The Best Cantilever Umbrella for Your Hot Tub: Shade, Shelter & Style
By Jennifer Rhodes · Updated
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You've spent a lot of money on your hot tub. Now you need to get the perfect shade for it! But where do you start? Well, we're here to help with our list of the best umbrellas for hot tubs. First, let's go over what makes a good hot tub umbrella.
Cantilever umbrellas are perfect because they provide shade, shelter, and aesthetic appeal in one sleek package. Unlike regular center-pole patio umbrellas (which are designed to go over a table), cantilever umbrellas are suspended from an arm attached to an offset base, which allows them to be placed to the side of the main area they're covering.
This makes them ideal for hot tubs because the base can be positioned on either side of the hot tub, and then the umbrella will sit directly over the top of the spa.
If you're just looking for our top pick, it was the PURPLE LEAF 11' Double Top Deluxe Square Patio Umbrella.
What makes a good hot tub umbrella?
Aside from the cantilever design, we considered a few other factors when selecting our top picks.
Sun protection
First, we looked at shade. It's important to have a high-quality material that offers sun protection by blocking heat and UV rays—some can even be UPF 50+ which is great for preventing skin damage from too much time in the direct sun.
Rain protection
When it comes to hot tub umbrellas, having adequate protection from the rain is also useful. While there's nothing wrong with using a hot tub in the rain, it can be nice to have some kind of cover if you want to be able to use it on cooler, rainy days. So the umbrellas we picked needed to have adequate waterproofing for rain protection as well.
Aesthetics
Cantilever umbrellas should also give an intimate feel to your hot tub area. While looks aren't everything, we think it's important have something that doesn't feel totally out of place in your backyard. We selected umbrellas that were sleek and stylish, and most importantly, options that could work for a range of different shapes and sizes of hot tub.
Affordability
Finally, we considered cost and value for money when picking which umbrellas to review. We wanted to ensure all options were affordable for most people while still offering top quality.
So without further ado, here are our picks for the best hot tub umbrellas!
Best overall
This double-top canopy umbrella by Purple Leaf is one of the best we tried. It measures 11' x 11' which is big enough to fully cover even the largest hot tubs. It's also sturdy enough for commercial use—this will have no problem protecting your spa from the elements.
What we loved
- It's made of a thick material which can withstand even heavy rainstorms. It's also water repellent and UV resistant.
- The unique crank and handle system allows for a rotation of 360 degrees which makes rotating, folding, or tilting it easy. Customize exactly how much cover you want for each occasion.
- Colorfast and resistant to fading—this goes for the umbrella itself, and your hot tub cover underneath!
- Available in seven different colors so there's sure to be one that matches your backyard aesthetic (or choose a color that will complement or contrast with your hot tub cover for an extra pop of color).
What we didn't
- This does not do well in high winds. This means you'll have to collapse it down during storms, but luckily it's quick and easy to do.
- The weighted base does not come with the umbrella. You have to buy either the water tank base or the ground anchor base separately.
Best for round spas
This 12-foot curved umbrella provides a cool circular area of shade—perfect for those of you who prefer a round spa. Like all our picks, it's made of high-quality materials that are resistant to fading, rusting, and leaking, to ensure your hot tub stays protected through all seasons.
What we loved
- The material is water repellent and UV protected so it can withstand all types of weather conditions—from a drizzle right up through the heaviest storms.
- Easy to operate with crank and handle (the innovative position auto-lock system allows any opening angle so it's very customizable).
- Super simple assembly.
- The base is included with this one, and has hidden wheels for easy movement if you need to shift the umbrella around.
- There are a lot of fun color choices, including some patterned options if that's your thing.
What we didn't
- The base is pretty difficult to actually move around once it's filled with 265 pounds of water or sand.
- The patio umbrella and base are shipped separately, which can be an inconvenience when setting it up for use if you're in a hurry.
Best for smaller spas
This luxurious Sequoia cantilever umbrella has a 9' x 9' square canopy, making it perfect for smaller spas. This allows you to get just the right amount of shade over your hot tub without completely overshadowing it.
What we loved
- Thick, high-quality fabric with PU waterproof coating for ultimate sun and rain protection.
- Ventilated window at the top for airflow and to release steam from your spa.
- Its 360-degree tilting and rotation mechanism gives you any angle you need. This ensures the right areas are always shaded and protected when you need them to be.
- Very easy to operate with the sliding handle or foot pedal.
What we didn't
- Only five color options, but they are all tasteful.
- You do need to purchase a base separately (or you you can screw it directly into the ground if you prefer).
FAQs
How big should a cantilever umbrella be to cover a hot tub?
We recommend getting an umbrella two to three feet larger than your hot tub on all sides. So if you have a 6' x 6' hot tub, you ideally want a 10' to 12' umbrella. This is so your hot tub remains fully shaded and protected throughout the day.
Is it normal for umbrellas to leak during rainstorms?
With a good quality umbrella, you shouldn't experience leaking. Look for fabric of at least 240 GSM with waterproofing. However, most cantilever umbrellas are not designed to withstand high winds, so be prepared to collapse them down in stormy conditions.
Won't an umbrella rust from my hot tub steam?
The umbrellas we featured all have ventilation windows at the top to release steam, as well as rust-resistant coating on the metal parts. These questions we also asked during our testing, so you shouldn't have to worry about any of these umbrellas rusting.