9 Best Patio Umbrellas Under $100 to Keep You Cool This Summer

Better Homes & Gardens
·6 min read

Your patio is the ideal outdoor retreat for summer dining and entertaining, but harsh sunlight and balmy temperatures can make being outdoors pretty unpleasant. An umbrella is a simple way to beat the heat, and you can easily set one up in a few minutes. The trick is finding one that fits your needs and will stand up to all types of weather.

First, measure your patio table (or the outdoor area you'd like shaded), then choose an umbrella with a large enough diameter to cover the space. For the best patio umbrella, look for options with a high-quality fabric resistant to water and UV rays. This ensures the umbrella won't fade or tear due to sun, wind, or rain. A patio umbrella with a crank handle allows for easy opening and closing, and a tilt function lets you adjust the umbrella's angle as the sun moves. Typically sold separately, a sturdy base is key to keeping your patio umbrella securely in place. And if you prefer to spend your evening hours out on the patio, you can even choose a design that features interior lights.

To help you shade your outdoor retreat, we've rounded up eight of the best patio umbrellas (and one stand) under $100, most of which have hundreds or even thousands of positive reviews. Set up one of these high-quality outdoor umbrellas to keep your patio cool and cozy all summer long.

Best Colorful Patio Umbrella

In addition to relief from the sun, a patio umbrella contributes color and personality to your backyard. This design comes in eight bright options, including three striped patterns, so you can match this shade structure to your home's exterior color scheme. Made of 100% recycled polyester fabric, the umbrella resists water and UV rays and features a vented top that allows wind and heat to escape. Coated in a bronze finish, the rust-resistant frame includes a crank mechanism to open, close, and tilt the umbrella.

Buy It: 9 ft. Market Patio Umbrella with Auto Tilt and Crank ($100, The Home Depot)

Best Patio Umbrella with Lights

Enjoy your patio well into the evening with a patio umbrella that features built-in lighting. This one is lined with 24 LED lights, which are attached to the umbrella's steel ribs and powered by a solar panel on top. Operated by an on-off switch, the lights last up to 10 hours when fully charged. The tiltable umbrella design is currently available in beige, burnt orange, navy blue, and red.

Buy It: Zipcode Design Jericho Lighted Market Umbrella, $95 (originally $109), Wayfair

Best Large Patio Umbrella

This 10-foot wide umbrella offers expansive shade for your outdoor space. Made of water- and UV-resistant polyester fabric, the umbrella opens with a crank and tilts at the push of a button. "I am able to crank it up and down with ease, and the size is great to provide shade over and around my patio table," reads one of the hundreds of positive customer reviews. An opening at the top allows air to pass through, offering more stability against wind and a cool breeze for those sitting underneath. It's available in a rainbow of colors, and the base is not included.

Buy It: Best Choice Products 10 ft. Outdoor Steel Market Patio Umbrella ($50, Walmart)

Most Durable Patio Umbrella

As a best seller on Amazon, this patio umbrella has thousands of positive reviews touting its durability and high-quality materials. One reviewer notes that it's "easily storable and quickly removable from the pole if you need to take it down for wind." The waterproof, UV-resistant fabric comes in seven colors, including solid and striped designs. Spanning 9 feet in diameter, this patio umbrella is right-sized for patio tables with four to six chairs (base not included).

Buy It: Sunnyglade 9 ft. Patio Umbrella ($47, Amazon)

Best Rectangular Patio Umbrella

For long outdoor tables and seating, choose an umbrella that will shade the entire furniture arrangement. This rectangular patio umbrella measures about 10 feet long and 6.5 feet wide, so it can even cover larger, 6-person dining sets. The sturdy fabric stands up well against wind and rain and provides up to 1,000 hours of UV protection with minimal color-fading. It comes in beige, dark green, red, and turquoise, and the umbrella base is not included.

Buy It: Arlmont & Co. Serena Rectangular Market Umbrella, $96 (originally $139), Wayfair

Best Small Patio Umbrella

Perfect for a small patio or deck, this patio umbrella measures just over 7 feet wide. The patterned shade, which easily opens using a push-lift mechanism, is made of UV-resistant fabric and features a pretty scalloped edge. It's compatible with standard center-pole umbrella bases (not included) and available in a watercolor-like floral pattern and a dotted print.

Buy It: Opalhouse Round Patio Umbrella ($90, Target)

Best Offset Patio Umbrella

An offset or cantilever patio umbrella offers wide shade without a cumbersome pole through the middle, making it a great choice for outdoor seating areas. This one from Amazon offers 79 square feet of shade with a tilt function that allows you to easily adjust the umbrella's angle. It includes a cross base with four ground stands, but you'll need to purchase umbrella weights separately.

Buy It: Best Choice Products 10 ft. Offset Hanging Market Patio Umbrella ($80, Amazon)

Best Budget-Friendly Patio Umbrella

At less than $40, this is the most affordable patio umbrella on our list. The 9-foot-wide umbrella is great for 42- to 54-inch tables and includes a three-way tilt system that you can adjust with the push of a button. It comes in five solid colors and three patterned designs, including a fun palm leaf print.

Buy It: Mainstays 9 ft. Outdoor Tilt Market Patio Umbrella ($40, Walmart)

Best Patio Umbrella Stand

A patio umbrella is only as good as the base used to secure it. Keep your outdoor umbrella firmly in place with this cast stone base, which measures 18 inches wide and weighs just over 30 pounds. The bronze-finished base comes with couplers in two sizes, so it can accommodate umbrella poles with different diameters.

Buy It: Sunnyglade Heavy Duty Round Antiqued Umbrella Base for Patio ($47, Amazon)