Patio Umbrella, Market Umbrella and Offset Umbrella Fabrics: There are many outdoor umbrella fabric options available for today's Patio Umbrellas and Market Umbrellas including (in order indicating least quality to best quality) Plastic, Cotton, Vinyl, Polyester, Olefin and Solution-Dyed Acrylics. The decision you make about an umbrella fabric will establish the durability and lasting attractiveness of your new patio or market umbrella and will affect the cost as well. Consider how often you will be using the umbrella when deciding how much you would like to spend.
Here is some additional information about the better umbrella fabric offerings:
Sunbrella:
100% 8 ounce (or more) solution-dyed acrylic fabric with locked-in colors.
Stands up to sun, wind, and rain without fading, retaining its original beauty for years.
Mildew does not grow on Sunbrella fabric as long as there is no food, dirt or other organic matter on the umbrella cover. Sunbrella umbrella fabrics have been tested and proven to give up to 98% UV protection in shade applications and have been awarded the "Seal of Recommendation" by The Skin Cancer Foundation, an international organization dedicated to the prevention of skin cancer.
Three-year warranty against fading.
Sunbrella Umbrellas: There is general misunderstanding in the consumer world regarding umbrellas with Sunbrella fabrics. Many people refer to and or call them Sunbrella Umbrellas, however, Sunbrella is merely a fabric that is made by a manufacturer, called Glen Raven Mills, who makes many types of fabrics including, furniture fabrics, marine fabrics, awning fabrics, and specialty fabrics with graphics. Sunbrella fabrics are highly regarded as the premier outdoor fabric in the world and are the recognized leader in the industry. If you are looking to purchase a patio umbrella or outdoor cushion for your backyard, patio or pool area, we highly recommend considering Sunbrella fabrics. With hundreds of outdoor fabric choices to choose from and a 3 year fade warrantee, you just can’t go wrong.
Suncrylic:
100% 7 oz solution-dyed acrylic fabric provides colorfastness.
Cleans with ease.
Gives extra UV protection.
One-year warranty against fading.
SunDura:
100% 10oz. yarn-dyed fabric provides colorfastness.
Easy to clean.
PU (polyurethane) coating provides extra water repellent features.
Quick drying, abrasion resistant fabric.
Extra UV protection.
1 year warranty against fading.
Olefin:
100% 7 oz solution-dyed acrylic fabric provides colorfastness.
High density, light weight woven fabric.
Holds bright colors well and resists fading
Durable, easy to clean, stain and abrasion resistant.
Cleans with ease.
Gives extra UV protection.
One-year warranty against fading.
Coolaroo:
Unique High density Knitted Polyethylene fabric by Coolaroo®
Provides up to 90% UV block
Allows cover to ‘Breathe’ reducing temperatures underneath by up to a third
Resists mold and mildew
Easy to clean
Five year warranty against UV degradation
Texsilk:
High grade solution-dyed Olefin umbrella-grade outdoor fabric.
Excellent UV protection.
Mold, mildew, fade, and water resistant (machine washable).
One-year warranty.
Polyester:
FAQs
Sunbrella is the most popular fabric for outdoor cantilever umbrellas because it is durable, as well as stain- and weather-resistant. Acrylic is soft, lightweight, and can easily be dyed in vibrant and colorful shades.
Is Olefin or polyester better for patio umbrellas? ›
The regular Olefin fabric is at least 8 times more fade-resistant than the polyester fabric that is found on the majority of patio umbrellas, and the Starbric is at least 20 times more fade-resistant than regular polyester.
What kind of fabric is used for umbrellas? ›
Silk, acetate, rayon, and nylon make rain- and sun- resistant fabrics for umbrellas. Transparent umbrellas may be made from vinyl plastic. Outer sheaths may be made from the same material as the canopy or from leather or plastic.
Which is better terylast or Sunbrella fabric? ›
Fade & UV Rays Resistant
The Sunbrella fabric is also fade resistant and protects against UV rays, much like the Terylast. However, Sunbrella has also been a winner of the International Seal of Recommendation for UV fabric/ Umbrellas Awnings by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Is olefin better than Sunbrella? ›
Both Sunbrella and Olefin are reliable options for outdoor furniture. However, Olefin ekes out the other material for its relative affordability, superior comfort, exceptional eco-friendliness and incredible water resistance.
What is the best umbrella material? ›
Polyester. Polyester is a fabric or material that is produced from a synthetic polymer, also known as polyethene terephthalate (PET). Because this fabric is extremely durable, it makes an excellent material choice for umbrella material.
What is a disadvantage of olefin? ›
Olefin is not a resilient fiber. When crushed it does not regain its original shape easily. Traffic areas tend to lie down, showing “apparent soiling”. Furniture marks can be permanent reminders to the owner of where his furniture used to be. It is a very heat sensitive fiber.
What is the most durable material for patio umbrellas? ›
Sunbrella® has long been the industry's leading material for outdoor. Sunbrella fabrics are available in nearly all conceivable colors and grades.
What fabric is like Sunbrella but cheaper? ›
Outdura fabrics maintain their color saturation over time, making them a reliable choice for outdoor applications exposed to prolonged sunlight. Olefin, also known as polypropylene, is a cost-effective alternative to Sunbrella. It offers good resistance to UV rays and is suitable for various outdoor applications.
Is olefin good for patio umbrella? ›
Olefin is a fantastic umbrella fabric. Olefin has amazing UV resistance and dries quickly when wet. Olefin has been developed since the 1960's so colors, texture, and style are available. This makes it perfect for outdoor design and entertainment areas.
Olefin is a good choice for consumers on a budget who are looking for a durable and low-maintenance option. It is resistant to stains and fading, making it a good choice for occasional outdoor use.
What brand is comparable to Sunbrella? ›
Both Outdura and Sunbrella are leading, reputable brands in the world of outdoor fabrics.
What is the best material for a sun umbrella? ›
While all patio umbrellas are meant to be water- and sun-proof, we found that some materials were more durable than others. "The most common and best outdoor fabrics are Sunbrella and Ottertex," says Deborah Young, a textile expert, author, and instructor of textile science.
How many years does Sunbrella fabric last? ›
We have seen black fabric that is in constant, direct sunlight at Lake Powell last up to 12-16 years. In contrast, we have seen colors in the range of Hemp Beige to Natural failing in as little as 4 years. Yes, Sunbrella will warranty the fabric, but they don't always cover the labor to re-fabricate the cover.
What material should a patio umbrella be made of? ›
Acrylic fabric – Sunbrella
It will look bright as ever for years to come! Sunbrella acrylic is available in several solid colors, designs, and patterns. It is ideally used for outdoor umbrellas, shades, upholstery, pillows, etc.
Is nylon or polyester better for umbrella? ›
Both polyester and nylon are good fabric choices for an umbrella as they are waterproof and very flexible. For a folding umbrella design, both of these options are suitable for stretching and are lightweight too.
What color patio umbrella is best for sun protection? ›
When it comes to sun protection and blocking UV rays, the best color patio umbrella to block sun is black. Without getting into physics too much, dark colors (and especially black) tend to absorb more light and, therefore, block more heat coming from the sun on a summer day.
