Picnic Table Designs and Which to Choose

For anyone thinking about purchasing a picnic table, there are a few things to consider. After all, despite the name, they’re used for far more than the occasional picnic.

From tourist attractions and public parks to pub gardens and even your own home, picnic tables are a popular, multifunctional seating choice. Whether you’re dining al fresco, socialising with friends over a drink, or simply relaxing outdoors, the right table can make a big difference to how your space feels and functions.

In this article, we’ll help you navigate the different types of maintenance-free picnic tables available and explain how certain designs suit particular locations and needs. Whether you’re choosing based on aesthetics, accessibility, seating layout or available space, by the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which style of picnic table is right for you.

When most people think of the classic picnic table, it’s usually the traditional A-frame design that comes to mind. Simple in its construction yet incredibly effective, this table gets its name from the A-shaped frame beneath the tabletop. It incorporates two long benches on either side, allowing groups to sit facing each other.

One of the reasons these tables have remained so popular is their simplicity and versatility.

Visit any public park, seaside resort, campsite or tourist attraction in the UK, and you’ve no doubt seen (or even sat at) one of these. The perfect choice for small groups of friends or families, this style of picnic table is sturdy, dependable and practical.

A-frame tables are also appreciated for their compact design. They are ideal for outdoor areas where space is limited, such as domestic gardens. And because the seating is built in, you avoid the issue of loose chairs creating trip hazards or blocking walkways, something that can be a problem with standard outdoor furniture sets. 

If this sounds like the right style for you, why not take a look at our A-frame recycled plastic picnic table? Highly durable, vandal-resistant and requiring zero maintenance, this recycled plastic picnic table is a popular choice for those wanting simplicity and long-term durability.

A more contemporary design compared to A-frame tables, octagonal picnic tables are ideal for larger gatherings. With their eight-sided tabletop, they can comfortably seat up to eight people, making them popular for outdoor spaces that need to accommodate families or bigger groups. Beer gardens, restaurants, sports venues and school playgrounds all benefit from offering this style of seating.

Because these tables are designed to seat more people, they do take up more room than a typical A-frame table and are heavier to move, something worth considering if available space is limited.

Another major benefit of octagonal picnic tables is the seating layout. While A-frames feature benches on only two sides, this can make it difficult for people at opposite ends of the same bench to see or talk to one another without leaning. With an octagonal design, everyone faces towards the centre, creating a far more sociable and inclusive seating arrangement.

If you need seating for groups of varying sizes, octagonal picnic tables are a strong choice. Ideally suited to the hospitality sector, from beer gardens to restaurants, they ensure you can seat the equivalent of two standard 4-seater A-frame picnic tables, all at one table. This means avoiding the hassle of having to join two A-frame tables together or, even worse, forcing a larger group to split between two tables.

They’re also great for creating more collaborative spaces in school playgrounds, outdoor office areas, and community sites.

If this sounds like the picnic table you’ve been looking for, our octagonal 8-seater recycled plastic picnic table offers exceptional strength, weather resistance and hassle-free aftercare.

Perhaps a less common design, but one that’s likely to become more popular in the coming years, walk-in picnic tables often have a more contemporary aesthetic and are designed with accessibility at their heart. Think back to times you’ve used standard picnic tables. There’s a good chance you have experienced the awkward process of swinging a leg over the bench to get in or out of your seat. This can be particularly tricky for anyone with mobility issues, or even for someone wearing a skirt or dress. With walk-in tables, that headache disappears.

Some walk-in designs feature seating that is fixed to the table at ground level, which removes any obstacles when taking your seat. Other walk-in tables have benches that are independent from the table, allowing you to pull the bench back to create extra space. In both cases, you get unobstructed access, allowing you to simply walk in and sit down. No body contorting or gymnastics required.

Walk-in picnic tables come in various sizes and shapes, just like A-frames. Rectangular tables with capacity for four people are a popular style, while square eight-seat designs provide seating on all four sides.

Overall, walk-in picnic tables are an ideal choice if you need to cater for a broad demographic. Young children, older users and people with mobility issues can struggle to access picnic tables when the seating is too low, too high, or too awkward to access. With walk-in picnic tables, these barriers are eliminated and offer a much more comfortable, inclusive seating solution.

They’re particularly well-suited to public spaces, such as parks, restaurants, schools, sporting venues and tourist attractions.

At Cladco, we have a variety of walk-in picnic tables for you to explore, including our 4-seater recycled plastic picnic table, square 8-seater recycled plastic picnic table, and recycled plastic picnic table and bench set.

Although materials like wood and concrete have dominated the market when it comes to long-lasting outdoor furniture, including picnic tables, recycled plastic is fast becoming a much sought-after alternative. But why?

A major reason for this growing popularity is its clear environmental benefit. Manufactured entirely from recycled soft plastics, such as food packaging, these tables give waste materials a new purpose, preventing them from ending up in landfill or being sent for incineration.

Then there is recycled plastic's outstanding longevity. With an expected lifespan of over 100 years, our recycled plastic picnic tables are a superb investment. Able to withstand everyday wear and tear with ease, they are perfect for high-traffic areas and communal spaces open to the public. Our range of recycled plastic furniture is also vandal-resistant, an important consideration for locations, such as schools, town centres and public parks.

Another major advantage of choosing recycled plastic picnic tables over traditional wooden picnic tables is the ease of maintenance. Apart from the occasional wipe down with warm, soapy water, or a quick pressure wash for a deeper clean, these tables require virtually no upkeep. For anyone wanting truly maintenance-free outdoor furniture, recycled plastic is an incredibly practical choice.

If you would like to discover more about how our maintenance-free picnic tables and other types of recycled plastic furniture are made, you can have a look at our insightful blog here.

As you can see, when it comes to choosing the right type of picnic table, there are a few key factors you need to consider. Traditional A-frame picnic tables have long been the default choice for outdoor seating, thanks to their reliability and versatility, and they remain a popular choice for both gardens and large public spaces.

However, with growing demand for seating that’s practical, sociable and inclusive, octagonal and walk-in picnic tables have become increasingly popular alternatives. These designs offer a more interactive seating layout and greater levels of accessibility, making them well-suited to modern outdoor environments.

If you're looking for an alternative to traditional wooden picnic tables and would like to explore our full range of recycled plastic picnic tables, we offer a wide selection to suit a variety of settings. And if your project requires additional seating, we also have a great range of durable outdoor benches, perfect for completing any outdoor space.