Last updated: August 20, 2026
Can wicker furniture get wet is really two questions with two different answers. Resin wicker is built to get wet and shrugs off rain year after year. Natural rattan, reed and seagrass absorb water, swell while wet and sag as they dry, and repeated cycles of that loosen a weave permanently.
This guide explains exactly what moisture does to each material, which outdoor situations are safe for which type, what to do if a natural piece has already been caught in a storm, and why the cushions usually fail long before the furniture does.
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Quick Answer
Can wicker furniture get wet?
- Resin and all weather wicker: yes. Rain is what it was designed for, and it dries without damage.
- Natural rattan and reed: a light splash is survivable, sustained rain is not. Water swells the fiber and it sags as it dries.
- Seagrass and water hyacinth are the least tolerant of all and belong indoors.
- The frame matters too. Aluminum frames handle wet, steel frames rust where the coating has chipped.
- Cushions are the weak point on any set, because foam holds moisture far longer than either weave does.
What Water Does to Natural Wicker
Natural fiber is a plant material that absorbs water, expands while it is wet and contracts as it dries. One soaking rarely destroys a piece. Repeated soaking does, because each cycle leaves the weave slightly looser than before, and looseness is cumulative and irreversible.
The Visible Damage
You see it as a seat that has dropped, strands that no longer sit tight against each other, and dark patches where water pooled. Painted pieces show it earlier still, because the finish traps moisture underneath and then lifts.
The Damage You Smell
Fiber that stays damp in a shaded spot develops the musty odor that no amount of surface cleaning removes, because it is inside the strand rather than on it. Air movement is the only real preventive, which is why a natural piece left under a tarp after rain fares worse than one left in the open.
What Water Does to Resin Wicker
Very little, to the strands. Polyethylene wicker does not absorb water, does not swell and does not rot, which is the entire reason the material exists. What can suffer is everything around it: the frame underneath, the fasteners, and any wooden or fabric components in the set.
Aluminum frames are the reason quality all weather sets last, since aluminum does not rust. Powder coated steel is common at lower cost and holds up until the coating chips, after which rust starts at the chip and works outward. Check the frame material on the listing; it tells you more about lifespan than the weave does.
Which Situations Suit Which Material
Exposure is not a yes or no question. A covered porch is a different environment from an open patio, and a sunroom is different again. Matching the material to the actual position is what prevents the problem, and it is the decision to make before buying rather than after.
| Where it sits | Natural wicker | Resin wicker | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open patio or deck | Not suitable | Designed for it | Resin only |
| Covered porch, open sides | Workable with care and covers | Fine | Either, with effort on natural |
| Screened porch or sunroom | Good | Fine but unnecessary | Natural comes into its own |
| Indoors | Ideal | Fine, looks utilitarian | Natural |
| Poolside | No | Yes, rinse off chlorine | Resin only |
If you are shopping rather than diagnosing, the material question is the first filter to apply. Our guide to all weather wicker patio furniture covers what to look for in sets that genuinely stay outside.
If a Natural Piece Already Got Soaked
Act quickly and dry it evenly. Move it somewhere sheltered with moving air, not into direct sun, since fast surface drying while the core stays wet is what cracks strands. Blot standing water off flat surfaces, stand the piece so water can drain, and give it a full day or more before using it.
Do not sit on it while it is damp. Wet fiber stretches under load and sets in the stretched position as it dries, which is how a single rainstorm turns into a permanently sagging seat. Cushions come off and dry separately, ideally standing on edge so air reaches both faces.
The Cushions Fail First
On almost every outdoor set, the cushions reach the end of their life long before the weave does. Foam absorbs water and holds it, covers stay damp underneath even when the top feels dry, and a cushion left face down on a wet seat keeps both of them wet for days.
Two habits solve most of it: stand cushions on edge to dry rather than leaving them flat, and bring them inside or into a deck box when a multi day spell of rain is forecast. A cover over the whole set is the low effort version of the same idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can wicker furniture be left outside in the rain? Resin and all weather wicker can. Natural rattan and reed should not be, because each soak and dry cycle loosens the weave a little further and the effect accumulates until the seat sags permanently.
Is natural rattan waterproof? No. Natural rattan absorbs water, swells while wet and shrinks as it dries. Finishes slow the absorption but do not stop it, and a sealed piece that does get wet can trap moisture beneath the finish.
Will resin wicker furniture rot or mold? The strands will not rot, because they are polyethylene rather than plant fiber. Mold can still grow on dirt and pollen sitting in the weave, which is a cleaning problem rather than a material failure.
Can wicker furniture go on a covered porch? Yes, and that is the classic position for natural wicker. Rain still blows in from the sides, so a natural piece on an open sided porch benefits from a cover during long wet spells.
What should I do if my wicker chair got rained on? Move it somewhere sheltered with air movement, take the cushions off to dry separately, avoid direct sun, and do not sit on it until it is dry through. Wet fiber stretches under load and stays stretched.
Does wicker furniture need to be covered in winter? Natural wicker should be stored inside rather than covered outside. Resin wicker can stay out in most climates, and a breathable cover helps mainly by keeping debris and standing water out of the weave.
The Bottom Line
Resin wicker can get wet and will keep doing so for years; check the frame material, since aluminum outlasts coated steel. Natural wicker tolerates a splash and not a season, so keep it under a roof or indoors. If a natural piece does get soaked, dry it slowly in moving air and stay off it until it is dry. And in every case, plan for the cushions to need more attention than the furniture.