We may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.
If you’re looking for a patio umbrella to complement your current outdoor decor and to add some shade to your patio seating, the This Old House Reviews Team is here to help. We researched the best patio umbrellas on Amazon and created a buyer’s guide to help you select a model that’s right for your outdoor space. Here are our top recommendations for patio umbrellas.
Top 5 Patio Umbrellas
- Most Customizable Umbrella: Abba Patio Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella
- Best Lightweight Umbrella: Sunnyglade 7.5-Foot Patio Umbrella
- Best Lighted Umbrella: Sunnyglade Nine-Foot LED-Lighted Patio Umbrella
- Best Coverage: Grand Patio Deluxe Curvy Aluminum Offset Umbrella
- Best Color Options: EliteShade Sunbrella Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella
Most Customizable Umbrella
Abba Patio Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella
- $49.99
- $54.99
- 9% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Nine-foot reach
- Polyester canopy
- Metal pole
- Steel frame
- Six ribs
- 13.23-pound weight
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked how easy this umbrella was to assemble. They also called out the crank system that opened, closed, and adjusted the angle of the umbrella and the vent that allowed for airflow. However, some customers said that the umbrella blew over or the pole snapped in extreme weather.
Best Lightweight Umbrella
Sunnyglade 7.5-Foot Patio Umbrella
- $43.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 7.5-foot reach
- Fabric canopy
- Aluminum pole
- Steel frame
- Six ribs
- 6.6-pound weight
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that the umbrella was easy to move and store because of its lightweight design and small size. They also said that its canopy didn’t fade in the sun. However, a handful of customers said that small wind gusts caused the umbrella’s pole to snap.
Best Lighted Umbrella
Sunnyglade Nine-Foot LED-Lighted Patio Umbrella
- $72.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Nine-foot reach
- Polyester canopy
- Aluminum pole
- Steel frame
- Eight ribs
- 15.17-pound weight
- 24 LED rib lights
What Customers Are Saying
Most customers liked how easy the umbrella was to assemble and operate and how it elevated the look of their patio setup. Dissatisfied customers either said that the lights stopped working or the pole dented during extreme storms.
Best Coverage
Grand Patio Deluxe Curvy Aluminum Offset Umbrella
- $349.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- 11-foot reach
- Polyester canopy
- Aluminum pole and frame
- Eight ribs
- Wheeled base
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers were impressed with this umbrella’s top-quality materials and parts and its luxurious look. A few reviews mentioned that the umbrella fell over easily. However, this can be avoided by filling the base with the manufacturer’s recommended amount of sand and water.
Best Color Options
EliteShade Sunbrella Nine-Foot Patio Umbrella
- $179.95
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Nine-foot reach
- Sunbrella canopy
- Aluminum pole and frame
- Eight ribs
- 13.7-pound weight
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers mentioned the high quality, affordable price, and ease of installation as reasons for why they picked and enjoyed this umbrella. However, some customers said that the crank was difficult to operate. Others were skeptical that the canopy was really made with Sunbrella fabric because it faded or ripped quickly.
Buyer’s Guide
Before buying a patio umbrella, it’s important to understand how each model’s specifications and design impact its user experience. Here are four factors to consider when making a purchase.
Size
The size of a patio umbrella is measured by the diameter of its canopy, with bigger canopies casting shade over a larger area. For example, the Sunnyglade 7.5-Foot Patio Umbrella is large enough to cover a small table with three or four chairs. Umbrellas with larger diameters like the 11-foot Grand Patio Deluxe Curvy Aluminum Offset Umbrella can cover larger tables or couches that seat at least five people.
Adjustments
Most patio umbrellas have adjustable and collapsible canopies. Most models have a crank handle for closing the umbrella and a push button for making angle adjustments.
Material
Most patio umbrellas are built with alloy steel frames and aluminum poles. This balances durability and portability because the steel is heavy-duty, and the aluminum is rust-resistant and lightweight. The canopies of patio umbrellas are usually made of polyester. This fabric is a popular choice because of its UV- and fade-resistant qualities.
Additional Features
Many patio umbrellas offer additional features to improve their functionality. For example, the Grand Patio Deluxe Curvy Aluminum Offset Umbrella includes a wheeled base that can be filled with water and sand to prevent the umbrella from falling during strong winds and other inclement weather. Other umbrellas like the Sunnyglade Nine-Foot LED-Lighted Patio Umbrella are lined with LED lights to illuminate your outdoor area and increase visibility at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a steel or aluminum patio umbrella better?
Both steel and aluminum have their benefits, which is why most patio umbrellas include a mix of these materials. Steel umbrellas are durable, but they aren’t as rust-resistant as their aluminum counterparts. Aluminum umbrellas, while lightweight and resistant to rust, are typically more prone to falling over from gusts of wind than steel umbrellas.
Where should I place my patio umbrella?
Patio umbrellas should be placed where they provide maximum protection for you and your outdoor guests. Popular placements include in the umbrella hole of a patio table or in an umbrella stand between patio furniture to cover places where individuals sit. Most models also tilt to adjust their coverage.
Can I leave my patio umbrella outside?
While many patio umbrellas are built with weather-resistant materials, consider placing your umbrella under a covered area when it’s not in use to extend its lifespan.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.