Block the sun, day after day—no umbrella stand required.
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Your backyard beckons when the sun is out, but it’s tough to enjoy it during peak heat. If your patio, deck, or backyard doesn’t get much natural shade, there are plenty of ways to keep cool and make the most of the warm weather. A retractable awning will do the trick, and so will a cantilever umbrella. But one of the easiest—and most affordable— solutions is a shade sail.
A shade sail is exactly what it sounds like, except instead of attaching to a boat’s mast, it attaches to a roof or other permanent structure. Unlike other shade options, shade sails can essentially be set up anywhere that you need shade, not just your patio. The easy setup adds to its versatility, serving as great cover for in-ground pools, patio furniture, and even pergolas.
Shopping for one can feel overwhelming, as there are a ton on the market in assorted sizes and shapes—and unless you’re a shade sail expert, it can be difficult to decipher and decide which one best fits your needs. That’s why we narrowed down the crowded field with a selection of top-rated options to suit a wide range of setups and budgets. Read on for our recommendations, plus essentials to consider before you shop.
The most important thing to determine is just how much space you want to cover. A good rule of thumb is to add at least two inches on all sides beyond the area that will be shaded. Keep in mind that the shade sail will expand and contract slightly (likely no more than a half-inch) depending on weather conditions. The majority of shade sails come in several sizes and colors, plus there are custom options available.
You have a choice of three shapes: triangular, rectangular, or square. While they’re perfectly nice hanging solo, in some spaces—particularly narrow ones—using two or more can create an elegant, upscale look. Triangular shade sails are particularly useful for layering. You can create different shade levels by rigging them up above and below one another, which also looks nice aesthetically, especially if you get a few sails in different colors.
The pricier shade sails on our list include all the hardware and rope you’ll need for installation. With some of the budget buys, you’ll have to spend a bit on supplies, though items like mounting brackets, hooks, and carabiners aren’t terribly expensive. There are also complete hardware kits available for as little as $20.
The majority of shade sails are water-resistant (but not waterproof) and made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fabric, which stretches and allows air to pass through. All offer some degree of UV protection (typically up to 95 percent) and are made to hold up to the elements. While not inherently waterproof, the ventilated, mesh style of the HDPE allows for water to pass through and prevents the formation of potentially damaging puddles on the sails.
That said, if you live in a location that gets snow in winter, drops below freezing, or has a rainy season, you may want to store your shade sail inside for part of the year to protect it from wearing out throughout the off season. If the shade sail you buy comes with a hardware kit, ensure the pieces are made of rust-resistant stainless steel—that’s the case for all of our recommendations below. Additionally, most of the grommets used on shade sails also come with rust- and corrosion-resistant exterior coatings.
It’s best to mount shade sails on a sturdy, permanent structure, whether that’s the roof of your house or posts anchored to the ground with concrete. If you plan on using it to cover your canopy or pergola, make sure to fasten it securely to the sides of the post and that the structure is properly weighed down or grounded.
Positioning one or two corners at varying heights creates what’s known as a hyperbolic or “hypar” canopy. While we’d love to geek on the math and engineering involved, all you really need to know is that it makes your shade sail stronger and looks fancy.
To find the best shade sails out there, we prioritized materials first—durable sails as well as rust- and corrosion-resistant hardware. Then, we vetted for size and ease of setup, making sure each option will stay up for the season. We reviewed hundreds of options, and selected high-performance shade sails crafted from quality fabrics. We also looked for style, and sought out shade sails made by companies with excellent customer service and solid warranties. Beyond this, we looked to our own in-house writing and expertise at Popular Mechanics to make decisions based on experience. These recommendations span a variety of sizes, colors, and price points to fit the needs of any yard or budget.
When it comes to reliability, versatility, and strength, this Aster Outdoor sun shade sail stands out as one of the best. The rectangular sail comes with relatively dense fabric at 180 GSM for long-term durability.
This is further extended to the stainless steel and rust-resistant D-rings. Each D-ring is also connected to stitched seam corners for stronger connection during wind and rain.
The shade sail also comes in different sizes and colors so you can find the option that best fits your yard, pool, or pergola.
This triangle shade sail from Love Story provides excellent value and durability in tandem. The shade sail is one of the most cost-effective options, particularly when on sale.
At the same time, the five-year warranty extended to each of the sails means you can trust it will last you for a while.
Each shade sail is made from one continuous piece of fabric as opposed to those with multiple pieces stitched together, which should provide long-term durability and prevent potential fraying at the seams.
With most shade sails, when a rain cloud hangs over your backyard, it's time to move inside. But this option is truly waterproof, made with super-durable 220 GSM HDPE fabric.
The 12 x 12 x 12–foot shade keeps out 95 percent of UV rays, and is said to significantly lower temperatures. The triangle design offers wide coverage across yards without completely blocking out the sun.
The sail includes an easy-to-follow installation guide, although hardware is not included. This sail comes in a number of bright colors including turquoise, blue, red, yellow, and orange.
If you have a large space to cover, this massive 20-foot oversized triangular shade sail is your best bet. Considering its size, it's also an excellent value, priced at under $50 at the time of this writing.
The shade sail is made of water-resistant HDPE fabric that guards against mold and mildew, plus it blocks up to 95 percent of UV rays.
The triangle style also makes it ideal for layering over the top of your entire yard for protection and aesthetic style.
Keep in mind that while installation is easy and it comes with detailed instruction to follow, you’ll need to purchase additional hardware and rope to set it up.
Sometimes you need a very particular patch of your outdoor space shaded. This shade comes in sizes from 6 x 6 feet to 24 x 24 feet, with a range of color options, from beige to sky blue.
The sun shade is made from 190 GSM HDPE material, which is slightly denser than many other options on our list, and blocks 95 percent of UV rays. The shade comes with a five-year warranty.
One note: The hardware kit required to mount the sail is sold separately, but reviewers say it is easy to install and incredibly durable.
This durable and easy-to-install shade sail comes in a slew of sizes — too many for us to even count — all the way down to 4 x 5 feet. The smaller sizes are particularly notable, since many other brands lack this selection. These smaller sizes are great for covering compact pergolas or pathways on the side of your yard.
The number of sizes make this sail practically custom. Made of breathable and water-resistant HDPE fabric that blocks 95 percent of the sun’s rays, and featuring a stainless steel D-ring in each corner, this sail is designed for long-term usage..
In addition to a whopping number of size options, colors includes choose four neutrals plus a bright cobalt blue.
This budget-friendly 9-foot sun shade sail comes in a variety of attractive colors and provides great sun protection. It's made of polyester, with curved edges to increase pull strength and prevent drooping.
The waterproof exterior is also designed not to pool rainwater with each shade sail being coated to repel water droplets as they fall.
This shade is versatile in use, but is only offered in one size. Furthermore, the hardware kit needs to be purchased separately.
This shade sail comes in several custom sizes, featuring curved varieties that make it more durable and able to withstand extreme wind, and it's constructed of HDPE material that blocks 95 percent of UV rays.
The sail comes with 20 feet of rope and instructions, which reviewers said are easy to follow. It's also easy to clean (just use soap and water) and resists fading.
Choose from 11 colors including neutrals and two eye-catching striped options if you want to make a statement in your yard.
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
Rachel Klein is a Senior Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, where she writes about everything from garden hose reels and patio furniture to mesh wifi systems and robot vacuums. She started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and was a travel editor for more than a decade before she started testing and reviewing luggage, noise-cancelling headphones, and other travel-related products. Fast-forward another five years and her area of expertise includes home decor, appliances, tech, and outdoor adventure gear. In her spare time, you'll find her planning her next trip, reading historical fiction, and seeing as much art as she can squeeze into a weekend.
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