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If you want to rearrange your outdoor space, a great place to start is with the addition of one or multiple outdoor umbrellas. These easy to acquire accents provide huge, invaluable upgrades to any yard while ensuring you and your guests remain comfortable and protected.
Below we are featuring some of the best outdoor umbrella options. These umbrellas are available in a ton of both solid and striped color options to ensure they blend in well with any outdoor furniture scheme. Additionally, they are large and extra-large in size, depending on your needs, and provide easy-to-use and move tilting capability to ensure you are always in the shade no matter where the sun is shining.
The Top Outdoor Umbrellas Compared
Sunnyglade Umbrella — Best Overall
This outdoor table umbrella is generous in size at 7.5 feet and makes a great choice to add some much-needed shade to any backyard. This umbrella is meant to shield multiple people from the sun at once while protecting your skin from the sun’s radiation for ultimate comfort. Made from sturdy polyester material, this umbrella also has a crank and push-button tilt design so you can easily adjust it to block the sun’s rays at any angle throughout the day.
Abba Umbrella — Runner Up
Available in three different sizes, this heavy-duty umbrella is a great addition to any sunny backyard. It utilizes an easy-to-use crank system that raises and lowers the canopy while a push-button tilt makes tilting the umbrella effortless so you can enjoy the shade at any angle. Most importantly, the umbrella fabric is waterproof, is specially made to minimize color fading, and has added UV protection.
Wikiwiki Umbrella — Honorable Mention
Another great outdoor umbrella option is this offset hanging one which provides a wide range of shade and protection. Made from environmentally friendly materials, the fabric contains five layers of certified polyester fabric which creates a durable barrier that will protect against UV rays, is water-resistant, and has anti-fade technology to keep the umbrella looking newer, longer. This umbrella also uses the most sturdy metal framework that is sealed to protect against corrosion and damage.
IWicker Outdoor Umbrella — Editor's Pick
Unlike our other options, this one includes the essential base to keep the umbrella secure to the ground. This is an extra-large outdoor umbrella with a whopping 15 feet of coverage that will offer complete shade with its double-sided design. The canopy is fade and water-resistant and provides essential UV coverage with an air vented top and will look great in any outdoor area, patio, or backyard.
Blissun Patio Umbrella — Best Design
This large outdoor umbrella provides up to nine feet of coverage area for a comfortable outdoor seating experience. Ideal for both outdoor commercial use and any yard, beach, or patio, this umbrella has an elegant design with waterproof and UV resistant fabric that is also easy to clean. A sturdy aluminum pole supports the umbrella, a modern crank mechanism opens it fast and a push-button tilt provides multiple angles of shading to ensure the sun stays out of your way.
Tempera Umbrella — Also Consider
Another great outdoor umbrella is this large 10 foot one that comes in over 10 color options to enhance any outdoor space. Use this umbrella with any round, square, or rectangular table for ample shade for up to 4-6 chairs, and be ensured you will be protected from the UV rays with the water-repellent fabric. This is also a crank opening umbrella with an auto-tilt that allows you to adjust the shading angle easily while convenient wind vents allow hot air to circulate and add stability.
Buying Guide: Outdoor Umbrellas
Types of Outdoor Umbrellas You Should Know About
There are many different types of patio umbrellas to choose from.
Table umbrella
A table patio umbrella looks like an oversized handheld umbrella that can stand in the hole of a patio table. It is large enough to provide the people sitting around the table with enough shade to enjoy themselves freely.
Tilting umbrella
Quite similar to a patio table umbrella, the tilting umbrella offers an additional feature - the ability to rotate around the pole. It is a smarter and more flexible choice as you can pivot its angle to provide maximum protection against scorching heat throughout the day.
Cantilever umbrella
A Cantilever umbrella features a support base that is big and solid enough to make it stand stable on the side. The base extends into a strong arm that holds the canopy. They are heavier and less portable.
Sail umbrella
Sail umbrella is an unconventional type of outdoor umbrella that comes as a tri-cornered umbrella piece. You can easily tie it above a patio furniture set or table, even to the trees. It does not need any support or base hence is one of the most portable options.
Palapa tiki-style umbrella
Made of polypropylene faux grass cover, this outdoor umbrella looks like a grass tiki hut. They are more suitable for beach and poolside setups.
What to Look For in the Top Outdoor Umbrellas
Here are some features to factor in when choosing a good outdoor umbrella:
Type
The first consideration, of course, is the type of umbrella. Above we have discussed the various types. Think about your patio decor and the amount of area you want to cover before settling for a certain type. Be sure to factor in the installation process too as some umbrellas are more difficult to install than others.
Size
Outdoor umbrellas come in a vast variety of sizes. From a small one that covers just a single chair to a huge canopy style umbrella that can protect a group of 8 plus, the choice is endless. For the sake of simplicity, consider the number of people you want it to cover. A 5 foot umbrella can easily cover 4 persons, an 7 foot umbrella 6, and an 11 feet umbrella is good enough for 8 or more people.
Fabric
Sunbrella acrylic is far the best fabric for an outdoor umbrella. It is durable and easy to maintain with its stain and weather resistance. Some other considerable fabric choices are olefin, canvas, polyester, and acrylic.
Mechanism
When it comes to the lifting mechanism of an outdoor umbrella, you have three options - manual, crank, and pulley. Locking the canopy in manual ones requires more work. Crank umbrellas can be adjusted with the turn of a lever. Pulley umbrellas can be raised or lowered with the pull of a rope. Consider all the options and choose the one that suits you the best.
Outdoor Umbrellas for Different Patio Setups
Not sure which umbrella style will work for your patio? Here are some ideas:
For tables
If you have a patio table with a hole in the center, choose a center pole umbrella that can go into the hole. But for patio tables without a center hole, a Cantilever umbrella is a better choice.
For shade
Cantilever umbrellas are known to provide the most amount of shade. Choose one that can be adjusted with the sun throughout the day.
For beach
Beach umbrellas are vastly different from patio umbrellas. Look for one with a minimalistic round canopy and a spiked pole to insert into the sand.
For UV protection
The best umbrellas for UV protection feature UV-resistant fabric, such as Sunbrella acrylic. It blocks the direct, reflected, and diffused UV rays from all sides.
How to Store an Outdoor Umbrella
When the patio season ends, you should always take off your outdoor umbrella and carefully put it away for the next season. Here are some tips to store yours:
- If you are not taking it down, close and cover your umbrella with an umbrella cover.
- When taking it down, carefully separate the pole and canopy from the base before storing.
- Make sure that the canopy is clean and dry.
- Wrap the folds in one direction to prevent wrinkles.
- Cover with an umbrella cover
- Take thick cardboard or some rags to cover pole ends.
- Store upright in a dry, enclosed space like garages or pool houses.
Conclusion
Outdoor umbrellas are an easy to acquire accent that provides a valuable upgrade to any yard, poolside, or patio space. They ensure that you and your guests are comfortable and protected while adding an oomph factor to your outdoor decor. However, choosing the right one can be a tough task considering the wide range of available options. You can check out our recommendations for the top outdoor umbrellas in 2022 to easily find the one that suits your needs.
