Metal restaurant furniture is sturdy, safe and durable enough for most restaurant patios. Restaurant metal furniture is also versatile and can be used in indoor settings. Prices for this type of furniture depend on style, size and any custom features you want to add. Many wholesale suppliers can also give you a deal if you order large numbers of metal restaurant chairs and tables.

Pricing and costs of metal furniture for restaurants also depends on the quality of the metal. Some metal chairs have padding on the seat, and the quality of the table will depend on the shape and thickness of the legs. Other features that can be customized include:

1. The color of the metal restaurant tables and chairs.

2. The style of the backing on the chair.

3. The shape of the table.

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Find stylish metal chairs from metal furniture stores

When choosing furniture for a restaurant, the most notable point of style is the back of the chair, as it will be seen throughout the dining area. Other style features include different the colors on the seat or seat cushion. These chairs can cost $45 to $75, depending on the amount of cushioning on the seat.

I recommend: Y2K Furniture offers many different styles for metal restaurant chairs. American Chairs offers a guide to help you choose color, materials and piping for seat cushions on metal chairs.

Buy table tops and bases from commercial metal furniture wholesalers

A great tabletop will provide enough room for customers to enjoy their food, but a restaurant must also consider size to fit as many tables as possible into an area comfortably. Most companies sell tabletops and table bases separately. Tops cost $78 to $150, depending on the size and quality of the metal. For instance, 24-by-24-inch square table tops cost as little as $78. Bases are similar, and can cost $25 to $50.

I recommend: Discount Seating offers many sizes and styles of metal tabletops and bases. Peterson Furniture provides diagrams to help you determine the best size table for your restaurant.

Consider metal outdoor furniture for restaurants

Outdoor furniture for restaurants can open up your restaurant to include fantastic street-side or patio seating. During warm weather, many customers like to enjoy their meals outdoors. In order to accommodate them, choose metal furniture made for outdoor settings. Chairs can cost $50 to $80, depending on whether the metal is combined with another type of durable seating material, such as wicker. Tables can cost $90 to $125, depending on their size.

I recommend: SeatingExpert.com offers different styles of outdoor chairs that combine metal with other outdoor materials, including plastic and wicker. Express Dining World offers metal outdoor tables that come with the base included. Eukya provides tips on cleaning metal furniture and the various surfaces of seat cushions.

The term "metal furniture" may bring images of uncomfortable and unattractive folding chairs to mind, but the manufacturers of metal restaurant furniture have a surprise in store for you: There are actually options available in many styles, including upscale and modern furnishings fit for any restaurant's decor. Take a look at all of your options before you make a decision so you know the full range of furnishings available.

Consider more than just tables and chairs when you're shopping for metal restaurant furniture. There are other furnishings to think about, including umbrella stands, bar stools, buffet serving centers or self service areas that are also available to match your new metal restaurant furniture.

1. Choose metal outdoor furniture for restaurants.

2. Save with wholesale metal restaurant furniture.

3. Take advantage of one-stop-shopping with metal furniture stores.

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Look for metal restaurant patio furniture

Patio furniture can be permanently installed by having it bolted to your patio and can be single units in which the chairs are attached to the table or you can choose a variety of more traditional table and chairs that you can configure in any way you'd like. If your space is large enough, you may want to think about a combination of both.

I recommend: Affordable Seating has a selection of aluminum restaurant furniture chairs that are stackable for storage during the off-season or in severe weather. Furniture Leisure can provide you with outdoor furniture for your restaurant that's either permanently placed or that can be removed or rearranged to suit your needs.

Search for wholesale metal restaurant furniture

When you build a relationship with a wholesale distributor, you remove the retail sales person and his expenses from your equation, making it a cost-effective way to purchase furnishings for your restaurant. Talk to your wholesale distributor to find out if you need to place a minimum order or if you have to be a business owner of a specific size before you qualify for wholesale pricing.

I recommend: BK Barrit stand prepared to help you find metal furniture for restaurants including metal restaurant chairs and tables at wholesale prices. Maine Supply Furniture has a variety of metal chairs and tables for your restaurant furniture and all at a wholesale discount.

Find one-stop-shopping to meet your commercial metal furniture needs

While it may cost a bit more than purchasing wholesale, retail one-stop-shopping locations may be cost-effective in saving you from having to go from place to place to purchase all of the items you need to furnish your restaurant. When you're making those calculations, remember that your time is valuable and can be better used running your business. One-stop-shopping locations offer convenience and large selections, which may make it pay off for you.

I recommend: Bar Stools & Barstools has a wide array of metal restaurant furniture including bar stools, tables, chairs and outdoor metal furnishings. Central Restaurant Products can provide you with all of your metal restaurant furnishing needs including metal restaurant tables, chairs and barstools.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Discuss the option of finding used or refurbished restaurant metal furniture. By choosing refurbished metal furnishings, you save money and reuse existing products, helping the environment.

Metal furniture for restaurants is a great way to establish a unique décor for your restaurant. With all the metal furniture for restaurants types and styles available, you can pick tables and chairs from the simplest styles to the most elegant. In fact, there are so many choices available in metal furniture stores you might have a hard time making a decision.

As soon as you decide on a basic style for your restaurant metal furniture, there are some other considerations you need to make. Cost is always a big factor, but it should not be the only determinant. As you look at metal restaurant furniture, check that the following meet your needs:

1. The metal restaurant tables and chairs should have solid construction with no wobbly legs or rough edges.

2. The metal restaurant tables and chairs should have a durable finish that requires minimum maintenance to keep it looking like new.

3. The metal restaurant tables and chairs should meet your size requirements.

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Decide what type of metal restaurant tables you want

Tables come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and heights. Knowing whether you are going to cover the table with table linens can affect the type of tabletop you choose. Consider also if you want the tables to always stand alone, or if you want to be able to put tables together to seat larger groups of people.

I recommend: The metal restaurant tables available from BarStools&BarStools offer unique wrought iron designs. Many commercial metal furniture pieces come with a glass top to make the table even more elegant. Make your restaurant unique with metal custom restaurant furniture. Buy metal table bases from Tablebases.com and add tabletops of your choice.

Select metal restaurant chairs to go with your metal restaurant tables

While the cost of chairs can affect which ones you choose, do consider the comfort of the chairs as well. You don't want your restaurant guests to be uncomfortable as they dine.

I recommend: Metal restaurant chairs from Affordable Seating come in a variety of sizes, types and styles. You can choose a matching style of restaurant metal furniture to use throughout your restaurant or you can mix and match a variety of styles with their metal chairs. For more ornate metal restaurant chairs, check out the styles available from VillageCraft Furnishings.

Consider metal restaurant furniture designed for patios

Metal patio furniture is no longer cheap aluminum framing with webbing attached. Many styles of metal patio furniture may easily fit into your interior décor.

I recommend: Check out the selection of metal restaurant furniture available at ChairCo International. While these metal restaurant furniture manufacturers offer metal outdoor furniture for restaurants for outdoor dining, the furniture can work just as well in an indoor setting. Contract Furniture has a large selection of metal restaurant patio furniture from which to choose. You can customize your restaurant table's metal finish as well as its height and seating capacity.

Metal restaurant furniture provides you with affordable and stylish options for dining and seating areas. But metal furniture for your restaurant goes beyond café chairs and tables for sidewalk dining, which is why gaining a familiarity with key terms is a necessity when you’re shopping for furniture. Not only can you purchase furniture entirely constructed out of metal, but you can also purchase metal table bases and cluster seating units with sturdy metal frames. Knowing additional terminology like “powder coat finish” and “metal mesh” will ensure you get exactly what your establishment needs.

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Powder coat finish

When you buy metal restaurant furniture, you need a sturdy coating that will last over the years without rust. One of the premier coatings for metal restaurant furniture is a powder coat finish. This type of finish helps the metal hold up to both interior and exterior uses.

I recommend: Read about the benefits of power coat finish at Leader’s Casual Furniture.

Metal mesh

For outdoor dining options, metal mesh is ideal. This material ensures that there is never standing water on your tables or chairs. The mesh may be so fine that only water sluices through, or it may be a wider weave that allows crumbs to fall to the ground.

I recommend: Browse a collection of fine metal mesh tables and chairs at ChariCo.

Stackable chairs

If space is at a premium in your restaurant but you want to maintain your ambiance, consider stackable chairs. Metal restaurant chairs often have an open design that makes them easy to stack and store at the end of the outdoor dining season. You can also use them to have on hand for overflow seating.

I recommend: View a range of contemporary metal stackable chairs at ArchiExpo.

Table bases

Metal table bases are sturdy and affordable. Purchasing table bases and table tops separately allows you to customize your tables to best suit your décor and your customers' needs.

I recommend: See two classic table base designs at RestaurantFurniture.net.

Adjustable furniture

Adjustable furniture provides more options in your restaurant or bar seating. These tables and stools have built-in levers or hydraulics that you or your patrons can use to change the heights, making them more comfortable. Most adjustable tables and stools feature a chrome base, which is both sturdy and attractive.

I recommend: See an adjustable bar table and a collection of hydraulic-driven stools at ivgStores.

Cluster seating

Cluster seating, which is a table with attached chairs, allows you to make the best use of space in your causal restaurant. The metal base of a cluster seating unit provides your customers with plenty of leg room and your restaurant maintains a tidy appearance.

I recommend: View a range of cluster seating units with metal frames and metal accents, such as decorative chair backs, at Millennium Seating.