrests and spacing
- How to choose the right bench
- Best benches by site type
- Fixing, installation and maintenance
- Why buy outdoor benches from Store Fittings Direct
- FAQs
Types of outdoor bench
Most commercial seating falls into six groups. Knowing which one you need saves a lot of scrolling.
Backless benches
A flat seat on two or more legs. They're cheap, quick to sit on from either side and good where people only stop for a few minutes: walkways, playgrounds, retail park frontages and around trees. The downside is comfort. Older people and anyone with a bad back or limited mobility will struggle to sit down and get up without a backrest or arms. Examples include the Gretton Bench 300 (from £230.53 ex VAT) and the Drayton Outdoor Steel Bench (from £388.27 ex VAT).
Benches with a back (seat benches)
The standard choice for anywhere people wait or rest for longer: bus stops, hospital entrances, parks, town centres and school yards. A backrest makes a real difference to comfort and to how easily someone can get up again. Our Drayton Bench Seat with Back starts at £556.92 ex VAT and the curved Rockingham Steel Seat Bench at £558.13 ex VAT.
Perch and leaning benches
A high, narrow rail people lean against rather than sit on. They take up very little pavement, suit bus stops, shelters and queuing areas, and discourage people from lying down. The Economy Steel Perch Bench is our cheapest outdoor seat at £126.19 ex VAT (1000mm, galvanised).
Wall-mounted benches
Fixed straight to a wall, so there are no legs to trip over or sweep around. Good for narrow paths, building frontages, staff smoking areas and inside smoking shelters or cycle shelters. The Drayton Wall Mounted Bench comes in 1000mm or 1800mm lengths from £328.81 ex VAT.
Picnic tables
Table and seats in one unit, used for staff breaks, pub gardens, food-to-go areas, schools and parks. Choose a version with a wheelchair space at one end if the public will use it. Our range runs from the Recycled Plastic Picnic Bench Set (£349.00 ex VAT) up to the stainless or galvanised Haddon Picnic Table Bench (from £1,105.35 ex VAT).
Planter benches
A seat built between two planters. They soften a hard space, add greenery to a retail park or town centre and, because they're heavy, they also help define walking routes. The Recycled Plastic Planter Seat Bench starts at £861.24 ex VAT, and we also sell a stand-alone recycled plastic planter from £341.96 ex VAT.
Steel vs recycled plastic vs timber
Material decides how long the bench lasts, how much looking after it needs and how it copes with vandals. Here's the plain version.
Galvanised steel
Hot-dip galvanising coats steel in zinc to stop rust. In the UK the standard specification for this is BS EN ISO 1461, which sets the minimum coating thickness (Galvanizers Association). Galvanised steel benches are strong, hard to damage and easy to clean, which is why councils and schools use them. You can have them plain galvanised (silver-grey) or galvanised and powder coated in a RAL colour. Powder coating usually adds roughly £35–£125 ex VAT per bench across our steel range.
Stainless steel
The premium option for town centres, hospitals and corporate frontages. It doesn't need a coating, looks smart for years and resists rust. It costs roughly double the galvanised version: the Drayton backless bench is £388.27 galvanised and £776.53 in stainless steel (both ex VAT).
Recycled plastic
Made from waste plastic, recycled plastic benches won't rot, splinter or rust and never need painting or staining. A wipe down is all they need. They're heavy, comfortable to sit on in cold weather (they don't feel icy like bare metal) and look like dark timber. They're a strong choice for schools, parks, nature areas and anywhere you want low maintenance and a greener story. Options include the Edge Bench (from £299.00), the City Bench with back and arms (from £400.54) and the Sloper Bench (from £429.88), all ex VAT.
Timber
Timber looks warm and natural but needs treating, can split and rot over time and is easier to carve or burn. It's fine for gardens and low-risk private areas. For busy public spaces, most buyers now choose recycled plastic for the timber look without the upkeep.
Outdoor bench prices UK (2026)
Real prices from our range, ex VAT. Prices inc VAT are shown on each product page. Most of these items qualify for free delivery.
| Bench | Type | Material | From (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Steel Perch Bench | Perch / leaning | Galvanised steel | £126.19 |
| Gretton Bench 300 | Backless | Galvanised steel | £230.53 |
| Recycled Plastic Edge Bench | Backless | Recycled plastic | £299.00 |
| Drayton Wall Mounted Bench | Wall mounted | Galvanised or stainless steel | £328.81 |
| Recycled Plastic Picnic Bench Set | Picnic set | Recycled plastic | £349.00 |
| Drayton Outdoor Steel Bench | Backless | Galvanised or stainless steel | £388.27 |
| Recycled Plastic City Bench | Back and arms | Recycled plastic | £400.54 |
| Picnic Table with Wheelchair Access | Picnic table | Recycled plastic | £412.49 |
| Recycled Plastic Sloper Bench | Back and arms | Recycled plastic | £429.88 |
| Drayton Bench Seat with Back | With back | Galvanised or stainless steel | £556.92 |
| Rockingham Steel Seat Bench | With back | Galvanised or stainless steel | £558.13 |
| Recycled Plastic Planter Seat Bench | Planter bench | Recycled plastic | £861.24 |
| Haddon Picnic Table Bench | Picnic table | Galvanised or stainless steel | £1,105.35 |
What pushes the price up? Stainless steel instead of galvanised (roughly double), powder coating in a custom colour, a backrest and arms, longer lengths, and picnic tables over single benches. What keeps it down: galvanised finish, backless or perch designs, and buying several of the same model for one site.
Don't forget the fixings and groundwork. Surface-mounted benches need a solid concrete base or slab to bolt into; root-fixed benches need holes dug and concrete. If you're using a contractor, budget for their time on top of the bench price.
Accessible seating: heights, armrests and spacing
Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers must take reasonable steps where a physical feature puts disabled people at a substantial disadvantage, and the Act's definition of a physical feature includes furniture on premises (Equality Act 2010, section 20). There's no single legal bench size, but UK guidance is fairly consistent:
- Spacing: seats no more than 50m apart in busy pedestrian areas, stations and interchanges, placed next to (not blocking) the walking route and in a contrasting colour (DfT Inclusive Mobility, 2021; Active Travel England).
- Seat height: around 450–480mm for most seats, with a mix of heights where you install several (Wheels for Wellbeing summary of Inclusive Mobility and BS 8300-1:2018; Furnitubes).
- Armrests: about 200mm above the seat, to help people sit down and push up.
- Backrest: at least 300mm above the seat.
- Wheelchair space: leave firm, level ground of around 1.2m beside the bench so a wheelchair or pushchair can sit alongside.
In practice: on any public site, mix benches with backs and arms in with backless or perch seats, and add at least one picnic table with a wheelchair space. Our Recycled Plastic Picnic Table with Wheelchair Access has an extended table end for exactly this.
How to choose the right bench
- How long will people sit? A few minutes: perch or backless. Longer waits: a back and arms.
- Who's using it? Public, elderly or hospital visitors need backs, arms and the right seat height. Staff break areas suit picnic tables.
- How rough is the site? High footfall or vandal risk: galvanised or stainless steel, root fixed. Quieter areas: recycled plastic.
- How much maintenance can you do? None at all: recycled plastic or stainless steel.
- What's the ground? Existing concrete or paving: surface mounted. Grass or new landscaping: root fixed (concreted in).
- Does colour matter? Steel benches can be powder coated in a RAL colour to match your brand or council palette; tell us the RAL number at order.
- What else is going in? Plan benches with litter bins, cycle stands and bollards so the space works as a whole.
Best benches by site type
Retail parks and supermarkets
Customers waiting for lifts or taxis need somewhere to sit near the entrance. Galvanised or powder-coated steel benches with backs stand up to trolleys and weather. Pair with litter and cigarette bins and, where vehicles get close, steel bollards. See our bollards buying guide for spacing and heights.
Schools
Recycled plastic picnic tables and benches are popular because they won't splinter and need no upkeep. Bright powder-coated steel benches work well as "buddy benches" in playgrounds. Browse our school bins and seating and wider schools range, and read choosing cycle stands for schools.
Councils, parks and town centres
Mix seating types along routes, keep them within 50m of each other and choose a durable finish. Stainless steel suits high streets; recycled plastic suits parks and green spaces. See our councils range and full street furniture collection.
Hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes
Prioritise benches with backs and arms at the right height near entrances, drop-off points and bus stops. Wall-mounted benches keep narrow paths clear.
Offices, warehouses and factories
Picnic tables and wall-mounted benches make a decent staff break area. Put seating inside or next to a smoking shelter so smokers stay away from entrances; our smoking shelters guide covers the rules.
Fixing, installation and maintenance
Surface mounted vs root fixed
Surface mounted benches have base plates bolted into an existing concrete slab or solid paving. They're quick to fit and can be moved later. Root fixed (also called "concrete in") benches have longer legs that go into holes filled with concrete. They're stronger, harder to steal and suit grass or new landscaping. Many of our steel benches come in both versions at the same price, but some, like the Rockingham, are concrete-in only, so check the product page.
The groundwork is similar to fitting a cycle stand: dig, set level, concrete and leave to cure. Our step-by-step on installing Sheffield stands in concrete shows the method.
Placement tips
- Keep benches back from the walking route so legs and knees don't block the path.
- Put a litter bin nearby, but not right next to the seat (wasps and smells). See how to choose waste bins.
- Think about sun, shade and shelter. A bench under a canopy gets used all year.
- Leave level hardstanding beside at least some benches for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Maintenance
Recycled plastic: wash down when dirty. Galvanised and stainless steel: wash with soapy water, check fixings once or twice a year and touch up any powder coat chips. Timber: treat or stain every year or two. Whatever you buy, check bolts after the first few weeks and after any vandalism.
Why buy outdoor benches from Store Fittings Direct
- A wide range in one place: steel, stainless and recycled plastic benches, picnic tables and planters, plus the bins, bollards and shelters and cycle stands that go with them.
- Clear pricing: every price shown ex VAT and inc VAT.
- Free delivery on over 90% of products.
- Over 30 years' experience supplying retailers, the NHS, councils, warehouses and construction.
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and a SEDEX member.
- Every one of our Google reviews is five stars.
- Real advice: call us on 0116 318 4182 and we'll help you pick the right bench for your site.
Ready to buy? Browse the full outdoor seating range, or see our grit bins guide if you're getting the site ready for winter.
FAQs
How much does an outdoor bench cost in the UK?
Commercial outdoor benches start at around £126 ex VAT for a steel perch bench. Galvanised steel and recycled plastic benches typically cost £230–£460 ex VAT, steel benches with backs £550–£680, and stainless steel benches or steel picnic tables £1,100 or more.
What is the best material for an outdoor bench?
For busy public spaces, galvanised or stainless steel is the toughest. For low maintenance, recycled plastic is best because it won't rot, splinter or need painting. Timber looks good but needs regular treatment.
What height should an outdoor bench seat be?
UK accessibility guidance points to a seat height of roughly 450–480mm, with armrests about 200mm above the seat and a backrest at least 300mm high. Where you install several seats, offer a mix of heights.
How far apart should benches be?
Department for Transport guidance says seats should be no more than 50 metres apart in commonly used pedestrian areas, stations and transport interchanges.
What's the difference between surface mounted and root fixed benches?
Surface mounted benches are bolted onto an existing concrete base. Root fixed benches have longer legs that are concreted into the ground, making them stronger and harder to remove.
Are recycled plastic benches any good?
Yes. They don't rot, rust or splinter, need no painting and only need a wipe down. They're heavy and sturdy, and are a popular choice for schools, parks and councils.
Do I need accessible benches by law?
There's no single legal bench size, but under the Equality Act 2010 service providers must make reasonable adjustments where physical features, including furniture, put disabled people at a substantial disadvantage. Following Inclusive Mobility and BS 8300 guidance is the sensible way to show you've done that.
