A customer messaged us last month asking whether an 11 piece outdoor dining set would actually fit her back patio, or whether she’d need to squeeze past chairs sideways every time she wanted the salt. Fair question. When you’re planning Christmas lunch for ten people or a regular Sunday roast with the in-laws, an 11 piece set sounds like the obvious answer — until you start measuring your patio and wondering if it’s overkill.
We get versions of this question a lot, so here’s a proper rundown on the Garden Dining Set 11 Piece Outdoor Furniture in Black Poly Rattan, and how it compares to smaller setups if you’re not sure you need the full size.
How many people does an 11 piece outdoor dining set actually seat?
Ten. The count is one large table plus ten chairs — that’s the “11” in the name. It’s built for the household that regularly has both sets of grandparents over, or hosts the extended family for footy finals and birthdays. If your usual crowd is four to six people, this set will feel like a lot of empty chairs most weekends.
What if I only need seating for four to six?
That’s where the 5 Piece Garden Dining Set in Grey Poly Rattan earns its keep. Same wipe-clean rattan look, steel frame underneath, but sized for a table and four chairs — much friendlier for a courtyard or a smaller alfresco area. And if you’re really tight on space, the 3 Piece Black Poly Rattan Set is a bistro-style option for a balcony or a couple who mostly eat outside just the two of them.
How much space do you need for the 11 piece set?
Realistically, allow at least 3.5m x 3m of clear patio or deck space once you account for chairs pulled out and people walking around the table. It’s not a set you want to cram under a narrow verandah. Measure your space with painter’s tape on the ground before ordering — it sounds fussy, but it saves the headache of chairs bumping into a fence or a barbecue.
If your outdoor area is L-shaped or has an awkward pole or step, sketch it out and check the table’s footprint against the product dimensions listed on the page. Poly rattan sets like this one are heavier and bulkier than a flat-pack camping table, so it’s not something you want to reposition every weekend.
Is poly rattan actually weatherproof, or just water-resistant?
Poly rattan (also called synthetic wicker) is woven from UV-stabilised resin over a powder-coated steel or aluminium frame. It handles rain fine and won’t rot like timber wicker does. What it doesn’t love is being left in blazing, unshaded sun for months on end without any care — the weave can fade slightly over a few years, same as any outdoor plastic or resin product.
- Wipe down with warm soapy water and a soft brush every few weeks.
- Hose off bird droppings and sap promptly rather than letting them bake in.
- Store cushions inside or in a weatherproof box over winter if you’re not using the set daily.
- A shade sail or pergola over the top will roughly double the lifespan of the black finish.
What about the cushions — do they need covering every night?
Not every night, but don’t leave them out through a week of Melbourne drizzle either. The cushion covers on this set are made from a water-resistant outdoor fabric, but the foam inside can hold moisture if it’s soaked through repeatedly. A cheap outdoor furniture cover thrown over the whole setting after dinner, or cushions stacked under an eave, is enough for most households. If you get a genuinely wet week forecast, bring them in.
Can one or two people actually assemble an 11 piece set?
Yes, though it’s not a ten-minute job. Most of the chairs arrive largely assembled — you’re mainly attaching legs or arms and fitting cushions. The table is the bigger task, usually involving the tabletop, a frame, and sometimes a glass insert that needs careful handling. Budget an afternoon, have a second person for lifting the tabletop, and keep the box the glass came in until you’re sure everything fits — it’s the easiest way to return a cracked pane if one arrives damaged.
Do I need any special tools?
No. These sets are designed for home assembly with an Allen key and screws included in the box. A cordless drill with the right bit speeds things up but isn’t essential.
Will the chairs stack or need to be stored separately?
Most poly rattan dining chairs in this style don’t stack — the woven arms and frame shape don’t allow it. That’s another reason the footprint matters more than it might with basic outdoor stacking chairs. If storage between seasons is a concern, measure your shed or garage space for ten chairs sitting side by side, not just the patio itself.
Steel frame or aluminium — does it matter?
Steel frames, like the one under the 5 Piece Grey Poly Rattan Set, are heavier and give a sturdier, more grounded feel — good if your patio is windy or exposed. Aluminium frames are lighter and easier to move but can feel a touch less solid underfoot when you’re pulling a chair out from a full table. For a big 11 piece set that mostly stays put, the extra weight of a steel frame is actually a plus — less chance of a gust shifting an empty chair around.
Is it worth buying the 11 piece set if I only host a few times a year?
Genuinely, that depends on your storage and how much you value having seating ready to go without borrowing chairs from the kitchen. Some households prefer the 5 piece set for daily use and simply set up extra folding chairs on the big occasions. Others find the convenience of having ten seats built in — no scrambling before a family lunch — worth the extra footprint. If your patio can fit it and you host more than three or four times a year, the 11 piece set tends to pay for itself in reduced hassle alone.
Whichever size ends up in your backyard, poly rattan is one of the more forgiving outdoor materials going — it just wants a wipe-down now and then and a bit of shade where you can manage it.