Is there anything more relaxing than a picnic in a beautiful state park? Maybe a picnic at the beach. Or a picnic in the backyard. The point is this: If you have a folding picnic table, you can picnic anywhere. For our picks of the best folding picnic tables, we chose only those models that had benches included. (Hey, it’s not a true picnic table without seats included!) Get the basket of lunchtime goodies ready, because your next picnic is waiting on you and your folding table.
All-weather finish
Did you know we can give the French credit for creating the modern picnic? The idea of gathering at parks for a meal started when the royal parks were opened to the public following the revolution of 1789. Celebrate their independence with this table from Lifetime. It has a steel frame and polyethylene surface. It’s 6 feet long and can accommodate six to eight people with a total capacity of 900 pounds. (That’s before the burgers and cole slaw are consumed.)
Buy Now: Lifetime 22119 Folding Picnic Table
Easy setup
Curious about what the most popular day for picnics is around the world? It’s the Fourth of July in the United States. In France, it’s Bastille Day. For Italy, it’s Easter Monday. In the UK and Australia, there’s a whole week officially dedicated to picnics. (Just google “National Picnic Week.”) This table from Stansport features a heavy-duty plastic umbrella and is height adjustable. Best of all: It’s easy to assemble with no tools required.
Buy Now: Stansport Picnic Table and Umbrella Comb
Waterproof construction
Sometimes simplicity is best. This table and bench set from Office Star is waterproof, stain-resistant and scratch-resistant. Absolutely no assembly is required; it’s good to go right from the shipping box. One of the earliest accounts of picnicking comes from England and the tales of Robin Hood, in which Robin and his merry men would feast on bread, cheese, and beer under the trees of Sherwood Forest.
Buy Now: Office Star Resin 3-Piece Folding Bench and Table Set
For larger groups
The dark gray, wood resin construction makes this picnic table look as if it were a permanent resident of the local campground. It features a weather-resistant steel frame and a hole for your umbrella. Do you remember the 1955 movie “Picnic?” It was set in a Kansas town and revolves around a local Labor Day picnic. The rom-com starred William Holden and Kim Novak and was nominated for six Academy Awards.
Buy Now: Cosco Outdoor Living 6 ft. Folding Blow Mold, Dark Wood Grain with Gray Legs Picnic Table
For more casual affairs
Speaking of picnic movies, a 1986 movie was made titled “No Picnic.” Set in the pre-gentrified neighborhoods of New York’s Lower East Side, it’s true to its name – no picnics are featured in the flick, which became a favorite of the 1986 Sundance Film Festival. This picnic table from Trademark Innovations is smaller than other tables we’ve featured, with a maximum seating of four people. Still, it features a sturdy, aluminum frame and heavy-duty plastic seats.
Buy Now: Trademark Innovations Portable Folding Picnic Table with 4 Seats
