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9 best shade sails that will outshine any garden brolly

These overhead canopies will keep your corner of paradise cool

Ali Howard
Tuesday 25 June 2024 11:06 EDT
Many shade sails are weather proofed with UV protection and are resistance to the odd shower
Many shade sails are weather proofed with UV protection and are resistance to the odd shower (iStock/The Independent)
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A thoughtfully positioned shade sail can be the epicentre of your outdoor space – guaranteed to impress guests if you’re planning on taking your hosting al fresco skills to the next level this summer (and beyond), they’re practical, but they can look great too.

A garden parasol may spring to mind when we think how we can shade our gardens, but the shade sail is not to be overlooked. These canopies offer a plenthora of perks, in particular, that it doesn’t require a brolly pole, which can be a nuisance when they get in the way of your conversation.

Another upside is just how much shade they create across your garden or patio space. This will open up even more space for kids to muck about, and for you and your guests to sit back and relax in the knowledge there’s some level of protection from the sun, whether that’s in a hammock, hanging egg chair or sat at your bistro set with a glass of something cool.

Typically rectangle, triangle or square in shape, most shade sails are made from a tough polyethylene fabric, which gives you excellent UV protection, and offer water-resistance and weatherproof qualities, too. Breathability is also a factor – you want to feel sheltered from the sun but also comfortable underneath.

Just like garden brollies, these canopies come in a whole range of sizes, styles and budgets, so we’ve rounded up the 10 best shade sails to suit your outdoor space – and wallet.

How we tested the best sail shades

One of the shade sails in action
One of the shade sails in action (Ali Howard)

We tried a range of shade sails in different shapes and sizes on our patio space, looking for durability, quality of finish, weather resistance, ease of use and, importantly, whether the sail gave us adequate cover from the sun. We weighed up affordability with great design, looking for the best value and quality combined.

The best shade sails for 2024 are:

  • Best shade sail overall – Kookaburra 3m triangle shade sail: £16.23, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget shade sail – VonHaus botanical print 2x3m shade sail: £12.99, Vonhaus.com
  • Best lightweight shade sail – Pacific Lifestyle 4m 90 degree triangle shade: £129.99, Jbfurniture.co.uk
  • Best shade sail for larger spaces – Swift sun shade sail 4m x 6m, rectangle: £64.99, Amazon.co.uk

Kookaburra 3m triangle shade sail

best shade sail indybest review Kookaburra 3m triangle shade sail.
  • Best: Shade sail overall
  • Size: 3m
  • Colours: Blue, grey, green, ivory, lime green, mocha brown, mushroom, white, sand, orange, yellow
  • Why we love it
    • Affordable
    • High UV protection
    • Good choice of colours available
  • Take note
    • Must be tied to an existing structure

One of Amazon’s bestsellers, with a wealth of positive reviews to prove it, this triangular sail is made from a high-density woven polyester and boasts an impressive 96.5 per cent UV protection with a UPF of 34.

With a tighter weave than some, this canopy is ideal for our unpredictable British weather, giving us shelter from the odd downpour but without the fear of overheating when the sun finally decides to shine.

This shade sail features tough webbing loops with a 1.5m rope supplied for each corner, and it proves a toughie in windy weather, too. It’s available in a range of muted tones, as well as some playful brights, from classic ivory (pictured) to a summer-ready yellow.

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Pacific Lifestyle 4m 90 degree triangle shade

best shade sail review 2024 indybest Pacific Lifestyle 4m 90 degree triangle shade, off white
  • Best: Lightweight shade sail
  • Size: 4m
  • Colours: Off white, sand
  • Why we love it
    • Open structure fabric
    • Mould resistant
    • Strong D rings
  • Take note
    • Pricey

Spanning a whopping 4m, this is a shade sail that means business. Despite its impressive size, it proves surprisingly lightweight in the fabric, and yet reliably sturdy when it comes to metal fastenings – here you’ll find hefty chains where most other shade sails feature less hardwearing polyester ropes.

The canopy is made from a highly durable HDPE – or high-density polyethylene, in layman’s terms – with an open structure that makes it both water and wind permeable. It also promises to be mould resistant and we’re told we can leave it outside from March to September.

Probably most importantly, this canopy lays claim to 90 to 95 per cent protection against harmful rays.

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Cox & Cox tasselled canopy

best shade sails review indybest 2024 Cox & Cox tasselled canopy
  • Best: Most attractive shade sail
  • Size: 3m x 2m
  • Colours: White / black
  • Why we love it
    • Classic design
    • Water repellent
  • Take note
    • UV protection level unspecified

If you like the idea of a functional shade sail in the garden but you’re worried about a huge lime-green triangle upsetting your aesthetic, you might prefer this pretty number from Cox & Cox.

The soft-white canopy is made from 100 per cent polyester and features contrasting black tassels in cotton. Adding a touch of whimsy to your patio space, pergola or lawn, it makes an attractive addition, with the tassels gently swaying in the breeze.

On the practical side, this shade sail doesn’t boast any particular level of UV protection, but when relaxing underneath it, you can certainly feel relief from the sun. It’s also reliably water repellent and will forgive the odd spring or summer shower, though it’s advised you bring it inside during the winter months.

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Fatboy Miasun biarritz beach tent

best shade sail review 2024 indybest Fatboy Miasun biarritz beach tent
  • Best: Versatile shade sail
  • Size: 330cm x 190cm (140cm pole height)
  • Colours: Taupe / blue
  • Why we love it
    • Nautical design
    • Folds up into a handy pouch
    • Freestanding
  • Take note
    • Made from cotton, not polyester
    • Pricey

Everybody loves a nautical stripe, and while this is technically sold as a beach tent, it also makes for a nifty shade sail in the back garden. What we love about this product is that it’s both lightweight and compact – and therefore totally versatile and ready to go up in a jiffy.

The canopy comes with a pair of foldable aluminium poles, much like those you find in camping tents, and while the poles are slim, they prove sturdy and windproof. The striped canopy itself is made from a densely woven cotton, which goes a long way in protecting us from damaging sunlight.

With its poles and its pegs, this freestanding shade sail is great for the middle of the lawn, as it doesn’t have to rely on existing structures to tie onto.

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Clara Shade Sails rectangle blue sun shade sail

best shade sail waterproof sun shade
  • Best: Shade sail for a colour pop
  • Size: 2m x 3m; 3m x 4m; 3m x 5m
  • Colours: Blue
  • Why we love it
    • Excellent UV protection
    • Top-quality craftsmanship
  • Take note
    • Must be tied to an existing structure

You’d expect a quality product from a company whose raison d’être is shade sails, and Clara’s gorgeous blue canopy doesn’t disappoint.

Available in triangular, square or rectangle configurations, this canopy proves pleasingly lightweight and is therefore a doddle to hang up.

Despite its lightness, it is surprisingly strong: think stainless steel D rings sewn into each corner with 2m lengths of tough nylon ropes. Blocking up to 98 per cent of harmful UV rays, and with water-resistant properties, this is a practical sail that also offers a vibrant colour pop.

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Swift sun shade sail 4m x 6m, rectangle

best shade sail waterproof sun shade
  • Best: Shade sail for larger spaces
  • Size: 4m x 6m
  • Colours: Cream
  • Why we love it
    • Blocks most UV rays
    • Durable
  • Take note
    • Just the one colour available

Reaching an impressive 6m across, this shade sail is a great choice for those with an expansive property – and an enviably spacious patio, or even outdoor pool. With a product this size, you want to ensure it’s properly supported with sturdy fittings that won’t let it sag in the middle – and the Swift sail does just that.

Crafted from a high-density polyethylene fabric, the sail boasts a textural, knitted make-up, which allows both air and light to pass through it, leading to a more comfortable experience underneath. The Swift sail blocks up to 98 per cent of UV rays and boasts strong stainless steel D rings, durable ropes and, reassuringly, is also finished with a double layer of reinforced edges.

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Dakota Fields minquadale 4m x 5m rectangular shade sail

best shade sail waterproof sun shade
  • Best: Heavy-duty shade sail
  • Size: 4m x 5m
  • Colours: Yellow, grey, cream
  • Why we love it
    • Breathable
    • Extra large
    • Includes installation hardware
  • Take note
    • You’ll need to get your tool kit out

This is one heavy-duty shade sail that promises to last for many summers to come. It’s significantly more expensive than most in this round-up, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the sail comes complete with everything you’d need to hang it up, including strong tension straps, ring eyelet screws and dowels.

In a choice of cream, grey or yellow (think more mustard than canary), the minquadale sail is made from 100 per cent high-density polyethylene and is both air and water permeable, meaning the canopy is comfortably cool and breathable, if not entirely water-proof.

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Henrietta Concha shade sail in coconut fibres

best shade sail waterproof sun shade
  • Best: Planet-friendly shade sail
  • Size: 13 sizes from 2m x 3m to 4m x 6m
  • Colours: Natural
  • Why we love it
    • Natural materials
    • Sustainable
    • Casts beautiful shadows
  • Take note
    • You’ll need to budget to include high delivery cost
    • Expensive – from £150 to £600

If you’re after a sustainable alternative to man-made shade sails, then this one, crafted from coconut coir, ticks all the right boxes. The all-natural product features a gridded design, which awards the sail a bit of structure, whilst providing adequate support, with no sagging in the centre. Hardy and tolerant to rain, the coconut fibres will double in weight when wet but they dry in a jiffy – ideal for our unpredictable weather.

Thanks to its looser weave than most polyethylene products, the substantial sail gently filters and protects us from the sunlight, casts beautiful shadows, and brings a laid-back bohemian vibe to our patio space.

The canopy comes in a huge range of sizes (from £150 for the smallest to £600 for the largest) and is tied using its integrated coir rope loops, which are reinforced with metal for larger sails.

  1.  £148 from Etsy.com
Prices may vary
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Atkin & Thyme Rodin 3.5m sail shade

best shade sail Atkin & Thyme Rodin 3.5m sail shade
  • Best: Freestanding shade sail
  • Size: 3.5m (260cm pole height)
  • Colours: Grey, beige
  • Why we love it
    • Standalone design
    • Sturdy poles
    • Easily assembled

This substantial shade sail is a standalone affair, thanks to its hefty powder-coated steel frame. It’s ideal if you’re after a more long-term set-up on your decking, and it really comes into its own at a garden party with its heavy-duty water repellent polyester fabric. That said, if you don’t want it covering your patio space for the entirety of the summer, it proves relatively quick and easy to take down and put up again. The sail boasts a PU coating for extra protection and comes with awning tensioners as well as fixing loops to ensure it’s nice and taut and angled in exactly the right position to give you shelter. While this one’s not cheap, its quality is palpable.

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Shade sail FAQs

How do shade sails work?

Unlike parasol shades, which are held in place by one solitary pole, shade sails are stretched by their corners from a number of anchor points (often reinforced with double stitching and have either metal D rings or integrated webbing loops for a secure fit), which are mounted to your outdoor space. A good example of these fixing points could include anything from outbuildings and garden fences to walls and even just the side of your house. This then creates tension which holds them in place.

If you’re lucky enough to have mature trees in your garden, look for a shade sail with a good length of rope ties – some reach 2.5m, which is more than enough to tie around an old tree trunk. If you’re looking to hang your shade sail from the back of your property, always fix it with hooks strong enough to withstand heavy winds. And whether you’re tying your sail to existing structures, or it comes complete with sturdy poles, make sure you angle it at around 30 degrees for drainage.

Can you leave shade sails up in winter?

As most shade sails are designed with variable weather conditions in mind, many of them will be water resistant and weatherproof to some degree. In the inevitably that it does start to rain in the winter (or summer), you will want to keep your shade at a slight angle to prevent any rain from puddling in the canopy.

Also worth noting is that the shade should really be taken down during snowfall as heavy snow can also cause some damage to the shade and anchor points. As for higher winds in winter, materials are often quite porous so that when the wind does get especially whippy, even stronger gusts can travel through without causing too much pull.

The verdict: Shade sails

We were impressed with Kookaburra’s 3m triangle shade sail for its top quality, its ease of use, and its vast range of colours. Its shaping makes it look like a boat sail, which lends a cool, nautical look to our patio space, all the while protecting us from harmful rays.

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