Swing chairs in Australia

"Swing chair" covers several quite different products: egg and pod chairs that hang from their own stand, hammock and macramé chairs hung from a ceiling or beam, and framed porch swings for two or three people. This page explains the types, the materials, where each suits, how to mount them safely and how to look after them, with links to Australian retailers and product-safety recalls.

This is a free, non-commercial reference page. It is not affiliated with any retailer, brand or government body listed, and listing is not an endorsement or recommendation. It sells nothing. Check current details with the official websites linked below before making decisions.

The guide

The main types of swing chair, what they are made from, where they suit, how to hang them safely, and how to look after them.

Egg and pod chairs on a stand

The most common swing chair in Australian shops is the egg or pod chair: a woven basket seat with a cushion, hung from a hook on a freestanding stand. Bunnings, for example, lists hanging egg chairs with a powder-coated steel frame woven with PE wicker, hanging from a pole on a base, and also sells double (two-seat) versions. Because the stand carries the load, no drilling or ceiling fixing is needed, but the chair needs a clear, level footprint and room to swing.

Hammock and macramé chairs

Hammock chairs and macramé chairs are fabric or rope seats that hang from a single point overhead. Hammock Shop describes hammock chairs as woven cotton or poly-cotton fabric held open by a wooden spreader bar, hung from strong suspension cords, and notes that they need less space than a full hammock. They can hang from a ceiling beam, a pergola, a strong tree branch or a dedicated hammock chair stand. They are light and easy to move, but offer less back support than a framed chair.

Porch swings and garden swing seats

A porch swing is a bench seat for two or three people, either hung by chains from a verandah or pergola beam or, more often in Australian retail, sold with its own A-frame. Framed garden swings commonly have powder-coated steel frames, cushions and sometimes an adjustable canopy. They are larger and heavier than egg chairs, so check the assembled footprint and the clearance needed in front and behind for the seat to swing.

Materials

Most outdoor egg chairs use synthetic (PE resin) wicker woven over a powder-coated steel frame; aluminium frames are also sold and do not rust. Natural rattan and cane look softer but are better kept indoors or under deep cover, as they are more affected by sun and moisture. Hammock and macramé chairs use cotton, poly-cotton or polyester rope and fabric; synthetic fibres generally cope with damp better than cotton. Cushions vary: some are sold as water- and stain-resistant, others are for dry, covered areas only.

Indoor, undercover or fully outdoor

Do not assume "outdoor" means it can stay out in the rain. Bunnings states that several of its hanging egg chairs are for undercover, shaded areas only, and that the warranty may be void if they are exposed to the elements such as rain. Hammock Shop recommends hanging hammocks and hammock chairs undercover where possible, and notes that strong direct sun breaks down materials and fades colours. Read the product's own use rating (indoor, undercover, or outdoor) before choosing a spot, and in very windy locations a covered or indoor position is safer.

Load ratings

Every swing chair, stand, hook and chain has its own maximum load, and the lowest rated part sets the limit for the whole set-up. Retailers list a stated weight capacity for most products; check it against the heaviest person who will use the chair, and for two-seaters, the combined load. Remember that swinging puts more force on the fixings than sitting still. No single Australian Standard was found that sets load ratings for domestic hanging chairs, so the manufacturer's stated capacity and instructions are the figure to follow.

Mounting and stand safety

A ceiling-hung chair must be fixed into solid structural timber, such as a ceiling joist or beam, never into plasterboard alone. Hammock Shop advises that a ceiling anchor must be secure and strong with sufficient weight support, and that wooden beams and posts are the easiest to fix into. Use the hardware the chair's maker recommends, and if you are unsure what is above the ceiling, or are hanging from a pergola or verandah, ask a qualified builder or carpenter. For stand-mounted chairs, assemble the stand exactly as instructed, set it on firm, level ground, and check bolts and the hook regularly. Stability matters: Australia's product-safety regulator has published a recall of egg chairs sold at T.K. Maxx stores because a design defect meant they could tip or collapse while in use.

Children and swings

Swing chairs are not play equipment unless they are sold as such. Some retailers state that their swing seats are not suitable for children aged 3 and under, and Hammock Shop warns about children becoming entangled in hammock strings. Children's swings are a separate category: Product Safety Australia has published a recall of IKEA's GUNGGUNG children's swing because its suspension fittings could break during use. Check the age rating, supervise children, and check for any recall on productsafety.gov.au before buying second-hand.

Care and weather

Brush or wipe synthetic wicker and frames clean, and keep cushions dry and stored when not in use. Hammock Shop's care advice for fabric hammocks is to hand wash with mild washing powder, rinse, and never put the hammock away damp; it also advises rinsing regularly near the sea to limit salt damage and bringing hammocks inside after use in very sunny spots. Whatever the type, check ropes, chains, hooks, springs and stand bolts regularly for wear, fraying or rust, and stop using the chair if any part is damaged.

Directory

Australian retailers whose own website was checked and found to list swing, hanging or egg chairs, and the national product-safety regulator.

What is listed. Only retailers whose own website could be fetched and checked are included. Some listings on large retail sites are sold by marketplace sellers rather than the retailer itself; this is noted where the site shows it. The list is not complete and is in no particular order.

Not an endorsement. Listing is not a recommendation. This page is not affiliated with any retailer, brand or regulator below, and does not compare prices.

Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement. Links are to official websites as published at the time of checking.

Questions to ask before buying a swing chair

Plain questions worth answering before you buy, whether in store or online.

Will it hang from its own stand, or does it need a ceiling or beam fixing?

A stand needs floor space and level ground; a ceiling hang needs solid structural timber and the right hardware.

Is it rated for indoor, undercover or fully outdoor use?

Many outdoor egg chairs are for undercover areas only, and exposure to rain may void the warranty.

What is the stated maximum load, and does it cover the chair, stand and hardware?

The lowest rated part sets the limit. For two-seaters, check the combined load.

Who is the seller?

On large retail sites, some swing chairs are sold and shipped by marketplace sellers, which can affect returns and warranty.

What are the frame and weave made from?

Powder-coated steel, aluminium, PE wicker, natural rattan and cotton rope all age differently in sun, rain and salt air.

Has this model been recalled?

Search productsafety.gov.au for the product, especially if buying second-hand.

About this page

swingchair.com.au is a free, non-commercial reference page published by Radiant Life Distributors Pty Ltd, Adelaide. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any retailer, brand or regulator listed, and listing is not an endorsement. Information was checked against official websites in October 2026; products, sellers and recalls change, so confirm current details with the organisations linked above.