The 10 Best Patio Umbrellas to Gather Under This Summer

Best Overall

EliteShade 3-Tier Market Umbrella

$220 at Amazon $221 at Home Depot

“Some assembly required” is hardly music to our ears on a hot summer day. So we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly (37 seconds, to be exact) and easily we were able to set up this model. To open, you simply place the umbrella in the base, untie the knot, and rotate the crank. Tilting and closing were equally simple.

The umbrella fully shaded  a table and five chairs, and the one-handed tilt made it simple to keep the seating in the shade as the sun changed positions overhead. In our rain test, no water came through the umbrella at all, and the water on the outside also dried in less than 10 minutes. 

The umbrella fabric is thick and waterproof, and we found no stitching issues. Plus, the brand advertises no fading for over 10 years. In our artificial bird poop test, the stain scrubbed off easily, so this model is highly durable. 

Though somewhat pricey, we found the cost reflective of the quality of this patio umbrella. Our tester has a deck with a table and six chairs and said this umbrella “will perfectly take care” of that seating area.

Dimensions: 108 x 108 x 100 inches | Weight: 17 pounds

Best Amazon Find

Sunnyglade 9 Foot Solar LED Lighted Patio Umbrella

$73 at Amazon

We’ve found a hidden gem at Amazon with this Sunnglade umbrella. We love that it comes with built-in solar powered lights underneath the umbrella shade. While we wish there was an option to adjust the light temperature to be a bit warmer, we like the decorative flair and level of ambiance it adds to an outdoor space. 

Aside from the design, the shade was sturdy and performed well in all kinds of weather. We had enough shade to easily see a laptop screen in the sun and were shielded from rain during an unexpected drizzle. While we got a bit wet (due to the wind), the water repellent shade kept rain from leaking through. Considering all of this, we felt the price point makes it a good value. e It feels well-made and durable, and the built-in lights are just icing on the cake. 

Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 57 inches | Weight: 14.62 pounds

Best Design

Kelly Clarkson Home Jessi Beach Umbrella

$69 at Wayfair

This umbrella by Kelly Clarkson Home won our vote for design — the octagonal shade comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and the fringe detailing adds a nice level of flair that will spice up your outdoor space. The aluminum hardware is smooth and easy to maneuver, whether you’re closing, opening, or adjusting the angle. It’s easy to customize the amount of shade you have depending on the time of day and where you’re sitting. 

Throughout testing, the umbrella provided a nice amount of shade for lounging or looking at a computer screen. Raindrops collected nicely on the waterproof polyester shade and slid off the cotton fringe, not once soaking through. Since it’s designed for the beach,you’ll need to purchase a base separately. While we were able to fit it into a base during testing, it wasn’t easy — so bear that in mind. 

Dimensions: 6'1 31/50 x 6'1 31/50 (Open Umbrella) x 7' 3 79/100 (Pole Height) 7' 3 79/100' inches (Overall Height) | Weight: 5.24 pounds

Best with LED Lights

Best Choice Products Solar LED Lighted Patio Umbrella

$80 at Amazon $80 at Target $80 at Home Depot

Assembling this three-part umbrella took just one minute, including the solar-powered LED light on top. Opening and closing the umbrella was simple, and the handle is labeled for reference. 

It provided a great amount of shade, and very little light filtered through the fabric. It was an incredibly comfortable umbrella to lounge under, as it provided an ample amount of shade for the size. But it’s a bit on the larger side because of this, so if you don't have a lot of storage space, this particular umbrella wouldn't be ideal.

Water beaded and ran off of the umbrella nicely. Tilting the umbrella was easy enough, but you tilt it from quite high up, so this model might not be the best option for shorter people. It’s a very sturdy product overall, with an aluminum base, and we imagine the polyester canopy would hold up for several seasons. Buying the base separately is, of course, an added cost, but the umbrella itself seems like a great deal.

Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 96 inches | Weight: 16.55 pounds

Best Table Umbrella

Blissun Patio Umbrella

$53 at Amazon

This Blissun umbrella is as impressive as it is affordable. The waterproof shade feels thick and protective, whether you need shielding from heavy rains or the hot sun. There wasn’t any fading or wear and tear throughout the testing period, and the material comes in a variety of colors and patterns to match any patio.. 

Even open, the umbrella held up to inclement weather and high winds, although it got a little wobbly at some points. The metal pole and crank mechanism are just as sturdy. The crank turns relatively easily, but it’s placed pretty high up on the pole so you have to awkwardly crouch underneath the collapsing shade to reach it whenever you’re closing the umbrella.

There’s also a button you can press on the pole that allows you to adjust the angle to 45 degrees. While this is useful at sunset, there isn’t any customization available between these two positions. This was why we felt that this one is best as a table umbrella — if it’s kept upright it does an excellent job of shielding you from the elements.

Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 8.16 feet | Weight: 11.51 pounds

Best Large

Safavieh Athens Crank Umbrella

$126 at Amazon $126 at Walmart View on Bed Bath & Beyond

Never again be forced to scooch close to the person next to you in order to fit under an umbrella, because this 11-foot shade has enough wingspan to give ample sun protection. The canopy’s super durable material was very easy to clean during our water and bird poop tests, which barely took any elbow grease to remove. Its aluminum frame allowed our tester to crank open and close the canopy with ease. 

When it was completely spread open, the umbrella easily fit six chairs underneath, with room to spare.The tilt mechanism caused some confusion, but regardless, we appreciate how much ground this umbrella covers when  upright.

Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.8 x 8.75 inches | Weight: 15.43 pounds

Best Cantilever

Sunnyglade Offset Cantilever Patio Umbrella

$90 at Amazon

Cantilever umbrellas are a chic option that allow you to adequately shade a large space. During testing we were impressed by the amount of space this umbrella’s  UV-protected shade covered, and that it shielded us from rain without leaking. 

The shade handle is easy to maneuver, but we noticed that once it’s adjusted to its maximum height it starts to tip to one side. The main pole also arrived with some dings and scratches. That said, for $100 this umbrella is a great cantilever option.

Dimensions: (package) 76.5 x 11.75 x 5.25 inches | Weight: 30.5 pounds

Best Weather-Resistant

Freeport Park Sunbrella Umbrella

$175 at Wayfair

Bad weather runs from the Kellie Market Sunbrella (or it should, anyway).  It has strong aluminum poles, reinforced with a powder coating, and seemed likely to resist inclement weather (Spoiler: it held steady throughout long-term testing). We also appreciated the user-friendly design, rich color, and UPF-50 fabric described by the brand as resisting “wind, water, mildew, and fading.”

We wish the canopy was a little easier to clean, but seeing how resistant it was to most of our tests, we couldn’t dock it too many points.

Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 8 feet | Weight: 14.4 pounds

Best Sun Protection

Pure Garden Aluminum Patio Umbrella

$55 at Amazon $40 at Walmart $47 at Home Depot

Not all canopies are made the same, and the  Pure Garden umbrella stands apart in terms of sun protection thanks to its opaque and durable polyester material. Our tester “couldn’t detect the sun through the fabric at all,” despite a beaming sun and cloudless sky. 

The tilt mechanism was also straightforward — all we had to do was press a small button near the top of the canopy and tilt it in either direction. That said, it’s placed rather high if you have a short stature.

Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 8.17 feet | Weight: 11.9 pounds

Best Investment

Hampton Bay Solar LED Offset Patio Umbrella

$1,306 at Amazon $599 at Home Depot

The Hampton Bay umbrella was BRAVO-level shady (in a good way). Our tester didn’t need sunglasses when lounging underneath this canopy, and laptop screens were easily visible. Plus, it rotates 360 degrees, providing shade across a wider area.  

The fabric and hardware are top notch, and the solar powered lights add a fun feature. It’s a durable and easily-cleaned fabric. Plus, water rolled right off the canopy and dried almost instantly. Though the base is rather large, when the umbrella is closed up, it easily stores in a small space.

While this umbrella’s assembly did not make a good first impression (time-consuming and confusing), it proved to be a sound investment over time.

Dimensions: 9.2 x 10.5 x 11.7 feet | Weight: 68.2 pounds