Hammock Chair vs Egg Chair: Which Should You Buy?

A hammock chair is a soft sling that hangs from one point and folds around you. An egg chair is a rigid pod with a thick cushion, usually on its own stand. Both swing, both suit a patio or a quiet corner, and they feel quite different to sit in. This guide compares them side by side using specs from our hammock chairs and hanging egg chairs, so you can choose with the numbers in front of you.

The Short Answer

Choose a hammock chair if you want to curl up, have limited floor space or want the lower price. Choose an egg chair if you want firm back support, a more upright seat and a chair that suits a covered patio. If you are not sure, the sections below cover each difference in turn.

Hammock Chair vs Egg Chair at a Glance

Comfort and Posture

This is the biggest difference. A hammock chair gives with your body. You can sink in, pull your legs up and sit sideways. The Hammock Chair with Tassels has a seat of 120 by 150 cm, so there is room to move.

An egg chair holds its shape. The pod is 80 cm wide and 60 cm deep on the Outdoor Porch model, so you sit in it rather than lie in it. The firm sides and back make it easier to climb in and out, and many people find that easier on the back. If you want to stretch out, neither is a bed, but the hammock chair comes closer. Our egg chair comfort review covers the sitting experience in detail.

Space and Setup

A hammock chair hangs from a single point, so on a balcony or in a bedroom it uses almost no floor. You need a strong beam, a joist or a branch, or a chair stand. The Caribe chair lists a hanging distance of about 2.1 m or more, so check your ceiling or branch height.

An egg chair on a stand needs a floor area of about 116 by 105 cm, and a height of 200 cm. It needs no drilling, which suits renters, but it takes a corner of the room or the deck. Our hammock chair buying guide explains the mounting options for hammock chairs.

Weight Limits

The limits in our range run from 100 kg on the Large Macramé Hanging Chair to 150 kg on the Outdoor Porch egg chair with stand. Some double egg chairs list higher limits. In every case, the weight rating applies to the chair, and the beam, hook, swivel and carabiner each have their own rating. The lowest one sets your limit.

Weather and Care

Cotton hammock chairs are best under cover. The Hammock Chair with Tassels is listed for indoor use and covered outdoor areas. The Large Macramé Hanging Chair is polyester over a metal frame and is listed for indoor and outdoor use. The egg chair listing describes UV-resistant resin wicker on a powder-coated steel frame. In all cases, keep cushions dry and give any chair a cover when you are away.

Cost and Value

Hammock chairs generally cost less to start with, and you may need to add hardware such as a hook, a swivel and a carabiner. Egg chairs generally cost more, but the stand is often included in the listing. When you compare, add up the whole setup rather than the headline price.

Day-to-Day Use

Getting in and out. A hammock chair moves as you sit, so steady it with a hand and sit in the middle. An egg chair also swings, but the rigid pod and firm sides give you something to hold, and many people find it more stable to climb into.

Sitting for longer. Wide fabric slings spread your weight, and rope or macramé styles can press into your back and legs, so add a cushion. An egg chair has a thick cushion built in, and a replacement is easier than replacing the whole chair.

Cleaning. Fabric chairs need a spot clean or a wipe, and cotton must dry fully before it goes back in a closed room. Wicker pods wipe down with soapy water, and cushions need to stay dry.

Storage. A hammock chair can come down and fold small when you are away. An egg chair on a stand is awkward to store, so it suits a place where it can stay.

Which Spaces Suit Each

Small balcony: a hammock chair on a stand or from a strong overhead beam. A stand-mounted egg chair may take too much floor.

Bedroom or reading nook: a hammock chair from a ceiling joist, if you own the home and can fix it safely.

Covered patio or deck: either, with an egg chair giving more weather resistance and firmer support.

Living room corner: an egg chair on a stand, since it needs no fixings and holds its shape.

Renting: a chair with a stand, since it needs no drilling.

Which Suits You

Choose a hammock chair if you want a soft, wrapping seat, you have little floor space or you want to spend less.

Choose an egg chair if you want firm back support, you have a covered patio or deck and you want a chair that needs no drilling.

Choose either if you want a reading corner with a gentle swing. Both suit it.

Avoid both if you need a chair you can sit in with no movement at all, or you need something very easy to get in and out of. A standard outdoor chair may suit you better.

Using Either Chair Safely

Both chairs swing, so a few habits keep them safe. Check the weight limit before anyone sits, including the combined weight if two people share a double egg chair. Keep the swing path clear of walls, furniture and railings. Check ropes, chains, hooks and carabiners now and then, since a swinging chair puts steady load on them. Supervise children, and do not let anyone stand on or climb a hanging chair.

If you hang a hammock chair from a ceiling, the fixing must be a solid joist or beam, not plasterboard. If you are not sure, a chair stand or an egg chair on a stand avoids the question.

Common Mistakes

Choosing by looks alone. Check the weight limit, size and hanging method first.

Forgetting hardware. Many hammock chairs list ropes or rings only. A hook, a swivel and a carabiner are usually extra.

Ignoring ceiling height. An egg chair stand is 200 cm tall on the model above, and a hammock chair needs its hanging distance.

Skipping the cover. Wicker and cotton both last longer when protected from rain and sun.

Hanging from a weak fixing. Plasterboard alone cannot take a hanging chair. Use a joist, a solid beam or a stand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a hammock chair more comfortable than an egg chair? It depends on how you sit. A hammock chair suits curling up. An egg chair suits an upright seat with firm support.

Which takes up less space? A hammock chair hung from the ceiling takes the least floor space. An egg chair on a stand needs a floor area for its frame.

Which is better for outdoors? Check each listing. Resin wicker on steel and polyester rope are made for outdoor use, and cotton needs shelter.

Can I hang an egg chair from the ceiling? Some can, with a strong mount rated well above your weight. Many come with a stand, which avoids drilling.

Which is cheaper? Hammock chairs are generally cheaper, though hardware is often sold separately.