Every patio needs shade to maximize your comfort and relaxation while hanging out in your backyard. Although gazebos and pergolas are wonderful options, you may prefer the charm and simplicity of patio umbrellas. With such a diverse array of umbrellas on the market, we’ll help you narrow the choices by telling you about our five favorites!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Choice Products 10ft Solar Powered Aluminum Polyester LED Lighted Patio Umbrella
Best Budget-Friendly Option:
ABCCANOPY Premium Patio Umbrella
Best Splurge:
PURPLE LEAF Patio Umbrella Outdoor Rectangle Umbrella
Best Overall
Best Choice Products 10-Ft. Solar Powered Aluminum Polyester LED Lighted Patio Umbrella
If you’re looking for a patio umbrella that has a little bit of everything, you may love the Best Choice Products 10-ft. solar-powered patio umbrella. With a frame made from steel and aluminum and fabric treated to repel water, it holds up well against most weather. You can tilt the canopy just enough to block direct sunlight any time of day.
However, what really sets this patio umbrella apart is the set of solar-powered LED lights embedded in the canopy! There are 24 lights altogether, guaranteeing plenty of visibility and a gorgeous ambience in the dark. An umbrella like this is perfect for anyone who wants to use their patio from morning until night!
Pros
- Comes with 24 solar-powered LED lights
- Has water-resistant canopy
- Canopy can be tilted
- Includes vent to encourage airflow
- Easy to assemble
- Available in numerous colors
- Modest price
Cons
- Solar lights can be unreliable
- Tilt lock can be difficult to operate
- Tends to fall in high winds unless you use a heavier stand
Best Budget-Friendly Option
ABCCANOPY Premium Patio Umbrella
Maybe you don’t want to spend money on anything more complex than the simplest patio umbrella available. Have a look at the ABCCANOPY premium patio umbrella. It excels at the basics–a powdered-coated aluminum flame topped by a water- and UV-resistant polyester canopy. You can either let the frame remain straight, or you can use the crank to tilt it and protect you from direct sunlight.
If you live in an area with extremely windy weather, you may also appreciate the frame’s sturdiness. This patio umbrella compensates for its lack of embellishments with its strength and dependability–all for a comparatively affordable price!
Pros
- Has water-resistant and UV-resistant canopy
- Steel is rust-resistant
- Includes vent to encourage airflow
- Stands up well against high winds
- Available in several colors and designs
- Easy to assemble
- Low price
Cons
- Best suited for small tables
- Canopy fabric is rather thin
Best Splurge
PURPLE LEAF Outdoor Rectangle Umbrella
Do you have the income to indulge in one of the best patio umbrellas on the market? Check out the PURPLE LEAF outdoor rectangle umbrella. The canopy boasts an anti-rust frame fashioned from thick steel, aluminum, and metal alloy, along with a triangular pole formation for better support against the wind. This is what you call heavy duty!
Then there’s the polyester fabric, which resists fading, water, and UV rays. You can use the frame to turn the canopy 360 degrees according to your shading needs throughout the day. Despite the high price, you’ll find it well worth the investment!
Pros
- Highly durable
- Rust-resistant frame
- Canopy repels water and UV rays and doesn’t fade
- Stands strong against winds up to 30 miles per hour
- Canopy turns 360 degrees
- Available in several colors and sizes
Cons
- Does not include base
- Very expensive
Best for Large Patios
PHI VILLA 15’ x 9’ Large Patio Umbrella
A generously sized patio gives you a lot of room for furniture, appliances, activities, and people, but it also needs a lot of shade. Cue the PHI VILLA 15’ x 9’ patio umbrella. With a UV-resistant and water-repellent polyester canopy spanning the full length of two to three people, this umbrella easily shields everything beneath it from both sunlight and precipitation. There are also two air vents to ensure everyone enjoys fresh air no matter where they’re sitting.
Additionally, the steel frame is treated to resist corrosion and comes with a crank so that you can adjust the canopy’s tilt at will. Your family and friends will always be comfortable with a patio umbrella like this!
Pros
- Big enough to cover large patios
- Canopy blocks water and UV rays
- Includes two air vents
- Easy to assemble
- Base comes with two sandbags for additional stability
Cons
- Only comes in one color
- Canopy spins or folds easily in high winds
- Somewhat pricey
Best for Customized Shading
Grand Patio Outdoor JENA Patio Umbrella
Since the main purpose of a patio umbrella is to provide shade, perhaps you want that to be your focus. That’s what the Grand Patio JENA model does best. Not only does the canopy tilt, but the base allows it to rotate 360 degrees, so you can tailor the position and angle according to your preference at any time.
On top of that, the umbrella is built with an aluminum frame coated with powder that prevents corrosion. The canopy features double-coated polyester that holds up exceptionally well against UV rays and all kinds of precipitation. It also maintains its vivid color for years. You’ll always stay cool while your patio looks cool!
One more thing–a couple of versions of this model include wheels so that you can move it around wherever you’d like. It doesn’t have to stay anchored in one place. Those versions are more expensive than the standard one, but it also makes personalization easier.
Pros
- Canopy tilts and turns 360 degrees
- UV- and water-resistant polyester fabric is double-coated
- Wheels make it movable
- Comes in numerous colors and sizes
- Has vent to encourage airflow
- Easy to add sand to the base as needed
- Sturdy in high winds
Cons
- Hard to assemble
- Despite the wheels, it’s heavy and difficult to move alone
- Somewhat pricey
Buyer’s Guide for Patio Umbrellas
You deserve to find exactly the patio umbrella you want most. By covering some basic facts about them, we’ll help you find something that suits your needs without regrets!
Materials
To keep costs low and setup easy, most patio umbrellas are made with strong but inexpensive materials. You’ll commonly see aluminum, steel, or metal alloys for the frames, though fiberglass is favored as well.
The canopies are often fashioned with canvas, cotton, plastic, vinyl, or polyester fabric. Sometimes, they will be double-layered or treated with chemicals to keep them from fading or becoming damaged by water and sunlight, which protects you as much as it extends their lifespan.
What to Look For
Even the toughest patio umbrella is prone to serious damage due to unforeseeable accidents or faulty materials. To take good care of your investment, purchase an umbrella that comes with a warranty. The longer the warranty lasts, the better you can ensure its quality and longevity.
However, it also helps if your patio umbrella is constructed well in the first place. Prioritize frames covered in anti-rust powder and multi-layered or chemically treated canopies. Thick frames are best if your area is known for extreme weather or high winds so that the umbrella doesn’t fall down easily, but heavy bases are an acceptable alternative.
Additionally, since your shading needs could vary, consider umbrellas that allow the canopy to tilt or turn. It’s even better if there are mechanisms that lock the canopy in place after you adjust it.
Basic Maintenance
Since patio umbrellas are made for the outdoors, they tend not to demand much attention. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to use it longer if you follow just a few maintenance rules.
Even if your patio umbrella arrives with anti-rust powder, plan to apply a new coat every six to twelve months. You may want to reinforce your canopy with a fabric guard or silicone spray around the same time. Put a little WD-40 on the tilting, rotation, and/or locking mechanisms if they start to squeak.
If your umbrella is easy to disassemble and known to fall or fold in severe weather, consider bringing it indoors ahead of time. You may also want to store it long-term during the fall and winter; otherwise, snowfall could weigh it down and compromise its structural integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Patio Umbrellas
What are the benefits of patio umbrellas?
Obviously, most people buy patio umbrellas for shade, which is beneficial for your health and comfort. With a quality umbrella, you can still enjoy your patio while avoiding problems like sunburn, overheating, headaches, or photokeratitis. Plus, if you have children or pets, it’s great for helping them stay cool while they play outside.
However, your furniture, tools, and appliances benefit, too. When constantly exposed to sunlight, snow, and/or rain, fabrics can fade or grow mold, wood can rot and warp, metal grills and cast iron furniture can rust, and electronics can overheat or break. A patio umbrella shields them so that they last longer.
The umbrella also offers aesthetic advantages. Not only does it boost your patio’s attractiveness, but its placement could act as a visual indicator for certain activities or equipment. That is, the umbrella could mark the place where you eat while the rest of the patio is for something else. In other words, it makes your patio more organized.
Also, consider the way that a good patio umbrella can tilt or turn. If you want extra privacy from neighbors or passersby, the umbrella’s adjustability can assist by blocking you from their view.
Can you substitute beach umbrellas for patio umbrellas?
As a general rule, beach umbrellas are less expensive and easier to set up than patio umbrellas. They also have a lot of similarities, like their shape, materials, and ability to repel both water and UV rays.
However, they’re not interchangeable. Beach umbrellas are meant to be portable and used in sand for short periods of time. By contrast, patio umbrellas are built to stay in one place long-term and withstand various kinds of weather. Save beach umbrellas for vacations and day trips, and put patio umbrellas in your backyard.
What are the different parts of patio umbrellas?
No two patio umbrellas are exactly the same, but they generally use similar parts.
At the bottom of the umbrella is a base, which could be fastened to the ground or held down with something heavy, like sandbags, stakes, or weights. A frame made of metal or fiberglass poles rises from the base, sometimes divided in half by a crank that adjusts the position of the upper pole and/or canopy. The canopy itself is held up by a rib that extends from the frame.
Beyond that, patio umbrellas vary. They may have additional poles on the frame to offer extra support or stability. Some include air vents on the canopy; they look like little hats that allow air to flow freely in and out, preventing the area beneath the canopy from feeling stuffy and stale. Some umbrellas come with interesting embellishments, such as LED lights.
What types of patio umbrellas are on the market?
There isn’t a limit to the types of patio umbrellas that manufacturers can build so long as they have the skills and resources. That said, their basic structure can typically be placed in one of three categories.
Table Umbrella
As its name implies, table umbrellas are meant to be inserted through a hole in the center of a patio table. Sometimes, they can tilt, bend, or rotate, but of all the patio umbrellas on the market, they are the most likely to stand rigidly vertical.
Tilting Umbrella
Although tilting umbrellas can remain upright, the manufacturers use them to target buyers who want to hang out on their patios at various times of the day. With that in mind, these umbrellas are made to be tilted with a cranking mechanism. They can either stand alone or go through the center of a patio table.
Offset or Cantilever Umbrella
For buyers who don’t want or need the pole to fit in a patio table, there’s the offset or cantilever patio umbrella. The frame curves so that the canopy reaches outward. Most manufacturers also build them to tilt and/or turn, but that’s not necessary for its construction.
Get a Patio Umbrella You Love!
We hope you feel ready to go shopping for a patio umbrella! You’ll be amazed at how wonderfully it improves your backyard and helps you use your patio to its fullest potential.
We also have lots more advice for backyard living so that you can keep turning your home into your perfect haven.