Australian homes and commercial venues face a straightforward choice for outdoor seating: a traditional outdoor dining table with separate chairs, or a self-contained picnic table. Both work outdoors. But they differ significantly in cost, maintenance, seating capacity, weather resilience, and suitability for different settings. This guide compares both options honestly so you can make the right call for your situation.
What’s the Difference?
An outdoor dining table is a table surface used with separate chairs, typically the same configuration as an indoor dining room, moved outside. Materials range from aluminium and glass to powder-coated steel, teak, or other hardwoods.
A picnic table integrates the table surface and bench seating into a single piece. Users swing their legs over the bench to sit. There are no separate chairs to manage, store, or replace. The all-in-one construction makes picnic tables more durable, lower maintenance, and better suited to high-traffic environments.
Browse the full Australian picnic table range to see available models.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Outdoor Dining Table + Chairs | Picnic Table |
|---|---|---|
| Seating capacity | 4–8 (limited by chairs) | 6–10 (integrated benches) |
| Style options | High, many designs, materials | Moderate, classic and modern styles |
| Weather resistance | Varies by material, chairs especially vulnerable | High (hardwood), single solid construction |
| Cost (hardwood, 6-seat) | $1,500–$4,000 AUD (table + 6 chairs) | $900–$2,200 AUD |
| Annual maintenance | Multiple pieces to oil/clean | Single piece to oil once per year |
| Space required | Larger (chairs pushed out) | More compact per person seated |
| Commercial suitability | Moderate, chairs can be moved or damaged | High, no loose parts, vandal-resistant |
| Accessibility (DDA) | Standard chairs can suit most users | Available with accessible end configurations |
See our detailed model comparison to find the right picnic table for your space.
Best for Residential Use
For most Australian households, the decision comes down to how you actually use your outdoor area:
- Outdoor dining table suits you if: You prioritise aesthetics and flexibility, have a covered alfresco area that protects the furniture from direct weather, and rarely seat more than 6 people at once. A well-chosen outdoor dining setting can be genuinely beautiful and match your indoor style.
- Picnic table suits you if: You need to seat the whole family plus guests reliably, your outdoor area is exposed to full sun and rain, you have children who need a surface for outdoor activities, or you want a single piece of furniture that does not require matching chairs.
Hardwood picnic tables from Auscraft are available in standard and custom sizes. A standard 1.8 m table seats 6 adults comfortably, and up to 8 children. Request a quote for your backyard project.
Best for Commercial and Hospitality Use
For commercial settings, picnic tables have a clear operational advantage:
- Beer gardens and pubs: No chairs to blow over, stack, or replace. Picnic tables stay in place and seat more guests per square metre of outdoor space.
- Cafes and restaurants: A commercial hardwood picnic table handles daily cleaning, spills, and heavy use better than most outdoor dining chairs. See picnic tables for cafes and restaurants.
- Parks and recreation areas: Councils specify picnic tables precisely because they require no loose parts and are vandal-resistant in their solid hardwood construction.
- Schools and childcare: The integrated design means no chairs to trip on, no furniture to knock over, and a surface that withstands the demands of hundreds of children per week.
For commercial buyers, Auscraft offers volume pricing and custom specifications. Contact us for a commercial quote.
Hardwood Timber Options for Both
If you are choosing hardwood for either an outdoor dining table or a picnic table, Auscraft uses three Australian species selected for their AS 5604 Durability Class 1 rating:
- Spotted Gum: 11.0 kN Janka hardness, natural grey-brown tones with distinctive figuring. Highly resistant to weathering across all Australian climates.
- Ironbark: 14.0 kN Janka hardness, the hardest of the three. Deep red-brown colour. Exceptional resistance to wear and moisture, ideal for high-traffic commercial use.
- Merbau: 8.6 kN Janka hardness, warm red-brown with an interlocked grain. Rich appearance that works well in residential settings and covered alfresco areas.
All three species carry a 25+ year outdoor durability rating when properly maintained. This compares favourably to aluminium or composite materials that may degrade in UV within 8–15 years.
Which Should You Choose?
If you need a single furniture piece that handles dining, group seating, and heavy weather exposure without fuss, a hardwood picnic table is the more practical and cost-effective choice for the majority of Australian settings.
If you have a covered, design-conscious alfresco space and prioritise aesthetics over durability, an outdoor dining setting with matching hardwood chairs can be a compelling option.
Auscraft Furniture builds custom hardwood picnic tables to order from our West Gosford, NSW workshop. We deliver across Australia with 2–4 week lead times.
Get a quote for your outdoor furniture today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is a picnic table cheaper than an outdoor dining table?
For equivalent seating capacity, yes. A hardwood picnic table seating 6–8 costs $900–$2,200 AUD. A hardwood outdoor dining table plus 6 chairs typically costs $1,500–$4,000 AUD. The picnic table is also lower maintenance because you oil one piece instead of a table plus six chairs.
Q: Are picnic tables suitable for alfresco dining areas?
Yes, modern hardwood picnic tables work well in alfresco areas. For covered areas with a design-focused aesthetic, some buyers prefer a traditional dining setting. For uncovered outdoor areas, picnic tables outperform most dining chairs in weather resistance.
Q: Can a picnic table be used for commercial hospitality?
Yes. Hardwood picnic tables are one of the most common commercial outdoor furniture choices in Australia, used in beer gardens, cafes, parks, schools, and aged care facilities. The integrated bench design eliminates loose chairs, reduces replacement costs, and handles heavy daily use.
Q: What is the best outdoor dining option for a school?
For schools, picnic tables are the standard choice. They accommodate multiple children per unit, have no loose chairs to manage, and hardwood construction withstands intensive use without splintering or deteriorating. Available in accessible configurations under AS 1428.1.
