Folding Stools: A Small Seat for the Home, Garage and Campsite

Some of the most useful things at home are also the simplest. A folding stool is one of them. It opens in seconds, gives you a seat when you need it, and disappears behind a door when you do not.

It is easy to buy the wrong one, though. Here is what to check, and where a small portable seat really helps.

Height

Seat height decides whether a stool is comfortable. The stool we list is 17.5 inches tall, a common height that works for sitting at a low table, putting on shoes, working in the garage or sitting by a campfire. If you plan to sit at a counter, you will need something taller.

Material and weight

Plastic frames are light, easy to clean and will not rust. They are good for damp places like a garage, porch or bathroom. Metal frames can be stronger, but are heavier and may rust if left outside. Check the product page for details before you buy, and keep within any weight guidance.

How it folds

A good folding stool locks open firmly and folds flat. That makes it easy to slide into a gap, hang on a hook or pack into a bag. Ours needs no assembly, so you can use it as soon as it arrives.

Comfort expectations

A small stool is a short-stay seat. It is perfect for ten or twenty minutes, not for a long day. If you need to sit for hours, look at a camping chair with a back instead, or add a cushion to the stool.

Where a folding stool helps

In the garage or workshop, a stool lets you sit while you work on low projects. In the bathroom or utility room, it gives you a seat for shoes or a spot to stand on when you need to reach a little higher. Outdoors, it suits fishing, camping, picnics and watching sport.

In small homes it also makes extra seating for guests without taking up space the rest of the year.

Safety tips

Place the stool on flat, firm ground, and check that it is fully open and locked before you sit. Do not use a stool as a step ladder unless it is built for that, since folding stools can tip when you stand on them.

Cleaning and storage

Wipe it down with a damp cloth. If it has been outside on wet ground, dry it before folding it away. Store it flat in a closet or hang it by the handle, if there is one.

If you sit a lot

If you work at a desk all day, a stool will not fix your seating. Our Ergonomic Office Chairs: A 2026 Buying Guide for All-Day Comfort guide covers what to look for in a proper chair. A folding stool is a handy extra, not a replacement.

Choosing between a stool and a chair

A stool is a short-stay seat with no back. A camping chair has a back and often arms, which makes it better for long sitting but heavier and bulkier. If you want a seat you can toss in a bag and use for a few minutes at a time, a stool is ideal. If you plan to sit by a campfire for an evening, a chair is the better choice.

Many households end up with both: a chair for long sits and a stool for quick jobs and extra guests.

Using a stool around the house

A folding stool is handy in the kitchen when you want to sit while you prepare vegetables, in the hallway for putting on shoes, and in the bathroom for drying off after a shower. Parents often use one for kids to sit on while washing hands. In small flats, it can be an extra seat for a visitor that you slide away afterwards.

In the garage, garden and workshop

Low projects are easier when you can sit. A stool lets you work on a bicycle, plant seedlings or sort tools without bending your back. It is light enough to carry from place to place. A plastic frame is easy to wipe clean when it gets muddy or oily.

Outdoors and travel

For picnics, school sports days and fishing trips, a stool is a compact seat that fits in the boot or in a bag. It will not replace a proper camping chair for long periods, but for ten or twenty minutes it does the job. On uneven ground, press the legs down firmly and check the stool is level before you sit.

Weight and stability checks

Look for any weight limit on the product page and stay within it. After you open the stool, check that every part has locked, and test it by pressing down with your hand before you sit. Choose firm, level ground, and avoid soft sand or loose gravel if you can.

Cleaning and storage

A plastic stool wipes clean with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Let it dry before folding it, so no moisture is trapped in the joints. Store it somewhere dry, flat or hanging from a hook, so it does not get crushed.

Good alternatives

If you need to sit for long periods, think about a camping chair with a back, or a cushion for the stool. If you need a step to reach something high, buy a step stool that is rated for standing, as a folding stool is made for sitting. A simple rule: use each tool for what it was designed to do.

What to look for on the product page

Check the height, the material, whether it needs assembly, and whether it folds flat. Read any weight guidance, and look at the photos to see how the frame locks. If there are options, check which are in stock. These details tell you whether the stool suits your plan.

Making it comfortable

A thin cushion or a folded towel on a plastic seat makes a big difference for longer sitting. In cold weather, an insulating pad keeps the seat from feeling chilly. Keep the cushion in the bag with the stool, so you always have it when you need it.

A small seat, many uses

Households tend to find new uses for a folding stool over time: a plant stand, a spot for a bag, a perch for a child, a place to rest a drink. When it is not in use it folds away, which is the great strength of this simple design.

The bottom line

Choose the right height, a frame suited to where you will use it, and a locking fold that feels secure. The 17.5-inch Folding Stool is plastic, folds flat and needs no assembly, and ships from a US warehouse to US addresses. Browse more in Fitness & Outdoors or our US store.

Folding Stool Chair, 17.5-Inch Portable Plastic Seat

A folding stool, 17.5 inches tall, that opens in seconds and folds flat to carry, for the home, garage, camping trips and queues. Ships from a US warehouse to US addresses. Card payments via secure checkout.

$31.99

View product

Submit Your Story

Where does a folding stool earn its place in your home or garage? Share it through our contact page and we may feature it in a future article.

How This Article Was Created

This guide was written from the product details on our listing and from widely known buying considerations for this kind of item. We do not quote statistics we cannot source, and we describe only features shown on the product page, so check the page for current options, sizes and prices. Items in this article ship from a US warehouse to US addresses only.

Frequently Asked Questions