Measuring for Patio Umbrellas

Many buyers aren’t sure how to choose the correct sized patio umbrella for their backyard. They may believe they only need a 6 foot patio umbrella, just to find that it really doesn’t create the amount of shade that they truly need. The best way to pick the perfect size outdoor umbrella is to measure the space to decide on the amount of shade you should have to keep things cool. You can normally assume that if the sun is directly above, patio umbrellas will shade about half of their overall size to each side of the umbrella pole. For example, a nine foot patio umbrella will shade a distance of about four and a half feet from the center.

To start measuring for the amount of shade you would need your outdoor umbrellas to cover, begin the center of the place you want shaded. Begin with a measuring tape at the middle of the area you want to shade and extend it out to half the distance of the umbrella size you think you would like to purchase. If you think you need a 9 foot outdoor umbrella, you would measure out a space of a little over 4 feet. Now you will go around the middle of the area 360 degrees to see what particular area will be shaded when the sun is directly above the shade. Also, keep in mind the course of the sun. As the sun gets lower in the horizon through the day, the amount and shape of shade will change. Now, here is something important to note: most manufactures determine their umbrella size by measuring the actual rib arm length and multiply it by two. However, many outdoor umbrellas are not true to their size in width, because the rib arms are not usually fully extended straight out to the side so you will typically lose a few inches in shade proportionally. Also, you’ll want to keep in mind that if you are purchasing your outdoor umbrella for a bar table, you will need to make sure it has a bar height crank so you can open the umbrella while placed in your bar table. This is typically a feature that is offered with most patio umbrellas, but you can always ask about it if it is not featured with the product.

When you are thinking about shading an outdoor dining area you can use the next guidelines for your wood or aluminum outdoor patio umbrellas: a 6 foot canopy will shield a café table of about 30 inches and one to two chairs, a 7.5 foot canopy will cover tables up to about 36 inches, and two to four chairs, a 9 foot shade typically covers tables up to 48 inches and four to six chairs and an 11 foot shade will cover larger tables, up to 60 inches round or square, or 72 inches oval or rectangular, and six to eight chairs.

We trust, these tips can assist you in choosing the correct wood or aluminum outdoor umbrellas to meet your needs, the first time, and keep you from any frustration. Taking a few steps to begin with will help to guarantee that you buy the correct outdoor umbrella for you and keep you from getting a patio umbrella that isn’t just what you need. Remember, it is always better to go a little bigger if you are not sure.