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The 9 Best Cantilever Umbrellas to Shade Your Outdoor Space

Beat the heat in style and comfort with these well-designed offset umbrellas.

Headshot of Rachel KleinBy Rachel Klein
cantilever umbrella purple leaf
Popular Mechanics; Purple Leaf

No doubt your backyard setup is ready for the season, and perhaps plan to buy some new patio furniture, like an outdoor sectional or smokeless fire pit. But if you're still searching for a shade solution—especially if your dining table lacks a center hole—consider investing in a cantilever umbrella.

Cantilever umbrellas are offset from their stands, making them ideal for lounge-style seating areas, and most feature adjustable height and canopy tilt for shade all day long. They can also add a pop of color or pattern to your space, and there are a slew of sizes and canopy shapes on the market to suit your setup.

Whether you have a tiny balcony with a small table or a large patio that gets scorched by the midday sun, read on for our best cantilever umbrella recommendations, plus advice on what to consider before shopping.

The Best Cantilever Umbrellas

How We Selected

All of the cantilever umbrellas selected below are highly rated by customers. We considered the quality of the materials used in the construction, including the durability of the canopy’s fabric, the strength and heft of the frame, and how much range the umbrella offers to block the sun. We also chose a variety of shapes and sizes—round, square, rectangle, and others—plus options across multiple price points. Note that several of our choices below are available in other size and colors.

Best Overall

Grand Patio Napoli Sunbrella Cantilever Umbrella

Napoli Sunbrella Cantilever Umbrella
Best Overall

Grand Patio Napoli Sunbrella Cantilever Umbrella

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This popular cantilever umbrella’s arm gives it a distinctive look. While its features line up with the competition across the board, there’s one that truly sets it apart: It includes a wheeled base, a feature that’s especially handy if you have a large patio with multiple seating areas.

The canopy is another highlight, made of Sunbrella fabric and available in 21 colors and patterns, all with a five-year warranty against fading.

The frame is powder-coated to keep it from rusting, plus there’s an auto-lock system that adjusts the position of the angle up to 90 degrees. We recommend filling the base with sand or water for stabilization.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions12 x 12 ft.
RotationNo
Tilt Yes; 90 degrees
Base Included Yes
Best Value

Sunnyglade Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella

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Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella
Best Value

Sunnyglade Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella

Now 17% Off

This exceptionally well-priced cantilever umbrella features a fade-resistant polyester canopy that's said to block 98 percent of UV rays, a study powder-coated metal frame that resists rusting, eight steel ribs, and a top vent to control the breeze. In addition to the tan hue shown here, it comes in bright blue and vibrant red, but the weighted base is sold separately.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions10 x 13 ft.
RotationYes; 360 degrees
TiltYes
Base IncludedNo
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Best for Extra Coverage

Purple Leaf 13-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

13-Foot Cantilever Umbrella
Best for Extra Coverage

Purple Leaf 13-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

If your backyard gets a lot of sun or if you want more coverage around a round dining table, your best bet is to buy a cantilever umbrella with an extra-wide canopy. This one spans 13 feet and is made of durable polyester designed to repel water and prevent mildew, plus it provides UV protection.

Another highlight is that the canopy rotates 360 degrees around around the powder-coated pole shaft. The base is sold separately, which may be a drawback for some, considering the price point.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions13 x 13 ft.
RotationYes; 360 degrees
Tilt Yes; 6 positions
Base Included No
Best Rectangular

Purple Leaf Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella

Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella
Best Rectangular

Purple Leaf Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella

If you're looking for a stylish neutral umbrella that can provide shade to a large outdoor area, look no further. This model features 360-degree rotation and six positions for height and angle, plus a water-repellant, fade-resistant polyester canopy that also blocks UV rays, with a UPF of 50.

Other highlights include a powder-coated aluminum frame treated with anti-oxidation spray, eight steel ribs, and a top vent to control the breeze. It comes in three other sizes and four additional color options, but the weighted base is sold separately.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions10 x 13 ft.
RotationYes; 360 degrees
TiltYes; 6 positions
Base IncludedNo
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Best for Small Spaces

Purple Leaf 8-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

8-Foot Cantilever Umbrella
Best for Small Spaces

Purple Leaf 8-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

For anyone with minimal outdoor space or a sunny backyard, this eight-foot-wide umbrella is a smart choice. The yarn-dyed polyester canopy is water-repellant and blocks UV rays, and there's a pedal at the base to rotate it 360 degrees. The cantilever umbrella also features a powder-coated alloy steel frame with eight ribs, and there's a crank to raise and lower the canopy, along with a lever to tilt it.

Choose from beige, navy blue, turquoise, and the chic gray that's shown, plus two options featuring solar LED lights. Keep in mind that the umbrella comes with a T-base, but the weighted base is sold separately.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions8 x 8 ft.
RotationYes; 360 degrees
Tilt Yes; 6 positions
Base IncludedNo
Best Round Sunbrella

Arlmont & Co. 10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella with Sunbrella

10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella with Sunbrella
Best Round Sunbrella

Arlmont & Co. 10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella with Sunbrella

Now 36% Off

There’s a lot to love about this umbrella, from the quality and lineup of features to its high-performance Sunbrella canopy that delivers maximum protection against moisture, fading, and UV rays.

The umbrella locks into multiple positions and swivels 360 degrees, plus it has an easy-to-operate foot pedal. However, the black aluminum frame needs to be secured with a weighted base, which doesn’t come with the umbrella.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions 10 x 10 ft.
RotationYes; 360 degrees
TiltYes; 5 positions
Base IncludedNo
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Best Round

Purple Leaf 11-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

11-Foot Cantilever Umbrella
Best Round

Purple Leaf 11-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

Credit: Purple Leaf

This cantilever umbrella is highly rated for its quality and extra features. For starters, it rotates 360 degrees and easily moves up and down, thanks to its well-constructed crank-lift handle.

It also tilts in six positions to shield against UV rays from all angles. The canopy is made from a durable polyester fabric that guards against fading and is water-repellent. It's supported by eight heavy-duty steel ribs and a silver powder-coated aluminum pole shaft.

Keep in mind that you'll also need to cover the cost of a weighted base, which is sold separately.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions11 x 11 ft.
RotationYes; 360 degrees
TiltYes; 6 positions
Base IncludedNo
Best Square

Purple Leaf 10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella
Best Square

Purple Leaf 10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

Credit: Purple Leaf

This umbrella gets high marks from customers for its style and ease of use. The powder-coated aluminum frame is treated to prevent oxidation, making this a low-maintenance option designed to look great years down the line. The polyester canopy repels water, provides UV protection, and doesn’t fade, plus it swivels 360 degrees and tilts at multiple angles.

The umbrella is also available in other sizes, ranging from nine to 12 feet wide, and a few alternate colors. However, none come with a base, so keep that in mind when budgeting for this model.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions10 x 10 ft.
RotationYes; 360 degrees
Tilt Yes; 6 positions
Base Included No
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Best With Lights

Best Choice Products Solar-Powered LED Cantilever Umbrella

Solar-Powered LED Cantilever Umbrella
Best With Lights

Best Choice Products Solar-Powered LED Cantilever Umbrella

This cantilever umbrella casts a warm glow on your evening, with 24 LED fairy lights twinkling above.

The lights are powered by a solar panel set at the top of the steel pole, which is powder-coated to prevent rust. The water- and fade-resistant polyester canopy, which opens with a hand-crank lift, adjusts to different heights and tilts at a 35-degree angle to block the sun. Plus, there’s a wind vent to maximize airflow and stability.

Four stakes are included to secure the cross base in the ground, and there’s a more substantial base sold separately to use on decks and patios.

Key Specs

Canopy Dimensions10 x 10 ft.
RotationNo
TiltNo
Base IncludedNo

What to Consider When Buying a Cantilever Umbrella

line break

Cantilever umbrellas may not take up much square footage on the ground, but they still occupy a fair amount of space, so picking the right size is paramount. Other important factors that may influence your decision include shape, canopy fabric, and features like degree of tilt and rotation.

Size and Shape

Figuring out the size and shape that works best with your space should be your first consideration. Use this rule of thumb: The umbrella should be two feet wider than your dining table on all sides, with a few extra inches if you have deep chairs. The same generally holds true for coverage of seating areas with lounge chairs or other furniture.

While it may be tempting to buy an oversized cantilever umbrella for the extra shade, keep in mind that it may look awkward if it isn’t proportional with your furniture. Cantilever umbrellas generally range from about six feet wide to around 13 feet wide. Round cantilever umbrellas are the most popular shape, like our best overall Grand Patio Napoli Cantilever Umbrella, but there are also plenty of square or rectangular options.

Materials

Most cantilever canopies are made of woven polyester, though high-performance fabric, like Sunbrella, is typically more durable over time. All of the umbrellas we recommend resist water to varying degrees, with many treated to block UV rays and prevent fading. The frames are usually powder-coated to safeguard against rust.

Features

Look for canopy rotation, tilt, and an easy-to-use opening and closing mechanism. The majority of cantilever umbrellas rotate from 90 to 360 degrees and tilt in five or more positions. The best cantilever umbrellas have an integrated handle to raise and lower the canopy and a separate crank to open and close it.

From: Popular Mechanics
Headshot of Rachel Klein
Rachel Klein
Senior Commerce Editor

Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend. 

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