Unless you want your umbrella to take flight, it’s important to invest in a sturdy stand.
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A patio umbrella is a great addition to any outdoor living space to cast some shade on your dining table or outdoor sectional. However, most don’t come with a base, which means you have to purchase a compatible patio umbrella stand separately.
Because the best patio umbrella stands are made of heavy materials like concrete or steel, they can cost $100, or slightly more. However, if you’re shopping on a budget, you can get one for half that price, though most require some labor for setup. But since you likely already own the umbrella, the stand must be compatible, and so there are a variety of factors to consider. To help you navigate options and narrow down your selection, we’ve rounded up some of the best umbrella stands in range of styles.
Shape, finish, and decorative details aside, umbrella stands look more or less the same. But there's a difference in type, depending on how and where it's being used. Freestanding umbrella stands can be placed anywhere on a patio or deck, whereas through-table umbrella stands are made specifically for outdoor dining tables. As you may guess, freestanding umbrella stands like our top pick are generally heavier than models supported by a table's center hole.
The base has to be sturdy enough to support the canopy’s weight—and the right size to accommodate the pole. Luckily, umbrella stands usually list compatible umbrella sizes, though as a rule of thumb, 9-foot umbrellas require a base that’s 50 pounds or more. If you have an umbrella larger than 9 feet, consider getting a stand that can be filled for added weight. As for the pole, most are a standard 1.5 to 2.5 inches, so compatibility is typically less of an issue.
There are umbrella bases made from heavy materials, like concrete or cast iron, and these tend to require less setup and are more durable, though also more expensive. Alternatively, there are more affordable plastic models designed to be filled with water or sand or a combination of the two, that are lighter (when empty), but may be less durable in the long run. Some models are made using a mix materials, such as a concrete base and stainless steel stem.
Because patio umbrella stands typically weigh at least 50 pounds, they can be quite cumbersome to move around. If you want to be able to easily shift your umbrella around your patio or deck, look for an umbrella stand with built-in wheels. Some have four wheels beneath the base, whereas others have two and need to be tilted to push or pull. If your patio is larger, with a canopy spans 11 feet or more, a four-wheel base is a better choice. There are also higher-end models with locking castors, which are the easiest to move.
To find the best umbrella stands available, we researched products from trusted brands like California Umbrella, Abba, and Best Choice Products. We considered the weight and features of each base, as well as its compatibility with different size umbrellas, selecting options that are versatile and easy to use. I also personally own the Best Choice Products Fillable Mobile Umbrella Base, which we cover below. It's heavy-duty and has locking wheels that make it easy to move around.
Our best overall pick comes from a California-based company that's been in the patio umbrella biz for more than 70 years. This heavy-duty, 50-pound umbrella stand is generally suitable for 9-foot market umbrellas, and it comes in four different finishes to match your umbrella’s pole and frame.
The umbrella stand is made from powder-coated steel and filled with concrete and it can be used with umbrella poles up to 1.5 inches in diameter.
You can support a freestanding umbrella up to 9 feet in diameter with the umbrella stand. It's made of recycled plastic, finished with a protective powder coating that gives it a cast iron appearance. When it’s empty, the base weighs less than 15 pounds, and up to 50 pounds when filled with water and/or sand.
This stand is compatible with poles between 1.5 and 2 inches in diameter and can be hosed down to clean. Just keep in mind that you may need to tighten the knob from time to time.
The Best Choice Products Mobile Umbrella Base is equipped with four locking wheels, making it easy to move around your yard as needed—I own this product and love that it rolls smoothly, allowing me to move the umbrella around effortlessly.
The base is made from heavy-duty plastic, and I’ve found that it’s easy to fill, as you can rest it on its side to fill it up with either water or sand for a maximum weight of 123 pounds.
Because it’s significantly heavier than other bases, it’s suitable for umbrellas with a canopy diameter up to 12 feet—ideal if you’re looking to create a large shaded area in your yard—and after several months of use, it’s never once tipped over, even on windy days.
If you’re planning to use your umbrella through a patio dining table, we recommend this affordable option. It has a concrete base and metal stem, both with a rust-resistant finish, and the umbrella stand weighs 30 pounds.
It’s designed to fit most standard umbrella poles between 1.5 and 2 inches in diameter and features two tightening knobs. But the base isn’t weighty enough to support a freestanding umbrella—it should solely be used in conjunction with a table, otherwise your umbrella may tip over.
For a more decorative umbrella stand, we love this model's classic fluted design, available in black or bronze finishes to match most umbrella frames.
The heavy-duty 50-pound cast iron base features a stem with two knobs to keep poles up to 1.5 inches in diameter secure. It's also versatile, approved for through-table use and for most freestanding market umbrellas up to 9 feet. The one caveat is that it isn't listed as having a protective coating, so the cast-iron umbrella stand may rust.
If you're looking for an umbrella stand that doesn't stand out in any way, we recommend this square steel plate option featuring a low-profile design.
The 42-pound stand has holes in all four corners where you can anchor it to decking with screws for added stability. It's also a smart pick to get the most clearance underneath an outdoor dining table.
Other highlights include a coupler that provides a snug fit on different pole sizes up to 1.8 inches in diameter and a power-coated finish for protection against rust. It may not be the best choice as a freestanding base, unless your patio umbrella is smaller than 9 feet.
For cantilever umbrellas with a cross-brace base, this is an extremely sturdy—and reasonably priced—option. The base is made up of four plastic plates, each of which can be filled with up to 50 pounds of sand and/or water.
The plates have built-in handles that make them easy to move and position into place, and they rest on top of the umbrella’s cross-base to keep it in place. However, it can be a bit tricky to get sand into the small spouts, so you’ll likely need a funnel to get this stand set up.
The attractive granite base on this option a bit more stylish than most umbrella stands. The slab weighs 55 pounds, providing plenty of weight to keep your umbrella upright, but the brand only recommends it for canopies up to 8 feet, which is smaller than average.
The base has a recessed handle on one side that makes it easier to pick up and move as needed, and its tube can accommodate poles up to 1.9 inches in diameter.
For an umbrella stand that doesn’t look like an umbrella stand, you can’t go wrong with this model, which has a planter box built in!
The stand can be filled up with 150 pounds of rocks, sand, or dirt, and it has drainage holes in the bottom to prevent plants for being overwatered. There are also two adjustment knobs on the stem to secure umbrella poles up to 2 inches in diameter.
The base has wheels on one side, allowing you to tilt it up to move it, but keep in mind that it can be quite heavy to shift when it’s filled up.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her four years as a product tester, she's tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more.
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