The 9 Best Beach Umbrellas of 2023

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TripSavvy / Chloe Jeong

Preparing for a perfect beach day means throwing towels, snacks, and a good book into your beach bag—and it also means packing a beach umbrella to keep you and your gear shaded and protected. In addition to continually reapplying sunscreen, the shade of a beach umbrella adds another layer of sun protection. Plus, it helps you keep cool and comfortable even when the sun is at peak intensity.

Whether you’re heading to the beach solo and want a compact beach umbrella, or you’re hitting the sand with the family and need something larger and sturdier, our list has a beach umbrella for you and your budget. Here are the best beach umbrellas.

The Rundown

Best Overall: Sport-Brella Versa-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella at Amazon

"This beach umbrella has it all: major functionality, a budget-friendly price point, and a stylish look."

Best Budget: Tommy Bahama UPF 50+ Tilt Beach Umbrella at Amazon

"It's rated to UPF 50+, and the vented canopy is rated for 25-mph winds."

Best Multipurpose: Sport-Brella XL Vented SPF 50+ Sun and Rain Canopy Umbrella at Amazon

"The canopy has top wind vents, side-zippered windows, and side flaps for full protection."

Best Windproof: beachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella at Amazon

"A favorite among beachgoers in breezy conditions, it's rated for wind up to 35 miles per hour."

Best Compact: ONIVA Portable Beach Umbrella at Amazon

"With a canopy that's 5.5 feet in diameter, this umbrella is an excellent, budget-friendly pick."

Best Lightweight: AMMSUN Outdoor Patio Beach Umbrella at Amazon

"It weighs 4.8 pounds and comes with a carrying bag for convenient packing."

Best Style: The Premium Beach Umbrella at Business & Pleasure Co.

"The antique white canopy is elegant and versatile, and the fringe adds a touch of luxury."

Best Oversized: Rio Brands 8' Total Sun Block Beach Umbrella at Amazon

"Shade the whole crew at the beach with this oversized 9-foot-diameter beach umbrella."

Best for Travel: WolfWise Portable Beach Tent at Amazon

"Although spacious, it's also foldable and ultra-lightweight."

Best Overall: Sport-Brella Versa-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella

 Sport-Brella Versa-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Excellent functionality with a good value price

  • Stylish look

  • UPF 50+ protection

What We Don't Like
  • Some customers reported having difficulty attaching it to beach chairs and wagons

This beach umbrella has it all: major functionality, a budget-friendly price point, a stylish look, and more than 32,000 nearly perfect reviews on Amazon. Offering UPF 50+ protection, the Versa-Brella features a durable canopy cover that resists ripping and tearing, and the four-way, 360-degree swivel adjusts to any angle as the sun moves. The umbrella weighs just 1.8 pounds and folds into a compact carrying case for easy transport. Plus, it comes with a one-year warranty.

Price at time of publish: $33

Best Budget: Tommy Bahama UPF 50+ Tilt Beach Umbrella

Tommy Bahama UPF 50+ Tilt Beach Umbrella
What We Like
  • Canopy material built to withstand 25 miler per hour winds

  • UPF 50+ protection

  • Comes with carrying bag

What We Don't Like
  • Anchor not included

Tommy Bahama’s 6-foot tilt umbrella is a feature-rich pick at a budget-friendly price point. The blue pattern is stylish and timeless, and the umbrella easily drives into the sand. Not only is the powder-coated steel pole built to last, but the vented UPF 50+ canopy is also rated for 25-mph winds. The umbrella comes with a carrying bag for easy storage and portability.

Price at time of publish: $30

Best Multipurpose: Sport-Brella XL Vented SPF 50+ Sun and Rain Canopy Umbrella

Sport-Brella XL Vented SPF 50+ Sun and Rain Canopy Umbrella

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Very oversized

  • Multi-purpose

  • Water-repellent and UPF 50+ sun protection

What We Don't Like
  • Could get hot underneath the umbrella because of rugged material

If you also plan to use your beach umbrella for multiple purposes—like a rain shelter when you're outdoors in inclement weather—this oversized option is a great bet. The rugged 9-foot canopy has top wind vents, side-zippered windows for efficient airflow, and side flaps for full protection. Plus, the water-repellent canopy offers UPF 50+ sun protection. Thousands of Amazon reviewers rate this popular umbrella five stars.

Price at time of publish: $75

Best Windproof: BeachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella

beachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella

Courtesy of Bed, Bath & Beyond

What We Like
  • Comes with everything needed—base, carrying bag, shovel, towel hook, and tool to dig the hole and anchor the pole

  • Rated for up to 35 mile per hour winds

  • Tested for more than 400 pounds of pulling force

What We Don't Like
  • Pricey

This all-in-one umbrella package comes with everything you need: the base, a carrying bag, shovel, towel hook, a tool to help you easily dig a hole in the sand to anchor the pole, and of course, the umbrella. This is a favorite among beachgoers in breezy conditions—it’s rated for wind up to 35 miles per hour. Even heavier gusts are unlikely to invert the canopy, which is supported by a three-piece hub system tested at more than 400 pounds of pulling force.

Price at time of publish: $199

Best Compact: ONIVA Portable Beach Umbrella

ONIVA Portable Beach Umbrella

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Excellent value

  • 155-degree tilt feature

What We Don't Like
  • No air vent

Here's an excellent pick if you're looking for a compact beach umbrella and don't need a bunch of extra bells and whistles. This budget-friendly, 5.5-foot-diameter canopy has a cute gray wave pattern piped in cherry red. A 155-degree tilt feature allows you to adjust as the sun moves.

Price at time of publish: $48

Best Lightweight: AMMSUN Outdoor Patio Beach Umbrella

 AMMSUN Outdoor Patio Beach Umbrella

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • Push-button for easy tilt adjustment

  • Air vent to help airflow and handle breezy conditions

What We Don't Like
  • Some customers report even with the air vent, it can only handle light winds

This umbrella is suitable for the beachgoer who prioritizes compactness and portability. It weighs 4.8 pounds and comes with a matching carrying bag for convenient packing. There’s a push-button feature for easy tilt adjustment and top venting to promote airflow and handle breezy conditions. Choose from solid blue or four multicolor striped options.

Price at time of publish: $46

Best Style: Business & Pleasure Co. The Premium Beach Umbrella

Business & Pleasure Co. The Premium Beach Umbrella
  • Antique white canopy is elegant and versatile

  • Matching carrying bag

  • Very high price for a beach umbrella

This is the beach umbrella you want if you’re buying it for the ‘gram. Business & Pleasure Co.’s aesthetically stunning and splurge-worthy collection includes this premium umbrella, which it dubs the “Ferrari of the Beach.” The antique white canopy is elegant and versatile, and the fringe adds a touch of luxury. It casts 6 feet of shade and packs into a matching carrying bag.

Price at time of publish: $299

Best Oversized: Rio Brands 8' Total Sun Block Beach Umbrella

Rio Brands Total Sun Block Beach Umbrella

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • UP 50+ sun protection and top wind vent

  • Carrying bag and sand anchor

What We Don't Like
  • Some reported it not being rugged

Shade the whole crew at the beach with this oversized 8-foot-diameter beach umbrella. It offers UPF 50+ protection and a top wind vent for added stability. It has a carrying bag and sand anchor to keep it securely staked to the sand or ground.

Price at time of publish: $60

Best for Travel: WolfWise Portable Beach Tent

WolfWise Portable Beach Tent

Courtesy of Amazon

What We Like
  • UPF 50+ and water-repellant canopy

  • Sandbags in four corners and wind ropes help it withstand wind

  • Mesh windows help ventilation

What We Don't Like
  • Set up is a little more involved since it's basically a tent

This one toes the line between beach umbrella and beach tent if you're looking for an option that's a bit more substantial. This canopy umbrella is UPF 50+ and water repellant. The structure anchors using sandbags in its four corners, and wind ropes fasten the tent to keep it stable. Three mesh windows provide ventilation while allowing that beautiful beach scenery to shine through. Although spacious (there's plenty of room underneath for three people), it's also foldable and ultra-lightweight; weighing just 4 pounds, it's easy to transport, and you can feasibly toss it into a suitcase for travel.

Price at time of publish: $60

What to Look for in a Beach Umbrella

Strength

When choosing your umbrella, consider the typical conditions at your local beach. If you don’t have to face serious winds and just need something for shade (and perhaps some UV protection), go with a lighter model. But if you anticipate heavy winds, you’ll want one with features like anchors and fiberglass construction. Larger canopies or models with side walls work best if rain is often in the forecast.

Weight

There’s certainly a relationship between weight and strength, but if you plan on tossing your umbrella over your shoulder to haul it from your car to the beach, you might want a lighter design that’s easier to transport and set up. Conversely, if you don’t have far to travel, heavier models—like those made of wood—are typically bigger, stronger, and more durable.

Height

Make sure to find an umbrella that’s the right height for your needs. For example, if your chairs are higher off the ground, you don’t want your head brushing up against the umbrella.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • What's the difference between a beach umbrella, a beach canopy, and a beach tent?

    These terms may be used interchangeably, and there are many similarities. However, the language contains some hints about item specs. Generally, you can stake an umbrella or canopy in the sand using a pole or anchor. Beach tents can be staked or assembled upon hard surfaces like concrete, then weighted down to stay in place. Tents also typically have sidewalls for fuller coverage.

  • How should I anchor my beach umbrella in the sand?

    When the wind gusts, it can turn your umbrella into a sail, carrying it down the beach and posing a safety risk to your fellow beachgoers. To avoid these hazards, you want to be sure to anchor your umbrella. Most commonly, beach umbrellas anchor in the sand at a single point: the pole. However, some umbrellas have features that keep them anchored in other ways. The Sport-Brella, for example, secures to the ground with the center spike and a series of stakes at additional points along the canopy.

  • How should I clean my beach umbrella?

    Beach umbrellas are made for outdoor elements and are easy to clean. Carefully detach the canopy from the pole, then rinse it with a garden hose. Next, use mild soap—or make a simple cleaning solution with water, white vinegar, and dish soap—and scrub the surface with a brush or rag. Air dry completely and then gently reattach.

Why Trust TripSavvy

Alesandra Dubin is a frequent beachgoer in her hometown of Los Angeles and on her travels. She’s constantly researching ways to hit the sand with her family in comfort, safety, and style. All TripSavvy roundups are written by experts and are thoroughly researched.

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