What is the best patio umbrella?
The answer is – that depends. There are many things to consider when buying a patio umbrella. Modern architectural design incorporates a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor spaces. Elaborate decks and lavish outdoor furniture allow you to enjoy nature, without sacrificing style or comfort. As spring and summer arrive, you’ll spend more and more time outside entertaining or lounging poolside. To keep you and your guests cool and protected from the hot sun, it’s important to have ample shade.
Patio umbrellas are a prudent solution, in lieu of more permanent construction. The global patio umbrella market has an estimated growth rate of 6.8% and is forecasted to reach $2.16 billion by 2030 per Persistence Market Research. However, choosing the right outdoor umbrella can be challenging. There are many factors to evaluate based on your home, environment, budget and preferences. This guide helps you better understand patio umbrellas, their styles, materials and features. That knowledge will help alleviate the uncertainty of your buying decision and allow you to relax outdoors for years. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view and click through to the various sections of this guide. But first, let’s look at what makes up a patio umbrella.
What are the parts of a sun umbrella?
When researching outdoor umbrellas and comparing different brands and models, it’s important to understand the various components, functions and options.
Pole
For traditional market-style umbrellas, the main support for the canopy is a vertical rod or pole. They’re available in many diameters and small ones may come in two pieces for easier shipping and storage. Single pieces and thicker poles are more resilient to windy conditions. Cantilever-style umbrellas utilize an offset angular structure to support the canopy. They are multi-jointed and often provide 360° rotational capabilities.
Ribs or Struts
The slender pieces that give patio umbrellas their shape and hold the shade cover in the open position are called ribs or struts. There are two types of ribs:
- Main Ribs – Attach to the top of the umbrella frame and extend from the central axis to beneath the outer edge of the canopy
- Support Ribs – Connect to the underside of the main ribs and facilitate the opening and closing of the canopy
Hubs
The ringed apparatus that works in concert with ribs is called a hub. There are two types of umbrella hubs:
- Top Hub – Located at the top of the pole, this hub holds the main ribs in place
- Runner Hub – Located further down the pole, this hub connects to the support ribs and glides up and down to open and close the canopy
Finial
A finial or ferrule sits atop a patio umbrella. It is both functional and decorative, as it anchors the canopy to the pole and provides a bit of aesthetic flair.
Canopy
The canopy is the fabric component of a patio umbrella that blocks the sun. In addition to the overall shade body, there are often two additional parts to a canopy:
- Vents – Canopy layers allow air to pass easily through the fabric, which helps cool the air below and enables the umbrella to handle high winds more effectively
- Valances – Flaps of fabric that overhang the perimeter of the canopy, as seen on many beach or cafe-style umbrellas (scalloped edge is a variation)
Lift Mechanism
Outdoor umbrellas are opened when the runner hub and support ribs are raised via a lift mechanism. There are multiple types to choose from:
- Push-Up – The lower runner hub is pushed upward manually until a locking system (often a post or pin and hole) secures the umbrella in its open position
- Crank – A rotating handle is turned clockwise to open the umbrella and counterclockwise to lower it
- Pulley & Pin – A rope is pulled down to open the umbrella, which is then secured in place by inserting a pin into a hole below the runner hub
- Lever & Latch – A lever is pulled down and latched into place to secure the umbrella in its raised position
If you’re running your umbrella through a tall outdoor table, check the height of the lift mechanism to ensure that it clears the tabletop.
Tilt Mechanism
Some umbrellas allow you to tilt the canopy to maintain directional shade, as the sun moves throughout the day. This capability can be beneficial in residential installations with close quarters. There are a few types to choose from:
- Push Button or Manual – A button is pushed to unlock the canopy, which can then be manually tilted to a variety of angles (often preset)
- Automatic or Crank – Once the canopy is completely open, continued cranking will tilt the umbrella to just short of 90°
- Collar – A sheathed apparatus, located above the crank, is twisted until the desired tilt angle is reached
Base
Freestanding patio umbrellas are secured within a weighted base or stand to keep them upright and prevent them from tipping over in windy conditions. Bases can be constructed using a variety of heavy materials.
Mount
Instead of a base, patio umbrellas may be stabilized using a more permanent mounting apparatus. There are different configurations from which to choose, based on the surface and ease of removal desired.
Patio Umbrella Quiz
Take our three-part patio umbrella quiz for recommendations on the type, canopy and base right for your outdoor setting.
Selecting the right outdoor umbrella
You’re ready to invest in a high-quality shade but want to know which is optimal for your outdoor setting. Read through the sections below to get the insight you need.
Guide Sections
Frequently Asked Questions – Patio Umbrellas
What is a market patio umbrella?
A “market umbrella” is what most people think of when they picture an outdoor umbrella. It features a center pole and its canopy typically has an octagon or rounded shape. Some canopies include vents to allow airflow to keep the area below cool and help stabilize the umbrella in high winds.
What is the standard size sun umbrella?
There is no such thing as a “standard size” patio umbrella. It just depends on your own specific environment.
As a rule of thumb, an outdoor umbrella should extend 2-2 1/2 feet beyond the edge of the area you wish to shade. Smaller umbrellas (10 feet dia and less) are usually market style, while larger models (12 feet dia and more) are often offset or cantilever style.
Do shade umbrellas block UV rays?
Outdoor umbrellas do block much of the harmful effects of direct ultraviolet rays. The large the umbrella, the greater the area of protection. However, the material and color of the canopy impact just how much. Here are some key factors:
- Weave – The tighter the fabric is woven together, the less UV radiation passes through
- Color – Dark colors of identical fabric types absorb ultraviolet rays more strongly than their lighter shades, which increases the sun protection
- Weight – A heavier version of the same fabric will be minimally more protective against UVR
- Stretch – The greater the stretch or tension put on a textile, the lower the UPF rating
- Water – Some fabrics, such as polyester and cotton, provide less protection against UVR when they have absorbed water
- Washing – Cotton-based fabrics tend to shrink after the first washing, thereby tightening the weave and reducing the transmitted ultraviolet radiation
- Additives – UVR stabilizers or additives can be used to improve the sun protection of a variety of textiles
Additionally, you need to be aware of indirect UV rays that are reflected off of water, glass and light-color walls.
What is the best material for outdoor umbrellas?
There are a variety of great weather and UV-resistant canopy textiles:
- Acrylic – Sunbrella
- Polyester – Pacifica
- Olefin – Texsilk
- Polyethylene – Coolaroo
Who makes the best pool umbrellas?
There are countless manufacturers of outdoor patio umbrellas. They offer a wide range of products that appeal to a variety of budgets. Many of these brands provide value for a low cost and are certainly good options in the short run. However, as a retailer of luxury outdoor furnishings, Decor Outdoor focuses on products that perform and look great over the long run. The following brands may be more expensive, but their premium umbrellas have cutting edge designs and are made from the finest materials, using state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques. These collections are also backed by industry-leading warranties and service agreements.
- Tuuci – Unique and innovative shade solutions with thoughtful, refined designs that enhance the natural ambiance of the outdoors for years.
- Jardinico – Flawless elegant patio umbrellas with slim profiles, taut shades and impeccable finishes to provide a finishing touch to classic outdoor settings.
- Shadowspec – Stunning luxury outdoor umbrellas with evolutionary designs, patented technology and marine-grade materials.
- Woodline – Sophisticated center pole and cantilevered umbrellas designed to the highest standards using anodized aluminum, marine-grade stainless steel and kiln-dried eucalyptus.
- Umbrosa – State-of-the-art, elegant and understated shade solutions inspired by nature and built to last.
- Shademaker – Architectural grade shades with contemporary, precision-engineered designs for high end residential and commercial outdoor applications.
- Bambrella – Eco-friendly bamboo umbrellas with sleek, modern designs that are extremely weather-resistant – even in the windiest conditions.
- FiberBuilt – Commercial-grade patio umbrellas with flexible fiberglass ribs that are resilient under strong winds and last 4-5 times longer than steel or wood.
I built a tall table for use between a couple of tall Adirondack chairs. The top of the table is 39″ so the crank on an umbrella would need to be at 45 inches or so. Is that something that they make umbrellas for? How do I specify that?
Not all market umbrellas have a crank lift, so a manual push-up lift would not have that issue. There are also telescopic poles with some umbrellas that extend to put a crank above the tabletop. Be sure that the canopy can close as well.
Hello! I am planning a pool area with several lounge chairs in a row and flush ground inserts for umbrellas. I am planning to purchase 2 market umbrellas and four ground inserts so I can move the umbrellas around as needed. I was thinking I could put 2 at the “foot” end of the chairs and 2 at the “head” end of the chairs and place the ground inserts on the sunny side of the chairs. Or course I will make sure when open they are at least 9 feet apart so as not to touch. But wanted to ask if you have any other thoughts or suggestions about placement for such a situation as mine?!? Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Obviously, the number and spacing of the chairs along with the positioning relative to the sun matters. Were you thinking of rotating the chairs 180 degrees when the sun changes, so the umbrellas can always be placed behind the “head” and not obstructing the view as you face the “foot?”
Depending on the size of the canopy, you may be better off placing the ground mounts such that the umbrellas are between the chairs.