You've landed in St. Maarten, the sun is out, and you want to spend every day on a different beach. The question is where you'll sit. On the busier beaches you can rent chairs from a beach bar for the day, but on many of the island's most beautiful spots there's nothing to rent at all. Here's what beach chairs cost in St. Maarten and St. Martin, and when it makes sense to rent your own set for the whole week.
What beach chairs cost at the beach
On the popular beaches, beach bars and hotels rent out chairs and umbrellas by the day. When we checked in October 2026, typical prices for two chairs and an umbrella were:
- Great Bay Beach (Philipsburg): roughly $15 to $45 a day, depending on the bar or hotel, and more for packages with drinks
- Maho Beach: about $25 a day for two beach beds and an umbrella
- Mullet Bay: visitors report paying around $30 for two chairs and an umbrella
Some beach clubs also waive the chair fee if you buy enough food and drinks, and on the French side prices may be in euros. Prices change, so treat these as a guide.
The math for a week
Say you're here for a week and plan five or six beach days. At $25 to $30 a day, chairs and an umbrella from beach bars add up to about $125 to $180, and you're tied to the beaches that have a bar renting them.
Renting your own set for the week costs a flat $75 for 5 to 7 days for two reclining chairs and a premium UV50+ umbrella. For longer stays it's $100 for 8 to 10 days and $125 for 11 to 14 days.
If you only plan one beach day at a busy beach, renting there is simpler. If you'll be on the sand most days, or want to explore, your own set usually wins.
The beaches where you can't rent chairs
This is the bigger reason many of our guests rent their own. Some of the island's best beaches have no chair rentals at all:
- Cupecoy: the left side has no vendors, but the cliffs give great shade
- Happy Bay: reached by a trail from Friars Bay, with no facilities
- Petites Cayes: a hike in, and usually just you and the view
- Guana Bay: wild and quiet on the east coast
Read more about these spots in our guide to 5 hidden beaches locals love.
Why rent your own set
- Any beach, any day: the chairs and umbrella fold up and carry easily, so you can beach-hop from Mullet Bay to Orient Bay. See our guide to the best beaches on both sides.
- Real comfort: reclining chairs with five positions, including lay-flat, a headrest pillow, cooler pouch and cup holder
- Proper shade: a 7 ft UV50+ umbrella with a vented canopy for the trade winds and a screw-in sand anchor
- Nothing to haul from home: no checked bags full of beach gear
- Clean every time: every set is washed and shampooed between rentals
How beach chair rental works with Renting SXM
- Book online: choose your dates and how many sets on our beach chair and umbrella rental page. The minimum rental is 5 days.
- We deliver: delivery and pick-up are free in Simpson Bay, Pelican Key, Cole Bay, Maho, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy and nearby areas, and $30 to $50 elsewhere on the island, including the French side. You can also meet us on the Dutch side for free.
- Enjoy the beach: take your set anywhere on the island.
- We pick up: at the end of your rental we collect everything. A $50 cash damage deposit per set is fully refunded at pickup when everything comes back in good condition.
Ready for your beach days?
We have a limited number of sets and they go quickly in high season, so reserve early. Book your beach chairs and umbrella, or message us on WhatsApp with any questions. Staying in one of our vacation rentals? Just ask and we'll have your set waiting when you arrive.
