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
This patio umbrella has an easy-to-assemble design that consists of two screw-in pole pieces with a power-coated finish for added rust and wear resistance. It’s available in four vibrant solid colors and two sizes to customize the look of your outdoor space.
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
This 7.5-foot umbrella from Sunnyglade has an alloy steel frame supported by a lightweight aluminum pole. The frame and pole weigh less than seven pounds total, making the umbrella easy to move around your patio.
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
This nine-foot umbrella has a durable polyester canopy with 24 built-in lights. These lights are solar-powered, preventing the need for a cord or battery, and they can illuminate your outdoor area for up to six hours.
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
This patio umbrella comes with a wheeled base that’s filled with water and sand for sturdiness and portability. This umbrella also has an 11-foot diameter, giving you plenty of shade for you and your family members or friends to sit under.
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
This nine-foot patio umbrella from EliteShade is designed to complement your existing outdoor decor with over 10 color options, including black, burgundy, green, and yellow. It also includes a strap for securing the canopy when it’s not in use and a push button for adjusting the angle of the canopy.
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.
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. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
