Figure Out the Size You Need
Patio umbrellas come in a range of diameters, and the size you pick depends on the size of the area you want to shade. Want to keep a two-person bistro table out of the sun? A six-foot patio umbrella should be plenty. Need to shade a loveseat and patio chairs? You may need a 13-foot umbrella. The wider the patio umbrella, the more shade you get. And the more seating you have, the more shade you want. Here’s a guide by outdoor umbrella diameter:
6 to 6.5-foot outdoor umbrellas can provide shade to a 30-inch diameter table. That’s the size of a bistro table that seats two people.
7 to 7.5-foot outdoor umbrellas can shade a 48-inch diameter table that seats four people or a single chaise lounge.
8 to 8.5-foot outdoor umbrellas can shade a 54-inch diameter table that seats four to six people or a pair of patio chairs.
10-foot and larger outdoor umbrellas can shade an 84-inch diameter table that seats eight people, or a set of patio furniture.
Choose the Right Type of Patio Umbrella
There are several types of patio umbrellas, and they offer different amounts of shade.
Market Umbrella
This is the most common type of patio umbrella. It has a straight pole in the center of the umbrella that sits in a base on the ground. You can put a market umbrella pole in the middle of a patio table or use the umbrella alone. Some let you tilt the umbrella to varying angles to block sunlight so you get more shade, longer. A market umbrella with a wood pole, ribs and pulley opening device looks like a classic café umbrella.
Cantilevered Umbrella
These are often called offset umbrellas because the pole is set to one side instead of in the center of the canopy. A cantilevered umbrella is a good pick for a seating area with no dining table. The canopy is adjustable and can be set at different angles to block light as the sun moves across the sky throughout the day. Cantilever umbrellas tend to be more expensive than market umbrellas, but they’re larger and give more sun protection.
Lighted Umbrella
You can also get a patio umbrella with lights built into the ribs of market or cantilevered styles. The lights are usually LEDs and solar-powered, so they charge during the day and give you light at night.
Pick a Fabric
Look for durable outdoor textiles for your patio umbrella canopy that can weather the elements for years without fading. There are four general types of fabric:
Sunbrella is a top name in outdoor fabric. It’s fade-resistant and stays bright for five to 10 years because it’s solution-dyed, meaning its colors are locked into the fibers. It takes the sun a lot longer to bake the color out of a Sunbrella umbrella. It’s water- and mildew-resistant, too. Sunbrella’s durability means it’s higher priced than other fabrics.
Yarn-dyed fabric has the color woven into the pattern or design instead of printed on the fabric, so it’s colorfast and UV-resistant. It won’t fade easily in the sun.
Polyester is almost as good as Sunbrella but a lot more affordable. It’s solution-dyed, won’t fade for up to four years, and resists mold and mildew.
Olefin is a budget-friendly synthetic that lasts. It resists fading and mildew as well as polyester.
Thatch is a tropical alternative to traditional fabrics. Thatch is typically polypropylene strips sewn into a base cloth to mimic the look of palm fronds. Sometimes, though, patio umbrellas have real straw sewn to a polyester fabric liner. Either way, it lasts for a few years of outdoor fun.
Use an umbrella cover to protect your outdoor umbrella from the sun and rain when you’re not using it. Your umbrella will last longer if covered, so it’s worth the money.
Choose a Lift Type
There are three general mechanisms for opening a patio umbrella.
Cranks are usually mounted on the center of the pole. Turn the crank’s handle until the umbrella shade is open.
Pulleys are an old-fashioned-looking control. Pull a cord through a pulley to open the canopy, then use a metal pin through the pole to hold the shade open.
Push-up controls let you grab the collar of the umbrella where the ribs come together or slide a handle up the pole to open the canopy.
