Overhang patio umbrellas go by many names: offset patio umbrellas, cantilever patio umbrellas, side-mount patio umbrellas, etc. The chief characteristic of these umbrellas is the cantilever design of the system, with the umbrella shaft on the side, and the parasol suspended from above. An overhang patio umbrella can make a patio space shine, with modern design and a fresh look.
These umbrellas are very flexible and useful. They allow tables without an umbrella hole to be shaded. They also encourage conversation, as there’s no pole to interrupt the lines of sight! Overhang umbrellas also work great with spas and pools where a patio umbrella would be awkward.
In this article, we will look at a few of our favorite overhang patio umbrellas, at various price points.
Overhang Patio Umbrella Common Features
- Cantilever design
- Generally requires a weighted base
- Often has tilt and/or rotation functionality
- Generally more expensive than a traditional patio umbrella
Cantilever Design
The most important aspect of an overhang umbrella is the cantilever parasol setup. The cantilever design is beautiful and is quite functional. Cantilever umbrellas can shade tables and areas that are not possible using a traditional patio umbrella. For this reason, they can be quite useful.
They are also great at shading spas, hot tubs, and pools where a patio umbrella pole would not go.
Weighted Base
Due to the design of an overhang umbrella, careful focus on the type and circumstances of the base is important. These umbrellas have virtually all of their weight off to the side of the central base and are more prone to falling over than typical patio umbrellas are. Additionally, these umbrellas do not attach to a table for any support there.
Typically an offset umbrella will come with a cross base, with is an X-shaped metal piece that allows the umbrella to be bolted to a wooden deck, or to a concrete pad. If you want to use the umbrella on a different floor type or want to move the umbrella, you’ll need to come up with something different.
Depending on the flooring material beneath the overhang patio umbrella, you can use a variety of different bases. If you want to DIY a base, you can see our guide to weighing down an overhang umbrella here. If you want to purchase a pre-built solution, you can check out several of the best-weighted bases here.
Tilt and Rotate
While many traditional patio umbrellas offer tilt and rotate functions, these systems are more common on cantilever umbrellas. Some tilt umbrellas have an infinite number of tilt angles available, while others offer only a few settings that lock-in.
For rotation, some cantilever umbrellas allow several rotation settings with a lock, while others only rotate by turning their base. For those who are using a fixed mount cross base, It can prove quite difficult to rotate the umbrella in these circumstances.
Cost
Generally, cantilever umbrellas are significantly more expensive than traditional patio umbrellas, due in part to the additional complexity of a cantilever umbrella, and also in part to the usual need to purchase a separate, costly weighted base to support the patio umbrella.
You can often find relatively-inexpensive offset umbrellas for approximately the same price as a medium-quality patio umbrella, but as you go higher up in price, overhang umbrellas quickly become much more expensive than virtually all traditional patio umbrellas.
Overhang Patio Umbrellas
In this section, we will look at a few different overhang umbrellas at different price points. If you would like to read further and look at other models, you can see several of the best overall cantilever umbrellas on the market here.
High End: Sorara TrueShade Plus Cantilever Umbrella
At the high end of the market, the Sorara TrueShade Plus overhang patio umbrella is an outstanding umbrella that looks beautiful and has fantastic specs and systems. This umbrella is one of the best umbrellas available, but it is extremely expensive.
Dimensions and Specs
- Canvas Shape: Square
- Canvas Dimensions: 10′ x 10′
- Shade Area: 95 sf
- Umbrella Height: 8’4″
- Base Design: Cross Base and 4 Piece Base Included
- Weight: 191lbs
The Details
The TrueShade Plus 10′ x 10′ overhang umbrella has all of the tilt and rotation functions commonly desired: it can be opened and closed and can tilt and rotate with a locking system. You can dial in the exact angle you’re looking for in order to get the maximum quality of shade.
The Frame
The frame structure on this umbrella is made of a thick aluminum, coated with a Drylac powder coat in bronze. It is rust-proof and is extremely sturdy. The powder coat is well done, but if you see any wear or bare metal spots over time, we suggest spraying them with a rust-retardant paint in order to keep the protective finish for as long as possible.
Canvas
The canvas on the Sorara TrueShade Plus Overhang Umbrella is made of Sunbrella solution-dyed acrylic fabric, and it is about as good as you can get. Sunbrella fabric is probably the best-known brand of outdoor fabrics, and solution-dyed acrylic is an outstanding material for an outdoor umbrella.
Please see our outdoor fabric guide for more information on Sunbrella fabric. The Sunbrella fabric is covered under a 5-year warranty, and is UV and fade resistant, is easy to clean, and is easy to maintain.
The canopy is only available in black, which is a bit of a disappointment, as more colors would definitely help make the TrueShade Plus a compelling purchase.
Ribs and Vents
The canopy structure consists of 8 aluminum ribs which support the canvas. Aluminum is a nice choice for strength and flexibility, though for this price range it would be nice to see fiberglass as the material choice for the ribs. The canopy is designed with a single air vent in the center of the umbrella to allow air to flow through the canopy and to help bring fresh air to those underneath.
Crank Mechanism
The crank mechanism works well and is not difficult to operate. It controls two functions, extending the canopy, and configuring the tilt angle. Having both controls within easy reach is a nice feature, as many patio umbrellas that tilt require users to reach up to the top of the umbrella to engage the tilt function.
Accessories
Sorara Cover
While the price on this umbrella is high, the Sorara TrueShade Plus comes with everything you need included!
Cover
While the fabric on this umbrella is Sunbrella and is quite weather-resistant, we strongly suggest users still place the included protective cover over the umbrella when not in use. The protective cover will help keep the canopy looking its best, increasing the lifespan of the umbrella, and resulting in less time cleaning and maintaining the umbrella.
Bases
The Sorara TrueShade Plus comes with two base options included. The first option is the standard cross base, common to almost all cantilever umbrellas. The cross base is used for surface mounting the umbrella on a deck or on a concrete patio. The ends of the arms of the cross get bolted to the base material, and the base cannot move.
The second included base is a four piece base, a common design for resting an overhang umbrella on top of the base material. The four-piece base has four wedge-shaped pieces, each of which can be filled with sand or stone. The four-piece base included in this package can support up to 240 lbs of weight, which is what Sorara USA recommends.
The Bottom Line
The Sorara TrueShade Plus is one of the best overhang offset umbrellas on the market. It is extremely well made, with excellent materials and solid attention to detail. It may be quite expensive, but it will last for years if properly maintained, and will look gorgeous! We wish it was available in more colors, and hope Sorara is working on that.
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Medium End: Abba Patio 10′ Cantilever Umbrella
The Abba Patio 10′ Cantilever Umbrella is a small step down in quality from the Sorara USA, and there are a few features that are not quite as good as the Sorara. However, it is priced way below the TrueShade Plus and is a fantastic umbrella at a great price point.
This umbrella is not square like the Sorara but is the usual octagonal shape. Also, it is 11′ wide, so it’s even bigger than the Sorara!
Dimensions and Specs
- Canvas Shape: Octagon
- Height: The pole is approx 8’6″ long.
- Clearance below canopy: approx 6’7″ when opened.
- Width: 11′ when fully opened.
- Pole Diameter: 2.09″
- Base Design: Cross Base
- Weight: 73 lbs.
The Details
The Abba Patio 11′ Overhang Umbrella is available in two colors: tan and red, and includes only the cross base. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to pick up a weighted base.
Frame
The pole is made of aluminum and is finished with a powder coat of bronze paint. The pole and overall frame mechanism are quite similar in quality to the Sorara above. The aluminum material should be rust free, and long lasting outdoors. Note: we suggest you close this umbrella up in any significant wind, just as a precaution.
Canvas
The canvas is made of spun polyester fabric, which is a nice fabric for outdoor use, but definitely a step down from the Sunbrella fabric on the Sorara. Spun Polyester is easy to clean, UV-resistant, and fade resistant (see here for more information about outdoor fabrics), but simply is not as robust as Sunbrella. Sunbrella is covered under a great warranty, while this fabric is not. However, if you pick up an umbrella cover, and use it, you may find the canvas of this umbrella lasts just about as long as the canvas on the Sorara.
The parasol includes a central vent to allow breezes to flow through, preventing lofting of the umbrella during wind gusts.
Ribs
The base is made of steel, and the 8 ribs suspending the canopy are made of steel as well, and powder coated to a similar finish as the pole. Steel is certainly a step down from fiberglass, and even a step down from the aluminum found on the Sorara, but it is a perfectly acceptable material to use on an umbrella in this price range. If you feel the wind gusts coming on, close the umbrella to keep it long lasting.
Crank/Tilt Functionality
The crank is well made and makes opening and closing the umbrella a breeze. It is pretty easy to use and requires little effort.
The Abba Patio overhang umbrella features a very high-quality tilt system: a 5 position vertical tilt. This design offers a good deal of flexibility in shade choice. The design of this tilt system is such that it will tilt forwards and backward, and also to the sides.
Unfortunately, the umbrella does not rotate unless you move the base, which is a negative to those who plan on using the cross base.
Accessories
Cover
A nice included accessory of this umbrella is the protective cover, which we strongly encourage users to place on the umbrella when not actively using it. The cover will keep the canvas from fading and getting stained and will keep the umbrella looking good for as long as possible. Taking the cover on and off is a bit of a pain, but in the long run, it will be worth it! The cover is not too difficult to take on and take off, due to the included installation rod.
Base
The 11′ Abba Patio umbrella includes only a cross base, designed for mounting to a wooden deck or concrete patio. Should you want to move the umbrella around, or mount it on another surface, you’ll need a different base.
Abba Patio suggests a minimum of 120lbs of weight to hold this umbrella. We would suggest more than that if possible, as this is a large, wide umbrella. Check our weighting guide for more information on proper methods of securing the umbrella.
The Bottom Line
The Abba Patio 11′ Octagon Overhang Umbrella is in our opinion the best cantilever umbrella out there, given its price point. While it is quite expensive, Abba Patio made good choices with their components and design. If you are careful to use the of the included cover as much as possible, this umbrella will perform at about the same level as the Sorara, and last for nearly as long.
Be sure to pick up a weighted base if you plan to put this on a surface other than a deck or concrete patio, and cover it as much as possible. It will completely change the aesthetic of your patio or garden space!
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Budget End: BestChoice Products 10′ Offset Umbrella
The BestChoice Products 10′ OverhangUmbrella is very pretty with excellent lines and a high quality build out. The tan polyester fabric looks great suspended above the aluminum and steel frame.
Dimensions and Specs
- Canvas Shape: Octagon
- Width: 10′ when fully opened.
- Pole Height: 7′
- Brim Height: 70″.
- Pole Diameter: 2″ diameter. Confirm that your weighting solution can handle a 2″ pole.
- Weight: 15 lbs (shipping weight is 24 lbs)
- Base: Cross Base Included
- Canvas Type: Polyester
- Rib Material: Steel
- Pole Material: Aluminum
The Details
The BestChoice Products 10′ overhang umbrella is an excellent umbrella at its price point and has some nice features. Here are the basics.
Frame
The frame of this overhang umbrella is made of aluminum and is lightweight and sturdy. It is coated with a powder coat of black paint and looks nice. The pole diameter is 2″, so if you plan on using a weight bag that straddles the pole, be sure you pick a bag that can handle a 2″ diameter shaft.
There are a few plastic points on this umbrella, mostly in the areas that move and articulate. These tend to be weak points, so be gentle. If the plastic pieces break, BestChoice Products can generally supply replacement parts.
Canvas
The canvas is made of 180G polyester, which is an appropriate material for a cantilever umbrella in this price range. Eventually, it will fade, especially if left uncovered, so be prepared. The canvas is fairly light colored, and these color canvases tend not to fade as rapidly as darker colored canvases do.
A cover is not included, and we strongly suggest you pick one up to keep the umbrella looking as good as possible, for as long as possible. Take a look at the best cantilever umbrella covers here.
Ribs
The 8 ribs on this umbrella are made of steel, which again is an appropriate material for an umbrella in this price range. While not as flexible as fiberglass or aluminum, these ribs are well made and strong.
A single air vent is included in the center of the canvas to help encourage air flow through the umbrella.
Crank and Tilt Mechanism
This umbrella has a well-made crank mechanism which should last a while as long as users are gentle with it when they open and close the umbrella. As we said before, there are some plastic parts, and these are likely to wear first.
The BestChoice Products umbrella has a nice tilt function, though not as configurable as the Abba Patio above. It also rotates, but only in the cross base included in the package. If you use another base, you’ll have to rotate the whole umbrella and base together.
Accessories
Cover
This umbrella doesn’t come with any accessories, which is not a surprise given the price point it hits. Still, we strongly suggest picking up a cantilever umbrella cover for it, to increase the lifespan of the umbrella.
Base
Like most of the cantilever umbrellas on the market, this umbrella only comes with the standard cross base for use in mounting to a deck or concrete patio. Should you want to mount it to a different medium, you can pick up a weighted base, or follow our DIY guide here to do it yourself.
The Bottom Line
The BestChoice Products 10′ Cantilever Umbrella is an excellent buy at its price point. The umbrella is well made and attractive, and given the price target, includes some nice materials. Be gentle with it due to the plastic components, and cover it when not in use, and you’ll love this umbrella for years to come!
- 10' diameter hanging umbrella parasol
- beautiful tan/beige color polyester fabric
- aluminum/steel chassis
- cross base included (concrete paver blocks are not included)
- Easy Assembly
Last update on 2024-12-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Conclusion
If you would like to investigate more overhang patio umbrellas, you can take a look at high-end Sunbrella cantilever umbrellas here, and more traditional medium-priced offset umbrellas here.
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