The Best Outdoor Patio Umbrellas of 2023
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The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Whether you're looking for a lightweight design or an umbrella that has string lights, these outdoor patio umbrellas impressed us across our testing insights.
Best Overall: EliteShade 9Ft 3-Tier Market Umbrella
This premium patio umbrella shades so well, you can view your laptop screen without increasing the brightness.
What We Like
Easy assembly
Effective shade
Easy adjustment
Color variety
What We Don't Like
Base not included
What We Like
Easy assembly
Effective shade
Easy adjustment
Color variety
What We Don't Like
Base not included
Style: Standard | Size: 9 feet | Weight: 17 pounds | Coverage Area: 6-chair table | Tilt: Yes | Materials: Aluminum frame, acrylic canopy
Best Splurge: Hampton Bay 11-Foot Solar LED Offset Outdoor Patio Umbrella
This off-set umbrella offers UV protection, a crank-lift opening mechanism, and a tiltable canopy.
Full Review: Hampton Bay 11 ft. LED Offset Solar Umbrella Is Sturdy
What We Like
Solid-steel frame
Durable
Rotates 360 degrees
Solar-powered lights
What We Don't Like
Challenging assembly
Sand for base sold separately
What We Like
Solid-steel frame
Durable
Rotates 360 degrees
Solar-powered lights
What We Don't Like
Challenging assembly
Sand for base sold separately
Style: Cantilever | Size: 11 feet | Weight: 68 pounds | Coverage Area: 6-chair table | Tilt: No | Materials: Aluminum and steel frame, olefin canopy
Best for Large Spaces: Safavieh Athens 11-Foot Round Crank Umbrella
This classic French-style umbrella by Safavieh comfortably covers a table and six chairs.
What We Like
Large size
Easy assembly
Attractive pattern
What We Don't Like
Tilt mechanism unclear
What We Like
Large size
Easy assembly
Attractive pattern
What We Don't Like
Tilt mechanism unclear
Style: Cantilever | Size: 11 feet | Weight: 15 pounds | Coverage Area: 6-chair table | Tilt: Yes | Materials: Not listed
Best 10-Foot Umbrella: Pure Garden 10 ft Patio Umbrella
This affordable 10-foot umbrella is well-made and easy to use.
Full Review: Pure Garden Aluminum Patio Umbrella Provides Cheap Shade
What We Like
Lightweight
Ample shade
Easy cleanup
What We Don't Like
Base not included
Tilt button too high on frame
What We Like
Lightweight
Ample shade
Easy cleanup
What We Don't Like
Base not included
Tilt button too high on frame
Style: Standard | Size: 10 feet | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Coverage Area: 4-to-6-chair table | Tilt: Yes | Materials: Alloy steel frame, olefin canopy
Best with Lights: Blissun 9’ Lighted Patio Umbrella
This surprisingly light umbrella can add a twinkle to nighttime festivities.
What We Like
Lightweight but sturdy
Good value
LED lights with eight-hour run time
What We Don't Like
Not completely opaque
What We Like
Lightweight but sturdy
Good value
LED lights with eight-hour run time
What We Don't Like
Not completely opaque
Style: Standard | Size: 9 feet | Weight: 16 pounds | Coverage Area: 4-chair table | Tilt: Yes | Materials: Alloy-steel frame, polyester canopy
Best Design: Safavieh Milan Fringe 9-Foot Crank Outdoor Auto Tilt Umbrella
This 9-foot patio umbrella has fun detailing and it's easy to use.
What We Like
Keeps still in wind
Ample shade
Easy to set up
What We Don't Like
Expensive
What We Like
Keeps still in wind
Ample shade
Easy to set up
What We Don't Like
Expensive
Style: Standard | Size: 9 feet | Weight: 12 pounds | Coverage Area: 4-chair table | Tilt: Yes | Materials: Hardwood frame, polyester canopy
Final Verdict
After spending hours in a bright, sun-drenched day testing 28 patio umbrellas in The Lab, our overall top choice is the EliteShade Sunumbrella 9-foot 3-Tier Market Umbrella, which we gave top marks for its ease of assembly; sturdiness and durability; one-hand crank and one-button tilt mechanism; and water resistance. For a budget-friendly alternative, we recommend the Better Homes and Gardens 9 Foot Round Patio Umbrella. We liked its easy-clean material and its seven color choices, which would blend well with virtually any outdoor decor.
The Spruce / Dera Burreson
How We Tested the Outdoor Patio Umbrellas
On a scorching-hot sunshiny day in mid-May, we tested 28 patio umbrellas in The Spruce’s outdoor Lab in Des Moines, Iowa.
First, we assembled the umbrellas on tables we hauled outdoors, checking for ease of following the manufacturer’s directions and how quickly the umbrella went from uncrating to deployment. Next, we opened the umbrellas, judging how easy it was for an average person to accomplish, based on the product’s design. That gave us a good opportunity to assess each umbrella on how easy it was to adjust, rotate or tilt, and whether that offered better shade or cover. Since many work-from-home employees elect to use their decks or patios as an “outdoor office,” we set up laptops and reported how well the umbrella covered the area, so the screen could be seen.
We then took a step back to consider each umbrella’s overall sturdiness, including the covering and frame, as well as its attractiveness. Finally, we intentionally stained each umbrella with artificial "bird doo" and reported how easily the goo cleaned up, and whether it could be machine-washed, if necessary. After we closed each umbrella, reporting the ease of doing so. Finally, we gave each a value-based score, determining whether the price was justified.
In addition to our standard in-lab testing, we also conducted long-term home testing in order to see how the umbrellas held up over time, checking in after one month, three months, and six months. For long-term testing, we chose 12 top-performing umbrellas and sent them to our own team members' houses to note how they performed in real-world situations. We considered each umbrella's long-term durability and noted how it has enhanced if at all, our day-to-day lives. We also considered how often we used the patio umbrellas and whether or not they have improved our outdoor spaces as a whole.
The Spruce / Lara Antal
What to Look For in an Outdoor Patio Umbrella
Construction
A standard patio umbrella consists of a canopy, often made of an outdoor UV-resistant fabric (Sunbrella, which is used for products like the Sol 72 Outdoor Kellie 108'' Market Sunbrella Umbrella, is the most common brand); and a frame, which can be wood, fiberglass, or, most commonly, aluminum. Most canopies are round, but we have been seeing rectangular ones as well, which are a better choice for rectangular tables. Wood is the most attractive (and the costliest) frame material, but if you regularly experience severe thunderstorms, fiberglass or aluminum are better choices. Compared with aluminum, fiberglass is lightweight, flexible, non-corrosive, and holds up to weather.
Type
Patio umbrellas come in different types, for different uses. The most common type is inserted into a hole in your table and held in place by a stand (generally not included with the umbrella). While the most common canopy shape is round, you also can find market umbrellas (like the EliteShade Sunumbrella Market Umbrella, our best overall choice), which are octagonal and cantilever umbrellas (like the Best Choice Products Offset Hanging Market Patio Umbrella), which arch over the table and get their support from a stand placed a short distance away.
Size
Most patio umbrellas measure anywhere from 5 to 11 feet in diameter. Generally, an 11-foot umbrella–like the Hampton Bay 11 ft. Aluminum Cantilever Outdoor Patio Umbrella–comfortably shades a table seating four to six adults. If you're not sure what type or size of patio umbrella to purchase, you can read our guide for picking out a patio umbrella.
Mechanics
To open and close their canopies, most patio umbrellas operate with cranks, which require a human to turn. Locking mechanisms, such as a pin, keep it open. Higher-priced models may accomplish this with pushbuttons. Other models employ pulley systems, which can be harder to handle. If you intend to keep your umbrella open all season, a pulley type may suffice. But if you need to close your umbrella—in case of high wind, for example, which can send an umbrella soaring—opt for the crank.
Maintenance
Open patio umbrellas are sitting ducks for flying ducks—and other birds to remind you of their presence. Consider how easy it is to clean the canopy, whether by simply spraying with a garden hose or by needing more extensive cleaning, perhaps with a sponge and soapy water. Don't use a power washer or any harsh chemicals, as the fibers holding the canopy together may give way, warns Deborah Young, a textile expert, author, and instructor of textile science. Frames can gunk up as well; you can clean most with a damp cloth. "If you're looking for durability and longevity, give it [your umbrella] a rest," says Young. "Close it up and even put it away when not in use—it will simply last longer."
The Spruce / Dera Burreson
Frequently Asked Questions
Which style of patio umbrella is best?
This depends on your outdoor area and how you intend to use the umbrella. If you have a table that can accept a patio umbrella through an included hole, your choices can include any type that installs in this manner. If your table doesn’t have an access hole, or if you’re wanting to shade an area apart from a table, opt for a cantilever umbrella, which you can position nearby.
What do I need to set up a patio umbrella?
All you need is an outdoor area to be shaded! Many outdoor tables include holes to insert umbrella poles. Some standard patio umbrellas include a base to anchor the pole, but not all do; bases sold separately can cost from $45 to $100. If your outdoor seating area doesn’t include a table, opt for a cantilever umbrella, which you can place anywhere but requires a flat surface to prevent it from falling over.
What kind of fabric should a patio umbrella canopy be made of?
Canopy fabric should be lightweight enough to transport easily yet sturdy to resist heavy rain and wind. It should be easy to clean and opaque to mask out most of the sun. You also can purchase a patio umbrella made with UV-resistant material. "Anything made of polyester, acrylic, or olefin are good outdoor choices," Young says. "Nylon, although it has superior strength and is known for its light weight, does not do well left out in the sun."
Why Trust The Spruce?
Ira Lacher is the Senior Editor for Garden, Outdoor and Home Improvement at The Spruce, and has written and edited articles about outdoor products for a number of publications over a number of years. For this article, he was on hand at The Lab in Des Moines, Iowa, where over 28 products underwent thorough testing. Emma Phelps, an associate editor for The Spruce, updated this roundup to include long-term testing insights. Phelps also reached out to Deborah Young, a textile expert, author, and instructor of textile science, for additional insight into the best umbrella canopy fabrics.
What Is The Spruce Approved?
Here at The Spruce, we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally, we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut.
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