A shade sail, an outdoor umbrella and a pergola can all give you a cooler, more comfortable place to sit outside. But they suit very different spaces and very different ways of using them. Here's a simple way to choose.
Shade sail: the most shade for the space
Best for: covering a large area such as a deck, a patio or a play area, with a clean, architectural look.
- Covers a big area with no pole in the middle of your space.
- Needs three or four solid fixing points: walls, beams or posts set in concrete.
- Stays up for the season, and comes down before storms and strong winds.
- Rectangle and square sails give the most shade; triangles are easier to fit and look great overlapped.
Go for a sail if you have the fixing points and want the space to feel like an outdoor room.
Outdoor umbrella: flexible shade, no installation
Best for: shading a dining table or a pair of loungers, and moving the shade as the sun moves.
- Centre-pole umbrellas sit in a base or through the hole of an outdoor table. Simple and compact.
- Cantilever umbrellas hang from the side, so there's no pole in the middle of your table. Our cantilever umbrella buyer's guide explains the features, sizes and bases.
- No drilling, no posts. A cantilever umbrella does need its base properly weighed down with base weights.
- Close it in strong wind.
Go for an umbrella if you rent, if you don't have solid fixing points, or if you want shade you can move.
Pergola or gazebo: a permanent outdoor room
Best for: creating a defined outdoor room on a deck, a lawn or a paved area.
- Freestanding: no wall needed.
- A retractable roof lets you choose between sun and shade.
- Takes the longest to assemble, so plan an afternoon and a second pair of hands.
- Not designed to hold standing water or to stay open in storms.
Go for a pergola or gazebo if you want a structure that defines the space and stays in place. Not sure which of the two? Read pergola vs gazebo: the key differences.
Quick guide
- Large area + solid fixing points: shade sail.
- Dining table or loungers, or renting: outdoor umbrella.
- Lawn or open deck, no walls nearby: pergola or gazebo.
Still deciding?
Send us a photo of your space through our free Size Check. We'll tell you what we'd choose for your space and give you a total price including delivery.