Umbrella Diameter to Table Diameter

Main Rule of Thumb

• To ensure that an umbrella is large enough to shade a table and those seated around it, the general rule of thumb is to purchase an umbrella that is at least 5 feet wider than the table. For example, if the table is 3 feet in diameter, get an umbrella that is at least 8 feet in diameter.

Common Umbrella Sizes

• Common umbrella sizes are 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 feet in diameter. If you cannot find an umbrella that is exactly 5 feet larger than your table, purchase one that is more than 5 feet larger as opposed to less. If your table is rectangular, base the umbrella size on the measurement of the long side of the table.

Measuring Your Umbrella

• If you're not sure what an umbrella size is, measure it. Start at the edge, and measure from the end of one rib up to the top of the umbrella, across the center and back down to the end of the rib on the opposite side. Ribs are the rigid "spines" of the umbrella that give umbrellas their shape.

Tilting Umbrellas

• When purchasing a new umbrella, look for one with a tilt mechanism. Because the sun hangs directly overhead during a small portion of the day, you'll need to tilt the umbrella to provide day-long shade. If an umbrella tilts easily and effectively, you can make the most of its shade. Plus, an umbrella that's a bit too small for a table can make up for its size when it is tilted against the sun.