The 10 Best Patio Umbrellas with Lights to Make Your Backyard Feel Magical

Regardless of whether your backyard (or balcony, or patio) is your place to sunbathe and swim laps or to simply enjoy a good glass of rosé, there’s no doubt that it could benefit from the season’s hottest outdoor accessory: a patio umbrella with lights. These furnishings vary in price, but they’re certainly worth the spend, if you ask us—they’re the pièce de résistance of any outdoor setting. Not only will they provide cool shade throughout the day, their warm solar or LED lights, like the ones this Best Choice Products patio umbrella, $80, features, will offer the perfect ambiance come evening time.

There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best patio umbrella with lights (more on that below), but it largely comes down to size, durability and bulb brightness (and, of course, your personal preferences). Considering all of these factors, we've compiled a list of the top ten options around, on which you'll find some neutral options, some weather-resistant ones and some that are solar-powered.

• Best Patio Umbrella with Solar Lights: Sunnyglade Solar Umbrella ($68)
• Best Patio Umbrella with LED Lights: Best Choice Products LED Patio Umbrella ($80)
• Best Rectangle Patio Umbrella with Lights: Arlmont & Co. Doralice Patio Umbrella ($120)
• Best Cantilever Patio Umbrella with Lights: Hampton Bay Cantilever Umbrella ($249)
• Best Large Patio Umbrella with Lights: Phi Villa Large Patio Umbrella ($200)
• Best Small Patio Umbrella with Lights: Abccanopy Patio Umbrella ($75)
• Most Colorful Patio Umbrella with Lights: Arlmont & Co. Willford Umbrella ($133)
• Best Neutral Patio Umbrella with Lights: Bluu Maple Solar Patio Umbrella ($180)
• Best Patterned Patio Umbrella with Lights: Blissun Solar Patio Umbrella ($72)
• Best Offset Patio Umbrella with Lights: Wellfor Offset Umbrella ($271)

Here are some important factors to take into account when buying a patio umbrella with lights.

• Construction: It goes without saying that you’ll want to purchase an umbrella that’s made from high-quality materials. Aluminum is a good choice for a sturdy, durable base because it's both rust-resistant and extremely strong. Steel is also a solid choice, since it's more affordable than aluminum, but it's not as rust-resistant, and therefore not as long-lasting.
  
  Canopy wise, you'll want to look for something that's water-and-fade-resistant, so it will maintain its color for longer than a season. Canopies that are made from fabrics such as olefin and acrylic are the cream-of-the-crop—the material is soft, UV-resistant, quick-drying and strong. Polyester is another fabric that's common in umbrellas and it tends to be cheaper, though it's not nearly as UV-resistant, and consequently, not as investment-worthy.
  
• Light type: When it comes to the umbrella's lights, you’ll likely have to decide between solar or LED lights. Solar lights harvest the energy of the sun (read: no batteries required) and are primarily used to provide outdoor lighting in the evenings. LED lights, meanwhile, emit light when currents run through them. While they do require a power source, they may last longer and produce a brighter light. Those of us who are indecisive (*slowly raises hand*) can rejoice, because there's a third option that combines the best of both worlds: LED solar umbrellas. These scientific wonders on a stick charge all day long in the sun using solar energy, and then at night, their newly-charged LED lights switch on (though they may not be as efficient).
  
• Design: There are several different types of patio umbrellas on our list, ranging from rectangular canopies to cantilever ones, or models that support the canopy from the side rather than the middle, making the canopy appear like its suspended in midair. Similarly, offset models offer 360 degrees of sun protection (no more adjusting your seat to find the shade!), but always include a post, while a cantilever model may be wall-mounted. It's a good idea to figure out which kind you're after prior to making your purchase.

There are a ton of different retailers you can head to find your glimmering new patio umbrella with lights. Some of our favorite spots include Amazon, Wayfair, Target and Home Depot.

In choosing the best patio umbrellas with lights, we looked for ones with durable materials and convenient and functional features, such as hand cranks to raise the umbrella up and down and the ability to tilt the canopy. We also looked for canopies made of water- and fade-resistant materials. In addition to our research, we considered customer reviews to select umbrellas that buyers truly love.

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Melissa has been writing, editing, and producing product roundups and brand reviews for the past four years. She graduated with a degree in journalism from SUNY Oswego in 2019 and has since worked at publications like Hearst, Reviewed and Healthline. She's a freelance writer for PureWow and frequently covers health, fashion and home content. In her free time, she can be found perusing TikTok for the latest wellness and cooking trends. Learn more about her on her website.

Nathalie Feingold is PureWow’s former Affiliate Content Resident. She’s always willing to test out the next hot product (her skincare regimen currently includes snail mucin serum), and she’s unafraid to try new trends (yes, even low-waisted jeans). She’s previously written and edited for magazines in both San Diego and Valencia, Spain. Her ultimate favorite hobby is laying out at the beach with a good book in hand.

Natalie LaBarbera is PureWow's assistant commerce editor. She writes about all things shopping, including fashion, beauty, travel, wellness and more, searching for the best products out there in the process (bonus points if they're eco-friendly and ethically produced!). She has a master's in fashion studies from Parsons and bachelor's in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and prior to working at PureWow, she gained several years of experience in fashion through various freelance roles, retail and personal styling (see more on her experience on LinkedIn). When she's not writing for work or fun, she loves reading fantasy novels and traveling with her small, feisty chihuahua-mix, Dobby, who has a strong affinity for the south of France.

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