7 Ways to Keep Your Patio Umbrella From Falling Over

There’s nothing more frustrating than having your patio umbrella fall over from the wind and get damaged or harm someone nearby.

Spending time outside under your patio umbrella is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable on a sunny day, but you constantly find yourself worrying about it falling over.

So, how do you keep a patio umbrella from falling over?

In this article, we are going to walk through everything you need to keep your patio umbrella secure so you can stop worrying and start enjoying your relaxation time outside.

Secure patio umbrella covering a table and chairs.

How to Keep a Patio Umbrella From Falling Over

1. Use a Reliable Patio Table

Using a sturdy patio table can make all the difference to secure your patio umbrella.

Not only do outdoor tables offer support for your umbrella, but they are also a great accessory for social gatherings, placing food or drinks, and much more.

Make sure that the patio table has a hole in the middle to support an umbrella pole and is made of durable material. We recommend using this patio table made of solid cast aluminum.

A table is a great way to prevent a patio umbrella from falling over.

2. Invest in Air Vents

Although most patio umbrellas feature air vents, it’s extremely important to check or get an umbrella that has these on the canopy.

These vents allow air to come through not only to make your patio umbrella more secure but to also keep you cool underneath.

If your current patio umbrella doesn’t have an air vent, you can take it to a tailor or consider buying a new one that already has vents.

3. Be Prepared For Powerful Winds

Sometimes all the added protection isn’t enough when a powerful wind storm hits. If you live in a windy area that frequently has high winds, be proactive to avoid unnecessary damage.

It’s best to find an area close to a fence or building structure that will block winds from your patio umbrella. However, if there is a large wind storm coming we recommend closing your umbrella and storing it inside to be safe.

4. Avoid Wooden or Plastic Frames

Wooden and plastic frames can be a cheaper option on a patio umbrella, but then you run the risk of it breaking easily when it falls or during storms.

To get the most out of your umbrella so it will last for many seasons, we recommend using aluminum or steel frames and ribs. These are more durable and sturdy compared to wood and plastic frames.

5. Get a Heavy-Duty Base

The most important accessory to have in order to keep your patio umbrella from falling over is a heavy-duty base.

Your umbrella base should be heavy and functional so it can better withstand the outdoor elements. Also, make sure that the stand features a knob and bolt to tighten the umbrella pole for extra stability.

We have a variety of heavy-duty umbrella base styles to choose from that will keep your patio umbrella secure.

A strong heavy duty base will help keep a patio umbrella from falling over.

6. Add More Strength to Your Base

Using all of the accessories and materials above will greatly lower the risk of your patio umbrella falling over, but sometimes it’s a good idea to have extra strength, especially in high winds.

There are many different ways to add more strength to your base including sandbags, weight bags, gravel, and more.

7. Close Your Umbrella When Not in Use

A good practice to get into is keeping your patio umbrella closed when you are not using it. 

Look for a patio umbrella that has a strap with hook-and-loop fasteners to ensure it stays closed during windy weather. If your umbrella isn’t closed securely with a strap, there’s a chance it can open and fly away with the wind.

Stay Cool & Enjoy Your Secure Patio Umbrella

Patio umbrellas are an excellent way to stay cool in the shade while enjoying a warm sunny day. The last thing you should worry about is your patio umbrella falling over, getting damaged, and hurting someone. 

Following each of these 7 tips will greatly reduce the chance of your patio umbrella from falling over, which gives you peace of mind and helps you relax more deeply.

Also, if you are looking for an umbrella, we have a large collection of different patio umbrellas that are ideal for windy conditions.

We hope you stay cool in the shade and enjoy your secure patio umbrella for many seasons to come.

Outdoor livingPatio furniture

About the Author

Alyssa Geary
Alyssa Geary
Alyssa Geary is a product specialist who loves the cozy ambiance that the right lights can bring to indoor and outdoor spaces. In the summer months, you’ll find her relaxing under the shade of an umbrella reading a good book, or scrolling through Instagram.

4 comments

Curious

I recently bought a heavy duty base. But when I assembled it and put the umbrella, the umbrella gets dinged and dented. Is this normal or is there a way to prevent this from Happening

Pauline

I have a umbrella base that is iron and the wind blows the base and umbrella over how can I stop this

William Molkenthin

How do I keep rain water from filling an umbrella base? The umbrella shelds most water from dripping into the base, but I am told by some folks that they experience water in the base
frequently and have to empty the water regularly.

Charles R Clary

Alyssa,
Thank you for the tips.
I have a new, large cantilevered umbrella with a base filled with water (about 300 lbs).
I live in Missouri so winters are plenty cold and often long. Is it okay to add anti-freeze to the water in the heavy plastic base so it can remain outside? Would anti-freeze work? and would it damage the base? I appreciate your advice on this. Charles

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