15 of the best garden parasols

The arrival of hot, sunny weather means shade is essential for enjoying whatever outside space you have safely and comfortably. It’s something I know all too well: I’m lucky enough to have a south-facing garden, but the sun is so strong that it would be unusable for a lot of the day without something to keep the rays at bay. So, I thought a round-up of the best parasols on the market at the moment would be both useful and timely, and I’ve picked out 15 different options below.

There are choices for all budgets and types of space, from cantilever parasols that cover a wide area to half parasols that squeeze neatly into compact gardens and onto balconies. There’s also something to suit every style, whether you want to keep things simple and timeless or make a statement with a striped or scallop-edged design. And, to help you select the right parasol for your needs, I’ve included some handy buying tips at the end of the post.

1. Skagerak ‘Messina’ UPF50+ pulley-operated parasol with wooden pole and yellow-stripe canopy (2.7m; base and cover sold separately; canopy also available in blue stripe and off-white), £789, Fritz Hansen
2. Habitat pulley-operated parasol with wooden pole and water-repellent cream canopy (2.7m; base sold separately), £75, Argos [AD – affiliate link]
3. Brafab ‘Shanghai’ UPF50+ wind-up tilting parasol with metal pole and ‘Khaki’ canopy (2.7m; base included; cover sold separately; canopy also available in red and grey), £127.90, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
4. Business & Pleasure ‘Amalfi Riviera’ UPF50+ push-up parasol with wooden pole and removable, washable canopy in white / navy (2.3m; storage and carry bag included; base sold separately; canopy also available in yellow / white, pink / red and light green / dark green), £225, Made in Design
5. ‘BAGGÖN’ UPF15+ wind-up cantilever parasol with metal frame and white canopy (2.5m; base and cover sold separately), £69, IKEA
6. 1898 ‘Hisshult’ pulley-operated parasol with teak pole and beige-stripe canopy (2.7m; base sold separately; canopy also available in blue stripe), £535.20, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
7. Wind-up half parasol with metal pole and taupe canopy (1.8 x 0.9m; base sold separately; canopy also available in black), £26.90, Debenhams [AD – affiliate link]
8. ‘SAMSÖ’ UPF25+ tilting height-adjustable parasol with metal pole and beige canopy (2m; base and cover sold separately), £40, IKEA
9. UPF50+ wind-up half parasol with metal pole and shower-resistant canopy in ‘Oyster’ (1.4 x 2.7m; base included), £75, John Lewis [AD – affiliate link]
10. Business & Pleasure ‘Club Monaco’ UPF50+ push-up parasol with metal pole and removable, washable canopy in black stripe (2m; storage and carry bag included; base sold separately), £754, Made in Design
11. ‘SVALÖN’ UPF50+ wind-up tilting rectangular cantilever parasol with metal frame and removable, machine-washable canopy in grey-beige (2 x 3m; base and cover sold separately), £135, IKEA
12. Ferm Living ‘Lull’ UPF30+ push-up parasol with wooden pole and ‘Cashmere’ canopy (2m; storage and carry bag included; canopy also available in ‘Olive’), £292.90, Nordic Nest [AD – affiliate link]
13. UPF50+ wind-up tilting rectangular parasol with metal pole and ‘Ivory’ canopy (2.4 x 3m; base included; canopy also available in grey), £89, Dunlem [AD – affiliate link]
14. ‘TVETÖ’ UPF25+ tilting rectangular parasol with metal pole and removable, machine-washable canopy in grey-beige (1.8 by 1.45m; base and cover sold separately), £22, IKEA
15. ‘Staysail’ wind-up tilting parasol with black metal pole and shower-resistant, removable and machine-washable canopy (2.5m; base sold separately; also available with a grey metal pole), £175, Neptune

Top tips for choosing a garden parasol

Firstly, think about the size of your outdoor space, the kind of furniture you have and how you intend to use your parasol. Some designs have central poles – ideal for shading tables with an umbrella hole in the middle or for sitting between easy chairs / sun loungers, but not as good over sofas and larger sitting areas. Cantilever parasols, where the canopy is suspended from an arm, are better in those instances as they hang over furniture without getting in the way. It’s just worth bearing in mind that they tend to take up more room as the base and frame sit to the side; some, such as IKEA’s ‘BAGGÖN’ model, also have a mechanism that swings backwards as they open, so you need to make sure this isn’t going to collide with any nearby walls or fences.

Above: Fritz Hansen’s ‘Messina’ parasol in off-white, and IKEA’s cantilever ‘BAGGÖN’ design

If you have a particularly small outdoor space such as a balcony, look for half parasols that sit neatly against a wall. Most provide enough shade for a two-seater bistro table or a couple of chairs. There are also several full designs with compact dimensions – IKEA’s ‘TVETÖ’ and ‘SAMSÖ’ models, Business & Pleasure’s ‘Club Monaco’ design and Ferm Living’s ‘Lull’ parasol are good examples.

Above: Debenhams’ half parasol and Ferm Living’s compact ‘Lull’ model

Bases are sometimes included with parasols but most often not, so check before you buy. And make sure you get the right type: parasols with central poles fit into bases with a central slot, although those with pointy ends could also be spiked into lawns or sand. Cantilever designs normally have cross-shaped feet that need to be weighed down with an appropriate base, sandbags or even paving slabs to match your garden. If you have a half parasol that you want to push against a wall, you’ll need a matching half base with a flat side at the back. There are also some bases that can be buried in the ground, which gives a seamless look but means you can’t move your parasol around.

The amount of sun protection a parasol provides is denoted by its Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) – similar to the SPF rating of suncream – and I’ve included this above wherever available. The highest rating, UPF50+, means a parasol blocks 97-99% of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation; those with a lower rating of UPF25+ block around 95%. For the best sun protection, look for designs that can be tilted or rotated to deal with rays as they change direction.

Above: Fritz Hansen’s ‘Messina’ parasol, which has a UPF of 50+, and Brafab’s tilting ‘Shanghai’ design

Not all parasols are created equal when it comes to maintenance and care, either. Some designs are shower-resistant and can cope with occasional rain; others not. Some have canopies that can be removed and machine-washed; others will need spot-cleaning with soapy water. Wooden poles will also generally require a little more attention than metal ones. Whatever parasol you choose, it’s always a good idea to protect it with a cover when not in use – sometimes this is included, but often you’ll need to buy one separately.

Finally, consider how easy a parasol is to open and close. Cantilever parasols and an increasing number of central-pole designs have wind-up crank handles; others come with pulley systems or push-up mechanisms that require a little more effort.

Above: Swedish brand 1898’s pulley-operated striped ‘Hisshult’ parasol

Please note this post contains affiliate links (all clearly marked), which means I will receive a small commission on any resulting sales. You won’t pay any more by clicking on these links than you would by visiting the websites directly, and it helps to support the free content I share.

All photography via the brands above