Best Hammocks Australia: Quick Answer
Best overall: For most people wanting a comfortable hammock for a patio or garden, start with the Deluxe Double Size Brazilian Hammock. Its roomy cotton bed suits relaxing alone or sharing, and the product lists a 250 kg capacity. Choose a Mexican hammock if airflow matters most, a spreader bar style if you prefer a flatter, open bed, or a compact camping hammock if you need to carry it on trips.
The best hammock also depends on how you like to lie, how much space you have and where it will hang. A double gives you room to lie diagonally even when you are on your own. This guide compares styles and selected product specifications from our hammock range, then gives a practical pick for each use.
Hammock Styles Compared
| Spec | Brazilian | Mexican | Spreader bar | Freestanding set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Solid fabric that wraps you in a cocoon | Open diamond weave | Bars hold the bed flat and open | Hammock and frame sold together |
| Fabric in our range | Mostly cotton, with polyester and canvas | Mostly cotton, with some nylon | Cotton, canvas and polyester | Polyester, cotton, mesh |
| Sizes | Mostly double, some single | Queen and king | Single, queen, king, plus some doubles | Mostly double |
| Example from our range | Deluxe Double Size Brazilian Hammock | Double Mexican Queen Hammock | Single Size Cotton Canvas Hammock with Wooden Spreader Bar | Steel and wooden-frame bundles; check the complete set’s rating |
| Hangs from | Two points or a stand | Two points or a stand | Two points or a stand | Its own frame |
| Good to know | Warmer, because the fabric is solid | Best kept under cover | Needs a longer footprint | Needs floor space, no trees |
How to Choose in Five Questions
How do you like to lie? If you like to be wrapped in, choose a Brazilian. If you want the bed open and flat, choose a spreader bar. If you want airflow, choose a Mexican.
Who is using it? One person can use any size. For two people, choose a double or larger only when the listing confirms it suits two adults, and check the stated capacity against the combined weight.
What will it hang from? Two strong trees or posts need straps and a hammock that suits the gap. With no trees, choose a freestanding set or add a stand.
Where will it live? A covered patio suits cotton. A spot that gets weather needs a fabric listed for it, or a hammock you can bring inside.
What is your comfort priority? Think about how long you expect to lounge. A solid-fabric Brazilian hammock is an inviting choice for reading or relaxing with more coverage. An open Mexican weave feels less enclosed on a warm afternoon. A spreader bar keeps the surface open, but you should confirm its load limit and the space it needs. For travel, a carry bag and verified packed dimensions become more useful than decorative details. Choose the feature you will use most, rather than buying solely because a style looks good in a product photo.
Brazilian Hammocks: The Wrap-Around Pick
A Brazilian hammock is woven from solid fabric rather than an open net, so it feels more like lying on a soft sheet. Our Brazilian hammock range includes both single and double options. The extra width of a double can be useful even for one person.
The Deluxe Double Size Brazilian Hammock is the one to look at first. The listing describes dense, colour-fast cotton with a crocheted fringe, a laying length of 2.6 m and a central width of 1.5 m. It lists a 250 kg capacity and says it suits up to two people. The hanging distance is 3.4 m, so measure your trees or posts before you order, and the listing says it is compatible with freestanding frames.
The trade-off is warmth. The solid fabric blocks air from underneath, which many people like on a cool evening and some find warm in an Australian summer. Cotton is also best kept under cover, so bring it in when rain is forecast.
Mexican Hammocks: The Airy Pick
A Mexican hammock uses an open diamond weave, which lets the air through. Our Mexican hammock range has queen and king sizes, mostly in cotton, plus nylon options.
The Double Mexican Queen Hammock comes in a choice of colours. The listing describes thick outdoor cotton string, which it says is three to four times thicker than standard, with a diamond weave and a crocheted lace border. It can hang from tree straps, ropes, heavy-duty wall hooks or a hammock frame.
Capacity check: Mexican Queen hammock
Important capacity note: The product page title advertises a 200 kg weight limit, but its specification table recommends one adult, or one adult and a child. A load rating is not the same as approval for two adults. Until the supplier confirms otherwise, do not choose this model for two adults, even if their combined weight is under 200 kg. Check the current guidance with us before ordering. The listing also recommends hanging it under cover and storing it indoors when not in use if it is fully exposed outdoors.
Brazilian or Mexican: Which Is Better in the Heat?
Our own collection guidance gives the same answer for both styles. A Mexican hammock’s open weave allows air to move through, which suits hot days. A Brazilian hammock’s solid fabric blocks air from underneath, which suits cooler evenings and indoor use. Neither is better overall. The right one is the one that suits your climate and your space.
If you live somewhere hot and want a hammock for the shade of a verandah, look at a Mexican hammock hung under cover. If you want a hammock for a sunroom or a cooler evening, a Brazilian suits better.
Spreader Bar Hammocks: The Flat, Open Pick
A spreader bar hammock has bars at each end that hold the bed open and flat. That makes it easier to climb into than a gathered-end hammock, and it suits reading or lying back in the sun. Our spreader bar hammocks include single, queen and king sizes, hammock-only styles and stand bundles.
The Single Size Cotton Canvas Hammock with Wooden Spreader Bar is an option to consider if you want a single, open-style hammock. The listing gives the fabric as 100 cm wide and 200 cm long when flat, with 80 cm wooden bars and a net weight of 1.5 kg. The stand is not included, and the hammock should be spot cleaned with mild soap and warm water rather than machine washed. Its product page does not state a weight capacity. Ask us to confirm the limit before purchase or use. Do not estimate it from the canvas or wooden bar dimensions.
Spreader bar hammocks need more length than traditional styles. Our collection copy says they usually need proper tension and a longer footprint, so check the total length against your space before you buy.
Double Hammocks: Which Size to Choose
Our hammocks run from single through double and queen to king. The double hammocks collection includes Brazilian, spreader bar, freestanding and other styles. Capacity varies by model: check the exact product listing rather than assuming that every double can carry the same load or is suitable for two adults.
Many people choose a double even when they are on their own. The extra width lets you lie diagonally, which is how our Brazilian hammock guidance suggests lying in one. If you would rather keep the footprint small, a single hammock is lighter and fits tighter spaces. Choose a double if you want to share it, and check the combined weight against the listing.
Hammock Sizes in Our Range
Sizes differ by style, so compare the actual measurements rather than relying on labels alone.
- Brazilian: Look for single and double woven-fabric styles. A double gives one person more room to lie diagonally.
- Mexican: Queen and king styles are available, but check each model’s recommended number of users as well as its capacity.
- Spreader bar: Single and larger styles are available, including quilted options and stand bundles. Check the overall length, not just the fabric width.
- Freestanding sets: Check both the hammock dimensions and the assembled frame footprint, along with the rated capacity of the complete setup.
Sizes are product labels, not a single standard measurement. The Deluxe Double Size Brazilian Hammock, for example, lists a 1.5 m central width and a 3.4 m hanging distance.
No Trees: A Hammock with Stand
If you have no trees or fixings, a hammock with stand is the simplest route. The two bundles we checked, one steel and one solid pine, are both rated to 205 kg. The steel set is tool-free to assemble, and the pine set comes with its tools. If you already own a hammock and need only a frame, compare the frame dimensions and compatibility with your existing hammock before buying.
Before buying a stand
Check the space it will occupy on the ground, not just the length of the hammock bed. Confirm whether the frame is designed for gathered-end hammocks, spreader bar models, or both. A stand with a high advertised capacity is not automatically compatible with every hammock. The safe capacity of the finished setup cannot exceed the lowest-rated part, and the product instructions still govern its use.
Camping Hammocks: The Packable Pick
For a day trip or campsite, check a hammock’s carry weight, packed dimensions and load rating before choosing it. The Double Camouflage Camping Hammock is one option with all three figures on its product page: a stated 200 kg maximum load, 0.59 kg hammock weight and a packed size of 27 × 25 × 2 cm. The listing describes it as canvas with a 200 × 145 cm bed and includes a carry bag. Compare the bed length with your height and intended use; the listing does not list tree straps in the package. Check that the straps and anchors you use are suitable; the hammock’s rating alone does not set the safe limit of the whole setup.
A compact pack size makes a hammock easier to bring along, but it is not the only measure of comfort. A 200 cm-long bed will not feel the same for every adult, especially if you prefer to stretch out or sleep overnight. Look at the actual usable bed dimensions, whether you can lie comfortably in your preferred position, and where your gear will go. If your trip depends on the hammock arriving by a particular date, confirm delivery timing before placing your order. A lightweight hammock without the correct suspension hardware is not a complete campsite setup.
Fabric, Weather and Care
Cotton is the most common fabric in our range, and it is best kept indoors or under cover. Rain and sun wear it faster, so bring it inside when heavy weather is forecast.
Polyester and nylon can be useful for travel and quick drying, but that does not mean every model can be left outdoors permanently. Check the listing for weather exposure and care before you decide.
Canvas hammocks with wooden bars should be spot cleaned, not machine washed.
Always check the care notes on the product page, because they differ from one hammock to the next.
After a weekend outdoors, check the fabric and suspension points for marks, loose stitching or signs of wear before packing everything away. Let a damp hammock dry fully first, particularly when it has been used near the coast or stored in a closed carry bag. For models with wooden spreader bars, inspect the bars and their attachment points as well as the fabric. Store the hammock somewhere clean and dry, and follow the maker's care instructions rather than assuming all cotton, canvas or synthetic hammocks can be washed the same way.
How to Hang Your Hammock
Most hammocks hang between two strong trees or posts with wide straps, at about head height and with a gentle sag. Our guide on how to hang a hammock covers spacing, height, hardware and ceiling fixings. Hanging hardware is often sold separately, so check what each listing includes.
For a comfortable trial setup, aim for a gentle curve rather than pulling the hammock tight like a clothesline. Sit in the middle with your feet on the ground first and adjust the hanging height before lying back. The final seated height should be comfortable to enter and leave. Never rely on an untested branch, a fence rail or a decorative pergola member simply because it looks solid. If you are unsure whether the support is structural and rated for the load, choose an appropriately rated freestanding frame or seek advice before installing fixings. For further Australian outdoor safety context, see Parks Victoria’s advice on tree risks.
Straps and Hardware
Most of the hammocks in this guide hang from straps rather than rope. Our tree straps are wide, so they spread the load and protect the bark. If you hang from a ceiling or a pergola beam, you will need hooks or loops that suit the structure. Never fix into plasterboard alone, and check the rating of every part: the hammock, the strap, the carabiner and the anchor. The lowest rating sets your limit.
Quick Picks
These picks are starting points, not interchangeable load ratings. Check the exact variant you are buying, the number of people recommended on its listing, the space required, and whether straps or a stand are included. If any safety-critical information is missing, get confirmation from Siesta Hammocks before ordering or using the product.
- Best overall for most patios and gardens: Deluxe Double Size Brazilian Hammock, with a listed 250 kg capacity for up to two people.
- Best for airflow: Double Mexican Queen Hammock, used under cover; the listing recommends one adult or one adult and a child, not two adults.
- Best flat, open style: Single Size Cotton Canvas Hammock with Wooden Spreader Bar, once its unlisted weight limit is confirmed.
- Best when you have no trees: a freestanding hammock and stand set, with the frame footprint and rating checked.
- Best for camping or travel: Double Camouflage Camping Hammock, with listed 200 kg maximum load and 27 × 25 × 2 cm packed size; check the 200 cm bed length and whole hanging setup.
- Best for extra room: a double or larger bed, provided the hanging distance and rating suit the people using it.
Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Hammock
Buying on looks alone. Check the size, the fabric and the weight limit first.
Ignoring the hanging distance. A hammock hung too tight flattens, and too loose it touches the ground. Measure before you order.
Forgetting what is not included. Some listings are hammock only. Stands, straps and hooks are often sold separately.
Leaving cotton in the rain. Cotton is best under cover.
Assuming every listing has a weight limit. Some pages do not list one. Ask us if it is missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hammock in Australia? For most people with a covered patio or garden, our best-overall starting point is the Deluxe Double Size Brazilian Hammock. It has a comfortable, roomy woven bed and a listed 250 kg capacity for up to two people. Choose a Mexican style for more airflow, a spreader bar for an open bed, or a camping hammock when packability matters more.
What is the difference between a Brazilian and a Mexican hammock? A Brazilian hammock is woven from solid fabric, so it feels warm and enclosed. A Mexican hammock uses an open diamond weave that lets air through.
Is a double hammock too big for one person? Not necessarily. The extra width lets you lie diagonally, and many people choose a double for that. A single is lighter and suits smaller spaces.
Do spreader bar hammocks need more space? Yes. Our collection copy says they usually need a longer footprint than traditional hammocks, so check the total length before you buy.
Which hammock suits a small space? A single hammock is lighter and needs less width. A hammock chair uses even less floor space. Whichever you choose, check the listed length against the gap you have.
Can I leave a hammock outside? Cotton hammocks are best kept under cover and brought in when it rains. Check each listing for its fabric and care notes.
How much weight can a hammock hold? It varies by model. Check the current product page and confirm any missing or conflicting specification before you buy. Also check the rating of each strap, clip, anchor and stand: the lowest safe rating governs the whole setup.
What should I check for a camping hammock? Look for a published weight limit, packed size, carried weight and what comes in the bag. Check the ratings of your straps and anchors as well as the hammock itself.
Read next
Leave a comment