SUNMER 2.7M Parasol Garden Umbrella Sun Shading | Water Repellent Polyester 180 g/m² (UV 30+)| Easy to Open and Close Crank Mechanism | Pole Width ø 38 mm (Excl. Base)

Product Information

Wooden poles offer a natural and elegant look, blending well with a quintessential English garden surroundings. However, they may require more maintenance and care to prevent weather damage.

Make sure you have everything you need to enjoy the good weather when it arrives; find the ideal way to relax with our guide to the best sun loungers and get ready to cook up an alfresco storm with the best BBQ.A parasol is an absolute must to enable you to enjoy the sunshine comfortably and safely in your outdoor space, but the question is which one to go for? The questions to ask are; what is your budget, how large an area do you want it to cover, do you need it with a UV rating and finally what colour do you require? A parasol can further enhance your existing garden furniture by providing shelter from the rain and sun. With generous sizes available of almost 3m, and a wide choice of colours and styles, a Parasol can also revitalise a tired looking furniture set. My table doesn't have a Parasol Hole - What Can I Do? If you need something larger still then it may be worth considering one of the best gazebos in our dedicated buyer's guide instead. Cantilever - a parasol where the pole stands off to one side, and the canopy is suspended from a long beam. This frees up floor space and keeps the parasol’s support pole out of the way, so people can talk without an obstructive pole between them. However, cantilever parasols are more susceptible to falling down in high winds.

Upright - the standard parasol design, an umbrella standing straight up. This type of parasol tends to be the cheapest. However, it’s worth noting that their protection is limited to whenever the sun is directly overhead. If you want value for money but you’re after a cantilever parasol, then this model from Vounot might be the one for you. With a sizeable 300cm diameter, the umbrella provides an impressive amount of shade. What’s more, you can rotate the parasol 360 degrees, tilt it and adjust its height, ensuring you have the optimum amount of shade no matter where the sun is in the sky. A diameter of 2.5m is considered a decent size for a parasol, and many larger items will have a diameter of 3m. The ideal size of course depends on the shape and size of the outdoor space where you plan on placing your parasol. Naturally, larger parasols will need a larger base to keep them stable. However, in our tests, the crank handle was easy to operate and did a smooth job of raising and lowering the canopy, and the tilt button was easy to depress to achieve optimum shade coverage. We also liked the push-button design that made for super easy assembly of the two poles.A parasol base is not included, so you’ll need to buy one separately to keep the parasol weighted. The steel pole has a 38mm diameter and is compatible with most parasol bases. Polyester is commonly used for the canopy fabric, being durable and water-resistant. Look for a parasol with a high-quality and UV-protected polyester canopy to ensure longevity and protection from the sun. An air vent at the top of the canopy allows air to circulate more freely beneath it to keep you cool in humid weather. Plus, it helps to decrease the amount of uplift in breezy weather. This Jarder Milan parasol has a sizeable 300cm canopy, providing an expansive amount of shade. What’s more, with an adjustable height and the ability to rotate 360 degrees and tilt, this parasol helps you create your perfect shaded space — all day long. Parasol comes in two sections which slot together for easy assembly. Simply slot the top pole into the bottom pole and away you go. Can also be easily disassembled to easily store away.

The UV protection rating is lower than the top choice on our list, offering a UV30+ rating rather than Kettler's 50+, and unlike the Kettler patio umbrella this option doesn't claim to be showerproof. Even better, buy a specially designed cover to use when your umbrella goes into storage to give it the best possible protection.

Whether you want shade for your garden, patio or balcony, we’ve got you covered with our selection of the best parasols

This reasonably priced rust-resistant aluminium cantilever parasol offers 360° free-arm rotation operated by a foot pedal to enable you to easily swing the canopy around as the sun moves without moving the base, and a tilting canopy that offers even more ability to fine-tune your shade. Another benefit to having a parasol is the protection from that British rain that really does just downpour out of nowhere! Just pop your parasol in your garden tableor beside it – wherever works best with the space in your garden. You can carry on with your work or other activity such as drawing for as long as you want with your parasol sheltering you from the elements. It's perfectly possible to clean your garden parasol to keep it looking its best. You can start by gently using a soft brush or vacuum with a brush attachment to clean away dust and small debris. Then, wash the fabric using a diluted mix of laundry detergent, leave it to soak for 20 minutes, then rinse it before allowing it to dry. Why you can trust Gardeningetc Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. A cantilever parasol suits a large garden and can be adjusted to follow the sun quite easily without having to move the base. They sit at the side of your furniture so the downside is that they need a heavy base to counterbalance the canopy which sits underneath an arm. As these are the most versatile, they are our best-selling parasols. The wall mounted parasols are ideal if ground space is limited and obviously once they are fixed to the wall they are not easily moved so consider carefully before you finally commit to their position. One downside is you will have to leave your garden furniture in a permanent position. Once you have the parasol in the right position, they will swivel from side to side to give you the best possible coverage.