The best patio umbrellas, coupled with the right weighted bases, can stand up to the wind and can be tilted and adjusted, so you can easily control the direction and angle of your shade when the sunlight moves. We weighed these factors heavily in our tests.
All the patio umbrellas we tested were easy to assemble and proved to be quite rigid. “Stability is an important consideration, especially given the size of the canopies involved,” says Bernie Deitrick, our lead tester for patio umbrellas. “We found that when each umbrella is properly installed and used, none were more or less stable than others.”
Ease-of-use factors, including adjustability, put the top-rated models above the others in our comparative ratings.
While we didn’t assess the canopies, they can be made from various materials, including cotton and polyester. The Sunbrella, made from a durable acrylic fabric solution dyed for colorfastness, may be worth the extra cost because it requires little maintenance and lasts longer than other materials.
The right patio umbrella for you depends on your budget and the size of your patio. Below, we feature our four top picks. Whichever you choose, remember to properly clean and store it so it lasts for many summers.
