If you live in a windy area, you might be hesitant to put up an umbrella on your patio.
Sure, they can be great for keeping you cool in the shade on a hot and sunny day, but too much wind and they can fly away.
Some umbrellas say that they can handle the toughest of winds, but how much can a patio umbrella take before it goes flying away?
Can you have an umbrella that can stand windy afternoons or are they all the same?
How Much Wind Can Your Patio Umbrella Take?
When answering this question, it is important to note that different quality patio umbrellas won’t be able to take the same amount of force from the wind.
You won’t find that a super cheap umbrella will hold up the same way as a top-rated umbrella will.
Let’s look into different kinds of umbrellas to see how much force they can take.
Cheap Patio Umbrellas
You can buy a patio umbrella from almost anywhere. They are in Amazon, your local hardware stores, and they are sometimes even at Five Below.
A cheap patio umbrella usually typically won’t cost you more than $15, and there is a reason for that.
Cheaper patio umbrellas are made with cheaper materials. Their poles are more likely to bend or break and the umbrella fabric is more likely to tear.
A cheap patio umbrella usually won’t even be able to withstand the 20mph winds that normal patio umbrellas claim to be strong enough against.
It is not recommended to keep them outside during any sort of windstorm or on a windy day.
If you know that the winds outside are going to be more than 15mph, it is recommended to close up your patio umbrella.
Normal Patio Umbrellas
You can find some decent quality umbrellas without having to break the bank. The price range for a normal quality patio umbrella is anywhere from $15-$40.
These umbrellas can still easily be found at hardware stores or even your local grocery store. But you won’t see one at a store like Five Below.
On your patio umbrella, you should be able to find the specifics for how much wind it can withstand.
However, as a good rule of thumb, normal umbrellas aren’t meant to withstand winds of more than 20mph. Some umbrellas will let you know if it can take more.
If you have a nicer quality patio umbrella that still falls into the normal umbrella price range, you might find that it can handle wind speeds closer to 30mph.
It is still not recommended to leave them out and opened up on these super windy days.
High-Quality Patio Umbrellas
These umbrellas can be found online, at hardware stores, or specialty patio furniture stores. If you saw a cheap umbrella and a high-quality umbrella side by side, you would be able to see the difference.
High-quality patio umbrellas are made to withstand facing higher winds, being moved around from one place to another, and even going on camping trips. These umbrellas can cost anywhere from $40 – $100, sometimes even more.
Some of these umbrellas have been tested to withstand wind speeds of up to 50mph, but many labels that they can handle up to 40mph. Either way, that is still a lot more wind than the previous umbrellas could handle.
Once again, even though these umbrellas can handle these high speeds, it is not recommended to leave them out and open when you know that a windstorm is coming.
Take into consideration that F0 tornados have a starting speed of 40mph, and it is never recommended to have loose furniture that can fly away in a tornado.
You Still Might Face Damages
No matter how good of quality your patio umbrella is, there is always the chance of a windstorm tearing at the seams of the fabric or ripping the umbrella completely away.
If you know that your area is about to get some tough winds, take the patio umbrella down to avoid as much damage as possible.
How Can I Make My Patio Umbrella Tougher Against Wind?
There are times when you might not want to have to take your patio umbrella down for the wind.
If you have a super cheap and flimsy patio umbrella, there are a few ways that you can make it a bit studier.
First, make sure that your umbrella has a big and strong base.
The stronger (and therefore heavier) the base of your umbrella is, the harder it will be for it to get knocked over by the wind.
You can buy base attachments for your umbrella or make your own by placing the current base into a wooden box and filling it up with heavy materials.
Make sure that your umbrella is made of wind-resistant materials. These materials are heavier than what the typical umbrella is made out of, but this weight keeps it from ripping in the wind. These umbrellas are typically made with more spokes.
If you need more weight on your umbrella than a heavier and bigger base, use anchors to keep that umbrella from flying away. Sure, you could use literal anchors, but bags of sand will work just as well.
If you need more suggestions for making your patio umbrella studier and more resistant to the wind, check out this video for even more tips.
Using just one or several at a time will help keep your umbrella touching the ground instead of flying away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Leave a Patio Umbrella Open All the Time?
While it would be nice to be able to keep a patio umbrella open all the time, it would be good for your umbrella.
If your area has a bad windstorm, your patio umbrella will face quite a bit of damage.
You also can’t leave your patio umbrella open all of the time because the rain and thunderstorms can also cause damage to the materials.
Snow from the winter would pile on top of a patio umbrella and ice could rip through the materials.
Overall, taking care of your patio umbrella means taking it down when there is harsh weather outside.
Making sure that your patio umbrella isn’t harmed by the elements will allow even cheaply made umbrellas to last a while.
Can Patio Umbrellas Withstand Wind?
Patio umbrellas can withstand winds typically up to 20mph. Some specially made patio umbrellas can withstand more wind, up to 50mph at the max.
While patio umbrellas can withstand wind, it’s best to take them down whenever you know that it’s going to be a windy day. Wind can still cause damage to umbrellas even if they can withstand it.
Should Patio Umbrellas Be Closed at Night?
It is a good idea to take your patio umbrella down during the night.
You can never be sure what the weather during the night is going to look like, so the best prevention of damage to your umbrella is to take it down.
The best way to take care of your patio umbrella is to close it up or take it down whenever you aren’t using it.
How Many Pounds Should a Patio Umbrella Base Be?
Earlier we discussed that the base of a patio umbrella is important in making your umbrella sturdy. When you make your umbrella base stronger, you will also make your umbrella more wind-proof.
When figuring out how many pounds your patio umbrella base should be, multiply the width of the canopy by 10. That way, the size to weight ratio would keep the umbrella safely on the ground.
If you don’t have an umbrella base that is the proper weight for your umbrella, then you can use anchors (or weighted objects) to add on the weight.
Is Steel or Aluminum Better for a Patio Umbrella?
The answer to this question depends on where you are located. If you live in a place that gets a ton of rain, aluminum would be the better material because it doesn’t rust as easily.
It’s also a strong material that can come in different looks so you can have a stylish umbrella.
Patio umbrellas in windy areas would benefit from being made of steel. It is a heavier material and is stronger than aluminum. Steel umbrellas also tend to be less expensive.
Final Thoughts
Having a patio umbrella with the rest of your outdoor furniture can pull the area together.
It’s also great to have a way to escape the bright sun while still enjoying the fresh air outside. But it’s important to know just how much your umbrella can take.
The average amount of wind that a patio umbrella can take is 20mph. Higher-quality umbrellas can take more wind, but it’s still a good idea to close your umbrella when the weather turns.
What kind of patio umbrella do you have and what do you do to keep it standing against the wind? Share in the comments!
