One of the most enjoyable parts of owning a beautiful home is being able to host friends and family in the backyard. Everyone loves to gather for a backyard cookout, or take advantage of nicer weather by catching up with each other over lemonade or tea on the patio. Indeed, many homeowners even enjoy moments of quiet meditation and solitude from the tranquility of their patio. 

That’s why it is crucial to pick the right patio umbrella. The right umbrella can shade you from the summer sun, prevent sunburn and over heating. It can protect you from the brief summer shower or downpour until the storm passes and the skies clear again. The right aesthetic can also make or break a perfect patio or backyard area. Whether it’s rustic or tiki, colored or earthy, lit or unlit, you want your umbrella to stand up to the elements… and to your eye for design.  

One area where a lot of umbrellas fail is that when heavy winds come to town, many of them fold up shop. It’s always incredibly frustrating when an umbrella ends up folding under pressure. That’s why, when it comes to purchasing patio umbrellas, if you live in a windy area you really need to consider an umbrella that can resist the gusts and continue to stand firm. 

If you’re in the marker for a great patio umbrella, the choices can be overwhelming. With so many different options available, all in different styles and made of different materials, it can be nearly impossible to narrow down the field and choose the right one. 

This guide will help you determine the best patio umbrella for your windy backyard.  We tested a myriad of different umbrellas, all in different sizes, shapes, and designs, so that we could narrow down your options.

Best Patio Umbrellas

Phi Villa 10 Foot 3 Tier Auto Tilt Patio Umbrella

This umbrella is designed to look gorgeous. It is a large umbrella with 3 tiers, all of which are visibly raised on an attractive pole. It comes with a beige, navy, or orange-red option for color. The tiers are a fashionable and elevated way to bring stability and wind resistance into the design.

This umbrella also makes it easy to adjust when the sun moves. It uses a crank and automatic tilt system to eliminate difficult strength work and balancing. The fabric is made entirely from polyester, it is designed to prevent fading in the sun, and it is entirely waterproof, so rain will not be an issue. Add the wind resistance, and this is a nice all weather umbrella!

One of the drawbacks to this model is that it does not have ties for when it is not in use. You will have to find your own way to secure it when it is down. It also doesn’t include a base, so you will have to have the right equipment to keep this stable.

The 3 tier vents are multi-purpose, too. It gives this umbrella a unique design that is more elegant than typical patio furniture, and on top of adding stability, it also functions as a way to keep air circulating under the umbrella, so it stays cool on hot days.

Blissun 7.5 Patio Umbrella

This is a very classic patio umbrella, from design to functionality. It comes in 4 colors: beige, red, tan, and blue. It utilizes a classic design aesthetic, with hexagonal shape and a top fabric ring to insulate, and a pole with easy tilt and a turn crank to raise and lower the umbrella. It is also extremely affordable for modest budgets.

The fabric is polyester and offers 98% UV protection while also being waterproof. It has air vents on the top to increase stability and prevent the umbrella from folding or flipping in the wind. The pole is aluminum and the ribs are steel, so it is extremely strong and durable.

This is a nice and compact model. It will stand just under 8 feet tall and nearly as wide, so it is built to protect a 4 person patio table with ease. It will fit small patios and balconies, and is extremely easy to operate and lighter than many other models.

Sun-Ray 811044 Round Cantilever 8-rib Offset Solar Patio Umbrella

This umbrella has a funky, unique aesthetic! The pole runs over the top and down the side, rather than down through the middle of the umbrella. It gives it a bit more of a rustic vibe that would fit well in a shabby chic or earthy patio. It comes in navy, scarlet red, and taupe beige colors, and I am loving the taupe. It’s a shade that will hold up to the sun well and blend in to nature for a more natural feel. The navy one will blend right into the sky in the evening and almost disappear. It’s a nice color for any nautical themed patios!

One of the awesome things about this umbrella is that it’s lit. If you live in a temperate climate and want to enjoy the patio after dusk, this umbrella’s LED lighting makes a perfect addition to your patio to keep the party going all night long! The LED lights are solar powered, and they will last for around 8 hours if the umbrella sees a full day of sunshine. The umbrella comes with 24 lights, so no need to worry about the brightness.

The support pole has a stand and includes auto-tilt and an easy open and close system. It also has a locking lever so that your umbrella stays secure. The material is also water resistant, so a light rain shouldn’t affect your good time, though you may want to pack it in during a torrential downpour. You may also want to consider investing in some weights for the bottom of the stand to give it some added stability.

Sunphio Large Windproof Beach Umbrella

This umbrella is really nice because of how portable it is. You can use it for your patio, but you can also pack it up and easily carry it to the beach, the lake, sporting events, the gold course, fishing, or wherever else you need a little bit of protection and shade. The carbon fiber material is more compact than the fiber glass that other umbrellas use frequently, so it makes this model extra portable while still being more flexible and durable than wood and plastic counterparts.

This umbrella offers a lot of first in class features, including a 4 layer canopy. It has 2 layers of UV protection and a black layer underneath protects those layers to prevent them from wearing out over time. The UV protection is guaranteed for a lifetime of use. The umbrella also stands alone in offering 3 layered ribs. While other umbrellas use 2, this extra layer of ribs is an exceptionally wind proof design.

The umbrella comes in 3 attractive colors, so you can match it to your existing patio décor and furniture with ease. It also has a telescoping pole and a 360 degree tilting mechanism, so you can set the height and angle you want easily. As a final bonus, it comes with a lifetime warranty and it is one of the more affordable options for more conservative budgets.

California Umbrella 11’ Round Aluminum Pole Fiberglass Rib

This umbrella comes in a ton of colors. If you want to purchase a strong and stable umbrella that matches your color palate exactly, then this is more than likely going to be one of your best options. It has 18 different colors to choose from! Unlike many other models, it recognizes shades within a wheel. There are several different shades of brown and beige, from terra cotta to teak and from granite to straw. This ensures an exact match to your patio’s coloring and also to the natural colors of your own backyard, whatever colors those may be.

California Umbrella has been in business since the 40s, so they’ve had plenty of time to perfect their craft. They make residential and commercially rated umbrellas for nearly any circumstance with excellent craftsmanship and attention to design and detail.

The pole makes it really easy to tilt your umbrella. Just twist it until you reach your desired position. The crank will open and close the umbrella, too, so no difficult or heavy lifting and pinning is required. Because it uses fiberglass material, it also stands strong in very windy conditions, so you won’t lose your shade even if you lose your napkins and paper plates!

They use Olefin fabrics. These fabrics balance affordable pricing with quality material. They’ve got built in UV protection and are completely waterproof. There is also a built in wind vent to circulate air and keep the umbrella stable in big gusts. The Olefin fabrics are hardier than other budget options and they won’t fade in the sun as quickly.

Abba Patio Outdoor Patio Table Umbrella

The Abba patio umbrella is another great choice. This umbrella has a classic pole and umbrella aesthetic, and comes in a wide variety of colors. In fact, this umbrella even offers several striped designs for a little bit of an artistic flare! The dark pole contrasts nicely with the vibrant colors and patterns. The giant sized umbrella offers plenty of shade for even the larger patio tables.

The umbrella’s fabric is waterproof and also resistant to UV rays. It won’t lose its color quickly in the sun. It is also eco friendly because it is made with 100% post consumer recycled polyester fabric. The air vents allow the umbrella to stand strong in the winds and storms. The arms and poles are power coated for added stability, and the umbrella uses a crank to open and close. The tilt system is as easy as pushing a button, which is a really nice little feature!

The umbrella also has a strap that closes using Velcro, so you can securer and store the umbrella when it is not being used. The frame is made from heavy duty materials and given a coat to prevent it from rusting in the elements, but you may want to reinforce the pole if you expect extreme weather conditions. It is rated for both residential and commercial use.

King Yes Rectangular Patio Table Umbrella with Tilt and Crank

This King Yes umbrella isn’t shaped quite the same as others. It is a rectangular umbrella, so if your table is a longer rectangle rather than a square or circle, this would be a great choice for your needs! It also comes in several different sizes, so you can choose how large you need your umbrella to be and buy from there.

The canopy offers UV protection and 100% waterproof material, so you can take it anywhere. It works great at the beach, a picnic, the park, or a swimming pool, and you can use it for your backyard or pick it up for commercial use if you’re a restaurant owner or business.

It uses a crank handle, but it has anti-corrosive coating to prevent the metal from rusting with use. It also comes with a quality warranty, so if you have any issues the company is happy to help, and they are available 24 hours a day. The canopy is sloped, so you will not need to adjust it as frequently as you do with other models of umbrella.

This umbrella is also a customer favorite. Nearly everyone who purchases this model raves about its stability and the high quality construction and materials. It is also extremely easy to assemble.

Sundale Outdoor 9 Feet Aluminum Market Umbrella

This is one of the most affordable umbrellas on the market, but it consistently maintains a very high rating, nearly earning a full 5 stars on Amazon! That is not much of a surprise given Sundale Outdoor’s history of creating elegant patio retreats. They have decades of experience making everything from umbrellas to hammocks to furniture.  They change their fabric offerings based on currently rending colors and fashionable offerings and only work with high quality products, such as natural wood, resin, and steel tubing.

This gorgeous burgundy umbrella will add a pop of color to any patio! If you’re not a fan, they do offer a huge selection of color and pattern choices. The pole is sturdy and coated to prevent rusting in the elements, and the crank will open and close the umbrella. A push button tilt will allow you to change the umbrella’s position with the rising and setting sun so you never lose your blissful shade.

The polyester fabric resists fading in the sunlight, protects from UV rays, and offers a water repellent fabric. A vented air top protects against damage from the wind and allows air to circulate, so you won’t miss that desirable breeze while hiding from the sun’s rays. The Velcro closing strap ensures that even when your umbrella is packed, it won’t succumb to strong breezes and open on its own.