The 6 Best Patio Umbrellas to Add Shade to Your Backyard in 2023
Updated: Mar. 21, 2023Throw some shade in the backyard this summer! Along with keeping you cool and covered, the best patio umbrella should fit your outdoor lifestyle.
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You deserve a fantastic summer enjoying your outdoor space. That means you need to find the best patio umbrella to keep you shaded and cool while lounging on deck furniture, sipping a beverage poolside or dining alfresco on your cozy balcony. Plus, you’ll stay as cool as a cucumber and out of the path of damaging UV rays. You might even score a patio furniture sale to accompany your lounge chairs. Snag one of the best patio umbrellas in time for warmer weather!
Best Overall Patio Umbrella
Purple Leaf Cantilever Umbrella
Seriously up your shade game with the Purple Leaf cantilever umbrella, which offers outstanding coverage over outdoor seating and dining areas. The umbrella itself is made of a yarn-dyed polyester fabric that’s breathable, yet water-repellent, to keep you dry during a summer rainstorm. Another reason we picked this as the best patio umbrella is the double-top vent that allows for good airflow while reducing the likelihood of it blowing over. When the day is done, fold it down and use the Velcro straps to tie it into a bundle for safekeeping.
“We bought this umbrella to go over our hot tub to keep the rain off and love it!” writes five-star reviewer, Carol Junglov. “The color matches our outdoor furniture, but more importantly, this umbrella is so large we can change the position and angle of it, so it blocks the setting sun from roasting us.”
Pros
- Has an all-aluminum pole and eight sturdy ribs
- Available in various sizes and seven colors
- Rotates 360 degrees to adjust with the sun’s movement
- Six height and angle options
Cons
- Handle doesn’t lock in place
- Pricey
Best Budget Patio Umbrella
Sunnyglade 9-Foot Patio Umbrella
For the size, it’s hard to beat the price of this 9-foot umbrella. Made of 100% polyester, this option has eight sturdy ribs for stronger support and a single wind vent for stability. It turns and tilts to accommodate the sun’s position, and covers four to six chairs.
As five-star reviewer, Lizette Woerner, shares, “We bought this as a gift for my daughter’s baby shower and it was a winner! They loved the look [and] the quality, and we loved the price!”
Pros
- Made of high-quality materials at an affordable price
- Crank and button mechanism turns and tilts the canopy
- Wide enough to shade a 48-inch table
- Comes in 12 colors
Cons
- Not ideal for larger tables
Best Patio Umbrella with UV Protection
L.L.Bean Sunbrella Market Umbrella
Soak up the summer without overexposing yourself to harmful rays. The L.L.Bean Sunbrella Market Umbrella is the company’s largest and best rectangular patio umbrella for serious sun protection. It throws up to 80 square feet of shade to guarantee you’ll avoid the lion’s share of harmful UV rays wherever you’re sitting. It’s available in dark green and off-white colors.
“Although initially concerned about the off-white color, it doesn’t stain and filters light without darkening the deck. It’s Sunbrella fabric, and therefore will last. We highly recommend this product,” writes five-star reviewer, Eliza.
Pros
- Auto-tilt feature to angle the canopy
- Made of fade-proof, mildew-resistant fabric
- Skirted top vent stands up to wind
- Fabric can be cleaned with soap and water
Cons
- Stand and base weight sold separately
- Only available in two colors
Best Patio Umbrella for Small Areas
Oniva Outdoor Canopy Sunshade Beach Umbrella
If you’ve got a small deck or patio, a large umbrella could overwhelm the space. The petite Oniva beach umbrella is ideal for when you have limited square footage—whether in the garden, at the shore or on a camping trip. Even though it’s categorized as a beach umbrella, it can easily function in the backyard or on the balcony by setting it up on a picnic table or using an umbrella stand.
Five-star reviewer, Donna Ross, writes, “As you can see from the photos, I have a small patio and needed a small umbrella. This fits perfectly and looks so stylish, and seems to be made very well.”
Pros
- Measures just 5.5 feet in diameter
- Two-piece steel pole design with tilt feature and pointed end
- Includes a drawstring tote with carry strap
- Can be used on the beach or backyard
Cons
- Not very adjustable
Most Durable Patio Umbrella
EliteShade Patio Umbrella
If you’re after something that will be in it for the long haul, the EliteShade patio umbrella is a heavy-duty option. The round canopy is made from 100% solution-dyed acrylic fabric that resists water, oil and mildew. Plus it’s guaranteed against fading for 10 years. Overall, it’s a tough and dependable umbrella that will last you many summers to come.
“Great quality, and is super easy to install and open,” writes five-star reviewer, Norton. “The color is easy on the eyes and is a centerpiece on my deck. Hemmed and hawed whether I should pop for this, glad I did.”
Pros
- Guaranteed not to fade for 10 years
- Frame has a rust-free brown powder coating
- Has an easy open/close crank
- Available in four sizes and 15 colors
Cons
- Pull pin system may be difficult for shorter people to manage
Best Patio Umbrella with Built-In Lights
Jericho Lighted Market Umbrella
Why not add a little nighttime ambiance to your outdoor space with a solar patio umbrella with built-in lights? This lighted umbrella from Jericho uses a solar panel at the top of the umbrella to collect sunlight during the day and power up the twinkling lights after the sun goes down—no electricity required. It comes in five colors and is water- and fade-resistant, so you can enjoy it for many seasons.
“Great height and width makes it the perfect addition to our boat dock!!” writes verified buyer, Kristyn. “Perfect amount of shade and the solar powered lights are exactly what we need by the water!! Navy color is the perfect nautical touch, too! Great purchase for us!!”
Pros
- 24 LED lights line each steel rib
- Battery lasts eight to 10 hours
- Collapsible, water-resistant and fade-resistant
- Available in five colors
Cons
- A full charge takes at least 24 hours
What to Consider When Buying a Patio Umbrella
If you’ve never purchased a patio umbrella, you might be surprised by the vast array of options. Besides size and color, there are other features to consider.
- Overall style: Patio umbrellas come in different sizes, styles, colors and patterns. You want one that will compliment your existing outdoor decor or be inspired by patio shade idea trends and bold colors.
- Lift mechanism: Look for open/lift systems that are easy to operate, such as cranks and tilt button options.
- Durability: The thicker the fabric, the more weight the umbrella frame needs to hold. So you want to find the balance between it being thick enough for durability, but not so much so that it’ll weigh the frame down.
- Affordability: If you live in an area that’s sunny most of the year, spending a little more on quality will pay off. If you use an umbrella only occasionally, a budget option will most likely do fine.
Types of Patio Umbrellas
- Market: Think bistro tables on the streets of Paris. These types of umbrellas have poles that fit through holes in dining and picnic tables.
- Cantilever: Heavier than most patio umbrellas, they’re typically supported by a sturdy pole and base with a rotating arm.
- Offset: Similar to cantilevers, the difference is that offset patio umbrellas have posts sitting to the side or mounted on a wall or fence.
- Beach/palapa: Usually lightweight and portable, the pole’s end is pointed to stick into sand or grass. A palapa umbrella is thatched for creating a tropical tiki vibe.
How We Found the Best Patio Umbrella
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
What is the most durable patio umbrella material?
When it comes to parasol or canopy fabric, you want something durable and fade-resistant. Canvas and vinyl are solid, strong and pricey. To save money, polyester is a decent choice that lasts. Always be sure to look for fabrics that say they’re stain-, weather- and fade-resistant.
What type of patio umbrella is best for sun protection?
To save your skin, choose fabrics with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of at least 50. Olefin, developed in the 1960s, has outstanding UV resistance, as does Sunbrella and Terylast.
What color umbrella fades the least in sunlight?
Light colors will definitely resist fading over darker colors, but keep in mind that a beige umbrella tends to show more dirt and stains than a black one.
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