10 Patio Umbrellas That'll Make Your Back Yard Feel Like a Chic Resort

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These days, outdoor entertaining and lounging spaces such patios and poolside decks are just as covetable as luxurious interior spaces. Where better to host friends and family for meals than at a beautiful outdoor dining set—or to catch up on reading than poolside on a comfortable pool lounge chair?

One essential element you’ll want to carefully consider when furnishing your patio or pool deck is a patio umbrella. After all, nothing kills a beautiful day outside faster than a lack of shade. With the right patio umbrella, you’ll be able to shade your outdoor dining table or outdoor lounge chairs for hours of al fresco comfort. (Say goodbye to squinting across the table or to read the words on your page!)

Patio umbrellas are not just useful outdoor furniture items; they can make quite a strong style statement, punching up patios and poolside decks with bright color, lively pattern, and decorative details. “I love a good patio umbrella, and these days you can get stripes, scallops, fringe—whatever style suits you,” says interior designer Elizabeth Lawrence of Williams Lawrence. Plus, a beautiful patio umbrella will beckon you to venture outside. “I love looking out to a veranda or porch with an open umbrella. It invites you to bring your work or book outside,” says interior designer Tammy Connor.

Here are the best patio umbrellas you can buy in 2024, with tips to keep in mind while shopping from interior designers around the country.

Aruba Daydreams 9' Patio Umbrella

This octagonal patio umbrella’s blue-and-green striped canopy will give any outdoor lounge area cabana vibes. We especially love the stylish finishing touches, from the marquis valence and green braid trim to the silver powder-coated finish on the aluminum pole and base. The best part? The base has hidden wheels for easy repositioning throughout the day.

The Supreme Wooden

Why stop the party after the sun goes down? With Midtown Umbrellas’ Supreme Wooden Patio Umbrella’s LED lighted ribs, you don’t have to! The eight solar-powered aluminum lighted ribs are dimmable and the umbrella features tilt and swivel mechanisms for versatile shading. A foot pedal at the base allows for easy rotation.

Sullivan 108" Patio Umbrella

You may not see it at first glance, what with its tassels and scalloped trim and all, but this octagonal umbrella with a pulley lift mechanism is our top pick for those shopping for sturdiness first and foremost. With an (included!) stainless steel base that can be secured onto your patio surface with screws and a powder-coated iron pole, the Sullivan umbrella is sure to stand up to powerful winds. And its Sunbrella canopy will stand up to sun, water, mildew and mold.

Iago 108" x 108" Octagonal Market Umbrella

You’d be hard pressed to find better value in a patio umbrella than the Birch Lane lago 108” Market Tilt Umbrella. Available in nine in-stock colorways, the octagonal umbrella features a stylish double-scallop skirt, an easy to use crank mechanism, and a manuel tilt mechanism. And even though it boasts a 9’ diameter, the patio umbrella weighs only just over 13 pounds.

Altura Cantilever Umbrella with Base

With this extra large cantilever patio umbrella, you’ll never find yourself asking: Will we have enough shade? At 13 square feet and hovering ten feet high, this canopy will help a dinner party of eight keep its cool through sunset. Better still, with 360 degree swivel capabilities as well as a tilt mechanism, this patio umbrella will shade your space as the sun moves throughout the day—and year.

Alicante Tassel Umbrella

Cue the Fergie song: this patio umbrella is sure to bring the G-L-A-M-O-U-R to any poolside setting. We love how the pagoda-style canopy is embellished with two tiers of tassels. And, just when you fall for the fabulousness of the canopy color and design, you’ll want to consider the base. Although sold separately, it's weighted to keep your umbrella securely in place on windier days.

Levante Rectangular Bamboo Umbrella

Bambrella’s Levante Rectangular Bamboo Umbrella features classic style with contemporary durability. Simple in its design featuring turned bamboo components, a pole, and finial and a rectangular in ten striking shades, this umbrella will not only stand up to the elements but also transcend trends. We’re particularly smitten with the red canopy color for a timeless look.

Obidos Vintage-Cotton Parasol

At VERANDA, nothing makes our heart beat faster than one-of-a-kind furnishings, especially those made by hand using vintage and antique materials. Enter Sunbeam Jackie, the Cornwall, England-based studio crafting parasols from upcycled textiles, hand-oiled ash frames, and stainless steel mechanisms fused and polished by a local marine welder. All textiles used in the umbrella canopies are collectible pieces from brands like Liberty, William Morris, Sanderson, Marimekko, and Designers Guild, making the umbrellas works of art.

Double-Sided Market Rectangle Umbrella

Thanks to its long configuration, this double-sided market umbrella is ideal for long dining tables or to shade lounge seating areas featuring outdoor sectionals or outdoor sofas and outdoor lounge chairs. And while a 13-foot long umbrella might seem difficult or awkward to manage, this one is a cinch thanks to its crank handle lift system. We love this green canopy hue for mimicking the feeling of lounging under a tree canopy in your own backyard.

Business & Pleasure Co. Amalfi Umbrella

Who says luxurious lounging has to cost an arm and a leg? Available in four versatile colorways, this push-up patio umbrella will stylishly shade a pair of chairs or a small dining set for a fraction of the cost of many of its competitors. The best part? Weighing only 12 pounds, it’s fairly easy to transport to the beach or stow away inside.

What do designers look for when sourcing patio umbrellas?

Size

When considering what size patio umbrella to purchase, you’ll want to know what size of coverage area you need, advises Connor. You’ll also want to consider how much sunlight the area typically gets at the time of day, and time of year, you plan to use the space, she says. For shading tables, Connor says patio umbrella canopies should extend at least two feet beyond the edge of a table on each side. “This offers enough coverage that no one gets left squinting in the ‘sunny spot’ when dining al fresco,” she says.

When evaluating umbrella size, you’ll also want to consider weight and mobility as the position of the sun changes throughout the day as well as the year. “If you have a base on wheels, it’s easier to move the umbrella into a position that helps based on where the sun is hitting your seating arrangement,” says Connor. “That said, you want to make sure the base is weighted so the umbrella is sturdy and won’t topple over in the wind.” Adds Tracey Jones of Montage International: “You’ll want to ensure your patio umbrellas are vented and weighted to avoid lifting.”

Type and Shape

The best patio umbrella type and shape depends upon its use. The most common type of patio umbrella is known as a market umbrella and is supported by a straight pole that stands in a base (which is not always sold with the umbrella itself); it can feature a square, round, or octagonal canopy. A tilt umbrella also features a pole at the center of the canopy but includes a mechanism that allows you to change the angle of the canopy, thereby adjusting the shade cast. A cantilever umbrella is supported by a pole at the side of the canopy rather than the center, creating an unobstructed shaded area.

Style is an important factor for designers when selecting patio umbrellas clients as all agree they make a big impact in any outdoor space. Connor tends to prefer rectangular or hexagonal canopy shapes. “They provide more visual interest,” she says, adding, “Rectangular canopies are generally better when you need more coverage.”

Materials

The three most common types of patio umbrella pole materials are wood, aluminum, and steel—and each offer pros and cons. If you opt for wood, be sure to select a wood species like teak or cedar that will weather the elements well. Aluminum poles are lightweight and will not rust; steel poles are strong and durable, but will require periodic oiling for protection from moisture.

As for canopy materials, designers tend to select them the same way they approach outdoor cushions materials. “We like outdoor fabrics that are fade-resistant and mildew-resistant. You want a canopy that can withstand the elements, whether it’s sunshine, which can really fade a colored umbrella or rain showers, which can leave umbrellas mildew-y and dirty if they aren’t able to dry out properly,” says Connor.

Mechanics

The most common types of patio umbrella mechanics for opening the canopies are crank, push-up (which works similarly to how you open a rain umbrella), or pulley. Crank mechanisms tend to be easiest for most people to maneuver. The most common type of locking mechanism is a pin; some umbrellas lock into place with buttons.

Maintenance

Designers maintain patio umbrellas are relatively easy to maintain. “During the primary season—and as long as there aren’t heavy storms or extreme weather—you can leave them open to air to minimize moisture retention,” says Connor. Jones and Lawrence agree, and recommend storing them inside during the off season.

Meet our experts.

• Tammy Connor is an interior designer based in Charleston, South Carolina, and Birmingham, Alabama.

• Tracey Jones is a senior director of Capital Planning & Design Management for Montage International, a luxury hospitality management company.

• Elizabeth Lawrence is an interior designer and a principal at Williams Lawrence, a New York City design firm.

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