The 8 Best Outdoor Patio Umbrellas of 2020

• 01 of 08

  Best Overall: Boracay 10-Foot Square Cantilever Umbrella

  

  Buy on Wayfair

  

  One of the best outdoor patio umbrellas on the market is the Boracay 10 Foot Square Cantilever Umbrella, which features an impressive 10-foot canopy. While most patio umbrellas are either circular or octagonal, this one features a 9 x 9 foot square canopy that will shield you from the sun and rain.

  This cantilever-style umbrella includes a heavy plastic base, and it’s the perfect size and shape to cover an outdoor dining table. The canopy is made from polyester fabric that’s weather-resistant and it can be wiped clean if necessary. Open and close the umbrella with the crank lift, and use the manual tilt to adjust the angle of the canopy to ensure that you're always sitting in the shade.

  Customers agree that this is a great looking umbrella that provides plenty of shade. Both the beige and blue lavender color look attractive in person, although some customers noted the blue lavender is lighter than pictured. Another bonus? This umbrella is easy to assemble.

• 02 of 08

  Runner-Up, Best Overall: Abba Patio Outdoor Market Umbrella

  Excellent

  Buy on Amazon

  

  One of the best products you can buy today is the Abba Patio Outdoor Patio Umbrella. This model comes in both 7.5- and 9-foot diameter options, and you can choose from eight fun colors to match your decor. The umbrella is made from recycled polyester and is fade-resistant and water-repelling. Plus, it provides UV protection from the sun’s harmful rays and features a vented canopy for better airflow.

  The umbrella is mounted on a rust-free aluminum pole with a 1.5 inch diameter, and it features a crank mechanism to open and close. You can even tilt the umbrella with the push of a button. Reviewers say these umbrellas from Abba Patio are durable and colorfast—many write they’ve owned the umbrella for several years and it still looks and works great.

  Abba Patio 9-Foot Umbrella With Crank and Push Button Tilt Review

  For more outdoor decor inspiration, check out our list of the best patio furniture.

• 03 of 08

  Best Cantilever: Hampton Bay 11 ft. LED Round Offset Patio Umbrella

  

  Excellent

  Buy on Home Depot

  

  When you think of an umbrella, you probably picture a canopy with a pole in the middle. However, there are also cantilever umbrellas, where the pole is on the side and has an arm that the canopy hangs off of. These are also called “offset” umbrellas, and one of the best options you can get is the Hampton Bay LED Round Offset Patio Umbrella.

  While on the more expensive side, this cantilever umbrella delivers every feature you could ever want. The canopy has a whopping 11-foot diameter, and you can choose from five classic colors. The canopy is supported by eight steel ribs, and there are 40 solar-powered lights on the underside for nighttime relaxation.

  The product comes with a base, so you don’t have to buy it separately, and the pole is made from steel and features a crank-lift system, as well as manual tilt options. Reviewers say this cantilever umbrella from Hampton Bay is quite heavy and sturdy, and many love that its 11-foot canopy provides ample shade on even the hottest days. 

  Hampton Bay 11 ft. LED Offset Solar Umbrella Review
• 04 of 08

  Best Large: Le Papillon Outdoor Double-Sided 15-Foot Umbrella

  Very Good

  Buy on Amazon

  

  If you’re looking for a super-sized patio umbrella to shade a large group, then the Le Papillon Outdoor Double-Sided 15-Foot Umbrella is the perfect solution.

  As the name implies, there are two sides to this umbrella that together create a canopy spanning 14.7 feet across. To support the weight of this extra large canopy, this umbrella boasts 12 steel ribs and a 2-inch wide support pole. As with many other umbrellas, this one features a crank to open and close it. Note that you’ll need to anchor this umbrella in a base with anywhere from 40 to 80 pounds (depending on whether the umbrella is used with a table or freestanding).

  This double-sided umbrella is the perfect umbrella to shade a large rectangular patio table or give your outdoor furniture set some much-needed coverage. People rave about the quality and construction of this umbrella, saying it competes with higher-end umbrellas in the $500 or more range.

  Le Papillon 15-Foot Double-Sided Market Outdoor Umbrella Review

  If you're looking for even more coverage, check out our guide to the best gazebos.

  Continue to 5 of 8 below.
• 05 of 08

  Best Budget: Mainstays 9 ft. Outdoor Market Umbrella

  

  Buy on Walmart

  

  Not sure if you'll get enough use out of an umbrella for your patio? You can test the waters with a budget option like the Mainstays Outdoor Market Umbrella. This affordable product has a 9-foot diameter and the polyester canopy comes in seven bright colors and prints. It’s mounted on a steel frame with a dark brown finish, and the canopy is supported by eight ribs for extra durability.

  You can open and close this umbrella with its crank handle, and you can adjust the angle with the convenient three-way tilt. Reviewers say the Mainstays Outdoor Market Umbrella is large and sturdy, making it the perfect covering for any outdoor space. Plus, many note it’s an unbeatable value, as you’ll often pay double the price for umbrellas of lesser quality.

  Looking for more outdoor furniture but not sure where to score the best deals? Read through our list of the best places to buy patio furniture.

• 06 of 08

  Best for Wind: Pure Garden 9-Foot Aluminum Patio Umbrella

  

  Buy on Target

  

  If you’re not careful, your patio umbrella might go flying on windy days. While any umbrella might take off in a strong wind, you can minimize your risk with a product like the Pure Garden Aluminum Patio Umbrella, which has a wind-resistant design. This product includes a wind vent on the 9-foot canopy that reduces the risk of it flying away, and the canopy is supported by eight heavy-duty ribs.

  This patio umbrella comes in four bright colors, and it features a deluxe crank-lift system that you use to raise the canopy. You can either place it in an anchored base or use it as a freestanding umbrella if you want to take it to the beach. There’s no tilt option, but reviewers say it’s made of a thick, high-quality material and is quite easy to use.

• 07 of 08

  Best with Lights: Best Choice Products 10ft Solar Powered LED Lighted Patio Umbrella

  

  Buy on Walmart

  

  One cool feature of modern patio umbrellas is the addition of solar lights strung along the underside of the canopy. Products like the Best Choice Products 10ft Solar Powered LED Lighted Patio Umbrella include lights that draw power from the sun, allowing you to switch them on at night to create a relaxing outdoor retreat. This particular umbrella has 24 LED lights that can be turned on and off from a handy switch on the pole. The lights have a run time of six to seven hours after a full charge.

  The 10-foot canopy is made from waterproof and UV-resistant material, and it can be opened with the crank handle. It even includes a tilt-system that allows you to adjust the shade!

  For more backyard ambiance, take a peek at some of the best outdoor string lights that you can buy.

• 08 of 08

  Best Base: Abba Patio 50 lbs Round Patio Umbrella Base

  Buy on AmazonBuy on Walmart

  

  Most patio umbrellas are designed to be mounted in an umbrella base and are typically sold separately. If you need a base to go with your new umbrella, you should look at the Abba Patio 50 lb Round Patio Umbrella Base. This base is made from recycled plastic and is compatible with patio umbrellas with 1.5 inch and 2 inch poles and up to an 11-foot canopy.

  To provide additional stability, you can fill this umbrella stand with water or sand, creating a solid 50-pound base that anchors your umbrella. Reviewers say that it’s incredibly well-made and keeps umbrellas in place—even on windy days.

Products Tested by The Spruce

How We Tested

We bought three top-rated outdoor patio umbrellas and our reviewers tested them by setting them up and using them for days at a time. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using these umbrellas, from size and style to their operating mechanisms. We’ve outlined the key takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in an Outdoor Patio Umbrella

Size Patio umbrellas come in a wide range of sizes—some cover just a single chair, while others are large enough to cover a table for four or more. A 5-foot umbrella is suitable for four people and a 7-foot umbrella provides enough shade for six. If you need something to accommodate eight or more, consider an 11-foot umbrella. 

Mechanism There are three different options for lifting an outdoor patio umbrella: manual, crank, and pulley. Manual umbrellas require a little more work to lock the canopy into place and can be challenging for shorter people to operate. Crank umbrellas are easier to operate by turning a lever. Pulley umbrellas are the most convenient—simply pull a rope to raise and lower the canopy.

Fabric Sunbrella is the most popular material for outdoor patio umbrellas because it’s durable, as well as stain- and weather-resistant. Other commonly used material includes canvas, acrylic, polyester, and olefin.

Test Results: Abba Patio Outdoor Market Umbrella (Best Overall)

Excellent

Buy on Amazon

What We Like

• Classic Look

• Wide range of colors

• Fade-resistant fabric

• Easy to tilt

What We Don't Like

• Steel ribs aren’t as flexible as fiberglass

• Fabric not as durable as other options

• Only tilts to 45 degrees

Our tester liked this umbrella’s “classic look” and that it was large enough to shade a six-person table. She also thought its tilt function was “easy to use and comes in handy.” Although she liked that its fabric was “made from solution-dyed fibers so it'll resist fading for several summers,” she also noted that it wasn’t quite as durable as Sunbrella. Other negatives were that its coated aluminum pole and steel arms “can bend or break in very high winds” and that it doesn't come with a base.

Test Results: Hampton Bay 11 ft. LED Round Offset Patio Umbrella (Best Cantilever)

Excellent

Buy on Home Depot

What We Like

• Olefin fabric canopy resists fading for years

• Very sturdy and durably built

• Canopy can rotate 360 degrees

What We Don't Like

• Very hard to move when assembled

• Base takes up a large footprint

“This umbrella is really attractive and makes a statement,” raved our tester, who also thought that it was durable and that its cantilever system was easy to use. In terms of downsides, she noted its large size: “The base has a big footprint and is not mobile, so the umbrella has to stay wherever it's set up,” she explained. “Also, the canopy is great at blocking the sun, but that also means it blocks the stars and treetops.”

Test Results: Le Papillon Outdoor Double-Sided 14-Foot Umbrella (Best Large)

Very Good

Buy on Amazon

What We Like

• Large size provides tons of shade

• Classic style and color

• Portable and easily stored

What We Don't Like

• Needs a special base that’s sold separately

• Fabric not as fade-resistant as other brands

• Wide pole doesn’t fit all tables

Our tester loved that this umbrella shades a very large area but “folds up into a compact form so it doesn't take up much room in storage.” Its “classic look” was another plus because it “goes with most backyard decor.” Its main drawback, she said, was that it requires an additional base “that can be nearly as expensive as the umbrella itself.” She also said its materials could have felt more durable.