Don’t get caught on the sand without an umbrella. This is your guide to shopping the best beach umbrellas online.

Our articles are dedicated to helping you find the right product at the right price. We may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase. Learn more

There’s nothing worse than getting to the beach, ready to enjoy the sunshine and the ocean, and realising you’ve left your umbrella at home.

While it does feel nice to lay out and catch the sun’s rays for a little while, it’s not safe or enjoyable to do it for hours on end and that’s why a beach umbrella is essential to provide shade.

Need help searching for the best beach umbrella? We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up our top picks based on customer reviews and ratings.

Sport-Brella Vented Canopy Umbrella, Amazon Australia, from $89.01

If you can’t decide between an umbrella or a beach tent – this genius hybrid model will be right up your alley.

You can set it up as a traditional umbrella using the centre pole or you can lean it over and the canopy folds out to become a generous sized beach dome.

It has almost 1000 five-star global reviews on Amazon, with buyers commenting on how easy it was to put up and take down, lightweight to carry and just as useful for keeping out rain.

The canopy is supported by steel ribs and there are anchors and there are two wind vents at the top and zippered windows for good airflow. You also get UPF 50+ protection, making it great for those scorching hot beach days.

Sport-Brella Versa-Brella Adjustable Umbrella, Amazon Australia, from $34.99

With almost 10,000 ratings on Amazon, this adjustable umbrella is one to get your hands on. The adjustable umbrella comes in a multitude of colours and two sizes – regular and extra large.

You can clip this umbrella onto your beach chair – and it connects to a variety of surfaces – and the 360 degree swivel gives you full control of sun protection. It has a heavy duty clamp that won’t blow away in the wind. The umbrella is also coated with UPF 50+ protection, so you stay free from sun burns.

AMMSUN Beach Umbrella, Amazon Australia, from $196.27

Looking for an umbrella that’s going to brighten up your beach day? This one offers two metres of protection, and can be tilted so you can sit under the umbrella any way you want. It’s been built with air vents at the top to allow for ventilation, and the special fabric promises UPF 50+ protection.

Sunnylife Eco Beach Umbrella, Myer, $119.99

Offering a 360 degree tilt function, adjustable height, three beach hook attachments and its own carry bag, this beach umbrella from Sunnylife has it all. It’s made from a recycled fabric that also happens to be waterproof, although it does only have UPF 30 sun protection, which is not as high as others on the market.

ROWHY Beach Umbrella, Amazon Australia, from $290.73

It’s as if the designers thought about all the things you could want in a beach umbrella and came up with this one.

There is an in-built sand anchor, it has a small fold out canvas drinks holder to keep your drinks out of the sand and a push button tilting mechanism so it’s easy to reposition as the sun and the wind move around during the day.

There is also a spot in the pole to put a handle through to make it easier to screw into the stand.

The fabric is also UV resistant and waterproof.

Just add one of these sturdy beach hooks for $20 to create hanging space and it will be perfect.

Shopping on a budget? This beach umbrella from Catch is the one to buy, offering a two metre umbrella and carry bag for just $30. The base just needs to be screwed into soft sand and you’re ready for a day out at the beach.

This powder pink umbrella is great for those looking for something that looks good – and don’t mind too much on the function. It does have a UPF 50 sun protection coating, and it comes with its own carry bag.

Business and Pleasure Co Holiday Beach Umbrella, Surfstitch, $189.99

Another adorable looking beach umbrella, this one offers a UV block out coating and waterproof fabric. You get a canvas carry bag alongside the umbrella, and there’s two gorgeous colours to choose from.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A BEACH UMBRELLA?

When choosing a beach umbrella, it’s important to consider how you’ll be planning to use it. Do you go to the beach often? How much is your budget? If you’re planning on using it often, you may want to think about spending a bit more to invest in a beach umbrella that will last.

Would you spend a bit more on extra features? Some umbrellas on the market come with handy storage ideas – whether that be an easy holding bag or racks to hang all your other beach items.

And would you use it on your own, or with a few other people? You have to think about what size you want your beach umbrella to be, because you don’t want to be stuck with something that’s too big or too small.

On the hunt for more beach essentials? You can check out our guides on:

As the end of year sales season kicks into gear, here’s were to find some great deals on luxury linen and towel sets.

A well-laid dining table is the final cherry atop a wonderful dinner party.

Thanks to lockdown, cocktails are all the rage when it comes to beverages at home. You’ll need some perfect cocktail glasses for party season, then.