Staff Answer
Jul 24, 2026 - 09:14 PM
They can get warm and how hot depends mostly on color. Dark polyresin picnic tables absorb more heat and can get uncomfortably hot after hours of direct midday summer sun. Lighter colors reflect more sunlight and usually stay just warm to the touch, even at peak afternoon heat.
If your table will sit in prolonged direct sun and you plan to use it midday, you have two easy fixes: choose a lighter color, or add an umbrella for shade. In shorter sun exposure, morning light, partial shade, or anything outside peak summer afternoons, any color stays comfortable.
The same dark table that gets hot on an open concrete patio stays comfortable under a tree or pergola. Decide where the table will live first, then pick the color.
