Hammock Chair Buying Guide: Rope, Macrame or Hanging Egg?

A hammock chair hangs from one point above you and holds you seated and slightly reclined. It swings, it takes far less room than a full hammock, and it does not need two trees or a pair of posts. The hard part is choosing between the three main styles: woven cotton, macramé or rope, and the rigid hanging egg chair.

The short version: woven cotton chairs are the most comfortable for long sits and the cheapest to start with. Macramé and rope chairs look lighter and suit smaller spaces. Egg chairs give you the most support and the best weather resistance, but cost the most and need a stronger mount. The rest of this guide shows the real specs behind each one, using chairs from our range of hammock chairs and our hanging egg chairs.

Hammock Chair Styles Side by Side

This table uses four chairs we stock, one per style. Specs are taken from each product page, so check the page for the colour you want, as sizes and stock can vary.

Woven Cotton Chairs

Woven cotton is the most common style and the easiest to sit in for a long time. The seat is a wide sling, so your weight spreads across the fabric instead of pressing through ropes. A rail across the top, usually timber, holds the sling open so you can climb in without it closing around you.

The Hammock Chair with Tassels is a good example. It is a 65% cotton, 35% polyester blend with a 120 cm × 150 cm seat and a 120 cm timber rail. It is rated to 120 kg. The listing includes two pillows, a cup holder, a magazine pocket and a 2 m hanging rope. Ceiling hooks, carabiners and chains are not included, which is true of most hammock chairs, so budget for hardware.

The downside is weather. The listing says this chair suits indoor use and covered outdoor areas, and is not ideal left out in heavy rain. If it gets wet, dry it fully before it goes back in a closed room.

Mexican-Style Chairs

Mexican hammock chairs use thicker cotton string woven in a diamond pattern, which gives a heavier, more textured seat than a standard cotton sling. The Thick Cotton Mexican Chair (Caribe) lists extra-thick 100% cotton string and a rated capacity of 110 kg. It weighs about 2.5 kg and measures roughly 1.5 m in length. The listing says it comes with the woven seat, a spreader timber and an integrated hanging rope, and that you supply your own ceiling hook, tree strap or stand. See the full specs on the Thick Cotton Mexican Chair (Caribe) page.

The hanging height matters more here than on a smaller chair. The listing recommends a hanging distance of about 2.1 m or more so the chair clears the ground when you sit. Measure your ceiling or branch height before you order.

Like the other cotton chairs, it needs shelter from sun and rain. Cotton string is comfortable against bare skin and flexes with you, but it takes longer to dry and does not cope well with a season of direct summer sun.

Macramé and Rope Chairs

Macramé chairs use knotted or wrapped rope in place of fabric, and they look lighter than cotton slings. Rope styles vary more than the other types, so read the material line.

The Large Macramé Hanging Chair is a rigid style. It uses polyester rope over a structured metal frame, so it keeps its shape instead of folding around you. It measures 81 cm × 81 cm × 152 cm and is rated to 100 kg. A metal ring at the top attaches to a ceiling hook, a tree branch or an extra length of rope. The listing says it suits indoor and outdoor use, and comes with a cushion.

Two honest limits apply to rope chairs in general. Rope can press into your back and legs on a long sit, so a cushion helps. And macramé tends to have a lower weight limit than a cotton sling or an egg chair. If you weigh close to 100 kg, check the number before you fall for the look.

Hanging Egg Chairs

An egg chair is a rigid pod, usually wicker or rattan over a steel frame, with a thick cushion inside. You sit more upright and feel more enclosed than in a sling. Our range includes single and double sizes, and many have removable cushions and stands.

The Outdoor Porch Hanging Egg Chair with Stand shows what to expect. The pod is hand-woven resin wicker listed as UV-resistant, hung on a powder-coated steel stand. It is rated to 150 kg and includes the stand, a cushion, a pillow, a chain and a hook, with a swivel hook for a full 360-degree turn. The pod measures 80 × 60 × 110 cm and the stand frame measures 116 × 105 × 200 cm. Some double and larger models list higher weight limits, so check each listing.

The trade-off is size and cost. An egg chair takes up floor space even before you swing, and it is heavier to move than a cotton chair. Egg chairs generally cost more than basic hammock chairs, and the larger wicker models cost a good deal more. If you have the room and want a firm seat that copes with weather, it is the one to pick. See all of our hanging egg chairs for single and double sizes.

Rope or Fabric: Which Is More Comfortable

Most people comparing a rope hammock chair with a fabric one are really asking about long-sit comfort. Fabric slings spread your weight across a wider surface, so they suit reading, napping and sitting for an hour or more. Rope and macramé suit shorter sits unless you add a cushion, but they take up less visual space and let air through.

Rigid frames, such as the macramé on a metal frame and the egg chair, hold their shape, which makes them easier to get in and out of. Soft slings fold around you and give a more hammock-like feel, but you may need to steady the chair as you sit down.

If you plan to spend long stretches in the chair, start with a wide fabric seat. If you want a smaller chair for short sits, a rope or macramé style works.

Where to Hang It

A hammock chair needs one solid fixing point, and the choice of mount affects everything else you buy.

Ceiling beam or joist. The fixing point must be a structural timber beam or joist, or a solid concrete anchor. A plasterboard ceiling with nothing behind it is not a safe fixing. Locate the beam before you drill, as our own product listings advise. We sell ceiling mount kits if you need the hardware.

Tree branch. Choose a live, solid branch that is thick and horizontal. Use a tree strap rather than rope so the bark is not damaged, and check the branch regularly.

Freestanding stand. A stand suits renters, anyone with no beam, and people who want to move the chair between rooms or onto the deck. The cost is floor space, because the legs sit around the chair. Check that the stand is designed for a single-point hanging chair, since the attachment is different from a flat hammock. Our hammock stands are listed separately.

Hardware. A swivel and carabiner let the chair turn without twisting the rope. We stock swivels and carabiners in the weights you need. Whatever you buy, the rating of every part in the chain needs to be above your weight, and every knot and fitting should be checked before each use.

Weight Limits

Check the weight limit on the product page, because it varies by chair. Among the four chairs above, limits run from 100 kg (Large Macramé) through 110 kg (Caribe) and 120 kg (Tassels) up to 150 kg (egg chair with stand).

Two points to remember. First, that number is the rating of the chair. The beam, branch, hook, chain and carabiner each have their own rating, and the lowest rating in the chain sets your limit. Second, swinging and getting in and out put more load on the fixing than sitting still, so pick hardware rated well above your weight. If you are unsure about a beam or a branch, ask a builder or a qualified tradesperson to check it.

Indoors or Outdoors

The material decides this, and the product listing is the best guide.

Indoors only or covered areas: Cotton and cotton-blend chairs, including the Tassels and Caribe chairs above. Under a roof and out of direct sun is fine. Bring them inside, or at least cover them, when rain is forecast, and let them dry before you store them.

Outdoors with some weather: Polyester rope on a metal frame and resin wicker on steel, as in the macramé and egg chairs above, are listed as suitable outdoors. They still last longer with a cover and some shade.

Keep the colour: Direct sun fades most fabrics over time. A chair on a covered deck keeps its colour longer than one in full sun.

If you are putting a chair on an exposed balcony or deck, choose a style listed for outdoor use, and read the care notes on the product page.

Care and Cleaning

Care depends on the material, and the product page lists it. For the Hammock Chair with Tassels, the listing advises spot cleaning with mild detergent and storing it dry indoors between wet spells. Treat other cotton chairs the same way: wipe marks as they happen, and never pack one away damp, because it can go musty.

Rope and macramé chairs collect dust in the weave. Shake them out and check every knot and fitting before each use, since wear shows first at the points where rope meets metal. Cushions should come inside or under cover when it rains.

For egg chairs, check whether the cushion is removable, because that makes cleaning and replacing it far easier. Our egg chair range includes replacement cushions and covers, so you do not need to replace the whole chair when the padding wears out. A cover also keeps sun and rain off the wicker when you are away.

Which Hammock Chair Suits You

For a small balcony or bedroom: A single-point hammock chair hung from a beam or hook uses little floor space. Avoid a stand model unless you have room for the legs.

For long sits and reading: A woven cotton chair like the Tassels or Caribe. The wide seat spreads your weight.

For a covered deck or patio that gets weather: A macramé on a metal frame or a wicker egg chair, with a cover for rainy weeks.

For renters or a space with no beam: A chair with a stand, or a chair you can hang from a freestanding stand later.

If you weigh closer to the limit: Choose a chair with a higher rating, and check the hardware ratings too.

If you want the most support: An egg chair. Expect a higher price and a bigger footprint.

What to Check Before You Buy

Before you order, run through this list:

1. The weight limit, for the chair and every piece of hardware.
2. The hanging height. The Caribe lists about 2.1 m, and other chairs differ.
3. The footprint, especially for a stand model or an egg chair.
4. Included hardware. Most chairs come with rope or a ring but not a hook, a swivel or a carabiner.
5. The material and care notes. These tell you whether it can go outdoors.
6. Your fixing point. A beam, a branch or a stand, and whether it is solid.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high should I hang a hammock chair? High enough that your feet clear the floor when you sit, and low enough to climb in without a struggle. The product listing gives a guide. The Caribe chair, for example, recommends about 2.1 m. Test it with the hooks fitted before you finish the job.

Do I need a stand for a hammock chair? Only if you have no beam, joist or branch that can carry the load. A stand is the no-drill option and lets you move the chair.

What is the difference between a hammock chair and an egg chair? A hammock chair is a soft sling or rope seat that folds around you. An egg chair is a rigid pod with a cushion, more upright and enclosed, and usually heavier and dearer.

Can I leave a hammock chair outside? Check the listing. Cotton and cotton-blend chairs suit covered areas and should be kept out of heavy rain. Macramé on a metal frame and resin wicker egg chairs are listed for outdoor use.

Is a hammock chair comfortable for hours? Wider fabric seats suit longer sits. Rope and macramé styles are better for shorter sits unless you add a cushion.

What weight can a hammock chair hold? It depends on the chair, and the limit is on each product page. The chairs in this guide range from 100 kg to 150 kg. The beam, hook and carabiner need their own ratings.