We Tested 28 of the Best Patio Umbrellas—and These 9 Resisted Stains, Fading, and Weather Damage

Best Overall

EliteShade 9Ft 3-Tier Market Umbrella

View On Amazon $220 View On Lowe's $209 View On Home Depot $221

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Size
  5/5

Our testers loved how stylish and easy to use the EliteShade Sunbrella Three-Tier Market umbrella was during our tests, giving it a perfect score in almost every category. Since it's made with an aluminum rust-resistant frame and covered with a fade-resistant fabric, it's sturdy enough to withstand wind, rain, and sun exposure without becoming damaged.

When spraying the umbrella with water, we found that moisture dries easily from the fabric top in under 10 minutes, so you won't have to wait long to use this umbrella after a rain shower. We also found that it was super easy to wipe stains like bird poop off of the fabric, so the umbrella will stay in good condition without a ton of elbow grease.

The canopy is adjustable, meaning you can raise and lower this umbrella with an easy-to use crank, and tilt it to block the sun with the press of a button. Our testers gave it a perfect score for its ease of use, saying they could adjust it with just one hand. Since many other umbrellas we tested required a bit of muscle to open and close, this was a huge selling point for us.

Plus, despite the gaps between each tier in the umbrella's UV-resistant top, it blocked the sun seamlessly and didn't leak any water onto the table below when sprayed with a hose to simulate rain. We found that even in full sunlight, our testers could easily use their laptops without having to adjust the brightness at all.

When open, this patio umbrella is 9 feet in diameter, making it large enough to cover a table with five chairs comfortably. It also comes in an 11-foot size, which is a great option if you need an umbrella that fits more than five people beneath it at a time. Just keep in mind that you'll need to purchase an umbrella base separately, as this doesn't come with one.

"Even though it is light-colored fabric, it doesn't let the sunlight pass through, so I can happily sit outside during full sun without overheating or getting burned," our long-term tester said. "The fabric of this umbrella also holds up well in full sunlight and against rain."

Product Details:

Dimensions: 8.3 feet tall x 9 feet wide | Materials: Aluminum and acrylic fabric | Color Options: 14

Best Budget

Mainstays 9-Foot Outdoor Tilt Market Patio Umbrella

View On Walmart $50

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Size
  4/5

If you're upgrading your outdoor patio on a budget, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the quality or appearance of your space. We found that the Mainstays Outdoor Tilt Market umbrella was one of the best patio umbrellas we tested, and it outperformed competitors that cost hundreds more.

In particular, our testers found that the Mainstays umbrella was super easy to assemble and took less than 20 seconds to install in a base and crank open. When sitting beneath it, we discovered that it provided excellent shade from the sun, and we didn't need to worry about adjusting the brightness on our laptops.

To open and close the umbrella, simply use the hand crank. If you need to tilt it to provide better shade, you'll need to pinch a clasp near the top of the pole and then guide the umbrella to the angle you want. Our tester noted that the umbrella was a little heavy to maneuver, but overall, tilting the umbrella wasn't too difficult.

The manufacturer doesn't mention anything about UV protection, and we noticed a slight sheen when looking up through the fabric at the sun, so we recommend wearing sunscreen even when sitting beneath this umbrella. However, it kept our testers quite cool when sitting under it, and the fade-resistant fabric effectively blocked water from seeping through or dripping.

After spilling fake bird poop on top of the patio umbrella, we found that it was quite easy to wipe clean with a mild detergent, so you won't have to scrub at the fabric to keep your umbrella in top condition. It's even large enough to fit up to six chairs at a time, so there's plenty of space for your whole family.

"This umbrella is very lightweight and takes minimal effort to relocate," our long-term tester said. "We mainly use it on our deck to shade the seating area, but I've also moved the umbrella to provide shade while I'm potting plants or grilling. It goes up and down smoothly, and it has shown zero wear and tear."

Product Details:

Dimensions: 8 feet tall x 9 feet wide | Materials: Steel and polyester | Color Options: One

Best Weather-Resistant

Sol 72 Outdoor Kellie Sunbrella Umbrella

View On Wayfair $180

No matter where you live, it's important to invest in long-lasting patio furniture that can withstand wind, rain, and other unexpected weather conditions without getting damaged. We found Sol 72 Outdoor's Kellie Market Sunbrella Umbrella to be the best weather-resistant patio umbrella because of its durable, high-quality materials and heavy design.

Our testers were immediately impressed by the materials used to make this patio umbrella. Unlike many of the models we tested, which were made from flimsy plastic or aluminum, the powder-coated metal pole is designed to be resistant to wind, rust, and weather. This means the next time there's a thunderstorm in your neighborhood, you won't have to worry about your umbrella getting damaged or dragged across the yard.

You'll be able to open and close this umbrella using a simple hand crank, and you can tilt it by pushing a button to adjust the shade. Our tester noted that this umbrella was slightly heavier than others when trying to adjust it, which spoke to the quality of the materials it's built from.

Additionally, we loved the weather-resistant Sunbrella fabric, which effectively blocked the sun while resisting water, fading, and even ultraviolet rays. We found that it was large enough to cover a table with four to six chairs around it, making it great for dinners on the patio. Plus, it has thick straps to secure the canopy flat when storing it during the winter months.

Our only concern with this patio umbrella is its stain resistance; when we spilled faux bird poop on the navy blue Sunbrella fabric, we found that it was quite easy to scrub off, but a bit of residue remained visible if you looked closely. We'd recommend regularly cleaning off the top of this patio umbrella to prevent stains from developing.

After testing this patio umbrella in her yard for an entire month, our long-term tester was very impressed by its durability, but warns that it's best to take this umbrella down during strong winds.

"The Kellie Market Umbrella is very easy to open and close, and the color has not faded. For the most part, it has held up in storms and the hot sun," she said. "However, during a particularly big wind storm, the umbrella was lifted out of the table and tossed onto our patio, knocking over our lights and flowers. Nothing broke, so it was okay, but I would recommend taking the umbrella down during a storm."

Product Details:

Dimensions: 8 feet tall x 9 feet wide | Materials: Aluminum and Sunbrella performance fabric | Color Options: Two

Best Cantilever

Hampton Bay 11-Foot Solar LED Offset Outdoor Patio Umbrella

View On Amazon $450 View On Home Depot $599

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Size
  4/5

If your outdoor space is drenched in sunlight, purchasing a cantilever patio umbrella can make it easier to provide shade protection to a bigger surface area in your yard. This is because the best cantilever umbrellas rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to move the shade from one part of your deck to another as the sun moves.

Our favorite cantilever umbrella is the Hampton Bay Aluminum Solar LED Outdoor patio umbrella, which offers an 11-foot canopy to keep even large tables and patio furniture sets in the shade. The top is made from weather- and fade-resistant polyester that was super easy to clean stains out of, allowing it to last through multiple seasons of use without showing its age.

We discovered that it effectively blocked the sunlight, providing UV protection and keeping our testers cool beneath it during testing. When we doused the top of the umbrella with a simulated rain shower, the water droplets rolled right off instead of seeping through to the underside. This means you won't have to worry about getting wet if you're caught in the rain, and you won't need to wait hours for the umbrella to dry.

To open and close the cantilever patio umbrella, use the simple hand crank on the side of the pole. You can also tilt the canopy to better block the sun or rotate it to shade a different area of your porch. We love that the underside of this umbrella has solar-powered LED lights, which can help illuminate the area below once the sun sets.

The biggest challenge our testers faced with this patio umbrella was assembly—it took us 40 minutes to put the entire thing together. We recommend following the instructions closely and watching the assembly video to make the process easier. Plus, keep in mind that you'll need to purchase 220 pounds of sand to fill the included base before this umbrella can be put to use.

"Setting up this umbrella was fairly easy, and it's ideal for covering a large amount of space," our long-term tester said. "It shades a large area on our painted deck, so whenever we are outside with our puppy, the coverage ensures the deck isn't too hot on her paws."

Product Details:

Dimensions: 9.4 feet tall x 11 feet wide | Materials: Steel and Sunbrella acrylic fabric | Color Options: Five

Best Large

Safavieh Athens Crank Umbrella

View On Amazon $128 View On Walmart $128 View On Bed Bath & Beyond $150

Our Ratings

• Design
  3.5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Size
  5/5

One of the best parts about having a large patio is the ability to host friends and family for barbecues and summer parties while showing off your outdoor space. On the hottest days, you can keep your guests out of direct sunlight by purchasing a large patio umbrella, like the Safavieh Athens Round Crank Umbrella, which provides plenty of shade for a table and lots of chairs.

During testing, we found that this umbrella's 11-foot canopy was big enough to fit a table with up to six chairs comfortably without any of our testers being exposed to the sun — like relaxing under a stylish pergola. It effectively blocked sunlight and kept the space beneath it cool, and our testers found that they didn't need to wear sunglasses or adjust the brightness on their computers to see better. Plus, the canopy is UV-resistant to protect it from fading.

This waterproof French-style umbrella is a solid navy color on top and has a classic stripe pattern on the underside, making it a stylish and functional piece to add to your existing patio decor. We found that the powder-coated aluminum pole felt quite sturdy and the fabric on top of the umbrella was thick and durable, making us confident that it'd last through several patio seasons.

When we sprayed the top with water, our testers reported that this umbrella didn't have any moisture seeping through to the underside, so you'll be able to use it soon after a rainstorm without any dripping.

When setting up and using the Safavieh Athens patio umbrella, our experts were able to put the entire thing together in just a few minutes, and the hand-crank function made it super intuitive to operate. It took some time to figure out how to tilt the umbrella, which involves pressing on a discrete button near the top of the pole and manually angling it into a different position.

Our long-term tester called the Safavieh Athens patio umbrella a "game changer," saying that it provided ample shade during the hottest parts of the day, allowing her to spend more time outside.

"For a good portion of the morning and early afternoon, the deck used to get very hot because there is little shade, but now I can sit outside to enjoy some fresh air, work on my laptop, and eat lunch thanks to the shade that this umbrella provides," our tester said. "I also like that I don't have to worry about sunburn because this umbrella completely filters the sun."

Product Details:

Dimensions: 8.75 feet tall x 10.8 feet wide | Materials: Aluminum and polyester | Color Options: Three

Best with Stand

Phi Villa Double Sided Patio Umbrella

View On Amazon $170 View On Home Depot $176

Our Ratings

• Design
  3/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Size
  4/5

The hardest part about purchasing outdoor furniture is figuring out how to secure it safely so it won't blow away or get damaged during a storm. While there's always a chance of that happening no matter how hard you try, we loved that the Phi Villa Double-Sided Outdoor Market Umbrella comes with its own fillable base, so you don't have to worry about finding your own.

This 15-foot patio umbrella is basically three umbrellas in one, and the heavy-duty base at the middle is designed to be filled with sand to keep the whole thing secure. While we found it quite heavy and difficult to put together (it took our testers 20 minutes), once it was installed properly, we were impressed by the quality and effectiveness of this umbrella.

It easily blocked the sun enough for our testers to use their computers beneath it without adjusting the brightness, and they didn't feel the need to squint or put on sunglasses to see, either. The water-resistant canopy is designed to block out ultraviolet light, too, so you won't have to worry about this umbrella leaking water on you or about getting a sunburn. Plus, we found that the steel pole and ribs holding this umbrella in place were quite sturdy, allowing it to last through harsh weather and multiple seasons of use.

When we tried to remove the faux bird poop stain from the canopy, our testers reported that it came out with just a few swipes, so you won't have to worry about dirt or debris causing it to lose quality over time. It also comes in four different colors, allowing you to pick a look that matches your existing patio furniture and accessories.

Product Details:

Dimensions: 7.5 feet tall x 15 feet wide | Materials: Steel and polyester | Color Options: Three

Best Colorful

Pure Garden Aluminum Patio Umbrella

View On Amazon $55 View On Walmart $40 View On Home Depot $52

Whether you're decorating inside your home or in the yard, adding colorful elements to your furniture and decor is a great way to create a space you enjoy being in. We loved the wide range of hues the Pure Garden patio umbrella comes in, and we loved how easy it was to use even more, making it a great pick for small and large patios alike.

At 10 feet in diameter, this umbrella is large enough to cover a small bistro set or an entire table and chairs without feeling cramped, according to our testers. We half-expected the polyester canopy to be too thin to fully block out the sunlight, but during testing, we were super impressed to find that it provided excellent shade when sitting beneath it.

The hand crank was super easy to operate, and the umbrella tilts up to 60 degrees to keep you protected from the sun all day long. Our tester noted that shorter users may have trouble reaching the tilt button, since it's located near the top of the pole.

When we sprayed water on the top of this umbrella, we determined that it's quite waterproof. The droplets beaded up instead of soaking through, and the underside of the umbrella remained completely dry. Additionally, we found that stains were super easy to wipe off with a sponge, allowing it to hold up against wear and tear.

"We use this umbrella to cover the patio where my kids' outdoor toys are, providing shade so we can be outside midday," our long-term tester said. "It is super easy to use, and it worked perfectly with the umbrella base we purchased separately."

Product Details:

Dimensions: 8.1 feet tall x 10 feet wide | Materials: Steel, aluminum, and polyester | Color Options: Nine

Best with Lights

Blissun 9’ Lighted Patio Umbrella

View On Amazon $72 View On Walmart $93

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  3/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5
• Size
  3/5

Just because the sun's gone down doesn't mean you have to head inside. String lights are already a stylish way to illuminate your backyard after sunset, and our testers loved that the underside of the Blissun Solar Lighted Patio Umbrella is lined with solar-powered LED lights.

However, this umbrella earned high praise for more than just the lights; our testers noted that it's the perfect size for a small patio table, creating a shady place to enjoy during daytime hours, too. The polyester canvas top is water-resistant, and during our tests, we found that it effectively repelled water and kept the underside of the umbrella dry when sprayed consistently with water.

Cleaning off debris and faux bird poop was quite easy with a little soapy water, and there was no residue left behind. While the umbrella isn't UV-resistant and we had to adjust the brightness of our laptops slightly when sitting under it in order to see the screen clearly, it kept us quite cool in the shade, and as the sun moved, we were able to easily tilt it in different directions without much effort at all.

Our testers mentioned that the materials the Blissun patio umbrella was made from felt less durable than some of the more expensive umbrellas we tested. Since this model costs significantly less and still provides excellent shade, the thinner materials weren't a huge downside to us. However, we recommend closing the umbrella and possibly stashing it in a shed or some type of outdoor storage unit, or in the garage if harsh weather is in the forecast.

"Based on how well it's held up over the last month, I'd recommend this patio umbrella," our long-term tester said of the Blissun patio umbrella. "This outdoor umbrella has made it much more comfortable to use our front patio throughout the day. … Now I've been able to work, read, and have lunch outside without getting too hot or sunburned."

Product Details:

Dimensions: 8.2 feet high x 9 feet wide | Materials: Steel, aluminum, and polyester | Color Options: 12