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May 23, 2023

8 Best Beach Umbrellas for Summer 2023: Shop Our Picks

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Bring on the sun!

When it comes to umbrellas, there are a lot of options out there—hand-held, patio, and beach. With summer coming around the corner, we’re focusing on the best beach umbrellas. We scoured the Internet high and low in search of the top picks, and even we are pretty impressed with the ones we found from Amazon, Wayfair, and, of course, Serena & Lily, which is famous for its beautiful collection of umbrellas.

Here's the thing about beach umbrellas: They’re meant to be functional, so fashion isn't always the manufacturer's top priority. They’re often made of polyester and coated with a thin resin layer for added SPF, which isn't always chic, but we discovered some stylish options. In fact, the ones below are so beautiful you’d be shocked to learn how effective they are at blocking harmful UV rays.

What's more: A couple of our favorite finds are under $100, so there's no need to shell out a ton of cash for something you’ll only use a few months out of the year. Nearly all of them are easy to use and come with their own matching carrying case so that you can go to and from the beach with a lightweight beach umbrella slung over your shoulder. One of our personal picks? Serena & Lily's, which is on major sale right now. So go ahead, get yourself a sophisticated beach umbrella, and manifest warmer days ahead.

Available in six colors, including bright white, this striped umbrella is Old Hollywood in all the right ways. The fringe details don't hurt either. It's also on sale for $120 off! See that little metal piece toward the top of the wooden pole? It's a convenient tilt apparatus that lets you move with the sun. When you're headed home, just pack the umbrella up in its matching carry bag.

Another red-striped option? This Amazon find for under $70! If red isn't for you, opt for any of the other 10 shades (available in stripes or solids). You can also choose the canopy size of your new water-proof, UV- and fade-resistant umbrella. If you will be headed to the beach with more than two people, definitely go with the bigger canopy. The best part about this unique umbrella is its hidden vent, which allows for air circulation on the hottest days. Plus, it tilts so you don't have to keep moving it to stay shaded. One reviewer said, "The beach anchor, with the convenient handle, made screwing it into the sand fairly easy. The umbrella was big enough to cover 3 adults in beach chairs and made time at the beach enjoyable for all."

This 15-pound UV-resistant umbrella is easily one of our favorites because it's really easy to use: Just twist it into the sand and use the crank to open the canopy. Plus, there's something eye-catching about the shape, which is a bit flatter than curved like a traditional umbrella. Our favorite detail? The scalloped trim! A happy customer said, "Beautiful umbrella. Bought one a while ago, liked it so much that I bought another for a different area in the yard."

Business & Pleasure's best-selling beach umbrella took a whopping five years to design, and it was well worth the wait. Every detail, from the reclaimed timber laminated wood pole to the marine-grade hand-polished aluminum hardware, has been well thought out. As for the details you may not notice, the water-proof canopy is complete with fiberglass ribs, so no matter how hard the ocean breeze blows, it's not going anywhere. Worry not; it comes with a matching canvas carrier bag.

Order the Amalfi umbrella, whose design is inspired by the coastal Italian town, now and get it just in time for the first day of summer (think early June). It comes in the salmon color pictured and minty green with darker trim—both of which are equally Italian-chic. Like the previous beach umbrella, it features a UV- and water-resistant canopy with fiberglass ribs and comes with a matching canvas carrier bag.

Anyone who thought Williams Sonoma only carries kitchen essentials, prepare to have your mind blown. Williams Sonoma sells pretty much everything, including portable beach umbrellas. It features a tilt function and a super-pointed tip so that even if you're not the strongest person on the beach, you can easily twist it into the sand. Get it any of the four colors, including the punchy yellow stripes pictured.

Technically, this lightweight tent isn't an umbrella, but it nestles into the sand and provides an ample amount of shade, so we're throwing it on the list. Designed with a high-quality nylon-lycra blend, this rust-proof aluminum beach tent can protect from 98% of UV rays. It's also big enough to shade quite a few people. One of the nearly 200 reviews noted, "Setting up with stakes took all of 3 minutes to accomplish, we imagine filling the bags with natural elements like sand will take a bit longer but seems like maybe only an extra 10 minutes with 2 of us working on it at the same time. We had about 10MPH breezes rolling through and the Neso didn't even notice the breeze."

With eight fiberglass ribs, this umbrella will hold up against super-strong winds—or shall we say breezes? Once it's anchored in the sand, feel free to tilt it as far as 90 degrees. Just make sure to adjust the knobs so that all of the hinges are aligned. Otherwise, the pole will wobble. What's more, the canopy is PA-coated (a type of resin called polyamide) that protects against 98% of UV rays. It's also SPF 50! Trust us; as long as you're sitting under the shade of this umbrella, you won't get sunburned. A customer who decided to use it in her backyard versus at the beach said, "Easy to set up. Nice color and good quality. I love how it blend in with my backyard."

When choosing the best beach umbrellas, there are a few factors to consider.

Height: Most standard beach umbrellas are around seven feet tall, but they always lose a few inches when they're wedged into the ground, so you may not want to go any shorter than seven feet. Also, the taller the umbrella, the more shade you'll likely get, so we'd suggest going at least seven feet or taller. Another benefit to tall beach umbrellas? There's room to fit a beach chair or two under it.

Canopy Size: The canopy size is crucial because it will determine how much shade you'll get. The canopy size on most of our top picks is also around seven feet, but you may get more or less shade depending on where the sun is.

UV Protection: Beach umbrellas don't just give you a spot in the shade so you don't have to squint; they protect you against the sun.

There's a big difference between the market umbrellas, which typically come with a sturdy metal stand and are designed for patios, and beach umbrellas, whose pole ends in a pointed tip. The former are often very heavy and not portable and the latter rarely weigh more than 15 pounds. We'd always suggest bringing an umbrella specifically designed to stand in the sand when buying a beach umbrella. They're safer, easier to use, and portable.

The House Beautiful shopping editors are big beach people, but avidly avoid the sun, so when we set out to find the best beach umbrellas, we really put in the work. We found ones that are equal parts stylish and affordable, so no matter what you're looking for, you'll definitely find it here.

Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful's associate shopping editor and knows where to find the best high-low pieces for any room.

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