Outdoor gliders, rocking chairs, and swings all allow seated individuals to move in a back-and-forth motion. As long as their legs are long enough, they can propel themselves. Many people like these pieces of furniture because they find the back-and-forth motion to be calming and relaxing. Medical studies have validated the relaxation effect of rockers through the lowering of blood pressure and breathing rates, as well the relieving of lower back pains. Outdoor gliders, swings, and rockers have motion in common, but some characteristics set them apart—the space they require, their specific type of motion, and their seating room.



A glider takes up about the same space as a bench of its same length. It needs a little extra room so it doesn't bang against a wall or railing when it glides, but it typically requires less room for its path of motion than a rocking chair. Of course, the longer the runners on the bottom of the chair, the bigger the space you will need when rocking. Swings, when hung from an overhead joist, don't require a wide path. But a separate frame will require more room because the posts sit at a wider angle than the swing. If you have a space that's long enough for a bench but not terribly wide, a glider may be the right piece of furniture for you.

Outdoor gliders have a different motion than swings and rockers. Unlike swings and rocking chairs, gliders have no arc to their movement; instead, they move on a flat plane. A glider's motion usually feels smoother, as well. Often, people find a glider a little easier to keep moving than a swing or rocking chair.

Finally, outdoor gliders often seat multiple people. Rocking chairs frequently seat one adult. Sometimes you can find double rockers, but usually rocking chairs do not seat more than two adults. Outdoor swings usually seat more than one, but you may be afraid that the weight will place too much stress on a piece of hanging furniture or the hanging hardware, and you're afraid the swing will crash to the ground. If you are looking for furniture that can comfortably seat three or even four adults, you may want to check your options for outdoor gliders.

To evaluate your space needs, the best thing you can do is determine where you will place the furniture. Measure the width, length, and height of the area. Keep the measurements handy as you shop.

To evaluate which motion you prefer, the best thing you can do is to try out some various pieces of furniture yourself. If you know friends who own these types of outdoor furniture, try theirs out and note which you like best. Or try some out at a local furniture or department store.

To evaluate how large a seat you need, imagine the people who are most likely to sit with you. Perhaps you can imagine both your spouse and your neighbor, but not at the same time. Or perhaps you envision two friends, or two grandchildren. Whatever pictures enter your mind, figure how many seats you will commonly need at one time. Take these three evaluations and shop accordingly.