There’s nothing quite like dining al fresco in the warmer months (so long as there’s not a heatwave), but choosing outdoor dinnerware can be tricky. Those pretty ceramic plates that look so lovely on the table are especially prone to breakage outdoors, but you don’t want cheap plastic that scratches easily, and you certainly want something a little more elevated than paper plates. The best outdoor dinnerware will not only look good, but also be durable enough to survive a particularly spirited family gathering on the back porch. And when your guests have all left? It will be easy to clean, too.
The 15 Best Outdoor Dinnerware Sets for Dining Under the Stars
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Published Apr 25, 2023
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Paula Boudes for PureWow
What to Look for in an Outdoor Dinnerware Set
Outdoor dinnerware needs to be lightweight enough to tote from your kitchen to your patio setup yet durable enough to survive steak knife scratches and accidental dropping. For these reasons, it’s best to stay away from glass or ceramics (particularly if it has larger pores, or openings), opting instead for some of the best materials below.
In addition to the construction, outdoor dining makes for a great opportunity to experiment with bolder, flashier patterns or print you wouldn't necessarily choose for your daily dining set.
What's more, since the likelihood of getting them dirty is higher than it might be indoors, you want to look for dinnerware that won't be a pain to wash.
What Is the Best Material for Outdoor Dinnerware?
These are the best materials to consider that are both lightweight and durable:
- Melamine: Melamine is a type of plastic that the FDA has ruled safe to use, so long as you don't microwave it. Found in reusable plates, utensils and cups, it's a true al fresco host's dream, as it's known to be shatterproof as well as harder to break or chip than other materials, making it perfect for outdoor use. Better yet, it's considered to be dishwasher-safe.
- Acrylic: Another form of plastic that's great for the outdoors, acrylic is durable, shatter-resistant and often every bit as beautiful as your non-plastic dinnerware. Not to mention, it’s extremely safe and food-friendly, as many options are BPA-free (though this is another material that shouldn't go in the microwave). It's also usually recommended for hand-washing.
- Bamboo: Bamboo is eco-friendly and thus biodegradable, making it a great pick for your next outdoor picnic—particularly since it's also lightweight and shatter-resistant. It's a more solid alternative to paper, and depending on its construction, these plates may be suitable for several uses if disposable or several years. (Water will eventually fade them or make them develop white spots.) This type of dinnerware should not be microwaved.
- Porcelain: Stoneware is a type of non-porous ceramic dinnerware. While it's more fragile than some of the other options on this list, its relatively high-firing temperature and thicker build help to make it more durable than other ceramics, which tend to have larger pores that make them more susceptible to breakages. It's also microwave-, oven-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe.
How We Chose the Best Outdoor Dinnerware
To find the best outdoor dinnerware, we used the parameters above, our own testing and research (which involved eating off a few of the plates below and putting them through the dishwasher ringer) and scoured reviews on individual tableware pieces. Ultimately, we chose 15 options for a safe, elegant and easy outdoor dining experience when chowing down at your next barbecue, picnic and more.
The Best Outdoor Dinnerware at a Glance
- Best Overall: Juliska Iberian Dinnerware
- Best Minimalist Outdoor Dinnerware: TP Melamine Dinnerware
- Best Melamine Outdoor Dinnerware: Pottery Barn x Monique Lhullier Positano Dinnerware
- Best Porcelain Dinnerware: Vancasso Jasmin Dinnerware
- Best Wood Dinnerware Set: Aidea Acacia Dinnerware
- Most Summery Outdoor Dinnerware: Sur La Table El Mar Dinnerware
- Best Non-Toxic Dinnerware: Slow Hour Wheat Straw Dinnerware Set
- Best Hand-Painted Outdoor Dinnerware: Our Place Tabletop Dinnerware
- Best Colorful Dinnerware: Spice by Tia Mowry Tie-Dye Dinnerware
- Best Acrylic Outdoor Dinnerware: West Elm Acrylic Dinnerware
- Best Modern Dinnerware: West Elm Modern Dinnerware
- Best Floral Dinnerware Set: Sur La Table Wildflower Melamine Dinnerware
- Best Bamboo Dinnerware: Lekoch Bamboo Dinnerware
- Best Stoneware Dinnerware: Sango Siterra Patiner's Palette Dinnerware
- Best Eco-Friendly Dinnerware: Zak Designs Confetti Dinnerware
- Why We Love It: intricate design, dishwasher-safe, new colorway
- Set Size: open stock
- Material: melamine
Inspired by Iberian intricately painted tiles, these plates, also available in ceramic sets, are sold in open stock, or per individual plate, in a sturdy melamine version that you'll be able to run through the dishwasher once you've enjoyed your meal on the lanai. The gorgeous soft sage palette is brand new for the spring/summer 2023 season, and will turn any table spread into a work of art. As for the quality, Commerce Director Nicole Briese regularly fuels her coffee addiction with the brand's ceramic L'Amour Toujours mug and has found that it washes well and withstands her careless banging around in the cupboard, which bodes well for this stronger, more durable collection. Matching dessert plates are also available for $20 apiece.
- Why We Love It: scratch- and shatter-resistant, certified BPA-free
- Set Size: 18 pieces
- What's Included: six bowls, six dinner plates, six salad plates
- Material: melamine
The bright teal hue of this dinnerware practically has our mouths watering. It comes with enough wares to feed a whole family, including six bowls, six dinner plates and six salad plates, and it's made of 100 percent high-grade melamine, which is completely food safe and certified BPA-free. Note that while these plates are top-rack dishwasher safe, you'll want to keep them far away from the microwave.
- Why We Love It: lightweight, Italian-inspired, matching collection
- Set Size: four pieces
- What's Included: four dinner plates
- Material: melamine
Bring some citrusy vibes to your meal with this four-piece melamine set made in collaboration with designer Monique Lhuillier. With a print that's meant to evoke the beauty of the Italian coast and fluted edges, this set includes four lightweight dinner plates, though you can also pick up the matching salad plates, appetizer plates, cork coasters and more from the stunning new Positano collection, all of which can be cleaned up in the machine.
- Why We Love It: colored by inorganic pigments to prevent fading, easy to clean
- Set Size: 16 pieces
- What's Included: four dessert plates, four dessert plates, four bowls, four mugs
- Material: porcelain
This colorful set comes with everything you'll need for a family of four. Because of the heat-glaze burning method used to make them, they should be durable enough to throw in the microwave, oven and dishwasher too for everyday use. They’re also 100 percent scratch-resistant, according to the brand. We've been using the less tough stoneware set in blue for weeks and so far, it's plenty high-quality for the price, wearing well and cleaning up beautifully.
- Why We Love It: rustic appearance, tough to break, eco-friendly
- Set Size: 12 pieces
- What's Included: four dinner plates, four appetizer plates, four soup bowls
- Material: acacia wood
This dinnerware is made of 100 percent acacia wood for a rustic appeal that will stand up to the elements. It comes with four large dinner plates, four appetizer plates and four soup bowls for serving up everything from pasta salad to grilled burgers and tater tots. Happy shoppers say these dishes are nice and lightweight, but they're sturdy enough to make for a nice addition to your next camping trip. Just keep sharp knives away from their surface to avoid scratches and treat them with care while cleaning (hand-washing is recommended).
- Why We Love It: scratch- and shatter-resistant, dishwasher-safe
- Set Size: 12 pieces
- What's Included: six dinner plates, six salad plates
- Material: melamine
Nothing says "summer-ready" quite like ocean-themed dinnerware. This beautiful watercolor set comes with six dinner plates and six salad plates that will be lovely atop any placemats you might already have. You can't microwave them, since they're made of melamine, but you can wash them in your dishwasher's top rack. Tack on the adorable taco platter for a festive Taco Tuesday.
- Why We Love It: BPA-free, included flatware, natural material
- Set Size: 16 pieces
- What's Included: four plates, four cups, four bowls, four utensils
- Material: wheat straw fiber and polypropylene
This oatmeal- and mango-colored set is highly unique in the sense that it's made from natural wheat straw fiber and food grade polypropylene, making it 100 percent BPA free, gluten-free, non-toxic and odorless. That means heating up these dishes in the microwave will be no problem, and you can toss them in the dishwasher once you’re done eating. Plus, unlike most sets, it comes with matching utensils for a cohesive feel.
- Why We Love It: stackable, scratch- and chip-resistant, hand-painted
- Set Size: 12 pieces
- What's Included: four drinking glasses, four plates, four side bowls
- Material: porcelain
The makers of the viral Always Pan and Always Pan 2.0 have done it again with this highly functional and summery dinnerware. Its stackable design will not only make it easier to carry outdoors but save space in your kitchen, too. More than that, it has a glossy, hand-painted finish with a speckled accent to give it just the right amount of oomph to liven up your plate. Sustainably made from recycled and virgin porcelain ceramic, it's designed to be both durable and lightweight, and it comes with everything you need for a full dinner: four drinking glasses, four plates and four side bowls.
- Why We Love It: scratch- and chip-resistant, large surface area, handpicked colors
- Set Size: eight pieces
- What's Included: four dinner plates, four bowls
- Material: melamine
The '90s are still infiltrating our lives, which is why these tie-dye melamine plates will make for the perfect backdrop for your culinary journies this summer. Each set comes with four dinner plates and four bowls in bright shades of blue, orange, pink and green that were hand-picked by Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry herself. Though they’re hand-wash only, they’re scratch-resistant and made especially for outdoor eating.
- Why We Love It: unique shape, organic, dishwasher-safe
- Set Size: 16 pieces
- What's Included: four dinner plates, four salad plates, four cereal bowls, four pasta bowls
- Material: acrylic
Whether you're looking to present your dinner guests with a fresh summer watermelon, a bright orange cantaloupe or an airy caprese salad with bright red pops of tomato, these transparent acrylic plates will let your food be the star of the show, since it's totally see-through. The matching glasses allow you to admire your fruitier beverages, and they'll clean off in the wash: Just make sure not to let coffee, turmeric or deep colored spices and sauces soak in after using.
- Why We Love It: stainless steel flatware, different set sizes
- Set Size: four, eight or 16 pieces
- What's Included: varies by size
- Material: melamine
Available in three solid colorways, this dinnerware's smooth surfaces and raised edges gives it a modern, ceramic look though it's made entirely of plastic. Use it to elevate your next glamping trip or breakfast on a bistro table. You can choose your set size (four-, eight- or 16-piece options are available), and they will be easy to mix and match for a summertime fiesta.
- Why We Love It: shatter-resistant, dishwasher-safe, springy
- Set Size: 12 pieces
- What's Included: four cereal bowls, four dinner plates, four salad plates
- Material: melamine
Inspired by this viral spring fling dinner video on TikTok, we initially chose this adorable set for its wildflower motif, but we're also fans of that shatter-resistant melamine construction that makes it far tougher than its delicate flowers might suggest. It's top-rack dishwasher safe, to boot. Add this pressed flower round tray to complete the farmhouse vibes.
- Why We Love It: lightweight, eco-friendly, easy to clean
- Set Size: 16 pieces
- What's Included: four dinner plates, four salad plates, four cups, four soup bowls
- Material: bamboo fiber, corn starch and other plant fibers
Who said bamboo had to be boring and beige? Inspired by vintage coarse pottery, this set, made from bamboo and other plant fibers, is a part of the company’s “wave” series, which leans into irregular edges and soothing colors (like the pictured light green). We love that each dish has a one-of-a-kind shape and the fact that it's far more eco-friendly than melamine or other acrylic plastic options. Not to mention, these pieces will be easy to wash in the dishwasher (but don’t put these beauties in the microwave or oven). On the down side, shoppers say they tend to crack if dropped or mishandled, so you'll need to use them with care.
- Why We Love It: microwave- and dishwasher-safe, durable, great value
- Set Size: 16 pieces
- What's Included: four dinner plates, four salad plates, eight bowls
- Material: stoneware
Inspired by the artisan pottery of Central Java, Indonesia, this collection will add a rustic touch to your table. Made of stoneware, it's slightly less durable than porcelain, so you'll want to be careful handling these pieces on your porch, but they'll will still be more sturdy than other ceramics, since stoneware is less porous. With four included dinner plates, four salad plates, four cereal bowls and four berry bowls, it will definitely give you plenty of bang for your buck, and you can also microwave it without worry.
- Why We Love It: BPA-free, eco-friendly, dishwasher-safe
- Set Size: 12 pieces
- What's Included: four dinner plates, four salad plates, four bowls
- Material: melamine
The confetti pattern on this dinnerware set makes it ideal for a birthday party or summer celebration, though you'll likely be busting it out long after your party is over. Made from 40 percent post-industrial recycled materials, it's an eco-conscious choice that's meant to be reused. The material is BPA-free for a worry-free meal, and it's top-rack dishwasher-safe (though you won't want to microwave these babies).
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Courtney Campbell is a freelance writer, editor and overall shopping addict. She started her career testing and writing about products for product-testing site Reviewed, a part of the USA TODAY network, and will now share her favorite things to anyone who will listen. Her work has also appeared in Apartment Therapy, SELF, MyDomaine, StyleCaster and more.
Avid coffee drinker, writer and dabbler in UX, Dagmara Cintron is an NYC native living out her sunny dreams in Los Angeles. She’s currently obsessed with Brazilian jiu-jitsu and good thrift finds.
