Best Patio Umbrella (Review) in 2024

Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Sandra Allens

Under the best patio umbrella, you can relax and unwind. A sheltered spot in the summer offers respite from scorching sun, preventing summer drizzle. By getting the best umbrella and matching base, you will be able to enjoy long-lasting protection from the elements. Additionally, you can easily adjust the umbrella within seconds without experiencing frustration. Whether you’re using a large garden umbrella or a smaller umbrella on your apartment patio, thirty hours of research and also months of examination have gone into finding the best patio umbrellas as well as bases.

Our Choice

Tilt Umbrella with Push-Button Control from Treasure-Filled Market

Since this umbrella resists sun and also wind damage, it will mainly last 4 times longer than cheaper models. The finishes and colors vary.

Treasure Garden umbrellas were recommended time and time again by both experts and landscape designers. It is our longest-lasting umbrella in our test group. The nine-foot-wide canopy and pushbutton tilt mechanism of the aluminium pushbutton tilt umbrella market make it easy to use. Especially if you choose Sunbrella, our experts recommend its outdoor durability. A cheaper option is O’Bravia, a fabric that is still nice, but not as fade-resistant or durable as Sunbrella. A variety of colors, patterns, and tilting options are available from Treasure Garden than from any other brand we have seen. As part of the umbrella pick, we recommend you choose a quick-ship option from Treasure farm line, which has just the features you need, such as a crank and pushbutton tilt, without the extras which drive the price up. Both Sunbrella and O’Bravia fabrics have a five-year fade warranty on their pushbutton tilt frames.

Auto-Tilt Aluminum Market Umbrella from Hampton Bay

This umbrella has a standard umbrellas usually have a larger diameter, making it a better option at half the cost of our main Choice.

For those who don’t have access to the top pick, the Hampton Bay 10 ft. aluminum umbrella is a great budget option. The opening and closing of this umbrella was much easier than those of similarly priced umbrellas. The canopy angle can also be adjusted by tilting the frame–a feature that can be upgraded at an additional cost. Olefin, however, is not weather-resistant, nor does it have colorfast properties, but it is nonetheless durable. Home Depot is the exclusive retailer of the umbrella, where a limited warranty of two years extends.

Budget Choice

9′ Sunglade Patio Umbrella

An Affordable Umbrella Option that Works Well Is the Sunnyglade Umbrella.

It is not necessary for everyone to own a windbreaker that can withstand rain, sun, and wind. A budget-friendly option from Sunnyglade, this 9′ best Patio Umbrella is great for your balcony or backyard for few seasons. It is easy to store the umbrella thanks to a reusable plastic sheath included. It’s easy to clean the canopy, since it doesn’t get dirty easily. This umbrella is not covered by a warranty, even though we think the price isn’t too high.

Our Choice

Base Article for Paima Umbrellas

Constructed of smooth concrete with rounded edges, generous hand-holds, and 2 screws for additional security, this compact Sturdy, streamlined, and aesthetically pleasing base to move around.

Our tests showed that Article Paima’s Umbrella Base that is the easiest base to lift and maneuver with its smooth surface, solid molded concrete disc, and rounded edges. Concrete, stone and sand surfaces can be cleaned easily by brushing or wiping them. In order to secure the umbrella pole in place, you tighten the two screws in the base. Compared to more expensive brand names and materials, Paima bases are much more affordable. Similar to other brands in this class, they are high on quality and detail.

Upgrade Choice

Steel Market Umbrella Base for Abba Patio

If you like low-profile and ultra-sleek bases, the flat minimalist base, which is more expensive, is a good pick for you. It is a very elegant, yet unobtrusive, model of steel market umbrella base from Abba Patio. One steel disc, powder-coated and weighty, fits under any table without taking up space. Its simplicity will allow it to last longer. Our top pick also uses 2 screw knobs to secure the umbrella, but instead of just one. In addition, the knobs on the base of umbrella pole were the largest and also smoothest of any we tested, making installing umbrella pole extremely convenient and enjoyable. This is, however, the expensive base in our 100kg weight class, since the aesthetics would exceed the functionality. Upgrades can be worth the cost, however, in some cases because of their aesthetic upgrade as well as lower profile.

Also Choice

Umbrella Stand for Shademobile

As it rolls and pivots over smooth surfaces, Umbrella base for Shademobile can be ideal for those who are unable to lift five pounds and more because the umbrella bases are flat and doesn’t require lifting. The resin base is small, lightweight, and small enough to carry around before setting up, yet it weighs just about 20 pounds empty. If the volume has 125 pounds of weight, then the bricks, or sand, or the combination in both, can be used. If one live somewhere windy, having this option may be a plus, even though it is beyond the specifications of our picks. A table is definitely not necessary with such a heavy base. According to some retailers, this base is currently short of stock, but this will simply be a seasonal hiccup caused by high demand. We will be testing heavier weight classes and rolling bases in our next update.

Who it is For

An umbrella very likely is the easiest, quickest, and one of the cheapest way of getting some shade while eating or chilling outside. Several market umbrellas with 9-foot diameters that we review can be used as table shades or standalone umbrellas that can keep lounge chairs and other living spaces protected. Often, Maggie Lobl said, suggests umbrellas over pergolas and shade trellises to her clients because they are less costly and more versatile. Her opinion is that umbrellas are extremely flexible. Visual appeal is greatly enhanced by color.

The base of your umbrella should be sturdy and also heavy, so that it will stay put wherever and however you use it. Choosing a too light umbrella base or not buying an umbrella base is most common. If the pole tail of the umbrella is placed on the ground and the umbrella is slid in the hole around the middle of the patio table, it will normally stay upright. A flung umbrella can cause injuries or property damage if the wind picks up quickly. A base that weighs at least 75 pounds is required for an umbrella that does not have a table. A durable umbrella base should weigh ten times more than the umbrella itself if maximum safety is desired. You should choose an umbrella whose base is sufficiently heavy if you plan to leave it open unattended. As long as the umbrella is closed between uses, you can use a lighter umbrella.

Our Selection and Testing Process

Best Patio Umbrellas

In this article, we review aluminum-poled umbrellas that have crank lifts or tilts and are no smaller than nine feet across so that they can be adjusted. We also selected inexpensive umbrellas below $350. A comparison of 16 models led us to choose five popular umbrellas. To see how these umbrellas fared under different conditions of wind, we observed their response. No signs of deterioration were apparent after only few weeks, which was not unusual. As material is usually the point at which umbrellas fail, reviews and expert opinions were largely cited in evaluating them. We selected Treasure Garden for its highly durable performance. It has endured two summers so far, with one in LA and the other in Portland, without fading away.

Typically, dining umbrellas for four people over outdoor tables are 9 feet wide. Home Depot, Costco, and other stores occasionally sell six-, seven-, and eight-foot umbrellas. It can provide shade for reading or playing on a deck since it is so large. An umbrella is useless if it is too small, says Russ Cletta, a landscape designer in Los Angeles. An umbrella 10 feet in height would be a good addition to the picks for August 2020.

In our umbrella selection, aluminum poles were chosen over wood for a few reasons. It is generally easier to find these products. In addition to their lightweight, aluminum umbrellas often feature easy-to-use cranks and tilting mechanisms. As a result, it is easier to set up your shade. A little variation was found between umbrella cranks, but none of them was significant. With inexpensive lines, pulley lift umbrellas are susceptible to fraying, and securing the lines is more time-consuming.

We were able to pivot all this umbrella head to a side as the sun moved throughout the day. The shade provided by this allowed us to remain protected all day long. According to Claetta, umbrellas must be able to move. Additionally, they need to be able to tilt with a crank or button when the sun’s angle changes. You can tilt an umbrella by pressing the button on pole with your thumb. Cranking the head to the side works just like lifting the umbrella. Some brands offer two types of the tilt, while others offer only one. Those who are shorter are more likely to have difficulty reaching the Push-tilt button on the top model, which requires standing on a chair.

While wooden umbrellas usually cost more, they usually rely on complicated lift systems involving pulleys and pins, while metal umbrellas have a tilt function. We have picks that come with wooden poles and also spokes, but many people prefer aesthetics over utility. In most outdoor dining tables and umbrella bases, the poles have a diameter of 112 inches, so this is a consistent size across all umbrella bases.

The umbrellas we chose had to be below $350. Our research led us to believe that a quality umbrella within the price range could last a long time. In most cases, you’re paying more for beauty than extra utility when purchasing an umbrella from a designer brand. Except for umbrellas made of sailcloth or marinegrade fabric, which people are not usually interested in, there are few exceptions. Our tests of umbrellas in 2017 almost entirely excluded models priced below $75 since polyester fabric, that we have repeatedly observed, fades and tears fairly rapidly after several years of use. We selected two models which we liked based on our spring 2020 tests. We’ve chosen a polyester umbrella that is budget-friendly; we’ll see how long it lasts. In that price range, however, many people appreciate having decent option.

All of experts we interviewed mentioned Sun brella fabric as an indicator of a quality umbrella. A number of customers have noted that they believe Sunbrella makes umbrellas. Founded in 1859, Glen Raven has made Sunbrella fabrics since then. They provide car drivers with flame-resistant apparel, boat awnings, and alsoc casual pillows. Sunbrella fabrics made from mixture-dyed acrylic. My great-grandfather, Allen Gant 3, a current Glen Raven manager, explained how you colored the liquid. In comparison with polyester and other yarn-dyed fabrics, Sunbrella fabrics retain the color for much longer: “If a radish is exposed to UV light and weather, it will fade, and a carrot will only get oranger when peeled.”

Umbrella manufacturers choose from a wide variety of Sunbrella fabrics and at varying prices. Despite these characteristics, Gant explained, all products come with warranties of up to five years. The three umbrellas that we tested that came with Sunbrella fabric were optional upgrades. The HamptonBay best Patio Umbrella, which is one of our favorites, is made of Olefin, a material known for its durability and also colorfastness that is also used in many dyed fabrics.

Most of the market umbrellas that we tested have vents at their tops, like most umbrellas. In particular windy locations, like near a beach also on a hill, we had a couple of experts recommend double wind vents. Doubles wind vents typically not offered by default, so they will cost more or take longer to ship. An umbrella with double vents was not available to one of the testers in 2020, so we waited six weeks for one to ship.

Cantilever umbrellas were reported to be increasing in popularity by multiple sales representatives, however, we chose to concentrate on the 9-foot umbrellas commonly found in both backyards and apartment patios.

Umbrella bases

We spent the next ten hours searching and reading on umbrella bases on the internet. Our research quickly revealed that most people either don’t buy bases or buy too light ones. In order to hold down the umbrella when it is placed on a table, our experts looked at bases that weighed at least 50 pounds. Landscape designer Maggie Lobl says rollable umbrellas are effective due to their heavy bases. Many of cheapest umbrella bases are shown as 25 to 30 pounds in online umbrella bases’ description, but the weight is not disclosed. These are not reliable enough with this weight.

Aesthetics are less important to us than practicality beyond weight. A tightening mechanism prevents the pole from wobbling on the umbrella bases we evaluated. This year, we primarily focused on parts under $100.

This year, we tested five of the most popular bases, with five of them proving highly valuable. On the same day, Kalee had a backyard party with friends in sunny Los Angeles. Since assembling umbrella stands was challenging, we timed the assembly process. In order to determine which patio sets fit under stands and which can stand alone, we compared their sizes. Five new stands will be tested through May 2021. According to research, lower priced ones weighing 50 to 55 pounds and featuring slimmer looks are priced under $130. It was very important to choose the right material, place the knobs, and choose the right finish for the cabinet. When you make the wrong choice, you will lose your umbrella base. A concrete and steel weight of fifty pounds makes it impossible to ask for help. Rough edges or poorly cast plastic can scratch or irritate the hands.

Our Choice

Umbrella with Push Button by Treasure Market (Garden)

The lifespan of a higher-end model will likely be half that of a cheaper one. Also, a more expensive model can withstand damage caused by UV light and the wind. You can choose from a variety of finishes and colors.

Its aluminum pole and 9-foot diameter, made from Sunbrella fabric, were highly recommended by our experts. There are eight spokes on this umbrella, helping it to be durable. We tested all types of umbrellas before deciding on Treasure Garden, which opened and closed easily.

Fabric-damaged umbrellas, such as those that rip, tear, or fade, often die prematurely. When set up side-by-side with Sunbrella fabric of thick texture and rich color, Treasure Garden umbrellas stand out in a California backyard. In comparison to other umbrellas with thinner, smooth fabrics, the fabric of this umbrella feels thicker and coarser. One of two Sunbrella umbrellas tested by us, Treasure Garden’s, looked taut when open as opposed to Costco’s, which showed wrinkles. Several companies agree that Treasure Garden models have a long lifespan, based on our own experience and interviews. In California, Colorado, and New England’s coastlines, our test group have found similar results under extreme weather conditions. Despite being exposed to two coasts for five seasons, an umbrella will not fade or rust.

Other models of umbrellas do not provide as many customization options as this one. Aluminum poles and spokes come in a variety of finishes. Sunbrella and O’bravia fabrics are also available. We heard that Sunbrella would last longer and wouldn’t fade as much as O’Bravia, so it will cost about $100 more than O’Bravia. PatioLiving is the only umbrella company with a wide variety of fabrics and customizable options. It might make sense to choose a double vent if there tends to be a lot of wind near the ocean or the price is higher than it usually is. We cannot ship double-vents quickly.

A lightweight aluminum pole and also spokes were used in all of umbrellas, including that of Treasure Garden. This umbrella has eight spokes instead of the six spokes that are most common with umbrellas of the size, which makes it more durable than some of the cheaper umbrellas we reviewed. Treasure Garden’s umbrella also features an automatic cranklift system, as do the rest of the models we tested. A clicking noise is heard when the crank is turned, but we have not found it bothersome.

Treasure Garden was consistently referred to as the industry’s leader by the best patio umbrella vendors in Southern California. We met with Jesse Bawsel, who manages the shop in Pasadena. Only Treasure Garden umbrellas were sold in the store. He said that their products were excellent. Additionally, Bagsel says Amazon offers both a one-year and two-year warranty on Treasure Garden’s aluminum umbrellas. Fishbecks’ Veronica Hoodless said Treasure Garden is the best patio store in Pasadena. At Hoogless’ store, umbrellas are available for $250, less than half the cost of umbrellas from Costco. Their separation occurs during flight. His store succeeds because cheaper brands do not meet customer expectations, according to Jesse Mezger, the manager of PatioWorld.

It is equally important to combine a 9-foot umbrella with a 50-pound base, as Bowsel recommends. As a general rule, a minimum weight requirement would be 75 pounds, and a maximum weight requirement would be 90 pounds if the system were to be used without a table.

Not a dealbreaker, but flaws

There is no doubt that Treasure Garden Aluminum umbrellas are available in almost infinite styles, but specific styles may not be available for a few weeks, and certain shapes may vary in price.

Though Treasure Garden umbrellas last roughly a decade, experts Bawsel and Hoodless believed the fabric likely starts to fade after about 5 years. The dyes in fabric of red umbrellas may fade more rapidly in areas characterized by harsh all year round sunlight.

Two of the umbrellas we tested failed to tilt properly during use due to disintegrating push-buttons. A replacement umbrella is being provided to the tester, even though it occurred in the warranty period. The tester said he rarely used the button, and was not sure why it broke. The test subject reported accidentally knocking the button over while cleaning. Despite the fact she rarely uses the application, reinierdejong tester admits it is her fault, and she has not researched how to fix it.

Also Good

Auto-Tilt Aluminum Market Umbrella from Hampton Bay

It has a diameter of approximately 150mm, which is larger than that of most traditional umbrellas. It is less expensive than our main choice, and it comes with a simpler structure.

Hampton Bay 10ft.We recommend the Aluminum Auto-Tilt Market Outdoor Patio Umbrella, which is about half the price of our top pick. Hampton Bay also uses Sunbrella instead of Olefin for its canopy. This umbrella’s lightweight aluminum pole is enhanced by steel ribs lining its canopy. Standing on a balcony watching high winds blow in San Francisco, Hampton Bay was able to be opened quickly. This umbrella tilts easier and costs more than our top selection, but it also tilts easier. However, even though the warranty is for two years, this is not as sturdy as our top pick. Sunbrella’s Treasure Garden umbrella fabric offers a five-year warranty instead of Hampton Bay’s Olefin umbrella fabric.

During the test, we washed the fabric with dish soap and water. After washing the umbrellas, no stains appeared despite the fact that the dirt we applied was more aggressive than that which is left on most outdoor umbrellas after prolonged use. Depending on where you live and what trees you have in your yard, we think this canopy will last a long time with a little basic care. Those who want to recreate this test or see how the canopy will look with their outdoor decor can order a sample swatch for $3 from the Hampton Bay umbrella product page. The umbrella sold out continuously at Home Depot during summer 2021, but it will likely restock in the future.

Budget Choice

9′ Sunglade Patio Umbrella

It Is Hard to Find a Better Umbrella than Sunnyglade Umbrella for A Fair Price.

Sunnyglade 9′ Patio Umbrella is a good choice if you are looking for a cheap umbrella that will last a few summers. In cWhen looking for an umbrella that will last for several summers at a low price, Sunnyglade’s 9′ best Patio Umbrella would be an excellent choice. Polyester isn’t as durable as Sunbrella, which is the material used for this canopy. For our dirt tests, we massaged the dirt particles into the fabric to ensure that they were set. The umbrella comes with a plastic sheath that you can use to store it to prolong its life. When we tested umbrellas, the majority came in single-use plastic packages. Because this umbrella does not resist fading, it is likely to fade in time. Monitoring progress in implementing this umbrella will be a part of the testing phase.

With a weight of about 16 pounds, Treasure Garden umbrella is the heaviest, and Hampton Bay umbrella is the lightest. The push-buttons on the Sunnyglade canopy made it easy to position it. Our balcony was fairly windy, making umbrellas hard to tilt with their push-button mechanisms. The Sunnyglade, despite this weakness, is still a good budget umbrella because of its lower price. The Sunnyglade does not come with warranty. The only option, if the product doesn’t meet your expectations, is to return it to the retailer who sold it to you.

Our Choice

Base Article for Paima Umbrellas

This concrete base features a streamlined design, ample hand-holds, also 2 screws for extra stability. It is simple to move and set up, and easy to use.

Our top pick for umbrella stands is the simple and unassuming design of this stand. Paima is the least sweaty base of this type that we tested. Costing about $80, it is one of the most popular choices. As a result of its generous gaps underneath its base, felt confident with this vase would remain beautiful over time and remain durable.

Its bullnose shape is inspired by a Boston Cream doughnut, and it is cast in fine structured black concrete to a compact diameter of 19 inches. Once assembled, we found no evidence of significantly damaged or scratched concrete discs. The first setup we barely spoke for two minutes had to refer to the illustrated instructions. The box is easy to open and we were able to move it to the outside. The washers and screws which secure the masts held the umbrellas tight and secure in our tests. It is easy to grip screw cap, and though it had been removed and installed several times, it still feels sturdy.

The umbrella pole is usually secured to the base of most umbrellas with a screw knob for tightening the umbrella during high winds. On Paima base, there are 2 screw knobs that increase security. A round steel market umbrella base from Abba Patio was surprisingly comfortable to lift despite having smaller knobs than our upgrade pick, a feature the expensive bases did not necessarily offer.

After scuffing the dusty shoes it to simulate the effects of scuffing a table base, the base was easily cleaned. The weight of one umbrella alone is just fifty five pounds, which means that if you intend to leave one open, a table should be paired with it. Our umbrella has been folded and tucked away in Los Angeles for weeks without incident. Due to the 112 inch diameter of standard umbrella poles, this base can be used with umbrellas with 112 inch poles.

Not a dealbreaker, but flaws

For the base, there is only one color available: black. This might be detracting if you want a lot of options. Black appears more smart and muted more than a glossy black, despite its softness. We believe that most people will feel comfortable with the outdoor aesthetic.

Due to Article’s direct consumer business model, you cannot view articles before one buys. Make sure you check the umbrella pole’s dimensions two and three times before clicking the submit button. The items cannot be returned or exchanged within thirty days, despite the fact that this product is eligible for free exchanges. Repackaging fees are also $50 if you don’t save the packaging along with the $49 restocking fee. We still consider this to be the best option despite return fee, as it is high quality and reasonably priced.

Upgrade Choice

Steel Market Umbrella Base for Abba Patio

This minimalist base is expensive for same weight, but it is flat, so it is a great option if you want something extremely thin.

The Abba Patio Round Steel Market Patio Umbrella Base, with matte powder coating, is your best bet if you’re looking for a truly sleek base that embraces the ground without breaking the bank. As well as being expensive and lightest, it is also the heaviest of our picks. Steel discs of 27.5″ diameter are used to make this base.

Although lifting the disc and attaching the neck can be annoying, the Abba Patio is intuitive and easy to assemble. Just like our top pick, an umbrella shaft is turned and its stem has two screw knobs to secure it to the base with a 612-inch-long hex key. Due to the use of the hex key, we had an excellent network connection. We found that the poles had the most durable and smooth screws, made of plastic that was not only sturdy but also large enough to tighten easily and quickly.

In addition, we anticipate you won’t have any problem with broken or chipped parts when using the powder-coated steel sheet. An even and smooth surface is characterized by powder coatings. The matte finish can easily be cleaned with a couple wipes, regardless of how dusty it gets due to the matte finish.

Even the best pick would be difficult to set up without a neck to join the base with the heavy steel plate so the pick can be set up on a flat surface. At the time of unpacking on the patio, we didn’t think about that far in advance. Its size and handles make the top pick easy to grip despite its size. Using a flat wrench inserted between the decking boards, we were able to lift the base off the ground. However, if the decking had not had gaps, we’re not sure how we’d have managed. Assembly should begin by unboxing the box and assembling it rather than assembling the base.

In order to turn the base on its side, we used the neck of the base to gently turn the base on its side after the base was attached to the base. Once horizontal, it was lowered once more in the horizontal position and then rolled back into place. Even though the ground under the base is as flat as it is likely to be, it is not entirely flush with the ground. The ground is still slippery when it is wet even when you consider accessibility.

Also Good

Umbrella Stand for Shademobile

In order to keep your umbrella handy during daytime, you should invest in a rolling frame like this.

This umbrella base weighs more than other we personally tested, with a maximum capacity of 125 pounds. In our testing, it was the only umbrella that had to be set up by you and that had to be shut with a screwdriver after filling. There are four wheels on the umbrella that make moving it faster and easier, but it is less convenient to set up.

If you are trying to save money, you might want to consider a plastic base. It weighs only 22 pounds empty when it reaches its destination. One of the most stable umbrellas of that size is a filled umbrella that has the strength and durability of bricks and sand. David Taylor, the company’s head, says that even though this base is not suitable for cantilever umbrellas, it can support 12 and 13-foot upright umbrellas. Umbrellas that cantilever have a very versatile base, which makes them more useful than upright umbrellas. Wagging his tail, he almost looked like a dog. You should also purchase the base with the umbrella. In some cases, such a base might fit underneath a dining table, but if the umbrella is likely to cover it, a base like this serves no purpose.

Pivoting functionality is one of its most distinguishing characteristics. Once filled with water, Kalee’s Shademobile easily moved over cracked concrete garden area in her LA backyard. There are two brake levers on the two wheels, so it will stay still when parked. This best patio umbrella base is manufactured at North Carolina and is also available in the dark bronze and light sand. The base can be converted into a book and cocktail table by adding an add-on accessory.

In just 15 minutes after obtaining the fill material, Kale assembled and filled the base. Before your Shademobile is set up, please carefully follow the instructions. Otherwise, the stand could be scratched. The power screwdriver was used to drive over 20 screws into the filled base. A broken part can be replaced if it has been broken for two years. Bases are covered by a two-year warranty. No sign of degradation has been observed in the Shademobile since Kalee moved it from California to Maine.

Maintaining Your Umbrella

Whether it be the sun, the wind, or the moisture, there will always be an attack on your umbrella. Umbrella covers and winter storage in a garage can help your umbrella last longer. Among the company’s suggestions is how to clean Sunbrella fabrics. The best way to extend the life of your umbrella is to close it when you’re done using it. A blown fabric or overturned material could eventually fall apart and be destroyed. A base that is ten times the umbrella’s weight must also be attached to the umbrella.

Umbrella Bases

The top picks are the lowest priced umbrella bases with a significant history of good reviews. US Weight Umbrella Bases are sturdy enough to hold multiple 9 and 10-foot umbrellas – 50 pounds each. Most locations don’t carry the base, so this pick is a no-brainer. If one can find one, choose a base with a low profile and compact size. The concrete is already prefilled, so it can be put to use right away. It is not recommended to use this stand alone to hold an umbrella for those who will be exposed to high winds or regular high gusts. In addition to this handle being built in, the base comes in 4 different colors.

In our ranking, it ranks higher than Fiberbuilt Umbrellas Concrete Patio Umbrella Base, which is compact and has a similar diameter. Several small details prevented it from being included on our list. According to Home Depot reviewers, this best patio umbrella is the least intuitive and fiddliest one. Likewise, we were not confident that it would last. Because the base was protected with a plastic bumper to prevent damage during shipping, we weren’t too sure about the durability of the device after removing it from the packaging. It was an elegant design, but the materials seemed cheap. The only knob on this base is used to tighten screws. Due to her mild carpal tunnel, the tester found it difficult to tighten the pole because of its small knob and rough plastic edges. Though the concrete wasn’t a deal breaker, it didn’t make cleaning easy due to its rough texture. There are four colors available for Fiberbuilt bases.

Umbrella base weighs 50 pounds. It’s lightweight and easy to assemble with pre-threaded plastic washers to attach the neck, then screw the neck into the base. It resembles bronze, but with a slight pockmark, and can be used nearly everywhere. Our numerous attempts at threading the neck left an inch between neck and also the base, even though we tried many times. Concrete chips and powder accumulated on the patio base during its movement. In the casing and concrete, no seal was present. When we moved the base, it felt rough where concrete and steel shells met, which made it difficult to handle. Umbrella poles easily fit into umbrella necks. This umbrella’s screw knob is easy to operate, but plastic used to mold it has uneven edges, which are extremely sharp and feel very abrasive. In the time since we tested this best patio umbrella, this has been the cheapest and most popular base. Though not the cheapest option, we considered it to be smoother, had better handling, and would break less frequently than the top pick.

Also best patio umbrellas tested were two 60-pound bases with two wheels that could carry 75 pounds each. Orienting the circular bases on their sides and rolling them around made it easier for them to roll to a new location. Similarly, the model that weighs 50 pounds without wheels has same notes. As a result of the short legs and small wheels, the concrete underneath the wheel can catch on uneven ground. The wheels only move on one axis, so changing directions requires rotating the base. By using a low-cost, compact stand, you don’t have to lift the stand by its whole length. Stable, low-cost, and light, it also provides stability.

Sources

1. Calvin Abe, landscape architect, principal, AHBE, phone interview, February 4, 2017
2. Andy Balderson, landscape designer, phone interview, February 5, 2017
3. Russ Cletta, landscape designer, phone interview, February 8, 2017
4. Maggie Lobl, landscape designer, phone interview, February 8, 2017
5. Naomi Sanders, landscape designer, email interview, February 5, 2017
6. Veronica Hoodless, sales associate, Fishbecks, Pasadena, California, interview, February 17, 2017
7. Jesse Mezger, manager, Patioworld, Pasadena, California, interview, February 17, 2017
8. Jesse Bawsel, manager, Armstrong Garden Centers, Pasadena, California, interview, February 17, 2017
9. Allen Gant III, casual market manager, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, phone interview, April 13, 2017
10. David Taylor, founder, Rolling Umbrellas, phone interview, May 17, 2017
11. The Ultimate best Patio Umbrella Buyers Guide – Cool in the Breeze, Patio Productions, April 29, 2014
12. Patio Umbrella Buying Guide (PDF), Patioworld.com
13. Umbrella buying guide, PatioShoppers.com