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The Best Patio Table Umbrella

Last updated on August 15, 2024
Categories Garden & Outdoors Tags
Best Patio Table Umbrella

Our Review Process

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Our Picks For The Top Patio Table Umbrellas

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

Sunnyglade Push-Button Tilt Patio Table Umbrella, 9-Foot

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Sunnyglade

Push-Button Tilt Patio Table Umbrella, 9-Foot

This patio table umbrella is 9 feet in diameter. It's made out of 100% polyester and has an easy-to-operate crank open function. To tilt the umbrella, simply press a button. Get it in the color of your choice to transform your outdoor space in no time.

Overall Take

Bright, Tiltable and AffordableGet used to this product's convenient push-button tilt feature and you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

 Runner Up

ABCCANOPY Waterproof & Fade Resistant Patio Table Umbrella, 9-Foot

ABCCANOPY

Waterproof & Fade Resistant Patio Table Umbrella, 9-Foot

This outdoor umbrella has a classic style that looks great at home or on the beach. The 100% polyester air-vented product provides excellent shade, and a tilt and crank mechanism allows for simple adjustment. Get it in different sizes and colors.

Overall Take

Yard, Beach and MoreYou can feel confident that this well-made umbrella will keep you and your gang comfortable for years.

 We Also Like

VOUA Protective UV Coating Patio Table Umbrella, 7.5-Foot

VOUA

Protective UV Coating Patio Table Umbrella, 7.5-Foot

This sophisticated umbrella features 100% polyester fabric with a waterproof, anti-UV coating perched securely atop a sturdy powder-coated aluminum pole. It features a push-button tilt, crank handle and a locking pin for stability.

Overall Take

Adds an Elegant TouchChoose from a variety of stripes and solids and let this garden umbrella add a classy touch to your yard.

 Strong Contender

Blissun Rust-Free Powder Coated Pole Patio Table Umbrella, 9-Foot

Blissun

Rust-Free Powder Coated Pole Patio Table Umbrella, 9-Foot

This good-looking 9-foot patio table umbrella is made with rust-resistant aluminum poles and ribs, a 100% polyester fabric, a crank opening mechanism and a push button tilt to shift its position. It's also vented and works well anywhere.

Overall Take

Stylish and Sturdy ProtectionThis modern umbrella is a great value for the price. Use it year-round wherever you need a bit of shade!

Buying Guide

Patio umbrellas fall into two main categories: cantilevered and market. Cantilevered versions have sturdy bases, curved poles and canopies that are set off from the bases. They do not have poles in the middle, and they work best in hard-to-shade areas like over lounge furniture arrangements and barbecues.

The canopies on this sort of umbrella average about 9-13 feet in diameter, and they are most often seen on swimming pool patios. You can find some that are designed for outdoor dining tables, too, but they take up more space on the deck or patio.

Market umbrellas are more common; they’re the ones that have straight poles in the middle. They are sold with and without bases and use hand cranks to open and close. The poles are often made from aluminum, but they can also be made from other materials, like wood. Look for ones that have push-button tilting mechanisms — otherwise, you won’t be able to adjust them as the sun changes position throughout the day.

If you want to use a market umbrella with an outdoor dining table, that table must have a hole in the middle of it for the pole to fit through. Before buying a patio umbrella, see how tall it is and check the diameter. One that measures 7.5-8.5 feet fits a table that measures 36-40 inches and accommodates four to six chairs. A 9- to 10-foot patio umbrella shields a table measuring from 40-48 inches with up to eight chairs. You can find patio umbrellas with smaller and larger diameters, too.

Many patio umbrellas are made from polyester, which dries fast and is both durable and weather-resistant. Sunbrella fabric, a branded performance textile, is top quality and valued for its fade-resistant qualities. Other umbrella fabrics include olefin, acrylic and thatch. Whatever material you prefer, check that it’s resistant to UV rays. Also, if the umbrella’s pole is made from aluminum, see if it is coated with rust-resistant materials.

What to Look For

  • Patio umbrellas use push, pulley and crank systems to open and close. Push versions are the hardest to operate, while the ones with cranks are the easiest.
  • Look for umbrellas with tilt mechanisms, which allow you to change the position as the sun moves.
  • You may wish to check that the umbrella has a vent in it; this protects it from blowing away.
  • You will most likely have to purchase a separate base if you buy a market umbrella. For a 7.5- to 8.5-foot umbrella, you’ll need a 50-pound base; for a 9- to 10-foot umbrella, get a 50-70 pound base.
  • To stabilize your patio umbrella at home, weigh it down with sandbags. If you’re using an umbrella at the beach, take some empty plastic bags and fill them with wet sand (not too much in one bag, as they get heavy). Place them around the umbrella pole once it is in the ground.

More to Explore

Umbrellas in different forms have been around since the ancient Egyptians and Chinese used them. They are often associated with rulers and wealthy citizens in historical records and artwork. The market umbrella appears to be a more modern invention, a result of the fact that farmers during the agricultural revolution of 17th century Britain would bring their wares to cities to sell at crowded marketplaces. This required new shade structures to protect the farmers and their crops. You can see where they got their name.

In the Industrial Revolution, not long afterward, manufacturing processes improved and market umbrellas became more innovative. They developed retractable canopies and different shapes, and shifted from wood-based frames to aluminum ones. Since then, patio umbrellas have retained the same basic construction, but have featured slight improvements over the years to stand up to weather and wind and follow modern trends. Today, you can shop for market umbrellas with smart lights, tech, and other luxuries.

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