Greater Southern Game Room & Patio has served Atlanta and Alpharetta homeowners for more than 20 years, helping them find the right furniture and solutions for every outdoor living space. Our showrooms carry a curated selection of patio furniture so you can see what fits your space before you commit. Visit us in person or book an in-home consultation to get personalized guidance on your outdoor space planning. 

What You Will Learn

• • How to size your patio based on how you plan to use it
  • How furniture placement affects your backyard patio dimensions
  • How sun, shade, and yard proportions shape your patio design ideas
  • How to visualize your layout before breaking ground

Use the quick reference table below as a starting point for your backyard patio dimensions:

Considering adding a patio to your home? First, it’s a great way to enjoy nature from home. Second, it can help you extend your entertaining space and enable you to host larger celebrations. Last but not least, patios are an in-demand feature that can increase the value of your home by 10%.

But simply slapping a patio onto your home isn’t enough. If you—or future buyers—are going to get any benefits from a patio, it has to be designed to complement the space and activities for which it is intended. 

The size is one of the most important factors to consider when adding a patio to your home. It will be too cramped and uncomfortable to use if it’s too small. However, you don’t want your patio to dwarf your home and yard. Leaving enough of a backyard for kids and pets to run around is important, as this can be a major selling point for future buyers. 

There needs to be one perfect size for a patio. The right patio size for you will depend on the size of your home, yard, and reasons for installing a patio. 

1. Ask Yourself What You Are Going To Use Your Patio For 

If you’re considering adding a patio to your home, you’ve already considered what you will use it for. This can help you determine how big of a patio you’ll need. 

For example, are you just looking for a nice, quiet place to sit and have coffee in the morning? If that’s the case, a smaller patio with enough room for a bistro table and chair may be enough. However, you may want to use your patio to entertain large groups outdoors. You’ll need something big enough to accommodate a dining table and seating for everyone. 

Do you want your patio to serve one purpose, or do you want it to accommodate multiple activities? You want a space where people can lounge on outdoor couches and a space for a table where you can sit and eat a formal meal. You’ll need a larger patio with space to accommodate both areas. 

Browsing through patio design ideas before you finalize your plans is a great way to clarify exactly what you want. Seeing real furniture arrangements helps you gauge how different configurations feel and what size space you actually need.

2. Think About Where The Furniture Will Go and How People Will Move Around It 

Once you know what activities you want to use your patio for, start looking at patio furniture. It might seem backward to buy furniture before you have a place to put it, but having it on hand can help you pick the best dimensions for your patio. 

It’s not just a matter of making all the furniture fit on the patio. It has to be functional. People have to be able to move around the furniture to get from one area of the patio to the other. If you have a door inside your house that leads directly to the patio, you want to ensure you don’t block the door. 

Suppose you have the furniture before you build the patio. In that case, you can experiment with different layouts until you find one that doesn’t feel cramped and is easy to move around. Start researching other options and getting a sense of average measurements. You can use graph paper (1 graph square per square foot) to sketch out different layouts until you find one that works. 

At Greater Southern Game Room & Patio, you can find a wide range of patio and outdoor furniture in Atlanta to fit any space. We include the dimensions of each item in our product descriptions so you can decide if it’s the right size for your space before you buy. 

Thoughtful outdoor space planning at this stage saves you from costly adjustments later. For more on picking pieces that work in your layout, see our guide on how to choose the best patio furniture for your home. 
 

3. Consider Sun and Shade

You may want a private oasis on your property for sunbathing, or you’d prefer to spend time outdoors without the sun’s glare in your eyes. Different parts of your lawn may be in the sun or shade throughout the day. This is important to consider when deciding where to put your patio and how big you want to make it. 

Observe the area to see when it gets sunlight and is in the shade. We suggest using ropes and stakes to mark off the dimensions of your patio and any furniture you have in mind. If you want to use your patio to soak up the sun, consider expanding part of it to get more hours of direct sunlight. On the other hand, if you want to keep your patio in the shade as much as possible, you might make it slightly smaller to keep areas out of the sun. 

Say you notice that the sun will be shining directly in someone’s eyes as they try to eat at your table in the evening. You could alter the dimensions to accommodate a different furniture configuration to keep everyone comfortable. 

4. Measure Your Space and Consider The Proportions 

Of course, the size of your patio will be limited by the size and shape of your yard. But beyond what is physically possible in your space, you also want to consider what will look good. There are so many considerations that go into designing an aesthetically pleasing space, including proportions. 

A patio that is either too large or too small compared to the space around it will look awkward and may turn some buyers off of your property when it comes time to sell. For example, a patio that takes up more than half your garden space looks ridiculous and may have little appeal to buyers who want a place for kids and pets to run around. 

Again, you can use stakes and string to mark off the area where you want your patio to go. This can help you visualize how it will look compared to the rest of the yard and your home and decide whether it’s proportional. The stone mason or architect you are working with to build your patio can also offer guidance about what sized patio might fit best in your space. 

Getting your backyard patio dimensions right from the start is one of the most important parts of outdoor space planning. A patio that is properly sized for its surroundings not only looks more intentional but also functions better for daily use and entertaining. 

How Does Patio Size Affect Your Outdoor Furniture Choices?

Knowing your backyard patio dimensions helps you zero in on the right furniture scale for the space. Compact patios in the 8 by 10 foot range are best suited to bistro sets or a loveseat with two chairs, while spaces 16 feet or wider open the door to full dining sets, sectional seating, and separate lounge zones. 

The size reference table above is a useful starting point, but seeing furniture in person is the fastest way to confirm what works for your layout. For ideas on making your setup work in every season, see our guide on designing an outdoor entertainment area for every season.

Start Designing Your Ideal Outdoor Living Space

Are you looking to build or refurnish a patio in the Atlanta area? Greater Southern Game Room & Patio has the widest selection of high-quality, aesthetically pleasing outdoor furniture. Browse our selection of high end patio sets today and get inspired.

Ready to Bring Your Patio Vision to Life?

Whether you are starting from scratch or upgrading an existing space, Greater Southern Game Room & Patio is here to help you find outdoor furniture that fits your patio and your lifestyle. Visit one of our Atlanta-area showrooms or schedule an in-home consultation and let our team help you plan the perfect outdoor setup.

Atlanta Showroom: (404) 352-3088 • Alpharetta Showroom: (678) 240-0007 • Shop Outdoor Furniture

Patio Size Frequently Asked Questions

How do I determine the best size for my patio?

Start by identifying the activities you want the patio to support, such as dining, lounging, or entertaining, and then size the furniture needed for those activities. From there, use stakes and string to map out the space in your yard and confirm the proportions feel right for the surrounding area.

What factors should I consider when designing a patio?

The key factors include intended use, available yard space, furniture layout, sun and shade patterns, and how the patio proportionally relates to your home and garden. Careful outdoor space planning at the start helps you avoid adjustments that are expensive to fix later.

What patio size works best for a small backyard?

For smaller backyards, a patio in the range of 8 by 10 feet to 12 by 14 feet is often enough to fit a bistro set or compact dining arrangement without overwhelming the yard. Keeping some open lawn space around the patio helps the area feel balanced and leaves room for kids or pets to move freely.