The Complete Guide
Custom Made Outdoor Umbrella Covers — The Australian Owner's Complete Guide
An outdoor umbrella canopy can fade within a single Australian summer if it is left open or uncovered between uses. This guide covers how to measure for a cover and why it is worth doing from day one.
Why umbrella canopies fade
Most outdoor umbrella canopies are made from solution-dyed acrylic or a UV-stabilised polyester. These fabrics are designed to resist fading, but they are not immune to UV. The problem is cumulative.
An umbrella that is left open in full sun between uses is exposed to UV even when it is not shading anyone. Over a full summer, that is hundreds of hours of UV exposure on the canopy fabric. The colour in the fabric breaks down gradually, starting at the panels most exposed to direct sun.
An umbrella that is closed between uses and covered is protected entirely when it is not in use. That is the simplest way to extend the life of the canopy by years.
Two measurements for a cylindrical cover
An umbrella cover is a tube that slides over the closed umbrella from the top. Two measurements are all that is needed.
Diameter
Close the umbrella fully and fold the canopy down so it wraps against the pole. The diameter you need is the widest part of this bundled canopy — not the pole itself and not the open canopy size.
The easiest way to measure this is with a flexible tape measure. Wrap it around the widest part of the bundle and read the circumference. Divide that number by 3.14 to get the diameter. Alternatively, if you can get a rigid tape or ruler alongside the bundle, measure directly across from one side to the other.
The canopy bundle is almost always the widest part of the umbrella in its closed position. On most standard patio umbrellas this is somewhere between 12 and 20 cm in diameter.
Length
Length is the full distance from the very base of the pole to the tip at the very top of the umbrella with the canopy folded down and in place. Do not measure just the pole section. Include the full height of the assembled umbrella in its closed configuration.
Why diameter matters more than length
Most people assume length is the critical measurement. In practice, diameter is more important for fit. A cover that is the right length but too wide will flap and let UV and moisture in at the top. A cover that is the right diameter slides on snugly, sits flush around the canopy, and does not move in wind.
The length measurement determines whether the cover reaches the base of the umbrella. Both need to be right, but if you can only get one measurement exactly right, prioritise the diameter.
Material
The cover is made from 200gsm solution-dyed polyester with a waterproof polyurethane underside. The same UV-stable face fabric that protects the cover from fading also keeps UV from reaching the canopy fabric inside.
The cylindrical shape means the cover can be slid on from the top without any complicated fitting. It is a simple tube, open at the base, that drops over the furled umbrella and sits snugly around the canopy bundle.
Care
Slide the cover on whenever the umbrella is closed and not in use. On windy days, close the umbrella and fit the cover before the wind picks up rather than after. A cover on a closed umbrella significantly reduces the wind load on the canopy fabric and the rib structure.
Rinse the cover occasionally with a garden hose. Do not machine wash. Allow it to dry before sliding back onto the umbrella.