Once you've invested in decent garden furniture, it's important to maintain it so you can enjoy it for many seasons to come. After all, outdoor dining and entertaining aren't really much of an option without at least some garden chairs. While plastic garden chairs can simply be hosed down, when it comes to wooden garden furniture, this maintenance entails giving it a bi-annual treatment with a solution designed to weatherproof and protect it.
Varnishes, stains, waxes, or simply outdoor-friendly paint are all solutions you could opt for, but our preference, especially for high-quality hardwood furniture, is a specialist wood oil. All wooden garden furniture, whether that's your favourite wooden garden chair or your wooden bench, can be maintained, preserved, and protected from British weather by investing a small amount in a decent oil designed for outdoor wood furniture.
Best oils for outdoor wooden furniture at a glance:
While varnish only adds a thin veneer to the surface of your wood, and a stain merely adds colour, a wood oil will penetrate the timber, giving it what's almost a moisturising treatment to prevent cracking, warping, and splitting. It can help to weatherproof it for the season ahead and even enhance the natural wood grain to make it more attractive. There are a range of different oils available that can be used to treat outdoor wooden furniture. From teak to tung, we've compiled a selection of the best oils for outdoor wood furniture so you can find a solution to suit you.
Best oils for outdoor wood furniture
Best oil for outdoor hardwood furniture
Ronseal This Ronseal wood oil gets our top vote as a well-reviewed product from a trusted brand. It's currently an Amazon Choice product with a 4.5-star rating, perhaps thanks to its effectiveness - one application can protect furniture for a year.
We like that it has a fast drying time of just two hours, meaning your furniture will be usable again quickly after application. Reviewers also appreciate that this goes on easily with a brush.
Pros
- This offers a rapid dry time of just two hours
- One application can protect furniture for a year
Cons
- Contains benzisothiazolone which can cause an allergic reaction
Best teak oil for outdoor wood furniture
Furniture Clinic This teak oil from the Furniture Clinic is another great all-rounder. Despite its name, it can be used on all kinds of wooden garden furniture and outdoor and indoor wood. It can revive weathered wood, giving it a long-lasting, golden-brown natural finish.
Regularly applying this oil will protect outdoor wooden products from UV rays and help prevent drying, warping, and splitting. It can also enhance the natural colour of wood furniture, making it look more attractive.
Pros
- Replaces lost oils in outdoor wood
- Can enhance the colour and grain of wooden furniture
Cons
- Not suitable for use on outdoor oak
Best tung oil for outdoor wood furniture
GodoraThis tung oil can be used on anything from wooden fencing to worktops. A vegetable oil made from the seeds of the Chinese tung tree, it is food-safe and perfectly suitable for your outdoor dining table.
Reviewers mention that this oil penetrates wood well and, when applied as per the instructions, gives a good waterproof finish to both soft and hardwoods.
Pros
- A natural, vegetable oil-based option that's food-safe
- Available in five sizes to suit your needs and budget
Cons
- This does require several applications for maximum effectiveness
Best sealing oil for outdoor wood furniture
NordicareThis wood oil is notable for its water-repelling effect - great for anyone who leaves wooden furniture outdoors during the winter months. It will give your furniture a matte shine without changing the natural wood tone.
This is a great option for teak, merbau, mahogany, pine, beech, and oak, making it an economical choice for anyone with multiple types of wood they want to protect.
Pros
- Reviewers say this is easy to apply
- Gives your furniture a weatherproof finish
Cons
- Pouring spout has been criticised as unpredictable
Best boiled linseed oil for outdoor wood furniture
Palace LanglowBoiled linseed oil is quite an old-school choice for outdoor furniture, but it definitely has its merits. It's generally more affordable than alternatives and is a universal choice. It is suitable for both untreated and weathered wood and can be used on both soft and hardwoods.
While reviewers have mixed opinions about the smell of this oil, this Amazon's Choice product has been successfully used on anything from wooden tool handles to church doors.
Pros
- Suitable to be used on untreated and weathered woods
- Can be applied by any method that suits - brush, sponge, or cloth
Cons
- Not as water-repellent as some types of oils
Best Danish oil for outdoor wood furniture
Colron This Danish oil is another Amazon's Choice product with a robust 4.7-star rating from nearly 2,000 reviewers. It can be used on interior and exterior wood of all kinds and penetrates the timber to provide a waterproof finish.
Danish oil gives wood an attractive low-sheen lustre, ideal for a subtle finish. It comes in a 500ml container, but reviewers say a little goes a long way.
Pros
- Provides a low sheen lustre to all kinds of wood
- Several applications will create a durable waterproof finish
Cons
- The smell of the oil can take several days to dissipate
Best oil spray for outdoor wood furniture
Cuprinol If you're looking for convenience, an oil spray could be the solution for you. This teak oil from Cuprinol works in exactly the same way as a normal teak oil would, but just comes in a more easy to apply format.
This replaces natural oils in your wooden furniture, and reviewers say the results are impressive for both indoor and outdoor furniture. Do note that the drying time for this oil is longer than oils you brush on - you'll need to leave up to 48 hours.
Pros
- Fast and easy application thanks to the spray bottle
- Cuprinol-quality teak oil to protect your furniture
Cons
- Although it's a spray, it still needs to be rubbed in
How we chose the best oils for outdoor wood furniture
All of these wood oils have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the type, application method, and effectiveness in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching all types of oils suitable for outdoor wood furniture to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
Frequently asked questions about wood oil
What's the best kind of oil for outdoor wood furniture?
There are lots of types of oil for outdoor wood furniture available, so we asked Craig Stevenson, Technical & Training Manager at Furniture Clinic, to explain the benefits and best use case for each one:
"We recommend two main oils for use on outdoor wood:
Teak oil – This is a blend of oils which we particularly recommend because it soaks quickly into the wood providing nourishment and protection from the elements. It provides a lovely matte finish.
Tung oil – This is a natural, non-toxic, and food-safe oil and an alternative to teak oil. This thicker oil will slightly darken the wood compared to teak oil but will take longer to dry as it contains no thinners or drying agents."
When should I apply oil to my outdoor wood furniture?
We recommend that outdoor wood furniture be oiled twice a year: in the spring and again in the autumn.
Do I need to sand furniture before applying oil?
It's advisable for all kinds of wooden furniture - even wood that's never previously been varnished. Sanding opens up the wood's grain to better allow the oil to penetrate. We'd advise doing a rough sanding first with a low-grit sandpaper, then fine-sand for a smooth finish.
How to apply an oil to your outdoor wood furniture
It depends on what method best suits you, but you can rub oil in with a lint-free cloth, apply it with a standard brush you'd use for fence paint, or use a sponge-style applicator.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.