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Our top picks are lightweight and easy to assemble Shade Tent Pop Up
If you head to any well-trafficked beach, you're sure to see just as many beach canopies and tents as beach towels dotting the shoreline. Beach canopies are just as portable and convenient as traditional beach umbrellas, but they offer a lot more shade and sun protection — and to more people at once.
Beach canopies differ in size, shape, and setup, but the best ones all have one thing in common. “A good beach canopy is one that stays in the ground,” says Erin Johnson, associate shopping director and a Hawai’i resident with a penchant for the beach. "The last thing you want is a vacation injury (to yourself or a neighboring beach-goer).”
If you don’t know what else to look for in a beach canopy, don’t worry — PEOPLE tested 19 of them right on the beach, and we’ll walk you through exactly how to find one that meets your needs.
Comes with a sand scoop
Takes less than five minutes to set up
Likely to track sand home
This canopy is so clever. It’s held in place by sand bags, which you fill yourself with the included scoop. They’re attached to the canopy’s fabric sides, and the weight of the sandbags makes it super sturdy, even on the windiest days. We were worried that the sand bags might be cumbersome to fill, but it took less than five minutes to set the whole thing upt.
“I prefer canopies or tents that utilize the sand for setup … This style is easy to assemble and doesn't require you to tote a lot of extra parts in your bag.” —Erin Johnson, associate shopping director and Hawai’i resident
The coverage is great, but it still lets a generous breeze through, and the high-quality fabric is UPF50, so you get some nice additional sun protection from the canopy itself. And when you’re done using it for the day, just empty the sand and fold the canopy up into its carrying bag.
There are no major complaints about this tent, but keep in mind that you might bring some of the beach home with you if you don’t fully empty out those sand bags. Overall, it feels like this canopy is worth the price tag.
Sizes: 7 x 7.5 feet (assembled), 10 x 10 feet | Material: Spandex | Weight: 9.7 pounds
Fits in a tote bag
Setup wasn’t too difficult
Canopy remained upright throughout the test
Difficult to get back into the bag after disassembling
Stakes were a little wobbly in the wind
This affordable beach canopy from WhiteFang met our expectations of easy portability, setup, performance, and durability. We took it to the beach in a tote bag on a windy day, and while it took more than a few minutes, setup wasn’t difficult by any means.
Once up and assembled, this beach canopy stayed put. The stakes were a little wobbly (again, it was a windy day), but the canopy remained in place regardless. The sandbags helped a lot, as well as mesh windows on the side that allowed for the air to pass through.
The polyester material seems sturdy and easy to wipe clean of sand, though the parts that were in direct sun got really hot. We found it a little challenging to get all the pieces back into the carrying bag after breaking it down, though.
Size: 83 x 55 x 46 inches | Material: Polyester, Fiberglass, Alloy Steel | Weight: 4 pounds
“To easily set up a traditional beach canopy, invest in a drill bit for sand. Yes, that means you'll have to carry a drill in your car (or find one in your beach Airbnb), but once you use one, you'll never attempt to stake your beach canopy in the ground without one.” —Erin Johnson
Great for kids thanks to its three-sided design and bottom
Easy to set up and break down
May be too small for three or more people
This canopy is great for kids who need a quick break from the sand. It’s like a three-sided camping tent with an oversized floor, providing options to sit “inside” and “outside.” It could even accommodate an afternoon nap pretty easily.
It was very easy to assemble and disassemble. It pops right open, and all you have to do is put the stakes in the ground. When you’re done, it folds back into itself. The canopy comes packed in a bag that has straps and is very slim, making storage simple and transport to the beach even simpler. When open, the shade is substantial, and the fabric, which feels high-quality, is UPF50.
The only downside? This canopy is on the shorter side, and it would be almost impossible to fit three adults in it. Two parents and a couple of little ones would be perfect, though.
Size: 65 x 59 x 43.5 inches (assembled) | Material: Polyester, metal | Weight: 2.2 pounds
Built-in storage bags keep items out of the sand
May be a tight squeeze if you’re over 6 feet tall
The Qipi beach canopy is the closest thing you can get to a resort-style cabana (that also fits in your car). The optional back wall gives you some extra sun and wind protection, and each of the four corners has an attached storage bag, giving you a safe, sand-free place to store essentials like sunscreen.
It easily rolls up into its carrying case, which is fairly long at about 6 feet. We found it easy and straightforward to set up. It held up well on a windy day, and the items in the storage bags stayed cool and didn’t overheat. It’s everything you could want or need in a simple shaded space, but taller folks might have to duck in certain spots because of the height of the canopy.
Size: 6 x 6 feet | Material: Polyester, Fiberglass, Plastic, Fabric | Weight: 2.13 pounds
Most expensive canopy we tested
Wind has to blow a certain way to keep it tented
"The last time I went to Charleston, I couldn't walk 20 feet without seeing a Shibumi Shade beach canopy,” Johnson says. “It's definitely a popular choice in the South.”
This canopy is the influencer canopy of choice lately, and for good reason. For one, it’s so lightweight and compact — you could throw it into any beach bag. It’s so small because it’s engineered to use wind to prop itself up, meaning you need less hardware. And that smart engineering helped it provide the largest shade area of any canopy we tried.
It takes some trial and error to get the hang of how to set it up, as the wind has to be blowing into it in the right way to keep it tented. Once you do, assembly is so simple. Plus, the way the canopy flapped in the breeze created a white noise that honestly made our beach day even more relaxing.
Our team found the material to be luxe and high-quality and felt like it would last for many beach seasons. Of course, with that comes the steep price: This canopy is almost $100 more than any other canopies we tested.
Size: 150 square feet of shade (actual dimensions not listed) | Material: Ocean-Bound Recycled Plastic | Weight: 4 pounds
Once you set up your beach canopy, what are you going to put in it? We’d suggest some of the best beach products we’ve tested:
Doesn’t need sand to set up
It takes up more storage space than other canopies we tried
It's easier to set up with another person rather than taking it on by yourself
Of all the canopies we tried, the EZ-UP was definitely the most versatile. While it did incredibly well on the beach, you could also use it in a backyard, at a kid’s sporting event, or at a parking lot tailgate because it doesn’t need sand to be set up.
“In Hawai'i, I mainly see traditional pop-up canopies along local beaches and parks. It's common to see people grilling, hanging out, and popping in and out of the shade (from morning to night) under one of these.” —Erin Johnson
This well-made canopy handled our windy beach day extremely well. It was easy to set up, but that was partially because our teammate had a helper — if you were doing it alone, you might struggle a bit more. But considering how many people it can fit, there will probably be someone around to help.
The only other negative (if you can even call it that) is that it’s not quite as compact when collapsed than some of the other canopies we tried, but that’s because it’s just larger than most other models.
Size: 10 x 10 feet | Material: Polyester, Powder-Coated Steel | Weight: 31 pounds
Maintains its sturdiness even without the included stakes
Breathable material keeps the canopy cool
Might require two people to snap it into place
Sometimes, you need a no-frills product that’s easy to set up and use. This lightweight beach canopy comes with a handy backpack strap to carry it around as you venture out to the beach, and the setup process is very straightforward: Just pull on a strap to snap it into place.
Just keep in mind that you’ll need to apply a bit of strength to do so. Try setting it up in the backyard before bringing it out to the beach to see if you’ll need a friend to help with setup. There are stakes included to secure it, but honestly, you don’t need them; the canopy stays in place as is.
The material is breathable, and the entire canopy is ventilated, so there’s good circulation to prevent overheating while inside. The base gives you a sand-free area to sit, so you won’t end up with a literal sand-wich for lunch.
Size: 86.6 x 49.2 x 47.2 inches | Material: Polyester, Fiberglass | Weight: 4.5 pounds
Quick setup thanks to the lack of poles
Didn’t flinch in the wind
Can fit a lot of people underneath
Stakes weren’t the most sturdy
Despite being a large beach canopy, this option fits into a small bag that can easily fit over your shoulder for transport. It didn’t take long to set up, since there weren’t any poles to deal with. We thought the stakes could have been a little more sturdy, but the inclusion of sandbags helped weigh down the entire tent.
It easily handled the wind, though it didn’t have any windows for extra airflow that some other canopies we tried had. That said, the polyester material seems sturdy and should hold up over time — especially because it’s water-resistant. The beach canopy is super tall and will fit quite a few people underneath, making it a great option for family reunions, group outings, and more.
Size: 92 x 45 x 45 inches | Material: Polyester, Fiberglass, Alloy Steel | Weight: 4 pounds
Wall pockets to keep small items safe
Didn’t test it ourselves
This pop-up sun shelter from L.L.Bean is a popular pick with customers that’s garnered hundreds of positive reviews. We didn’t have an opportunity to test this beach canopy ourselves, but we like that it has sand bags to weigh it down, an extended floor that can be used as a fourth wall when you need a little privacy, and interior pockets that protect items like cell phones from the sand.
According to the brand, it pops up and breaks down within seconds, though some customers warn that it’s “not as easy as it looks.” All pieces fit into a stuff sack with a shoulder strap for easy transport.
Size: 7 feet 11 inches x 4 feet 11 inches x 4 feet 6 inches | Material: Ripstop polyester, nylon, plastic
Stays in place in the wind
Shelter felt warm after a couple hours
More than two people would be crowded
If you put an umbrella on its side and extended its fabric down to the ground, you’d have the Sport-Brella. Setup is simple enough, with a center pole you screw into the ground and stakes to hold down the fabric. Everything packs up into an included carrying case with a strap, and the umbrella has internal pockets to hold your phone and keys.
But despite the mesh side panels, which are designed to keep the canopy from getting picked up by a strong breeze, it got hot under the Sport-Brella within a couple hours — and it’d get hotter if we tried to cram more than two people into it. We’d recommend this model to solo beachgoers who need a secure place for their belongings.
Size: 61.80 x 4.30 x 3.74 Inches | Material: Polypropylene, steel | Weight: 9 pounds
How many people do you need to fit under your canopy? How much shade are you looking for? Do you like everything from your Yeti cooler and tumblers to chairs to a beach/outdoor blanket to fit underneath? How much room do you have to store your canopy when not in use? These are all important factors in determining which size canopy is right for you. If you need a larger area, consider shopping for our best large canopy, the Oileus XL Beach Tent — which can fit a whole family with ease. Our best over choice — the Sun Ninja Pop-Up Beach Tent — also has a design that’s conducive to large groups.
How quickly you can set up and take down your canopy and whether the setup can be done alone or needs a second person are good things to consider. If you have a couple of spare hands whenever you go to the beach, a more difficult canopy to assemble shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you’re flying solo, or want something that takes less than a few minutes to set up, there are easier options to choose too. Look to the Pacific Breeze Easy Set Up Beach Tent for an easy setup so you can start lounging sooner.
Do you usually drive or walk to the beach? How you get there will determine how important it is that your canopy comes with a carrying case and is easy to tote around. Bonus points if the carrying case has a handle of some type.
If the beaches you tend to frequent are home to pop-up rain storms, look for a waterproof fabric. Polyester and nylon are two materials that are quite durable, and known to be water-resistant. And you’ll want some UPF protection, too, so any fabric that has SPF in it is a good pick (which you can determine per the manufacturer information).
Outdoor summer products often go on sale in the off-season, so look for deals as peak beach season nears to a close. The beginning of fall and winter will be the best time to buy any beach-related gear.
PEOPLE tested 19 beach canopies on real beaches to see which ones were the best for getting a shady break on a hot day. First, we assessed the assembly instructions to see if it needed anything before we embarked on our beach day. Then our team noted how easy or difficult it was to transport the canopy to our beach spot (keeping in mind our teammates’ stature, since what may come easy for a six-foot person might be more challenging for someone under five feet).
We set up each beach canopy, considering the level of difficulty and effort to get it to stay open and upright in the sand. Did it have any extra features like pockets or SPF in the fabric? After setting up the canopies, we evaluated how well they stood up to at least an hour in the sun and wind. We determined the quality of the construction, like whether we had to adjust or readjust parts of the canopy, and if it provided enough coverage when sitting underneath. Then we disassembled the canopy and noted how simple or not that process was.
Comparing these qualities, we were able to test each beach canopy’s portability, ease of use, performance, quality, and value. Rating each category on a scale of one to five, we determined the best beach canopies of 2024.
Both a beach canopy and beach umbrella can provide you some much-needed shade for your day at the sea. However, a beach canopy will cover far more people and is more sturdy in the ground, so think about adding one to your beach packing list. Historically, beach umbrellas were easier to transport, but modern beach canopies are quite compact and can travel easily.
Check the local rules and regulations for the beach you plan to head to — some may have restrictions about when and where canopies and tents can be used.
Some fabrics are, some aren’t — make sure you check the label on yours before tossing it in the washing machine.
Sarah Gaynes Levy is a freelance writer and Madison Yauger is a shopping editor at PEOPLE who’s tested hundreds of lifestyle products across all categories. For this story, they thoroughly researched the market of beach canopies, looking at design, price, and performance, and evaluated our testers’ results to determine the best beach canopies of 2024.
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