Patio Umbrellas come in all shapes and sizes. The Patio Umbrellas buying guide introduces some basic features to consider before making a outdoor patio umbrella purchase for your home or the hotel resort outdoor seating areas.

1. Patio Umbrellas Buying Guide

2. Who should read this Patio Umbrella Buying
Guide?
• Home Owners
• Restaurant Owners
• Hospitality Agents
• Resort Purchase Agents

3. What do you want to shade?
• Are you shading a small patio table or a large poolside or patio?
• How large is your patio table?
• Are you looking for several market umbrellas for a commercial atmosphere or
basic shade for the backyard?
• What kind of weather is most common in your area? (To decide on fabric type)

4. Patio Umbrellas Key Features
• The Crank: rotated to open and close the umbrella
• Pulley & Pin: feature to raise it to the proper height
• The Hubs: two hubs:
– Runner Hub: moves up and down the center pole raising and lowering the support ribs to
open or close the umbrella
– Top Hub: stationary; holds the main ribs which swing outward to open the umbrella and
downward to close the umbrella.
• The Finial: adds decorative
• The Ribs: spread and support the shade cover into the open position

5. Patio Umbrellas: What size?
• 6-foot Umbrella Shade Diameter
– covers up to 30-inch bistro/cafe tables
• 7-foot Umbrella Shade Diameter
– covers up to 36-inch bistro/cafe tables
• 9-foot Umbrella Shade Diameter
– covers up to 48-inch round or square dining tables with 4 chairs
• 11-foot Umbrella Shade Diameter
– covers up to 60-inch round or square dining tables
– 72-inch oval and rectangular tables with 6 chairs

6. Patio Umbrella Canopy
Fabrics
• Need to be weather-resistant
• Come in many colors and patterns, both bold and fun
• Breathable fabrics are a good choice
– Stay cool, even under the hot sun
• Most umbrella fabrics are colorfast and resist mold and
mildew.

7. New Trend: Shade Sails
• Contemporary version of patio umbrellas
• Also called sun sails
• Weather- and UV-resistant fabric
– Stretch across poles, trees, or the house

8. Patio Umbrella Frames
• Wood Patio Umbrellas
• Aluminum Patio Umbrellas
• Fiberglass Patio Umbrellas

9. Table Versus Free-Standing Patio
Umbrellas
• Both need stands
– Table umbrellas can use a lighter base since the table will
provide some support
– Free-standing umbrellas will need a heavy stand to keep them
upright

10. Tilting Patio Umbrellas
• Offer more options for shade
• Sun will strike the patio early and stay later
• Can tilt with the movement of the sun so you can have shade at any time of
day
– This way, your patio table can remain in the shade, and you won't need to
move your table and chairs to chase the shade.
• Come in a few varieties:
• Buttons at the top of the umbrella
• In the frame underneath the rib hub
• In conjunction with crank handles.

11. BASE (STAND) SIZING SUGGESTIONS
MINIMUM Base Size
Shade Size (ft) Positioning
Suggestions (lbs)
4.5 Thru Table 30
4.5 Free Standing 40
6 Thru Table 30
6 Free Standing 50
7.5 Thru Table 30
7.5 Free Standing 50
8 or 8 x 10 Thru Table 50
8 or 8 x 10 Free Standing 75
9 Thru Table 50
9 Free Standing 75
6.5 x 10 Thru Table 50
6.5 x 10 Free Standing 75
11 Thru Table 50
11 Free Standing 75

12. Citations - Resources
• For more information, please see our complete buying guide
• Where to buy patio umbrellas? Find the latest deals on patio umbrellas at our
superstore