The best garden parasols for optimum sun coverage, tested in our interiors expert's garden

Telegraph

6 days ago

When the British summertime finally serves up dazzling sunshine, there's no better pastime than relaxing in the garden, on some outdoor furniture with a chilled drink in hand. A parasol will shield you from the glare, and is essential for alfresco dining in the midday sun.
There are offerings from homeware retailers for simple and static upright styles costing less than £100, to cantilevered canopies costing close to four figures which come with speakers and LED lights to make those sundowners truly memorable.
Not to mention, their varied look and feel: simple, perfunctory designs will blend seamlessly into a garden, whereas a design-led style will add to the feeling of escaping elsewhere. Our FAQ section at the bottom of the page answers any questions you might have.
Ultimately, you want a well-made model that will see you through many balmy seasons to come. After testing a batch of popular designs from Ikea, Dunelm, Kettler and other leading brands, these are our best buys in a quick list.
The best garden parasols: At a glance
How to choose the best garden parasol
Space and portability are some of the main things to consider when choosing a parasol for your outdoor space. A nine-foot-tall leanover requires a sizeable base and is difficult to carry around to various sun-traps in the garden on a whim.
Storage is also key: can your garage house a giant structure come winter? Although upright styles will need to be inserted in a dining table's hole to provide cover, once taken apart they are usually no taller than waist-height and can be tucked away in the corner of a shed.
For a large suntrap, a cantilever will usually offer the most shade. Unlike 'normal' parasols, cantilever styles allow you to stretch the umbrella away from its stand, over the area of your choice, which means more space to move around underneath. By the nature of their design, they don't need to be positioned centrally in order to prove effective.
Beyond shade, most canopy fabrics offer additional sun protection thanks to their UV protective coating. Prioritise a parasol with a high Ultraviolet Protectin Factor (UPF) if you're after extra sun safety.
How we test garden parasols
Over several weeks, I tested over a dozen parasols from various brands in my back garden, using them during sunny moments and meal times. I scored them on the initial assembly and how easy it was to get all the parts into position.
I then compared usability, from how the opening mechanisms work, to the versatility of the available functions. I explored the materials of the canopies (cotton versus polyester) and the poles (steel versus aluminium). I also considered how simple they were to put down and stash out of the wind.
While bases weren't reviewed for this guide, I have noted which sorts are required as part of the testing, as not one size fits all. There are basic stands which are adaptable for various pole widths, to those which need to be weighted with sand or water to hold down the more cumbersome leanover styles.
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The best parasols of 2025
1. Best Buy: Ikea Seglaro Hanging Parasol
As you'd expect from the Swedish flatpack giant, the Seglaro parasol came with two booklets' worth of instructions and a trio of hex keys. Assembly wasn't tricky, but it still required two people owing to parasol's sizeable height and weight. A base is essential to keep this leanover style from toppling over. I transposed the heavy base slabs from another retailer when testing, but Ikea sells a set of four polyester triangles which are designed to be filled with sand for a reasonable £29.
Spanning 330cm by 240cm, this parasol is enormous, covering a large chunk of my patio. It features a UPF rating of 50+ and is water-repellant. Overall, the mechanisms felt premium and sturdy. The lift-up handle operates in a similar way to a staple-gun: push the button to release then move it up – leaving no room for error. As a small person, I also liked that I wasn't having to throw my bodyweight to grapple it into position.
Many of the parasols tested feature a universal crank, which is clearly manufactured in the same factory, but this one was in-keeping with the design and felt more robust. The turn function on this style is also clever, as it can be rotated 360 degrees and held into place with a pin in the base.
Once folded, a strap with a buckle keeps the umbrella in place. The pole is made of aluminium so it won't rust, which is just as well as the Seglaro stands at 260cm tall, making it tricky to store in a garage without dismantling it first. Its unapologetically grey colour might also be off-putting for those looking to inject some colour into their garden
Key specifications
Parasol type: Leanover
Canopy span: 330cm
Height: 260cm
Weight: Unspecified
Opening mechanism: Crank
2. Best Value: La Redoute Riva Round Aluminium Garden Parasol 2.5m
At the time of testing, the price of this style by French retailer La Redoute was £87.99 (down from £109.99) and so was comparatively priced to other mid-range models. And it felt the most premium of the ones I tested under £100.
It comes in three parts including the plastic finial, which you screw into the top. The fact that it's made from aluminium adds to its premium appearance. The poles come in a matt finish but the key detail which sets it apart is the crank function.
The Dunelm, George and Habitat styles tested below share exactly the same mechanism, which feels like a standard add-on and isn't reflective of each one's overall design. Here, the crank is in the same finish as the poles, which makes it feel more cohesive and robust.
This model tilts and you don't have to be a giant to make it perform. At five foot four, I could easily reach the metal indent which needs to be pressed to activate the motion. This is a clever feature on an upright style which saves you moving the base around (I used a universal base to secure it into place).
With a vent for airflow and a tie to wrap the canopy when not in use, this model delivered on form, function and accessibility, and could easily be put back in its box.
Key specifications
Parasol type: Upright
Canopy span: 250cm
Height: 232cm
Weight: Six kilograms
Opening mechanism: Crank
If you're after a solid investment piece, then this style by garden specialist Kettler should be a key contender. It comes with all the additional features you might expect from a premium product, including a wireless clip-on speaker, built-in LED lights and UV50+ resistance canopy.
This model arrived in a box measuring almost nine feet and I handed over the assembly to my husband: the aluminium frame is heavy but this plays into its sturdiness. A four-pod base, which you fill with sand and water, is also supplied.
Unlike most parasols, it has full movement capability. The wind-out mechanism is easy to operate and with the pull-pin handle you can tilt the canopy horizontally or vertically. Essentially, once you have it set up in your desired spot, you need never move it again.
The bonus features are what elevates this model: the rechargeable speaker (run time: six to 10 hours) clips on to the stem and projects remarkably good sound quality. The quality of the light source is less atmospheric, but handy to have alongside other portable outside lamps or solar lights. It even has a remote control function for optimum loafing.
It comes with a cover to protect it from the elements and showed no signs of budging in my blustery garden.
Key specifications
Parasol type: Leanover
Canopy span: 330cm
Height: 259cm
Weight: Unspecified
Opening mechanism: Crank
4. Best Portable Garden Parasol: Cox & Cox Floral Fringed Parasol
This reminded me of the sort of parasol you'd take down to the beach. With a pointed pole base and weighing the same as two bags of flour, it's certainly lightweight enough. It also comes with a matching strap, making it easy to carry around.
It's simple enough for one person to put together. The aluminium poles slide into one another and clip into place, which is how you adjust the height. To open the umbrella just push it up until you hear the click over the top spring. No fuss and no lengthy manuals required.
This design doesn't tilt or have a vent, making it refreshingly basic. But it's not all style over substance: the canopy is made from water-repellent polyester which doesn't scream 'synthetic fibres' thanks to its fun, retro-inspired print and long tassels. I was impressed to learn that it also offers UV protection up to factor 30.
Granted, it's more expensive than other budget options, but for that bit extra you get a considered design that sets it apart from the rest. And Cox & Cox almost always run a 20 per cent off promotion, softening the blow when it comes to the price. At time of writing, it was sadly out of stock but customers can sign up to get a notification as soon as it becomes available again.
Key specifications
Parasol type: Upright
Canopy span: 178cm
Height: 215cm
Weight: Two kilograms
Opening mechanism: Push-up
5. Best Parasol for a Country Garden: East London Parasol Green Holly Octagonal Parasol
The level of craftsmanship and quality of materials with East London Parasol was evident as soon as I slipped it out of the box, it even came in a waterproof zip bag for protection. As the pole and umbrella are made from blonde wood, this is reflected in the weightiness of the components. But it was as straightforward to assemble as the metal styles with the two parts easily screwed together.
As its price would suggest, everything about this model is premium: the central joins are wrapped in brass, as is the hook for securing the cord. The spokes are made of wood and the canopy is cotton canvas, so you won't find any hidden plastics here. Putting it up and down required a deep breath though: the central part has to be pushed into place and secured with a peg.
Because of its weight, this style needs proper anchoring and the company sells non-refundable sandstone bases which cost a further £395. All of which conveys that this is more of an ornamental heirloom piece to be cherished rather than absent-mindedly left out. Replacement parts or canopies can be ordered, the brass parts need wiping down and the canopy needs to be pleated when put away. It requires care as you'd expect from a well-crafted piece.
Key specifications
Parasol type: Upright
Canopy span: 200cm
Height: 270cm
Weight: 14kg
Opening mechanism: Manual
6. Best Tilting Parasol: Dunelm 2.7m Cream Parasol with Wood Effect Pole
Imitating a traditional wooden parasol, this style from Dunelm is a robust option for a fraction of the price. It took just minutes to unbox and assemble, as all that's required is for the lower pole to be connected to the umbrella one. Once secured into a base, it's ready to go.
Care has been taken over this product to make it feel more design-driven than other upright styles: the pole boasts a wood-grain effect and the inner spokes are a co-ordinating light shade of brown. There's even a decorative finial detail on the top. The umbrella itself is crafted in polyester for durability, and in a shade of off-white and with a small vented trim on top, it feels more elevated.
This style was simple to crank to fully open by turning the hand-held mechanism – though the handle looked generic and cheap compared to the rest of the design. The tilt function is smart and offers angled sun protection without needing to faff around with moving the base (I used a standard universal parasol base). A tall person is best-placed to do this though, as you have to press the metal indent towards the top of the umbrella to activate it. A strap with a Velcro fastening kept the canopy in place when not in use, and it was easy to dismantle to store away in two parts.
Key specifications
7. Best Large Garden Parasol: George at Asda 3m Leanover Parasol
Just a few screws and washers, along with the included spanner, made this cantilever style straightforward to assemble. One person could manage most of it, but attaching the umbrella to the base was a bit unsteady owing to the weight, so a second pair of hands was required for safety.
The base should be held in place with additional pieces owing to its style and size (I used two sets of quarters suggested by Asda, £49 each, which feature a metal handle for lugging around), though the user guide suggests paving slabs could be used.
The angle and height at which this parasol stands is determined by a push-up handle feature which feels a little clunky to connect and position until you've had a bit of practice. The canopy itself is easy to open and wind down thanks to the crank mechanism.
Once positioned to the side of my seating area, it offered good coverage. When the wind picked-up, it swayed, as it is suspended from a top pole rather than fixed into place. It can be turned, but this was more challenging to master compared to the Ikea model.
Key specifications
Parasol type: Leanover
Canopy dimensions: 300cm
Height: 250cm
Weight: 12.5kg
Opening mechanism: Crank
8. Best Small Garden Parasol: Habitat 2m Square Garden Parasol
Arriving in two parts, putting up this standard style only took me a couple of minutes. Made of lightweight steel, I secured the bottom pole into the universal base and then clicked-in the umbrella section.
This parasol doesn't boast any special features such as tilting or leaning, but the crank mechanism means that any adult can operate the umbrella with confidence. Taking it apart and putting it back in its box for storage also proved effortless. Of course, you're not meant to leave parasols out in the wind, but on the one occasion I did, the lack of strap fastening meant the umbrella blew open in a gust.
At 200cm wide, it's not the largest size on the market, but it offered ample sun protection to shade a dining table. Ignoring any trends for embellishments or mock finishes, the black pole and water-repellent polyester canopy make for a classic style which would suit any garden or patio.
Key specifications
Parasol type: Upright
Canopy span: 200cm
Height: 243cm
Weight: Four kilograms
Opening mechanism: Crank
9. Best Standing Parasol: Good Home Carambole Standing Grey Parasol
If you're after a lightweight, tilting parasol then this model from B&Q ticks all the boxes. It's made from aluminium, so it should have a long life-span.
The lower pole is easy to slot into a base, joins to the other and the canopy pushes up like an umbrella. Considering how nimble it looks in its nifty carry-bag, it offers generous sun coverage (2.6m is the total canopy span).
I found it simple to reach the tilt mechanism but putting it down was another story. I was too short, which forced me to unclip the umbrella section and pull it down on disassembly. On the brighter side, this meant I had no excuse not to tidy all the kit away properly.
While water-repellent and easy to operate, this won't set the design world on fire. It's grey with a capital G, making no bones about its polyester construction and no-frills look.
Key specifications
Parasol type: Upright
Canopy span: 260cm
Height: 223cm
Weight: 2.5kg
Opening mechanism: Push-up
Garden parasol FAQs
Is a garden parasol better than an umbrella?
An umbrella tends to feel flimsier and more low-fi than a parasol; if you are after a wind-up (crank) style which requires minimum intervention once installed, then a fully optimised garden parasol is probably the best choice for you.
A cantilever (or leanover) is the sturdiest of all, requiring a heavy, fixed base to keep it in position and usually offers a better range of movement for tilting and angling than traditional upright styles.
What is the best colour for a garden parasol?
Light, plain colours will be prone to showing dirt after use and will require more care when being put away. That said, the sun is a natural bleaching agent and darker styles may show signs of discolouration after years of use.
Take care to wipe yours down and ensure it is fully dried when parking away to avoid mould growing in damp spots.
Can you leave a parasol out in the rain?
Some fabrics are coated with water-repellent treatments, but to best preserve a parasol's life, it's not advisable to leave it outside for weeks on end. Consider investing in a cover if bringing it in isn't an option, and never leave it open unattended as a gust of wind will likely topple an upright style and the rods may be damaged on impact.
Is a round or square parasol better?
This is more of an aesthetic consideration. A rounded style generally looks softer in a space but depending on your patio design, a square shape may look sharper.