Many buyers question how to pick the perfect sized outdoor umbrella for their yard. They may feel they only need a 6 foot patio umbrella, merely to realize that it really doesn’t offer the amount of shade that they truly want. The right way to pick the perfect size outdoor umbrella is to measure the space to find out the amount of shade you will want to keep things cool. You can commonly expect that if the sun is directly above, outdoor umbrellas will shade about half of their total size to each side of the umbrella pole. For example, a nine foot outdoor patio umbrella will shade a distance of about four and a half feet from the midpoint.

To begin measuring for the total of shade you would want your patio umbrellas to cover, start the center of the place you want shaded. Start with a tape measure at the middle of the area you want to shade and extend it out to half the distance of the umbrella size you think you would like to purchase. If you think you need a 9 foot outdoor umbrella, you must measure out a space of a little over 4 feet. Now you will go around the middle of the area 360 degrees to know what precise region will be shaded when the sun is straight above the shade of the umbrella. Also, keep in mind the route of the sun. As the sun gets lower in the horizon throughout the day, the quantity and shape of shade will change. Now, here is important information note: most manufactures determine their umbrella size by measuring the actual rib arm length and double it. However, the majority of outdoor umbrellas are not true to their size in width, because the rib arms are not usually totally extended straight out to the side so you will typically lose a few inches in shade proportionally. Also, you’ll want to remember that if you are getting your outdoor umbrella for a bar table, you will need to ensure it has a bar height crank so you can open the umbrella while placed in your bar table. This is normally a feature that is offered with most patio umbrellas, but you can always ask about it if it is not featured with the product.

When you are considering shading an outdoor dining area you can use the following guidelines for your wood or aluminum patio umbrellas: a 6 foot canopy will shade a café table of about 30 inches and one to two chairs, a 7.5 foot shade will cover tables up to approximately 36 inches, and two to four chairs, a 9 foot shade typically covers tables up to 48 inches and four to six chairs and an 11 foot shade will cover larger tables, up to 60 inches round or square, or 72 inches oval or rectangular, and six to eight chairs.

Hopefully, these tips can assist you in picking the right wood or aluminum outdoor patio umbrellas to meet your needs, the first time, and protect you from any frustration. Taking a few steps to begin with will help to guarantee that you choose the perfect outdoor umbrella for you and protect you from getting a patio umbrella that isn’t just what you should have. Remember, it is always better to go a little bigger if you are not sure.