Patios can be beautiful places to hang out and enjoy the fresh air. But they can get very hot in the summer due to the materials used and general sun exposure.
This can lead to overheating, sweating, and burning feet for you, your guests, and even your pets. Luckily, this problem has an easy fix with an awning for patio designs!
Keep reading to learn about some excellent awning options to add to your patio if you’re sick of feeling hot!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Outsunny Manual Retractable Awning
Budget Option
VUYUYU Retractable Patio Awning
Best Motorized Awning
ADVANING Motorized Retractable Patio Awning
Best Overall
Outsunny Manual Retractable Awning
If you want an awning for your patio that’s easy to use and offers UV protection, this one’s for you! The Outsunny awning uses a manual crank to open and close it, which means you won’t need batteries or electricity. You can easily open it in seconds with a comfortable cranking handle.
The frame is well-built and can handle light rain storms along with small wind gusts. Its water-resistant coating protects it from rain saturation. Just be sure to close the awning in large storms to prevent breakage and possible damage to your home.
But the best part about this awning for patios is that it’s UV-resistant, offering you great protection from the sun. This is especially important as unprotected sun exposure can damage your eyes, skin, and your immune system.
Along with this useful function, the design is beautiful to look at! It has decorative edging and comes in multiple solid and striped colors, allowing you to match it to your home. It even comes with the needed hanging hardware!
Pros
- Smooth and quiet hand crank
- Protects against UV rays and light rain
- It uses a strong aluminum and steel frame along with water-resistant material
Cons
- It can’t handle large amounts of rain or high winds
- The handle juts out a little
Budget Option
VUYUYU Retractable Patio Awning
Sometimes awnings can get expensive. So, if you need an affordable option that still does its sun-blocking job, the VUYUYU awning is a great choice!
This awning for patios has a manual crank that’s easy to utilize. All you have to do is turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to move it!
The beautifully-trimmed fabric uses strong polyester, which is water, UV, and fade-resistant. And its lightweight frame uses anti-rusting components to ensure the joints of your awning stay strong and safe. So you can enjoy this awning for many years ahead!
It’ll make an excellent addition to any patio, as it’s a decent size and attaches to almost anything. Whether your home is stucco, brick, or wood, this awning for patios will be sturdy and offer adequate sun protection. If your home uses vinyl siding, you’ll just need to attach a wooden plank to your home as an anchor.
Pros
- Water-resistant, UV-blocking, and fade-resistant material
- Anti-rust brackets and screws
- You can attach it to almost any material
Cons
- It’s a little hard to install
- It’s lightweight, so it cannot handle strong winds
Best Motorized Awning
ADVANING Motorized Retractable Patio Awning
The ADVANING awning is excellent for your patio if you don’t want to use a manual crank. You’ll simply need an outlet to plug it in, and then you can control it with a remote. But it also offers a manual crank option.
This easily installable awning offers a decent amount of shade, especially with its angle adjustability. It has a durable, powder-coated steel frame that’ll last for years if you care for the awning correctly.
The acrylic fabric can keep the heat away while protecting the material from fading. This is a cooling and moisture-wicking type of fabric, which can dry quickly after rain storms. Just be sure to close the awning if strong wind makes an appearance.
Its green and white striped design offers a stylish look along with the waved trim. And the outer hardware has caps to keep the design sleek while preventing rusting. These look much better than exposed hinges and screws.
This awning for patios will keep you cool and make your outdoor space look put-together.
Pros
- You can adjust the angle
- Moisture-wicking, UV-resistant, and fade-resistant fabric
- It’s 100% pre-assembled for easy set-up
Cons
- The added crank handle is a little weak
- It isn’t waterproof
Best Side Awning
VEVOR Retractable Side Awning
You might not need overhead shade depending on where and how your patio is set up. Instead, you may need side protection due to the sun’s position in relation to your patio space. Luckily, there are side awnings for patios for this issue!
The VEVOR side awning for patios offers the perfect amount of shade and can even be the perfect privacy wall.
It has a hint of elegance that’ll enhance the look of your patio while doing its job. The material is waterproof, UV-resistant, and even has the added protection of flame retardancy!
You can expect set-up to be a breeze, as it only has two primary anchor points. And it has an easy-to-use handle to pull the awning out.
The rust-proof wall housing will keep it protected when not in use. It’s the perfect awning for patios for those who can’t use overhead awnings or don’t have overhead shade issues.
Pros
- It uses waterproof, flame-retardant, UV-resistant materials
- Quick and easy set-up
- It can also act as a privacy wall
Cons
- You need to install it on a hard-surfaced floor, not grass or gravel
- It can break if you don’t close it during high winds
AECOJOY Patio Awning
Many awnings for patios come with one pre-set, unmovable angle. But the AECOJOY awning allows you to adjust the angle to better suit your patio!
This feature is especially helpful, as the sun continuously changes positions in the sky. So you can use the adjustable angle mechanism to block the sun throughout the entire day.
The strong polyester fabric is thick enough to block the sun, rain, and 30 MPH winds. And this awning for patios uses rust-resisting hinges to prevent premature breakage or collapsing.
A manual crank makes extending and retracting easy while also controlling the angle, making it multipurpose.
You can expect this awning to look great on any patio. It’s a neutral color with a stunning waved trim complimenting your outdoor space.
Pros
- You can adjust the angle of the awning
- Wind, rain, fade, and UV-resistant fabric
- It uses strong polyethylene in the frame’s hinging materials, which doesn’t rust
Cons
- It can be hard to install
- The aluminum frame may bend
Patio Awning Buyer’s Guide
While many awnings for patios might look similar, they’re often much more different than you think. Size, mechanics, materials, and strength are all things to consider before hitting the purchase button.
Thinking about what you need or want within these categories will help you make the best decision for your patio.
Size
The size of the awning is essential when choosing an awning for your patio. Measure the area where you’re putting the awning. This will give you an idea of the sizes you can buy and which ones won’t fit.
You don’t want to order your awning for your patio and realize it doesn’t even come close to fitting. It’ll also prevent any return hassles, which may cost you some money to ship back to the seller.
Awning sizes are vital in determining shade coverage as well. Maybe you don’t want your entire patio covered in shade. So you might want to opt for something small that only covers your furniture. Think about the sun-to-shade ratio you’re looking for to help you make your final decision.
Retractable Mechanisms
Most awnings for patios come with manual crank handles. This allows you to open and close your awning without worrying about electrical components or batteries.
Manual awnings are less likely to break due to their lack of mechanics. Their initial buying price is also much lower when compared to electrical options. Prices typically increase with complexity.
Motorized options are a little more challenging to find. But they’re out there if manual retractability isn’t your thing. They’re typically easier to use as you just have to plug them in and push a button.
You’ll need to decide which option you like based on convenience.
Materials
The materials your awning uses are extremely important pertaining to weather. You’ll need to think about the weather you usually get each year.
Do you get rain or snow? If so, you might want to get something waterproof to prevent rusting or mold growth. But this might not matter to you if you live in a dry area.
You should always make sure the awning fabric can block UV rays. Otherwise, you can still damage your skin even if you’re in the shade. You might feel cooler under the awning. But UV rays don’t have a temperature, so you won’t feel them. That’s why you should still protect yourself on cloudy days!
Typically, the stronger the fabric, the more UV protection you’ll have. Fabric thickness and weave tightness have a lot to do with it.
Strength
Do you get a lot of storms in your area? Is wind a recurring hazard? These things can damage your awning, especially if you don’t store it correctly. It might sound strange, but not all awnings for patios use strong materials.
You might want to look into materials like steel if you need something tough. This is usually the strongest option when it comes to your outdoor furniture too.
However, while steel is strong, it can still rust. So, you should also ensure the framing materials of your awning have a powder coating. These coatings keep water and moisture away from the metal, which can prevent rust.
As for fabric materials, opting for polyester or acrylic is typically best. Both of these are durable, thick, and can handle water.
Awning for Patio Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a patio awning and a patio canopy?
The primary difference between canopies and awnings is their permanency. Awnings often need to get screwed into the side of your home or other structure. This is usually a permanent option for shade protection at most homes.
They’re challenging to move after you mount them. But canopies are typically easily removable. You’ll often hang them with temporary ropes or hooks.
Is an awning better than a pergola?
This answer depends on what you’re looking for! If you want full-coverage shade, then getting an awning for your patio is probably best.
But a pergola might be better if you want a little sun to shine through. Pergolas only provide a little bit of shade due to their slats.
If your primary concern is sun damage to your skin, an awning is best. These do a better job of protecting you from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Can my awning handle heavy rain?
As a general rule, most awnings cannot handle heavy rain storms. The primary purpose of an awning is to protect you from the sun and provide cooling shade.
Although most awnings have waterproof fabric, they aren’t specifically for rain. Too much rain can cause pooling in the middle of your awning, which can lead to collapse.
They can handle light rain, and should definitely be pulled in during a storm.
Pick an Awning for Your Patio!
Shade should be at the top of your list when considering improving your outdoor space! It helps keep you cool on hot summer days and protects your body.
Luckily, the Outsunny awning is the best for patio designs to aid in both of these things. It offers protection from UV rays and light rain, is easy to use, and has a beautiful look!
Visit our Backyard Living page for more fun outdoor space ideas to help give your backyard a personal touch!
- About the Author
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Ashley Masiello is a home gardener, outdoor lover, video editor, artist, general freelance writer, and a writer for Minnetonka Orchards. She has a bachelor’s degree in film/media and two minors in writing and art.
She loves to tend to her plants, participate in all kinds of outdoor projects, and looks forward to planting a beautiful garden every spring.
Ashley loves sharing her knowledge about planting and fun outdoor DIY projects!
Ashley can be reached at ashleymasiello821@gmail.com.