Spend your summer at the beach and in the shade. The Beach Brella Umbrella is a great, stylish option. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

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Endless summer days at the beach are the best. Sunburns are not. Umbrellas let you have your cake and eat it too, so to speak. They provide ample shade, allowing you to spend all of the sunshiny days at the beach that you want while remaining protected from harmful UV rays. But not all umbrellas are created equally, so we took the liberty of testing some of the best options out there. After plenty of days at the beach, here are our top picks.

For more shade options, check out our guide to the Best Beach Canopies. And for more detailed info, be sure to check out our Comparison Table and Buyer’s Guide.

The Best Beach Umbrellas of 2025

Best Overall Beach Umbrella: Sport-Brella Super-Brella

Runner-Up Best Overall/Best Classic: Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella

Best Value Beach Umbrella: RIO Beach Outdoor Market Umbrella

Best Budget Beach Umbrella: Picnic Time Outdoor Canopy

Best Wind-Resistant Beach Umbrella: Beach Bub All-In-One Umbrella

Best Stylish Beach Umbrella: Beach Brella Umbrella

Best Overall Beach Umbrella

Sport-Brella Super-Brella ($55)

Weight: 6.38 lbs
Arc Size: 8′
Material: Polyester

Pros: Comes with stakes and windows for air to pass through, making this a very wind-resistant option
Cons: Set up is tricky at first, not a traditional umbrella, if that’s what you came here for

Sport-Brella’s oversized UPF 50+ beach umbrella is rightfully named the Super-Brella. When set up and fully extended, the umbrella measures 56.2″ x 4″ x 3.6″.  Unlike most beach umbrellas, the Super-Brella is designed to rest on the ground rather than upright, making it a cross between an umbrella and a beach canopy. It is also fully designed to withstand windy days and includes heavy-duty and lightweight stakes to ensure it doesn’t blow away. We set the umbrella up solo for the first go and found it challenging in 20 mph winds, but once everything was secure it was one of the most reliable umbrellas we tested. There are also windows on the side that allow air to pass through, keeping you cool and preventing the umbrella from taking off in the wind.

The Super-Brella is a good bit larger when packed down than any other umbrella on our list, but on the flip side, it also provides more shade and has plenty of room for two or three people beneath it. And let’s not forget the bang-for-buck value at $55. As mentioned above, setup can be tricky on the first go, but it comes with instructions and is second nature once you figure it out. Thanks to its generous shade coverage and multiple wind-resistant features, we awarded the Super-Brella our Best Overall Beach Umbrella award. You can also see how it compares to more traditional beach canopies in our Best Beach Canopies review. However, if you came here looking for a more traditional beach umbrella, the Tommy Bahama, below, or any of the other options further down will be right up your alley.

Runner-Up Best Overall/Best Classic Beach Umbrella

Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella ($106)

Weight: 5.2 lbs
Arc Height: 7′
Material: Polyester

Pros: Rated UPF 50+, sand anchor, tilt option on pole
Cons: Needs to be repositioned on extra windy days

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more classic shade solution than a Tommy Bahama beach umbrella. Available in several fun colorways, the Tommy Bahama umbrellas measure 7.5 feet across, offering the perfect amount of shade for one to two people. Rated to UPF 50-plus, the aluminum undercoating ensures you will stay protected from the sun whilst under your umbrella.

Additional features include a wind vent, patented sand anchor, and a telescoping aluminum pole with a tilt option. The umbrella withstands the wind test most of the time, but on particularly windy days we had to reposition it a few times. The umbrella weighs just 5.2 pounds and packs down into a convenient carry bag with a strap, making it easy to transport to and from the beach. We’ve had a Tommy Bahama in our arsenal for years and vouch that it’s a reliably durable umbrella. If you’re looking for something more affordable, the RIO Beach Outdoor Market Umbrella sports a similar design with an integrated sand anchor, but is only $45 and our pick for Best Value.

Best Value Beach Umbrella

RIO Beach Outdoor Market Umbrella ($45)

Weight: 10.28 lbs
Arc Height: 7′
Material: Polyester

Pros: Wind vents, sturdy base
Cons: No exciting colorways

The RIO Beach Outdoor Market Umbrella is an affordable beach umbrella designed with the wind in mind. The pole of the umbrella screws into the ground for a firm base. Once you have it in, there’s a fabric platform that you bury with sand to make the base extra secure.

Our tester lives on Oahu and rarely is able to use an umbrella due to the constant wind. Luckily, the RIO was stable enough and stood standing in all of our testing, even on a very windy day by Oahu standards. The umbrella also has built-in wind vents that allow the wind to pass through, further helping the umbrella remain secure. The umbrella provides ample sun protection and easily packs down into the included carrying back for easy transport. Although the Outdoor Market Umbrellas is the heaviest of all the umbrellas we tested, it doesn’t feel heavy and is relatively easy to store and transport.

If 10.28 pounds is a bit too heavy for you, the Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella has a similar design with a fabric platform at the base but only weighs 5.2 pounds. But it’s also $60 more.

Best Budget Beach Umbrella

Picnic Time Outdoor Canopy ($33)

Weight: 3.6 lbs
Arc Height: 5.5′
Material: Polyester

Pros: Lots of color options, tilt feature
Cons: Not reliable in wind when fully extended

The Picnic Time Outdoor Canopy is a classic beach umbrella available at an affordable price. Measuring 5.5′ across and 6.8′ tall, the Outdoor Canopy provides generous shade coverage. The base of the two-piece steel pole features a screw-style bottom, making it easy to get your umbrella deep in the sand. We found that the umbrella was a bit sketchy in the wind when fully extended, but luckily it’s adjustable, so you can simply lower it when it’s gusty.

In addition to being adjustable, the umbrella can tilt 55 degrees, so you can adjust it so that the shade is always on you. At the end of the day, the Outdoor Canopy packs down into a convenient carrying bag. We’ve only had the Outdoor Canopy for a few months and so far it’s been holding up well. The overall construction and quality don’t seem quite as good as the other umbrellas on our list and it doesn’t have many wind-resistant features. But for $33, it gets the job done.

If you’re willing to spend more in the name of style, the Beach Brella is $100 more but the material is canvas rather than polyester, making it more durable, and has fringe along the edges for style points.

Best Wind Resistant Beach Umbrella

Beach Bub All-In-One Umbrella ($139)

Weight: 9 lbs
Arc Height: 7.5′
Material: Polyester

Pros: Sand-filled base provides the best wind resistance we’ve yet to see from an umbrella, lots of accessories
Cons: Heavy, and more expensive than some other options on this list

The Beach Bub All-In-One Umbrella was designed with windy days in mind. For starters, the umbrella comes with a shovel and a sand gopher to help you get a deep hole for your umbrella pole. It also comes with a sand-filled base, that can hold up to 125 pounds of sand when filled to ensure your umbrella won’t budge. We’re not going to lie, figuring out how to get this thing set up was no walk in the park. There’s a full page of directions and some tools involved, so it’s quite the process.

But, once you get the umbrella up it’s bullet-proof (well, wind-proof). The All-In-One umbrella was wind-tested up to 44 mph. Luckily, we didn’t have as windy of conditions during our testing but gusts did reach 25 mph and the umbrella remained very secure.

In addition to being wind resistant, the All-In-One umbrella is also durable. It’s made from commercial-grade aluminum, sports stainless steel hardware, and the fabric is thick polyester. At nine pounds, the umbrella is on the heavy side, but it does pack into a convenient travel bag that has a padded shoulder strap to make the journey as comfortable as possible. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, the Super-Brella also has great wind-resistant features but weighs just 6.38 pounds. If you don’t need quite as wind-proof a solution, both the Tommy Bahama and RIO umbrellas have solid wind-resistance chops and are about half the weight.

Best Stylish Beach Umbrella

Beach Brella Umbrella ($129)

Weight: 5 lbs
Arc Height: 5′
Material: Canvas

Pros: Fade-resistant, trendy prints, comes with a sand anchor
Cons: Pricey

From the mind of a Laguna Beach, California local, Beach Brella’s umbrellas are functional and fashionable. The umbrellas were created to have a luxury beach resort feel with fun patterns and a fringe around the rim. 100% UV protective, these umbrellas are fade-resistant and lightweight and come in a convenient carrying case.

When set up, the umbrella spans five feet but packs down to 40 inches. We love that these umbrellas are cute and add a fun splash of color to backyard parties, beach days, and pool hangs. It also comes with a sand anchor in the form of a small bag that can be filled with sand to give the umbrella some weight, which is necessary when the winds pick up on your beach of choice. If you’d prefer a more affordable but less stylish option, the Picnic Time Outdoor Canopy is only $33, but it won’t turn any heads on the beach.

Best of the Rest

Business & Pleasure Holiday Umbrella ($199)

Weight: 5.5 lbs
Arc Height: 5′
Material: Polyester/Canvas

Pros: Premium feel, stylish
Cons: Pricey

Interested in a ‘brolly with a bit more of a premium feel? You can’t go wrong with Business & Pleasure’s option, though you will have to pay a pretty penny for it. Made of cotton canvas with a teak wood pole and an aluminum frame, this umbrella will transport you to the Mediterranean whenever you set it up. Business and Pleasure also sells super sturdy umbrella bases if you plan on setting the umbrella up in your yard. The Holiday Umbrella is incredibly durable and heavy-duty, making it a great choice as a more permanent option as well as for day trips to the beach.

If the Holiday Umbrellas is a bit too heavy duty for you, the Beach Brella is the same height but a tad lighter and packs down smaller while delivering a similar look. We also found that the Beach Brella worked better for quick beach trips while the Holiday Umbrella truly excelled as a more permanent fixture for a backyard or pool.

Sport-Brella Versa-Brella ($28)

Weight: 2 lbs
Arc Height: 3.25′
Material: Polyester

Pros: Small and compact, perfect shade over a chair
Cons: Can be difficult to find a secure fit

The Sport-Brella Versa-Brella is one of the most unique and packable umbrellas on our list. Where most umbrellas screw into the ground, the Versa-Brella attaches to the side of a beach chair, cooler, or wagon. As such, it’s very compact but only provides enough shade for one person.

To provide the best shade possible, the Versa-Brella has an asymmetrical design that can be tilted to allow for maximum visibility and shade. Through our testing, we found that the Versa-Brella screws on well to cylindrical metal chair arms but was a bit more challenging to get a secure fit on wooden arms. At its maximum height we had a difficult time finding a secure fit but if you tilt the umbrella down a bit it works perfect for shade over your chair. The Versa-Brella also packs down small and is extremely lightweight, so it’s easy to pack along for all of your beach and park outings. Ringing in at two pounds, the Versa-Brella is the lightest of all the umbrellas we tested.

The Versa-Brella is unlike any of the other umbrellas on our list. If you’re looking for a more traditional umbrella, the Picnic Time Outdoor Canopy is roughly the same price but screws into the ground as opposed to onto your chair.

Best Beach Umbrellas Comparison Table

Some of the beach umbrellas we tested in their bags. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

How We Tested The Best Beach Umbrellas

Our lead tester Rebecca Parsons lives on Oahu, Hawaii where it is always hot and sunny. It’s also often quite windy, making it a great location to put these beach umbrellas to the test in the harshest of beach weather. To see how each of these umbrellas performed, our tester took them down to her local beach, set them up per their instructions, and enjoyed the shade coverage (or lack thereof) of each. We also considered how difficult each umbrella was to set up, how well each held up against the wind, and how easy it was to transport each umbrella.

We first ran this review in August of 2023. We most recently updated this guide in September of 2024, adding the Beach BUB and two options from Sport Brella, the Versa Brella and Super Brella, the Super Brella claiming our top spot from the CGear Multimats, after some reports of durability concerns from users of the Multimats.

The RIO Beach Outdoor Market Umbrella has great wind-resistant features. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Beach Umbrellas Buyer’s Guide

What Makes a Good Beach Umbrella?

Umbrellas have been the go-to option for years when you need some portable shade at the beach, park, lake, or anywhere the sun is shining. When trying to find a good umbrella, we considered things like stability, shade coverage, durability, portability, and extra features like anchors. In searching for the best beach umbrella, we’ve found that while beach umbrellas are still popular, beach canopies are another option that people love.

A beach umbrella screwed onto a beach chair. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Beach Umbrellas vs. Beach Canopies

If you’re torn between an umbrella and a beach canopy, it may be worthwhile to consider the pros and cons of each. Beach umbrellas are a great option because they tend to be lightweight, portable, easy to set up, and affordable. However, they don’t always fare well in wind and typically only offer enough shade for one or two people.

A beach umbrella (right) versus a beach canopy (left). Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Beach canopies, on the other hand, tend to be a bit pricier and take more work to set up, but they typically come with stakes, which helps them perform well in the wind. Depending on the beach canopy, they often provide enough shade for multiple people. If you’re interested in checking out beach canopies, take a look at our guide: The Best Beach Canopies.

The Business & Pleasure Holiday Umbrella is a stylish umbrella, perfect for your backyard or the beach. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Stability

We’ve all been at the beach and witnessed a runaway umbrella. The beach is often windy, and as such, you need a stable umbrella that can handle sudden gusts of wind. Screws built into the bottom of the umbrella pole, like the one on the Picnic Time Outdoor Canopy (pictured below), can be helpful. Some umbrellas even come with anchors, which is a great option.

Screw-style bases help get the umbrella deep in the sand. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Shade Coverage

Shade coverage is the top priority in a beach umbrella. You’ll want to look for umbrellas that say they have built-in UV protection or offer a UV rating, so you know they provide solid protection. You’ll also want an umbrella that spans at least five-feet but really, the bigger the better as larger umbrellas will provide more shade. Rated SPF 50+, the Sport-Brella Super-Brella provides generous coverage.

The Sport-Brella Super-Brella provides generous shade coverage and doesn’t require sand to screw into. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Durability

Wind and salt water are harsh on gear. It’s important to purchase an umbrella that’s well made because if you frequent the beach, yours will regularly be exposed to the elements. Some umbrellas easily become mangled when caught in the wind or quickly acquire holes when they snag on something, while other umbrellas will be a staple on your beach trips for years to come. We’re after the later type of umbrella. We’ve had the Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella for years and can vouch that it’s a reliably durable umbrella.

The Beach Brella Umbrella is portable and stylish. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Portability

While a massive oversized umbrella with a solid base would be great for a beach day, getting it back and forth is going to be tricky. Ideally, you’ll want an umbrella that offers stable shade, but still packs down small into a carrying case so you can easily tote it to the beach. Bonus points if the umbrella packs down into some sort of included bag or case and extra points if it has carrying straps. Of all the umbrellas we tested, the Sport-Brella Versa-Brella is the lightest and most compact.

Best Overall Umbrella

The Sport-Brella Super-Brella is the ultimate beach umbrellas. With an 8′ canopy, multiple stakes, and two windows for wind and airflow, the Super-Brella provides ample shade and doesn’t budge in the wind.

Price: $55

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Weight

Weight goes hand in hand with portability, but the lighter the umbrella the easier it will be to transport. However, a lighter umbrella will also be picked up by the wind more easily. We think an umbrella somewhere in the middle weight wise is a good bet. Weighing just two pounds, the Sport-Brella Versa-Brella is the lightest umbrella we tested and at 10.28 pounds the RIO Beach Outdoor Market Umbrella is the heaviest.

Carrying cases with shoulder straps make for easy transport. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Price

Like a lot of things, you get what you pay for when it comes to umbrellas. But, you also don’t want to overpay if you don’t have to. Cute, trendy umbrellas, with fringe and fun patterns tend to cost more even though they’re similar in function. Super cheap umbrellas will work for a short period, but often rip apart during the first wind storm. So, consider what’s important to you and purchase accordingly. The most affordable umbrella we tested is the Sport-Brella Versa-Brella at $28 while the most expensive is the Business & Pleasure Holiday Umbrella at $199.

Beach umbrellas range from $28-$200. Pictured: The Picnic Time Outdoor Canopy which costs just $33. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Additional Features to Look For in a Beach Umbrella

Wind Resistant Features

Wind is a beach umbrella’s worst enemy. We’ve all been to the beach and seen a runaway umbrella doing flips across the sand. Not only is it annoying, but it’s dangerous. A lot of umbrellas come with screw style bases on the poles to help you really get them into the sand. Some has have wind vents that allow the wind to pass through the umbrella. And many umbrellas have anchors. Of all the umbrellas we tested, the Sport-Brella Super-Brella and the Beach Bub All-In-One Umbrella fared the best in the wind.

Stakes like those on the Sport-Brella Super-Brella are helpful on extra windy days. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Anchors

Anchors can be really helpful at securing your umbrella, so check to see if yours comes with one or consider purchasing one online. If you live in a windy area, an anchor is especially important. We appreciated simple anchors like the ones on the RIO Beach Outdoor Market Umbrella and the Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella or sand filled ones like the Beach Bub All-In-One Umbrella.

The sand filled base on the Beach Bub All-In-One Umbrella is a game changer in the wind. Photo: Rebecca Parsons//The Inertia

Poles

The pole of the umbrella can make a big difference. Some poles are fixed whereas others allow you to adjust the umbrella to various heights. Another factor we appreciate in a pole is a screw style design at the base that helps you get the pole into the ground more easily. The poles on the Sport-Brella Versa-Brella allow you to adjust the umbrella into multiple different positions.

Editor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here. If you prefer a canopy over an umbrella, check out our The Best Beach Canopies. Looking for some portable shade? Take a look at The Best Sun Hats. Or, if you need something to sit on, check out The Best Beach Towels and The Best Beach Chairs. 

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