How to Choose a Cantilever Umbrella: 7 Checks Before You Buy

To choose a cantilever umbrella, decide how you will anchor it first, then size the canopy to the area you want shaded. After that, check how it opens and moves, what the canopy and frame are made of, the maker's wind rating, what ships in the box, and the warranty. Those are the seven checks below, in that order.

Real models show up throughout as examples of what each check looks like. They are a range of what is on the market, not picks. If you already know what you want, browse our cantilever umbrellas. Resorts Depot's catalog is always growing, so we may have exactly what you're looking for.

What is a cantilever umbrella, and what are the pros and cons?

A cantilever umbrella hangs its canopy from an offset pole, so there is no center pole in the middle of your seating. You will also see it called an offset umbrella. If you're still deciding between this and a center pole market umbrella, see our cantilever vs market umbrella comparison. The base or mount sits off to one side of the shade instead of under it.

That offset is what makes some of the most useful pool setups possible. The base can sit on the deck on one side of a glass fence while the canopy hangs over the other side. A cantilever on the pool deck can also put shade over part of the sun shelf without anything going in the water.

The pros:

• No pole in the seating area, so the furniture can go wherever you want it.
• The base can sit outside the shaded area, even on the other side of a fence.
• Some models rotate, tilt or both, so you can move the shade with the sun.

The cons:

• It needs a serious anchor: a weighted base, a base you buy separately, or a mount bolted to the deck or set in concrete.
• A freestanding base takes up floor space next to the shade.
• Not every cantilever rotates or tilts, so you have to check the model you are looking at.

Check 1: How will you anchor it?

Decide this before anything else. The anchor sets where the umbrella can stand and what has to be underneath it. Shadowspec offers four mounting options, which makes it a useful example:

• Freestanding base. Sits on the surface and gets weighted down. Shadowspec weights its base with pavers and offers optional castor wheels. FiberBuilt's 10 ft square ships with a steel cross base made to hold four 80 lb granite tiles, which are sold separately.
• Surface plate. Bolts to a deck, patio or concrete. Shadowspec's uses 316 stainless steel.
• In ground anchor. Set in a concrete footing for a permanent install, and the mount recommended on the Serenity for high wind areas.
• Wall bracket. For spots where ground mounting isn't possible. See wall mounted umbrellas if that is your situation.

Some makers sell the base on its own. Ledge Lounger builds the Ultra for on deck use with several base and direct mount positions, and the base is a separate purchase. You can compare umbrella bases and stands or look at in ground umbrella mounts for a new deck.

Buyers ask us for the base footprint so they can picture it on their grass, pavers or deck before ordering. You should ask for it too, especially if space is somewhat limited.

Choose your mount

Shadowspec Serenity Square

Gas piston lift and 360 degree rotation, with a base, surface plate, in ground anchor or wall bracket to choose from.

From $5,231.10 See mounts →

Check 2: What size and shape do you need?

Size the canopy to the area you want shaded, not just the table under it. Measure that area in feet and match it to the canopy footprint. Our cantilever umbrella sizing guide has a coverage chart for exactly that.

Shape follows the layout. Square canopies suit square and rectangular setups like a dining table or a row of loungers. Octagons are the round option for round tables and loose groupings, and on some lines they come in the bigger sizes. The Shadowspec Serenity, for example, is square at 8 and 10 feet and octagon at 11 and 13 feet. For 11 feet and up, see large patio umbrellas.

Check the reach as well, especially when the shade has to land over water or past a fence. On the Shadowspec Serenity, the distance from the mounting spigot to the canopy edge runs from 8'8" on the 8 foot square to 12'10" on the 13 foot octagon, with about 7'2" to 7'4" of clearance under the open canopy.

Longest reach

Shadowspec Serenity Octagon

11 and 13 foot octagons, with up to 12'10" from the spigot to the canopy edge.

From $5,446.35 View sizes →

Check 3: How does it open and move?

Look at three things here: the lift that opens and closes the canopy, rotation around the pole, and tilt toward low sun. Not every cantilever rotates or tilts, so check each one on the model you want.

Lift types vary from maker to maker, and this can have a bigger impact on your experience than you may realize. Shadowspec gives the Serenity a gas piston assisted lift, Ledge Lounger fits the Ultra with a crank and a removable handle, and FiberBuilt's 10 ft square opens with a trigger lift.

On movement, the Serenity and the Ultra both rotate 360 degrees, and the Ultra adds infinity tilt. If tilt is a must for you, tilt patio umbrellas are grouped in one place.

Tilt and rotate

Ledge Lounger Ultra 11' Octagon

Crank lift, infinity tilt and 360 degree rotation. Cover and wind stabilizer kit included, base sold separately.

$4,129.00 View the Ultra →

Check 4: How much wind can a cantilever umbrella handle?

It depends on the model and on how well it is anchored. As a benchmark for a high end cantilever, Shadowspec rates the Serenity for Beaufort 5 when properly anchored. On the Beaufort wind scale, force 5 is a fresh breeze of 19 to 24 mph.

Read the maker's rating as the most the umbrella is built for, and close it when the wind goes past that. Some makers add hardware for wind, too: Ledge Lounger includes a wind stabilizer kit with the Ultra. Our guide to the best cantilever umbrellas for wind goes deeper on this check.

Check 5: What canopy fabric and frame should you look for?

Look for a canopy fabric made for sun and water and a frame built to resist corrosion. Here is how two makers describe theirs:

• Shadowspec Serenity. Solution dyed acrylic (Sunbrella or an equivalent marine grade fabric) rated UPF 80, which resists chlorine, mold and mildew. The frame is marine grade aluminum with 316 stainless steel components.
• Ledge Lounger Ultra. A UV and stretch resistant marine grade canopy fabric. The mast, joints and frame are extruded aluminum with stainless steel hardware.
  

Being near a coastal environment makes this check even more important, because of how harsh the environment can be on certain materials. If you live on a beachfront property, you likely have some experience with this.

If Sunbrella is on your list, see patio umbrellas available in Sunbrella.

Check 6: What comes in the box?

Make sure you're clear on what's included with your purchase, because cantilevers differ a lot in what ships with them.

• Base. Included on some, like the FiberBuilt 10 ft square's steel cross base (the granite tiles are extra). Sold separately on others, like the Ledge Lounger Ultra. Shadowspec has you choose a base or mount when you order.
• Cover. Ledge Lounger includes a polyester protective cover with the Ultra. Shadowspec sells its Protection Cover as an option.
• Lights. On some models, lighting is an option you decide on at checkout. Every Shadowspec umbrella ships with an LED light in the hub, and you buy the rechargeable Smart Battery to use it.

The lighting option is the one that catches buyers out. We have had customers unpack an umbrella, search the box for a charger and remote, and find none, because they skipped the lighting option when they ordered. Decide on lights before you check out. Patio umbrellas with lights are all in one place if you want them.

Check 7: How long does a cantilever umbrella last, and what does the warranty cover?

The warranty is the clearest number a maker puts in writing, so read it closely and check whether the terms are for home or commercial use. Shadowspec, for example, covers the Serenity's fabric for 10 years and the frame for 6 years on residential installs, or 3 years on commercial ones.

Most warranty claims go straight to the manufacturer. One of our customers broke a rotation lock lever and got the replacement part through the maker. So choose a reputable brand, and a seller that the brand themselves stands behind.

We are an authorized dealer, and each brand we carry is vetted to Resorts Depot partnership standards. Every product is fully authentic and comes with the full manufacturer warranty. Before you buy, we match prices from authorized US dealers. And after you buy, if you find a lower price, we beat it by 2%. That applies to regular prices and total delivered price, and excludes sales, promotions and clearance.

How to choose a cantilever umbrella at a glance

Here are the seven checks side by side, each with a real model as an example of one answer. They show the range, not a ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a square or round cantilever umbrella better?

Neither is better across the board. Pick the shape that matches what you are shading: square for square or rectangular layouts like a dining table or a row of loungers, and octagon, the round option, for round tables and loose groupings. On some lines the octagon also comes in the larger sizes. The sizing guide covers shape in more detail.

What is the largest cantilever umbrella you can buy?

Multi-canopy cantilever umbrellas are definitely the largest you can buy. Single canopy cantilevers reach 13 feet on lines like the Shadowspec Serenity, which tops out at a 13 foot octagon. Ledge Lounger also makes a 13 foot octagon Ultra. For more canopies 11 feet and up, see large patio umbrellas.

Do cantilever umbrellas come with a base?

Some do and some don't. FiberBuilt's 10 ft square ships with a steel cross base, though the granite tiles that weight it are sold separately. Ledge Lounger sells the Ultra's base separately, and Shadowspec has you choose a base or mount when you order. Check the listing before you compare prices, since the base changes your total.