Best Outdoor Patio Umbrellas With Lights Reviews

Let’s face it, mother nature isn’t always so kind with having your outdoor BBQ, and there are times when a passing rain shower or the beaming hot sun can put a damper on your day. Especially if your outdoor plans call for grilling out with family and friends. When the sun starts to dip low in the sky, and night starts to fall, you might not want to go outside because it’s too dark outside. Yet blazing yard lights and the bugs they attract aren’t really the kind of guests you want.

For times like this, a patio umbrella with some lights installed can really save the day. They create the perfect ambiance and mood to your gathering as the sun goes down, allowing just enough light to see who you’re talking to, but not too bright as to feel like you’r sitting under baseball stadium lights. Patio furniture manufacturers are keen on this, and they’ve been quick to flood the market with LED patio umbrellas to fit every occasion and price point. Unfortunately, some of them cut corners in material selection, design, or build quality.

So, before you pull the trigger and invest in any patio umbrella with lights, you want to first think about a few key criteria.

Basic Shape Of The Canopy

While it might not seem like a big deal, a canopy that is the wrong shape for the table can leave you with a lot of uncovered precious square inches. Not to mention looking odd when viewed from afar. If you have a square table, it usually best to choose a square patio umbrella. If you have a round table, it’s best to choose a round patio umbrella. Also, some other features are the type of crank top raise and lower the umbrella, as well as the ability to tilt, which is a great feature to block the sun as it moves through the sky.

Size Of The Umbrella Canopy

Coming in at a very close second is the size of the canopy. This is a time when you want to take out the old tape measure and make sure that you’ve got a complete understanding of the size of your patio table. Especially if your patio table has a solid surface because even a few uncovered square inches could lead to a lot of runoff rain pooling on even the previously protected parts of the table. Ideally, you want to shoot for a patio umbrella that’s at least 20% larger than your patio table. That way you still have a little wiggle room to keep the patio chairs protected.

Fabric Of The Patio Umbrella Canopy

The fabric material of the patio umbrella’s canopy can be a factor in a few different ways. Right off the bat the water-resistance value or waterproofness of the fabric plays an important role in keeping the patio table dry. Especially if you plan to frequently use the patio to serve food for guests or as a place to play cards. The UV resistance is also an important factor in the long-term value of the canopy. Without proper UV resistance, the color can fade even over the course of a single summer of full exposure. Extensive UV damage can even start to compromise the stitching as the years go by.

Common Canopy Fabric Materials

Alkene

Sometimes known as olefin, this is a hydrocarbon compound, which has superior waterproofing qualities. It tends to be more affordable than some of the competitor materials. Though it’s UV properties aren’t as good.

Polyester

This is a synthetic fiber made from petroleum-based products and other polymers to create fibers that can be turned into a fabric. It relies on a chemical bond between specially formulated acids and alcohol compounds. It tends to be water-resistant on it’s own and will accept secondary waterproof treatments like camp dry. It also tends to have superior UV resistance.

Sunbrella

This is a relatively new material that has been specially formulated to be ecologically friendly. To the point that they can even be easily recycled. It also has superior UV resistance compared to many other materials. Though the price can sometimes be a little higher, as it is a relatively new material with a higher cost per unit production. Still, it gives you a great chance for a maximum return on your investment.

Acrylic

This is a lightweight material that’s known for being soft. It is also microscopically porous as a fiber which means it can be dyed by the manufacturer in a wide range of vibrant colors. This amazing spectrum increasing the chance of finding the right umbrella to match your exterior color concept. Though acrylic

Vinyl

Probably the biggest advantage of vinyl umbrellas is that they tend to be very low cost. They’re also lightweight and easy to handle, which also makes a vinyl umbrella easy to store. Vinyl umbrellas also do a good job of blocking UV light, though color is a factor. However, vinyl umbrellas also tend to sun fade with time, so you might not see a robust return on your initial investment. Yet the low price tag of these umbrellas rarely leaves you with buyer’s remorse.

Tilting To Better Block The Sun

The Earth keeps turning, which means the sun is constantly on the move throughout skies. Sometimes the angle of the sun can be annoyingly low. To the point where it shines in your eyes even with the umbrella being fully deployed. Having the ability to tilt the pole in the middle to the top third will give you the opportunity to adjust the protection of your patio umbrella to your situation.

Lift To Control The Height

Different umbrella poles lift and deploy the canopy in various ways. If you’re a strong person with robust shoulder muscles, you might be able to save a few dollars on a patio umbrella with a manual lift system. If you aren’t exactly known for being burly or particularly tall, you might want to look for a patio umbrella pole with a crank or some other type of assist feature.

Base For Stability

With so much weight up top and the ability to catch wind like a sail, you want a patio umbrella base that has some weight to it. Ideally, a base that you can easily add water or sand to will let you change position easily. If the base is not secure or weighted down enough, guaranteed the entire umbrella will either take off, or at least lift up enough to knock over a table and anything on top it. So in short, don’t skimp on the base!

Type Of Lights For Outdoor Umbrellas

Battery, solar or plug-in electric are the choices available. Let’s face it, not all outdoor patios come with power conveniently available. Some might need a battery-powered lighting system, a solar-powered lighting system, or perhaps just a convenient way to conceal a power cord from view. Ideally, you want to choose a patio umbrella with energy-efficient lights like LEDs. There are some umbrellas that might not come with lights built-in, but have fasteners available to hang your own string lights.

Which Are The Best Patio Umbrellas With Lights We Recommend?

10ft 360-Degree LED Cantilever Offset Hanging Market Patio Umbrella w/Easy Tilt

5 new from $159.99
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

10ft Solar LED Lighted Patio Umbrella w/Tilt Adjustment, Fade-Resistant Fabric

$67.99 $89.99 in stock
1 new from $67.99
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

10ft Cantilever Outdoor Market Umbrella 32 Solar LED Lights

Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

10 ft 2 Layers Patio Umbrella with 40 LED Solar Lights

Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

9 ft Solar Umbrella 32 LED Lighted Patio Umbrella

$69.99 in stock
1 new from $69.99
5 used from $59.24
Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

15ft Solar LED Large Patio Umbrella Double-Sided Lighted Umbrellas with 36 LED Light

$219.99 in stock
1 new from $219.99
1 used from $165.42
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

Sunbrella Solar 9ft 3 Tiers Market Umbrella with 80 LED Lights

$229.95 in stock
1 new from $229.95
Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

9FT Patio Umbrella Solar Powered Outdoor Umbrella, Market Umbrella with 8LED Lights Bars

Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 4:21 pm

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