The Best Cantilever Umbrellas for Keeping Your Outdoor Space Cool and Shady

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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

• Best Overall: Grand Patio Napoli Cantilever Umbrella

• Best Value: Sunnyglade Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella

• Best for Extra Coverage: Purple Leaf 13-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

• Best Rectangular Option: Purple Leaf Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella

• Best Round Sunbrella: Arlmont & Co. 10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella with Sunbrella

• Best Round Option: Purple Leaf 11-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

• Best for Small Spaces: Purple Leaf 8-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

• Best Square Option: Purple Leaf 10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

• Best With Lights: Best Choice Products Solar-Powered LED Cantilever Umbrella

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.

Napoli Sunbrella Cantilever Umbrella

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.

Rectangular Cantilever Umbrella

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.

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.

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.

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.

10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella with Sunbrella

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.

11-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

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.

10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

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.

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.

10-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

For a basic, well-made, and affordable cantilever umbrella, this option is an excellent choice. Spanning 10 feet, the round PU-coated, solution-dyed canopy is water-repellent and blocks UV rays. It’s supported by eight iron ribs and a rust-proof frame, along with an aluminum alloy pole shaft.

There’s a light socket in the center hub and it has Velcro straps for adding outdoor string lights—a nice bonus—plus the umbrella is available in a handful of colors, including this soothing green and a few neutral shades. Do note that the base doesn’t come with it.

Burgue 13-Foot Cantilever Umbrella

If you have a large table or if your backyard gets a lot of sun, your best bet is to buy a cantilever umbrella with an extra-wide canopy. This one spans 13 feet degrees, made with polyester designed to fend off water and mildew, plus a UPF rating of 50 for substantial UV protection.

Another highlight is 360-degree rotation around the silver powder-coated aluminum pole. It opens and closes with a crank lift — a good thing considering its size — which customers say is easy to operate. The umbrella comes with a cover, but the base is sold separately.

What to Consider When Buying a Cantilever Umbrella

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.