6 Things to Know Before Buying an In-Pool Chaise Lounger

Before you buy an in pool chaise lounger, get six things right: your actual water depth (not the number your builder quoted), how the lounger stays anchored on the shelf, whether the material can handle your pool chemistry, the seating style that fits how you actually use your sun shelf, how easy the lounger is to set up and remove, and what a commercial grade label should mean.

Start with depth. It determines everything else. Every lounger and chair in this guide is in our in pool furniture collection.

How Deep Is Your Sun Shelf, Really?

Sun shelf depth is the first filter. Get it wrong and nothing else matters.

A ledge depth and a water depth are two different numbers. River Pools, a fiberglass pool manufacturer, explains that the water sits about three inches below the top of the ledge. A 9 inch ledge holds about 6 inches of water, and a 12 inch ledge about 9. People in the pool, or just a rainy day, can bring the water an inch or two higher. So, the active depth is what your lounger actually sits in, and it is the only number that matters before choosing loungers or any other in pool furniture.

Every model has its own water depth limit. For deeper shelves, you need a riser system (snap in risers that raise the lounger), added weights, or a deep water model designed for higher water levels.

TenJam adjusts its loungers to the water with risers and weights. The Shayz is rated for 5 inches of water with no riser and up to 17 inches with its 12 inch riser. The Laylo handles up to 12 inches with a 4 inch riser, and 4 lb coated weights placed inside it take it up to 18 inches. Ledge Lounger takes a model based approach: the Signature Chaise is designed for water up to 9 inches deep, and for deeper ledges Ledge Lounger makes the Signature Chaise Deep.

Before you order anything: grab a tape measure, measure from the shelf surface to the waterline where the foot of the lounger will sit (not at the shallow edge), and add a one inch buffer, as TenJam recommends, to account for people swimming in the pool. That reading is your starting point for every product comparison.

ADJUSTS WITH RISERS AND WEIGHTS

TenJam Laylo In-Pool Lounger (Set of Two)

Adjusts to your water depth with optional snap in risers and coated lead weights. 31 pounds empty, so one person can lift and move each lounger.

From $1,199.98 View Details →

What Keeps an In Pool Lounger from Floating?

Every in pool lounger has a water depth it is built for. Ledge Lounger says that if a product is bobbing or floating on the ledge, the water depth is likely outside of that product's range.

The loungers in this guide stay put in two ways. Water ballast: the lounger fills with pool water. The Ledge Lounger Signature Chaise fills through plugs on its bottom and weighs 144 pounds full. TenJam loungers fill through open holes in the bottom and drain in seconds when lifted out.

Added weight: TenJam's 4 lb plastic coated lead weights drop into chambers inside the Laylo, so the same lounger stays planted in deeper water. The coating means no rust or staining on your pool finish.

River Pools notes that most furniture will float in water that is more than 9 inches deep.

Will the Material Survive Your Pool Chemistry?

In pool furniture sits in direct sun and treated pool water all season. Check two things.

UV rating is the number of hours of direct sunlight the resin is rated for. Ledge Lounger rates its resin UV20, up to 20,000 hours of direct sunlight, and works out that at about 4 hours of direct sun a day, that is over 13 years.

For pool chemistry, confirm on the spec sheet that the furniture is rated for your system, chlorine or salt, and avoid metal furniture. Ledge Lounger's materials guide says even metal furniture treated with a rust resistant coating is not suitable for use in the pool, because chlorinated water eventually breaks down protective layers.

DESIGNED FOR UP TO 9 INCHES

Ledge Lounger Signature Chaise

UV20 rated resin and water ballast that fills to 144 lbs. Designed for up to 9 inches of water, with a Deep model for deeper ledges.

$799.00 View Details →

Chaise or Chair: Which Style Matches How You Use Your Shelf?

This comes down to how you spend time on your sun shelf.

A chaise lounger is a fully reclined seating position built for sunbathing, reading, or napping with your feet up. If your shelf is a personal retreat, this is the format.

An upright in pool chair puts you in a seated position closer to a traditional Adirondack or patio chair. You can hold a conversation, keep an eye on kids in the pool, or eat lunch without craning your neck.

The TenJam Shayz sits in between. Its backrest is more upright than a traditional lounger, so you can talk, read or eat while you lounge. It also has armrests with cupholders and lumbar support built in.

SOCIAL BACKREST

TenJam Shayz Lounger (Set of Two)

Social backrest angle with real lumbar support and cupholders in both armrests. Optional 4, 8 and 12 inch risers for deeper shelves.

From $1,599.99 View Details →

How Easy Is It to Set Up, Fill, and Remove?

This is the factor most first time buyers never think about. After helping customers choose in pool furniture, we know that ease of use shapes the ownership experience more than almost anything else on this list.

Most people buy based on looks. That makes sense. You just built or renovated your pool, you want furniture that matches, and you are just thinking about enjoying it. It is a piece of furniture. How complicated can it be?

Sometimes, very.

Some in pool chaise loungers weigh well over a hundred pounds once filled. Those water ballast systems we covered earlier add serious mass, and that mass has to come back out of the pool eventually. Whether you need to clean underneath, close the pool for winter, accommodate an automatic pool cover, prepare for a storm, or leave for an extended trip, the lounger is coming out of the water at some point.

If your lounger weighs 144 pounds when full and its plugs sit on the bottom, removal becomes a physical project.

Other products are designed around the reality that you will be moving them regularly. TenJam's Shayz and Laylo need no tools and no plugs. Open holes in the bottom let pool water flood in when you place them. Lift one out and it drains in seconds, back to its empty weight of 34 pounds for the Shayz and 31 for the Laylo. That difference sounds minor until you are the one standing on a wet sun shelf trying to wrestle 144 pounds of furniture out of the water on a Tuesday afternoon because a storm is coming.

See the difference for yourself. TenJam filmed a side by side comparison series showing exactly what it is like to fill and empty in pool loungers from different brands, start to finish.

This is especially worth considering for older homeowners or anyone who plans to manage their pool furniture without help. If you physically cannot lift something that weighs over a hundred pounds when full of water, the user experience of that product is broken regardless of how good it looks on the shelf.

What Does "Commercial Grade" Actually Mean for Pool Furniture?

"Commercial grade" is easy to put on a listing, so check what stands behind it.

What to verify before purchasing: the UV rating, the published weight capacity, and the warranty terms for both residential and commercial use. Ledge Lounger, for example, warrants the Signature Chaise for 15 years for residential use and 10 years for commercial use. If a brand cannot answer these questions clearly, keep looking.

In Pool Chaise Lounger Comparison

All three ship direct from the manufacturer. You can compare them side by side with the other chaises we carry on our in pool lounge chairs page. For a head to head look at the two brands, read our TenJam vs Ledge Lounger comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep should a pool tanning ledge be?

River Pools recommends a tanning ledge between 9 and 12 inches deep, which leaves about 6 to 9 inches of water. They say that range keeps the water shallow enough for lounging and works with most in pool furniture. If your ledge is already built, the water on it is the number to match your furniture to.

How much water depth do I need for in pool furniture?

It depends on the model. Ledge Lounger's Signature Chaise is designed for up to 9 inches of water. The TenJam Shayz is rated for 5 inches with no riser and up to 17 inches with its 12 inch riser, and the Laylo for up to 12 inches with a 4 inch riser. Measure where the foot of the lounger will sit and add one inch for people swimming in the pool.

Can I use a regular patio chaise on my sun shelf?

No. Ledge Lounger's advice is that the furniture you put in your pool should be made for the pool: metal rusts and wood deteriorates when exposed to water, and even metal with a rust resistant coating is not suitable for use in the pool.

Do in pool loungers work in saltwater pools?

Check the manufacturer's spec sheet for your exact model. Ledge Lounger says the Signature Chaise can be used in any type of pool, including saltwater, bromine and chlorine pools. TenJam's 4 lb coated weights were tested for one year in both chlorinated and salt water pools.

How do I keep my in pool lounger from floating?

Match the lounger to your water depth first, since Ledge Lounger notes that a lounger bobbing or floating on the ledge is likely in water outside its range. Then use what the model offers. That means water ballast (the Signature Chaise weighs 144 pounds full), risers (the Shayz takes 4, 8 or 12 inch risers) or added weight (the Laylo takes 4 lb coated weights).

Are in pool chaise loungers worth the investment?

For a homeowner with a sun shelf, a pair of in pool loungers changes how the pool gets used.

The way I see it, is that you've spent a lot of money to build your pool, and you at least want to make sure that you can lounge in it comfortably and are proud to show off the furniture you paired with it. Buying something that will 1.) stand the test of time and look good for years to come, and 2.) is actually comfy, is definitely worth it to me.