A parasol is only as good as what holds it down. The right parasol base keeps the canopy upright on a breezy afternoon and stops a gust from turning it into a sail. Here you will find weighted bases for centre-pole parasols and fillable bases for cantilever models, together with the parasols they are made for and covers to protect them over winter.
Weight depends on the size of the canopy, the type of parasol and how exposed your garden is. Cantilever parasols hang the canopy to one side of the pole, which multiplies the wind’s leverage, so they need far heavier bases than centre-pole parasols of the same size.
| Parasol | Typical base weight |
|---|---|
| Centre pole, up to 2.5 m | about 15–25 kg |
| Centre pole, 2.5–3 m | about 40–60 kg |
| Cantilever, 2.7–3 m | usually 50–90 kg or more |
| Cantilever, 3.5 m and larger | 120 kg or more |
A parasol that passes through the hole in a garden table is steadied by the table and can manage with a lighter base. On a roof terrace, a coastal plot or an open hillside, go one step heavier. And whatever the base, close the parasol when the wind picks up or when you leave the garden.
Measure the diameter of your parasol pole and compare it with the holder on the base. Some bases come with adapter rings for thinner poles; without them a pole will rock in its socket, however heavy the base. Cantilever bases are usually made for a specific frame, so the safest choice is the base designed for that parasol. Centre-pole parasols with a tilt and crank mechanism need at least as much weight as fixed ones: tilting the canopy shifts its weight off-centre.
Set the base on firm, level ground such as paving or decking. On a lawn it can sink and lean over time. Fill a plastic base where it will stand, since a filled cantilever base is too heavy to move. Sand is denser than water, so a sand-and-water mix gives more weight than water alone; in winter, drain any water that could freeze and crack the plastic.
Concrete and cement bases need nothing more than a brush and a rinse. Store the canopy dry, ideally under a fitted cover, so it does not mildew or fade. Before closing the parasol for the season, brush off leaves and let the fabric dry completely.
For a small centre-pole parasol used through a table, often yes. For a freestanding parasol of 2.7–3 m, it is on the light side unless the spot is very sheltered.
No. Cantilever parasols need a wide, heavy base designed for their frame. A round base made for a centre pole will not hold one safely.
Sand, or sand topped up with water. Sand is heavier for the same volume and does not split the base when it freezes, as water can; drain the water before the first frosts.
It is worth having. A cover keeps dust, bird droppings and rain off the closed canopy and makes the fabric last longer.
Plan the rest of the terrace with garden furniture.
