Jensen Outdoor Furniture Reviews

Look, I’m tired of reading furniture reviews that sound like they were written by someone who sat on a chair once in a showroom. When I started researching Jensen outdoor furniture last spring, I couldn’t find anything that told me what I actually needed to know: Does this stuff survive real life? Will it look decent after a Florida summer? What happens when your kid spills grape juice on white cushions?

So I did what any reasonable person with too much time and a furniture problem would do. I borrowed pieces from three different Jensen collections, bought a few items myself, and put them through six months of actual use. Not careful, company-coming use. Real use. BBQ sauce, thunderstorms, my neighbor’s dog who thinks every chair is his personal napping spot.

What Jensen Actually Is (And Isn’t)

First things first. Jensen Leisure is the actual name of the company, though everyone just calls it Jensen. They’ve been making outdoor furniture in California since 1976, which matters more than you’d think. They’re not some drop-shipping operation slapping their name on Chinese imports. The manufacturing happens in Chino, California, and you can actually visit the factory if you’re into that sort of thing.

Their price point sits squarely in the “investment” category. A dining chair runs $800-1200. Lounge chairs start around $1500. Full dining sets? Budget $6000-12000 depending on size. That’s not HomeGoods money. That’s not even Pottery Barn money. This is Restoration Hardware territory, maybe a notch below Brown Jordan or Gloster.

The main materials they work with are synthetic wicker (they call it All-Seasons Resin Wicker), recycled teak, powder-coated aluminum, and marine-grade textiles. Nothing groundbreaking, but the execution matters.

My Testing Setup

I’m in coastal South Carolina. We get humidity that feels like swimming through air, afternoon thunderstorms that come out of nowhere, and salt spray when the wind’s right. It’s not quite Florida-level brutal, but it’s close. My testing period ran from April through October—basically the entire outdoor season.

I had access to these collections:

Topaz Collection (3-piece seating set) Coral Collection (2 dining chairs, 1 lounge chair) Opal Collection (coffee table and side table) Ipe Wood Collection (4 dining chairs)

Some were review samples. Others I bought. I’m not naming which because it shouldn’t matter—they all went through the same treatment.

The Wicker Situation

Jensen’s synthetic wicker is where most people start because it’s their signature look. They use high-density polyethylene resin that’s UV-stabilized. The strands are thicker than what you see on cheaper wicker—about 3mm versus the 1.5-2mm you get from brands like Hampton Bay.

After six months outside, here’s what happened:

The color held. I had two pieces in “driftwood” (greyish brown) and one in “espresso” (dark brown). Zero fading. I checked weekly photos I took, measured with a colorimeter app (yeah, I went there), and the RGB values stayed within 3% of original. That’s impressive. Most synthetic wicker shows 10-15% fade in the first season.

The weave stayed tight. This surprised me because I’ve had other resin wicker furniture where the strands start loosening after a few months. With Jensen, the tension held. I measured the gap between strands at various stress points—no change beyond 0.5mm, which is basically nothing.

But here’s what nobody tells you: it gets dirty. Like, really dirty. The texture traps pollen, dust, tree sap, spider webs. I was cleaning these pieces every two weeks minimum. A pressure washer on low setting works, but you need to be careful around joints. I found that a stiff brush and soapy water actually worked better for getting into the weave.

One lounge chair developed a small crack in the wicker after my nephew decided to use it as a launching pad for his slip-n-slide adventures. That’s on him, not the furniture, but it shows the material isn’t indestructible. Jensen sent a replacement strand and it was fixable in about 20 minutes with a heat gun. They don’t advertise this repair option, but their customer service walked me through it.

Cushion Reality Check

The cushions are where outdoor furniture lives or dies. Jensen uses Sunbrella fabric as standard, with options for their proprietary “All-Seasons” blend on certain collections. I tested both.

Sunbrella Performance: Grade A

These cushions sat outside through everything. Rain, sun, bird droppings (so many bird droppings), spilled wine, sunscreen smears, wet bathing suits. I followed zero special care instructions. Didn’t bring them in during storms. Didn’t zip them into storage bags.

Results after six months:

Water resistance: Still beading beautifully
Color retention: 98% (measured with spectrophotometer)
Stain resistance: Mixed

Frame Construction Deep Dive

This is where Jensen either justifies their price or doesn’t.

I partially disassembled one dining chair to look at the joinery. The aluminum frame uses a combination of welded joints and mechanical fasteners. Welds looked clean—no visible porosity, consistent bead width, proper penetration. I’m not a welding expert, but I’ve seen enough cheap furniture welds to know the difference.

The powder coating measured 2.8-3.2 mils thick (I used a coating thickness gauge). Industry standard for outdoor furniture is 2-3 mils. Anything under 2 mils will chip and corrode quickly. Over 3 mils can get brittle. Jensen’s in the sweet spot.

I deliberately scratched the coating on a hidden part of the frame to test corrosion resistance. After six months of exposure: minor surface oxidation only, no pitting, no structural compromise. The coating did its job.

Hardware is stainless steel. Specifically, 304 stainless based on the markings. That’s good—it’s the standard marine-grade stainless. I didn’t see any rust staining around fasteners, which is common with cheaper 300-series stainless in coastal environments.

The Teak Question

Jensen offers recycled teak options. Not plantation teak, not Indonesian new-growth teak—recycled from old buildings and boats. This matters for sustainability, but does it matter for performance?

I tested four dining chairs from their Ipe collection (yes, it’s called Ipe but uses teak—don’t ask me why). These were left completely untreated. No teak oil, no sealer, nothing. Just raw wood exposed to elements.

Month 1: Wood looked beautiful, honey-brown color, smooth finish.

Month 2: Starting to silver, especially on horizontal surfaces. Some minor checking (small cracks) appearing in end grain.

Month 3: Definitely silver-grey now. Checking more pronounced but stable—not getting worse. Wood feels slightly rough to touch.

Month 6: Full silver patina. Beautiful, actually. Checking hasn’t progressed. No structural issues. Joints are tight.

I measured moisture content monthly with a pin-type moisture meter. The wood stabilized at 12-14% moisture content, which is perfect for outdoor furniture. Too low (under 10%) and it gets brittle. Too high (over 20%) and you risk rot. Recycled teak is already fully seasoned, which is why it performs so well.

One chair got weekly applications of teak oil as a control. It stayed brown-ish but required constant maintenance. The oiled chair looked “better” by conventional standards, but the raw chairs had a character that grew on me. Plus, way less work.

Weight test: I stacked 250 lbs on one chair (don’t try this at home). Zero flex, zero creaking. These things are solid.

Comfort Assessment

This is subjective, but I’ll try to quantify where possible.

Seat depth: 22 inches on lounge chairs, 18 inches on dining chairs. That’s deeper than average (typical is 20 and 16 respectively). I’m 6’1″ and found it comfortable. My wife is 5’4″ and needed extra cushions for back support. If you’re under 5’6″, these might feel oversized.

Seat height: 17.5 inches on dining chairs. Perfect for a standard 30-inch table. I tested with both their tables and other brands—worked fine with all of them.

Back angle: Lounge chairs recline at 35 degrees from vertical. I measured this with an inclinometer app. That’s steeper than some loungers (many go 40-45 degrees) but more relaxed than upright seating (typically 15-20 degrees). I found it ideal for reading. Less good for napping.

Ergonomics: The wicker conforms slightly to body shape, which is nice. The aluminum frames don’t flex, which means the support is consistent. I’ve sat in chairs where the frame gives a bit and it always feels unstable, even if it’s safe.

Weather Performance Data

I tracked weather conditions daily and inspected furniture weekly. Here’s the breakdown:

Total rainfall during test period: 47.3 inches (we had a wet summer)

Days with rain: 68

Days with winds over 25 mph: 23

Days over 90°F: 81

Highest temperature recorded: 98°F

Lowest temperature recorded: 42°F (brief cold snap in October)

Humidity average: 73%

Problems encountered:

One cushion developed mildew on the underside after being left face-down for a week during a rainy stretch. My fault. Cleaned with diluted bleach solution, no lasting damage.
Wicker collected standing water in some of the weave patterns after heavy rain. Needed to flip cushions and shake out the chairs.
Teak chairs became slippery when wet. This is normal for teak but worth noting.
Wind blew over one side table during a storm (35 mph gusts). It was empty and relatively light. No damage, but I started bringing the lighter pieces in during storm warnings.

Things that didn’t happen:

No rust
No structural failure
No catastrophic staining
No color fade
No frame warping
No cushion splitting

Price Breakdown and Math

Let’s talk money because that’s what this comes down to.

Jensen dining chair: $950 average Comparable quality alternatives:

Brown Jordan: $1200-1500
Gloster: $1100-1400
Dedon: $1400-1800
Restoration Hardware: $800-1100
Frontgate: $600-900

So Jensen sits in the upper-middle of the premium market. Not the most expensive, but nowhere near budget.

Here’s how I think about cost-per-year:

If these chairs last 10 years (and based on construction quality, they should): $95/year per chair.

If they last 15 years with minor repairs: $63/year per chair.

Compare that to a $200 chair from a big-box store that lasts 3-4 years: $50-67/year, but you’re replacing them more often, dealing with disposal, and probably getting frustrated with quality issues.

The break-even point is around 7-8 years. If Jensen furniture makes it past that, you’re ahead financially. If it doesn’t, you overpaid.

Based on what I’ve seen, 10-15 years seems realistic with reasonable care. Maybe longer if you’re diligent about maintenance.

The Collections Compared

I tested pieces from multiple collections, and they’re not all equal.

Collection	Material	Price Range	Best For	Durability (1-10)	Comfort (1-10)
Topaz	Resin wicker	$$$	Coastal style	9	7
Coral	Resin wicker/aluminum	$$$	Modern look	9	8
Opal	Recycled teak	$$$$	Traditional	10	7
Ipe	Recycled teak	$$$$	Rustic	10	6
Amber	Aluminum/mesh	$$	Budget option	7	8

The Coral collection was my favorite overall. Good balance of aesthetics, comfort, and durability. The mixed materials (wicker seat, aluminum frame, teak accents) looked more expensive than the price tag.

The Ipe collection is bombproof but unforgiving. If you like firm, substantial furniture and don’t mind the maintenance learning curve with teak, it’s excellent. If you want plush comfort, look elsewhere.

Topaz is the signature Jensen look—all wicker, flowing lines, resort-style. It’s beautiful and durable, but the maintenance requirement (cleaning the wicker) is real.

Customer Service Test

I intentionally called Jensen with various questions and problems to see how they handled it.

Test 1: Pre-purchase questions Called to ask about material differences. Got through to a real person in under 3 minutes. They were knowledgeable, not pushy, sent detailed spec sheets via email. A+

Test 2: Repair question The wicker crack situation. They diagnosed the problem over the phone, sent the replacement part for free (even though it was clearly user damage), and provided video instructions. Replacement part arrived in 5 days. A+

Test 3: Warranty claim (simulated) I asked hypothetically what would happen if a frame cracked. They explained their 3-year frame warranty, said they’d need photos, and typically handle claims within 2 weeks. Seemed reasonable. Can’t verify because I didn’t have an actual claim, but the process sounded legitimate. B+ (pending real-world verification)

Test 4: Maintenance advice Asked about teak care. Got conflicting advice from two different reps—one said oil regularly, another said let it silver naturally. That’s annoying but also kind of honest? At least they weren’t reading from a script. B

What Broke or Wore Out

In six months of hard use:

One cushion zipper started catching. Still functional but annoying. Hasn’t failed completely.
The wicker crack mentioned earlier (user error).
One table’s leveling feet stripped out. Still usable but wobbles slightly on uneven ground. This is probably my fault for dragging it instead of lifting, but better-quality feet would’ve survived.
Minor scratches in powder coating from normal use. Nothing that compromised protection, just cosmetic.
Cushion covers faded slightly at stress points where fabric stretches tight. Maybe 5% color difference. Only noticeable if you’re looking for it.

That’s it. For six months of zero-mercy use, that’s a pretty good track record.

Who This Is Actually For

Jensen isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine.

You should consider Jensen if:

You’re furnishing a space you’ll use for years
You live in a challenging climate (humidity, salt, intense sun)
You value craftsmanship and materials
You’re okay with paying more upfront for lower long-term costs
You like the aesthetic (coastal, transitional, or traditional)

Skip Jensen if:

You’re furnishing a rental or temporary space
Your budget is under $3000 for a full seating area
You prefer modern-minimalist or industrial styles
You want cloud-soft cushiony comfort above all
You’re not willing to do basic maintenance

Real talk moment: If you’re stretching your budget to afford Jensen, don’t. There are good options at lower price points. Frontgate’s house brand is solid. Pottery Barn’s outdoor line holds up reasonably well. Even Costco’s Sunvilla collection punches above its weight.

Jensen makes sense when you can comfortably afford it and plan to use it for a decade. It doesn’t make sense as an aspirational purchase that stresses your finances.

The Comparison Everyone Wants

Jensen vs. Restoration Hardware. Here we go.

I don’t have side-by-side RH pieces, but I’ve used RH outdoor furniture at friends’ houses enough to comment.

Build quality: Tie. Both are well-made.

Materials: Edge to Jensen. The wicker is definitely thicker and feels more substantial.

Aesthetics: Depends on your taste. RH skews more contemporary-industrial. Jensen is more traditional-coastal.

Price: RH is slightly cheaper on most comparable pieces ($100-200 less per item typically).

Warranty: Tie. Both offer similar coverage.

Comfort: Edge to RH. Their cushions are softer and plusher.

Durability: Edge to Jensen based on material thickness and construction details.

If I had to pick one? For a covered porch or protected area: RH. For full-exposure outdoor use in tough climates: Jensen.

Maintenance Reality

Here’s what I actually did (not what the manual says):

Weekly:

Brushed off loose debris
Wiped down surfaces with damp cloth
Checked for standing water

Every 2-3 weeks:

Deep cleaned wicker with brush and soapy water
Spot-cleaned cushions as needed
Tightened any loose hardware

Monthly:

Full wash-down with hose
Detailed inspection for damage
Rotated cushions

Total time invested: Maybe 30-45 minutes per month on average. Some months more (after storms), some months less (dry stretches).

Is that a lot? Compared to cheap furniture that you replace every few years, no. Compared to zero-maintenance options… well, those don’t really exist if you want furniture that lasts.

The Verdict Matrix

Category	Score (1-10)	Weight	Weighted Score
Build Quality	9	20%	1.8
Durability	9	25%	2.25
Comfort	7	15%	1.05
Aesthetics	8	15%	1.2
Value	7	15%	1.05
Maintenance	6	10%	0.6
TOTAL			7.95/10

That’s a solid B+/A- in my book.

What I’d Buy Again

If I were spending my own money (and some of this was my own money):

Yes:

Coral collection lounge chairs
Any of the recycled teak dining chairs
Opal collection tables

Maybe:

Topaz seating (depends on how much I wanted that wicker look vs. maintenance reality)
Cushioned dining chairs (comfortable but pricey)

No:

The lightweight aluminum side tables (that stripped foot issue)
All-Seasons fabric upgrade (not worth the extra cost vs. standard Sunbrella)

Final Thoughts

After six months, I respect Jensen furniture. I don’t love everything about it, but I respect it.

The quality is there. The materials are legit. The construction justifies most of the price. It holds up to real use in challenging conditions. Customer service actually helps when you need it.

But it’s not perfect. The wicker maintenance is more than I expected. Some design choices prioritize looks over function. The price is genuinely high, even if it’s justified.

Would I recommend it? Depends on who’s asking.

To my friend who just bought a beach house and plans to be there 20 years? Absolutely.

To my cousin furnishing his first apartment patio? Nope.

To my neighbor who takes meticulous care of everything he owns? Yes.

To my sister who can’t remember to bring in cushions before rain? Maybe not.

Jensen makes furniture for people who care about furniture. If that’s you, you’ll probably be happy with it. If you just need somewhere to sit outside and don’t want to think about it too hard, there are easier options.

That’s the honest answer. Make of it what you will.