Wood: Picnic tables are traditionally made from wood, and there are many solid wood options available today. Wood is both attractive and durable, but it tends to be heavier than other materials and needs to be properly cared for, especially if you plan to leave it outside year-round. A wooden picnic table will need regular weatherproofing, otherwise, it may begin to rot. Johnathan Brewer, The Spruce's Home Improvement Review board member notes,"Some picnic tables such as those made of wood will require maintenance. Purchasing a cover for the table will help protect it from the elements."

Other style choices you may want to consider include the shape of the picnic table—rectangular and round are the two most popular choices—as well as if it has a hole to accommodate a patio umbrella, seen in our best folding option.Because there are a lot of pieces, this picnic table can take quite a while to put together, and it’s easier to assemble with multiple people. It has a built-in umbrella hole that accommodates 1.5-inch poles, allowing you to shade the table on hot summer days, and while the cedar finish is technically weather-resistant, you may need to add an additional coat of waterproofing or sealer to ensure its longevity. The Style Selections Rectangle Picnic Table is a classic option made from yellow pine wood. It’s 72 inches long with attached benches and can comfortably fit around six people. All the table's components are pre-cut and -drilled, making it easy to assemble, and because the wood is unfinished, you can customize the appearance with paint or stain. We recommend the Dura-Trel Traditional Picnic Table for a traditional style that’s extremely low-maintenance. This vinyl table comes in two different sizes, and its white finish is UV resistant and extremely easy to clean. If you’re shopping on a budget, the Stansport Heavy-Duty Picnic Table and Bench Set comes with a folding table and two matching folding benches, and while it’s not the prettiest piece of furniture ever created, it’s easy to store and move around as needed. What to Look for in a Picnic Table Style

The Walker Edison Outdoor Wood Dining Set doesn’t have the traditional attached benches of a picnic table—instead, it comes with two detached benches that give you more movement. The three-piece set is made from solid acacia wood, which is known for its water resistance, and it comes in a variety of finishes to match any decor. While closed, the table is able to seat up to six people, but it also has an expandable drop-leaf that increases its capacity to eight people.Instead of a traditional rectangular shape, the Leisure Season Picnic Table is an 82-inch circle with four attached benches. It’s crafted from solid cedar wood, which is naturally moisture- and insect-resistant, and it has a beautiful red-toned finish that will be an attractive addition to your patio space. The table can comfortably accommodate up to eight people—two on each bench—and it has an impressive total weight capacity of 1,500 pounds. You'll also want to consider the size of your picnic table—both in terms of its actual dimensions, as well as how many people it can seat. It's important to measure the area where you plan to put the table to ensure it will fit properly with enough clearance for people to sit down and stand up.