If you ask me, the best real-world choice is a powder-coated steel bench with smooth HDPE or steel slats and a sacrificial anti-graffiti clear coat. Powder-coated steel gives you a tough, non-porous surface that spray paint and markers don’t soak into. Add a clear anti-graffiti film or sacrificial coating, and most tags wipe off with a mild solvent instead of forcing a full repaint. I’d choose dark or mid-tone colors because they hide the faint “ghosting” left after cleanup.
HDPE or recycled plastic lumber is a close runner-up. It resists moisture and wipes clean easily, but strong solvents can damage it, and some spray paints stain if left baking in the sun. Stainless steel looks sharp and is easy to clean, but it shows scratches, costs more, and can attract taggers in high-visibility spots if it’s too shiny.
The real secret is design, not just material. Go for slatted benches with narrow gaps and rounded edges: less flat surface means less inviting canvas, and stickers are harder to apply. Use tamper-resistant hardware and place benches in well-lit, open sightlines rather than tucked against walls.
So for a busy downtown plaza, my pick is: dark powder-coated steel frame, smooth slats, anti-graffiti clear coat, and simple slatted geometry. It holds up, cleans up fast, and doesn’t look like a blank wall begging for a tag.