Spending time outside on a beautiful sunny day is one of life’s simplest pleasures. However, on baking hot summer days, having a shady spot to escape the sun’s rays is essential.
Shade sails are an inexpensive and stylish alternative to traditional garden parasols. They can be put up quickly and used to shade any area of your garden or patio. Shade sails can be suspended from wall hooks and tall fences and you can purchase poles to support the sail if you don’t have a suitable anchor point.
Shade sails provide an attractive shelter from the sun and rain and are the perfect addition to your outdoor space. Keep reading to discover the best sail shades to suit your needs.
Our TOP Garden Sail Shade Picks
The Best Garden Sail Shades to Buy in 2023
From breathable sail shades to free-standing versions that are perfect for camping trips, when it comes to choosing the best sail shades, we’ve got you covered.
- Kookaburra Waterproof Garden Sun Shade
- HAIKUS Breathable Sun Shade
- CampAir Triangular Sun Canopy
- LJIANW Retractable Sun Shade Sail
- Ankuka Sun Shade Sail
- Unigear Hammock Rain Fly Tent Tarp
Kookaburra Waterproof Garden Sun Shade
Key Features:
- Dimensions: Various sizes from 2m triangle to 6x5m rectangle
- Colour: Sand
- Material: Polyester
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fixings included: No
If you’re looking for an attractive, waterproof sun shade sail, the Kookaburra shade is an excellent buy. It’s made from good-quality, high-density polyester and features sturdy stainless steel D rings in each corner.
1.5m long fixing ropes are included for each corner but you’ll need to purchase a separate fixing kit so you can attach the sail to walls or ground poles.
This shade has excellent user reviews and provides effective protection from the rain and the sun. We recommend tilting the shade at an angle if rain is forecast to prevent water from pooling on top of the sail and causing sagging.
You can choose from a range of shapes and sizes from a 2m square to a large right angle shade sail, making this a great choice for all outdoor areas.
Pros
- Large range of shapes and sizes to choose from
- Waterproof
- Strong and able to withstand being left outside for long periods
Cons
- Need to buy the right fixings
- Can be tricky to tension
HAIKUS Breathable Sun Shade
Key Features:
- Dimensions: Various sizes from 2x2m to 5x5m
- Colour: Sand or graphite
- Material: High-density polyethene (HDPE)
- Waterproof: No
- Fixings included: No
Although this sun shade won’t protect you from the rain, the breathable fabric is designed to let the cool breeze pass through, making it an ideal option for hot days in the garden. Water will soak through the fabric, not great if you’re sitting underneath the shade in the rain, but it does mean that rainwater can’t pool on top and stretch the fabric.
Reinforced seams and stainless steel D rings ensure that this square sail shade won’t tear easily. It doesn’t come with fixings but ropes are supplied.
If you’re looking for a stylish garden shade to protect you from the sun, this breathable version is a great buy.
Pros
- Large range of sizes to choose from
- Breathable to allow breeze through
- Reinforced seams
Cons
- Need to buy the right fixings
- Not waterproof
CampAir Triangular Sun Canopy
Key Features:
- Dimensions: 3 x 2.4m
- Colour: Sand and grey
- Material: Polyester
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fixings included: No
If you’re searching for an inexpensive garden sail canopy, the CampAir sun shade is hard to beat. It boasts reinforced seams, stainless steel eyelets and waterproof fabric, as well as a handy carry bag.
This shade is quick and easy to install and, if it’s not quite large enough for your garden, you can always add another.
This sail shade offers unbeatable value for money and is ideal for shading patio areas and providing shelter when camping.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Reinforced seams
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Need to buy fixings
LJIANW Retractable Sun Shade Sail
Key Features:
- Dimensions: Various sizes from 0.5-3m to 1.3x8m
- Colour: Grey
- Material: Polyethene
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fixings included: Yes
Designed to fit on an existing pergola or frame, this retractable shade sail is made of high-quality UV-resistant polyethene. Unlike many other sail shades, this one comes with the fixings required to fit it to a frame, providing a stylish and practical sun shade.
You might need to purchase more than one shade sail depending on the size of your pergola, but it’s easy to customise the size of the shade and it’s also simple to fit, with installation videos available.
Pros
- Weatherproof fabric
- Retractable
- Reinforced seams
Cons
- Expensive
Ankuka Sun Shade Sail
Key Features:
- Dimensions: Various sizes from 2x3m to 4x6m
- Colour: Various
- Material: Polyester
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fixings included: No
Available in a wide range of colours and sizes, this rectangular sail shade is perfect for patios.
It’s made from high-density polyester with a waterproof coating so it’ll resist light rain but it’s not recommended for sheltering under during heavy downpours.
This large shade sail comes in a variety of sizes to suit your space and is easy to install. With double stitching and stainless steel D rings it’s sturdy enough to withstand being blown about by the wind.
If you’re after a sail shade to brighten up your patio area, the Ankuka shade sail is a great choice.
Pros
- Weatherproof fabric
- Wide choice of sizes and colours
- Reinforced seams
Cons
- Some users report sagging in the middle of the sail shade after a while
Unigear Hammock Rain Fly Tent Tarp
Key Features:
- Dimensions: Various sizes from 3-3m to 3x4m
- Colour: Grey
- Material: Polyester, nylon, aluminium
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fixings included: Yes
If you’re looking for the perfect, portable sun shade, the Unigear tarp is an excellent buy. Ideal for camping, hiking, picnics and other outdoor adventures, this strong, waterproof tarp shade is easy to put up and comes with all the fixtures you need.
The best thing about this tent tarp is its versatility, you can configure the tarp in several different ways to provide free-standing shade and weather protection wherever you need it.
Made from durable rip-stop Oxford fabric, this practical shade comes with a storage bag for easy transportation. It’s an excellent quality shade at a great price and offers all the protection you need when out and about.
Pros
- Waterproof and durable fabric
- Extremely versatile
- Good quality
- Great value for money
Cons
- Could do with a central loop in the fabric
How to buy the best sail shade for your garden
Shade sails are pretty straightforward items, so choosing the right one for your garden shouldn’t be a tricky task. Keep reading to find out what to look for when buying a sail shade and check out our FAQs to keep you in the know:
Shade sail material
The best shade sail material is strong and durable. Although we don’t recommend leaving a sail shade up in gale-force winds, it needs to be able to withstand regular breezes.
Look for good-quality polyester or polyethene material with reinforced seams and stainless steel D rings where the ropes attach.
Not all shade sail fabric is waterproof but it should be UV resistant.
Shape and size
Shade sails are available to buy in a range of shapes and sizes to suit your space. Triangular sail shades are one of the most attractive options and you can combine two or more to great effect.
Water resistance
If you’re looking for rain as well as sun protection, make sure that you choose a sail shade that’s been waterproofed. You’ll need to make sure that you angle your sail shade to prevent water from pooling on top and stretching the shade.
FAQs
What’s the best way to hang a sail shade?
If you have a smaller sail shade, you can easily attach it to objects that are the right height; trees, fences, tall bushes, outbuildings, sheds and wall hooks are all great options. You just need to thread the rope through the D ring in the sail shade and secure it to your chosen anchor point.
For larger sail shades, we recommend using strong fixing points like wall hooks, fence posts and poles. It’s a good idea to use bungee cords as well as ropes, this will help to prevent damage to the sail shade in windy conditions.
Don’t forget to angle your sail shade slightly to allow water to run off and prevent sagging.
What colour sail shade is best?
If you’re looking for maximum UV protection and want to keep cool, dark colours are a better choice as they’ll absorb more heat and UV rays than lighter-coloured shades.
Light-coloured shades will still provide weather protection, but they’ll let more light pass through and it’ll be warmer underneath. Bear in mind that brightly coloured shades will look incredible but they might attract more insects than you would like!
What is the best pole for shade sail?
From DIY wooden posts to specifically designed metal fixing poles, there’s a range of posts for shade sails.
Height-adjustable aluminium poles are a great option. They’re easy to use, strong and durable and can easily be positioned wherever you need them.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an inexpensive and stylish shade solution for your outdoor space, a shade sail is a must. They’re easy to put up and down and, depending on the type you choose, can be used anywhere.
From providing shade from the hot sun to rain shelter when sitting outside and even house training your puppy (handy life hack), there are numerous uses for garden sail shades. How do you use yours? Let us know in the comments below.
