Patio Umbrella Buying Guide: Cantilever vs Center Post, Sizes and Bases

A patio umbrella looks like a simple purchase until you try to pick one. Center post or cantilever? Nine feet or eleven? What base will keep it standing when the Santa Anas blow through? This guide answers those questions in the order you’ll need them.

We carry umbrellas from Tuuci, Umbrosa, Gandia Blasco, Atmosphera and Manutti. You can browse all of them in our outdoor umbrella collection.

Center post or cantilever?

This is the first decision, and the rest follows from it.

A center post umbrella has its pole in the middle of the canopy. It usually passes through the hole in a dining table, and the table helps keep it steady. Center post umbrellas cost less, are simpler to install and are the natural choice over a dining table. The Ocean Master M1 Classic Center Post by Tuuci is a good example of a center post umbrella built to last.

A cantilever umbrella (also called an offset umbrella) has its pole to one side, with the canopy hanging over the space. Nothing sits in the middle, so it works over lounge seating, sunloungers and daybeds, where a pole would be in the way. Most cantilevers also rotate and tilt, so you can follow the sun through the afternoon. Good examples are the Ocean Master MAX Classic Cantilever, Umbrosa’s Icarus UX Cantilever with its 360 degree rotation, and the Eclipsum PX Cantilever.

A simple rule: center post for dining, cantilever for lounging.

What size umbrella do you need?

The canopy should extend about two feet beyond the edge of whatever it covers on every side. That keeps people in shade when the sun isn’t directly overhead, which in practice is most of the day.

• 30 to 36 inch bistro table: 6 to 7.5 foot umbrella
• 48 inch round or square table (4 seats): 9 foot umbrella
• 60 inch round table (6 seats): 10 to 11 foot umbrella
• 72 to 84 inch rectangular table: 11 foot round, or a rectangular canopy around 8 by 11 feet
• Pair of sunloungers or a daybed: 10 to 11 foot cantilever, or a square canopy

Rectangular tables are often better served by a rectangular umbrella, such as the Classic Rectangular Parasol. For very large spaces, two umbrellas are usually better looking and more practical than one oversized one. Our dining table size guide covers matching tables to seats.

Also check height. You need at least seven feet of clearance under the lowest point of the canopy, and more if the umbrella will tilt.

Frame and fabric

Southern California sun is hard on outdoor materials, and coastal homes add salt air. Look for these:

• Frames. Marine-grade aluminum, stainless steel hardware and fiberglass ribs, which flex in wind instead of snapping. Tuuci builds its Ocean Master range to marine specification for exactly this reason. Wood frames, such as teak or aluma-teak, look warmer but need more care.
• Fabric. Solution-dyed acrylic holds its color in UV far better than polyester. Lighter colors stay cooler underneath. Darker colors give deeper shade but absorb heat.
• Vents. A vented canopy lets gusts escape through the top, which reduces the force on the frame and the base.

Bases and anchors: the part people get wrong

An umbrella is only as good as what holds it down. A canopy catches wind like a sail, and most umbrella accidents happen because the base was too light.

• Freestanding bases. Weighted bases work for center post umbrellas that go through a table. For freestanding use and all cantilevers, the base needs to be much heavier. See our umbrella bases, the Centra umbrella base and Tuuci’s Aluma-Crete round anchor, which also comes with wheels for umbrellas you move around.
• Plate bases. Plates such as the G-Plate Round Anchor and G-Plate MAX Square Anchor slide under the feet of a lounge chair or planter, so the furniture adds weight.
• Permanent anchors. For the most secure installation, anchor the umbrella into the ground. A stainless steel flush mount anchor sits in concrete or pavers, so it leaves no trace when the umbrella is removed. There are versions for wood decks and existing surfaces, and a MAX flush mount for concrete for the largest canopies.
• Beach and sand. For Malibu and other beach houses, use an aluminum sand anchor.

If you have a choice, go permanent. It is safer, looks cleaner and frees up the floor space a heavy base would take.

When there’s nowhere to put a pole

Some spaces, such as narrow balconies and poolside walls, have no room for a base at all. Umbrosa’s Paraflex mounts to a wall and moves like an arm, putting shade exactly where you need it. Gandia Blasco’s folding parasols, such as the Ensombra, are lighter and easy to move.

If you want shade that stays up all year, an umbrella might not be the right answer. A pergola or a cabana gives permanent cover. Our Renson pergola guide compares the options.

Caring for your umbrella

• Close it when you’re not using it and whenever wind picks up. Santa Ana wind events are the most common cause of damage in LA.
• Brush off dirt and leaves regularly, and rinse the frame with fresh water if you live near the coast.
• Use a cover in the off months to protect the fabric from UV.
• Never leave it open overnight unattended.

Where to put the umbrella

The best spots are over the outdoor dining table, beside a pair of sunloungers and over a chaise lounge or daybed by the pool. Before you buy, stand in the space in the late afternoon and note where the sun comes from. That tells you whether you need a tilting cantilever or whether a fixed center post will do.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cantilever umbrella better than a center post umbrella?

Neither is better in general. Center post umbrellas suit dining tables and cost less. Cantilevers suit lounge areas because there is no pole in the middle, and most can tilt and rotate.

How much weight does an umbrella base need?

It depends on the canopy size and the type. A small center post umbrella through a table needs much less than a large freestanding cantilever. Follow the manufacturer’s rating, and for large cantilevers, use a permanent ground anchor where possible.

What size umbrella do I need for a 60 inch table?

A 10 to 11 foot umbrella, which gives about two feet of overhang on every side.

How do I stop my patio umbrella from blowing over?

Use a base rated for the umbrella, anchor it into the ground if you can, choose a vented canopy and close it whenever the wind picks up.

Where can I buy a luxury patio umbrella in Los Angeles?

Visit our Los Angeles showroom or browse our umbrella collection online. Contact us for sizes, fabrics, lead times and anchor recommendations.