The hot summer sun can make an outdoor patio an unbearable space to spend your free time with friends and families. But you can invest in the best sun shades for patio to enjoy the glories of the outdoors even under the hot weather.
Sunshade rails do more than just protect your patio from the hot sun. They also add a touch of style, elegance, and versatility to the outdoor space, so that you can enjoy the beauty of nature with less of its desirable elements.
The best sun shade rails for patio are the ones made of high-density polyethylene fabric with a weight of 185 grams per square meter, at least. Also, it should feature a UV-resistant membrane to offer 100% protection from direct sunlight.
We looked at about a dozen sunshades for patio to determine what can hold up well and can’t. After 96 hours of setting up and testing these sunshades, here are the four options that we recommend for consideration:
We’ll look at each of these sunshades in detail in this guide.
Contents
Best Sun Shades for Patio Reviewed
The following is a review of the four shade rails that we bought and tried. Learn why they are ideal and also know what we think could be better.
1. Artpuch Shade Sails UV Block for Patio
If there is one thing we can confidently say about Artpuch shade sail, it’s that it’s a well-made UV block that can fit any outdoor space. At 10 by 13 feet in size, it can cover quite a wider area, so you have a big shade under you regardless of how hot the sun is.
Speaking of design, the Artpuch UV block for patio is one of the well-made recommendations, which is why it has such a huge user base. To begin with, it’s made of high-density polyethylene fabric with stitched seam, and there are D-shaped rings at each corner for easy attachment and taught connection for better protection from sun rays.
You can feel the difference when you sit under this shed and far away from it. You hardly feel the sun’s intensity and that’s so because of the UV blocking power of the shade sail. Because it blocks UV rays and sun exposure without trapping hot air beneath, expect the area covered with the shade to be extremely cool.
Essentially, the shade’s ability to block at most 95% of the UV rays, while protecting your skin from damages, is by far its strongest selling point.
We really wouldn’t have recommended Artpuch UV Block for a patio subject to intense sunlight if it were not breathable. Its breathable lining allows consistent air circulation to make space underneath bearable even under extremely hot sun. A waterproof membrane is lacking, but at least the shade serves it purpose.
Pros
- Can block up to 95% of UV rays and therefore ideal for protecting your skin
- Made of high-density fabric for strength and durability
- Stainless steel D-shaped rings help with easy attachment
Cons
- This sunshade is not waterproof
2. Quictent Rectangle Sunshade for Patio
Quictent goes for well over $100 and, fortunately, it comes with all the kits you need to mount it on attachment points. With this one, expect the temperature beneath to be cooler no matter how broiling the sun is. It’s 26 by 20 feet, making it the best alternative to Artpuch.
Quictent was the most expensive sunshade on our investment list. And while it has a flaw many of us would consider being such a serious deal-breaker, we didn’t regret our purchase one bit. After all, no product is 100% perfect and we expected that this wouldn’t be an exception.
To begin with, this sunshade is made of HDPE fabric, which is quite a stronger material by the current sunshade standards. At each corner is a reinforced D-ring for easy installation. And given that it comes with all the attachment accessories included, the installation process should be a breeze.
Of all the sunshade sails that we considered and actually tested for our patio, Quictent did perform incredibly well. While we didn’t practically measure the intensity of the heat outside the shed, we could feel a big difference in the shed that we did away from it.
And if the claim that it can block up to 98% of UV rays is anything to go by, we haven’t come across a powerful sunshade rail like this one, so we can confidently say that it’s worth the price.
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Pros
- All the accessories that you need for installation are included in the package
- The only sunshade sail on this list that features double-layer edges
- Can block up to 98% of UV rays
- Adds a shade that makes your patio at most 20 degrees cooler under the sun
Cons
- The material can easily stretch and sag
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3. Shade & Beyond Triangle Shade Sails
Shade & Beyond Triangle Sail may be the cheapest sunshade you’ll come across. But it’s one of the well-made options that should have perhaps cost more.
It won’t block breezes, but it offers a decent level of protection from the harsh sun. So if you’re on a tight budget and a sunshade is a must-have, this one should be a great deal for you.
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First, we chose this option because it was within our budget limit for the testing purpose. More importantly, though, we found it to be a good fit because of the solid design. In particular, the material used is a 185 GSM UV-protected HDPE fabric with a stitched seam and stainless steel D-shaped rings for easy attachments.
Installation was a breeze, as we had this up in under 20 minutes. All we had to do was to determine the hooking point to attach the stainless steel D-shaped rings and we’re good to go.
When doing the installation, you do want to make sure you leave an allowance of at least 2 feet between the shade and the fixing point so you don’t have a difficult time with ropes.
For us, the breathability of this triangle shade sail is just perfect. By allowing cool air in and hot air out, while allowing light to pass at the same time, the intensity of heat that gets to the patio space is extremely lower. However, water passes through just as the light does, so this won’t offer a stronger cover when it starts to rain.
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Pros
- This sunshade sail covers quite a wider area
- An ideal solution if you’re in the market for a cheap solution
- Made of high quality fabric for strength and durability
- Free from water pooling because it isn’t water resistant
Cons
- This patio sunshade isn’t waterproof
- It isn’t machine washable
- Doesn’t include the hanging kit, so you’ll have to buy them separately
Also read: Patio umbrella waterproofing
4. Love Story UV Blocking Awning
Love Story UV Blocking Awning is another sunshade sail that caught our attention, particularly because of multiple color options and a budget-friendly price tag. It’s a versatile solution, one that you can use for a composite deck, standard patio, carport, and pretty much any outdoor area subject to UV exposure.
Like the rest of the patio sunshades in this guide, this UV blocker is made of high-density polyethylene shade fabric with a strong seam stitch and stables steel D-shaped rings at each corner. Thanks to the curved edges, you don’t have to worry about the blocker drooping. While it’s a breathable UV blocker that works well, this isn’t a waterproof solution.
Love Story UV Blocker works quite well. Like other options on this list, it can block up to 98% of the harmful UV rays while keeping the area underneath cool and healthy to spend time in the hot summer season.
Measuring 16.5 by 16.5 by 16.5 feet, Love Story UV blocker isn’t the largest sunshade we’ve tested. So if you wish to cover a wider area of your outdoor patio, you either get more than one piece or consider a completely different option.
Love Story provides clear installation guidelines to help you get the setup done in the shortest time possible. The simplest version of the instructions is that you take measurements from ring to ring and then leave a 1.5 to 2 feet space between the shade and the fixing point to easily fit the rope.
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Pros
- Has curved sides that enhance pull strength.
- Will allow light, air, and moisture to pass through.
- Easily blocks up to 98% of the UV rays.
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Cons
- Shrinks tightly after sunlight if pulled tightly during installation
- It’s not a waterproof sun blocker
- Most hardware kits required for this to work are sold separately
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Now that you know what some of the best sun shades for patio are, it should be easy for you to choose an option that will work well for you.
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