Shade sail: which colour suits?
light or dark and what keeps the colour
Which colour suits your shade sail depends on two things: how the space underneath should feel and how the fabric may look after a few summers. Here you can read why light shades show fading less, when a dark colour needs a solution-dyed fabric and which values decide the UV protection.
How long a shade stays the same in the sun is measured by lightfastness according to ISO 105-B02 on a scale of 1 to 8. For the sun protection of the people underneath, a second value counts, the UPF.
- Light shades such as beige or sand hardly show fading. Anthracite and other dark shades show it first, above all at the boundary between sun and shade.
- If the sail should be dark and hang in full sun, choose a solution-dyed fabric: Agora reaches lightfastness 7-8 out of 8 and has a 5-year guarantee on colour stability (colourfastness).
- The fabric protects against UV with its measured value: Agora is certified UPF 50+ according to AS/NZS 4399 and blocks more than 98 % of UV radiation.
- For the fixed shade sail, Agora is available in 10 colours, plain only, olefin in 14 and the waterproof Cover version in 5. RAL special colours are not possible for fabrics.
- We send up to 4 fabric samples free of charge by letter, so that you can see the colour in daylight before ordering.
Light or dark shade sail: which is better?
Both have their place. The difference lies less in the first summer than in the years after: dark shades demand a fabric that keeps its colour even in full sun.
Light shades are more forgiving
Within a fabric collection, light shades usually reach higher lightfastness values. If the colour does fade a little after years, it is much less noticeable with beige or sand.
Dark shades show differences
Anthracite, dark blue or black show fading with more contrast. They react more sensitively to uneven sun, for example at a shade edge or on areas that are covered at times.
Dark works with the right fabric
With solution-dyed fabrics, the colour sits right to the core of the fibre and is not just dyed on the surface. Agora, with lightfastness 7-8 out of 8, also holds dark shades. Olefin reaches over 7 out of 8 and has a 2-year guarantee on colour stability.
Lightfastness is not UV protection
Lightfastness says how long the colour lasts. The UPF says how much UV radiation passes through the fabric. UPF 50+ means: less than 2 % gets through.
Air keeps it cool
We have not measured how much cooler it is under a light sail. What is documented is the influence of the version: under a water-repellent sail, the heat escapes upwards. The waterproof Cover fabric lets no air through, so the heat builds up a little more.
Several sails, one colour
If you combine a rope tension awning, rope tension shade sail and fixed sails, everything can be made in the same fabric and shade, for example in olefin. This keeps the look uniform.
Four plain shades from the Agora collection as an example. Which colours exist for each design is in the next section.
Light, fading hardly shows.
Light natural shade, calm in the picture.
Dark, needs high lightfastness.
Very dark, shade edges show up more readily.
Which colours exist for which design
The choice depends on the design, because not every fabric goes into every sail. You can read which weave is good for what under shade sail: which material.
Fixed, tensioned shade sail
Agora is available in 10 colours, plain only, olefin in 14, both water-repellent. The waterproof Cover version comes in 5 colours. All shapes and sizes under made-to-measure shade sail.
Sail to your drawing
For special shapes, olefin is the standard. The standard shades are white, yellow and beige from light to dark. We check other fabrics on request.
Rope tension awning
Four fabrics are available: Dralon, olefin, Polysun and Agora. For dark shades in full sun, the solution-dyed fabrics Agora and Polysun are suitable. To the rope tension awning configurator.
Rope tension shade sail
We make the sliding sail on two carrying ropes to measure in Dralon and olefin: made-to-measure rope tension shade sail.
No RAL colours
Outdoor fabrics come in fixed colour collections. An exact RAL colour is therefore not possible. Tell us your desired shade, and we will look for the closest shade in the collection and send you the sample.
Colour, fabric and fixing
The colour is a matter of taste and lightfastness. Waterproofing, weight and fixing depend on the fabric and the design, not on the shade.
The fixing stays the same
Whether light or dark, the set-up and fixing are the same. You can read which points hold the tensile force and which fittings go with them under how to fix a shade sail.
Tensioned, the colour looks even
A tightly tensioned cloth without wrinkles shows the colour as a calm surface. How to do this is covered under tensioning a shade sail. On a balcony without altering the facade, shade sail on the balcony without drilling helps.
Care preserves the colour
Wash off stains with lukewarm water and mild soap, without a pressure washer. Store the sail dry over the winter. More under cleaning a shade sail.
Check the colour on a sample
On screen, every colour looks a little different. The safest way to decide is with the fabric sample in your hand, outdoors in daylight.
Up to 4 samples free of charge
We send fabric samples by letter, 1 to 4 samples free of charge. From five samples, each sample costs €1, including the first four. You can order under fabric samples.
Check light shades on the original
White, cream and off-white in particular often look too beige or too grey in photos. So always order a sample for light colours you want.
Hold the sample at the spot
Hold the sample where the sail will later hang, and compare it with the house wall, furniture and flooring. This shows you how the shade looks in the light of your spot.
Made to measure
We sew your sail to your measurements in Westoverledingen. You will find further topics around sun protection with sails in the shade sail guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Last reviewed: 22.10.2026 · Reviewer: Germes-Team
Not sure which colour suits your spot?
Send us a photo of your spot and your desired colour. We will tell you which fabric holds the shade, and put matching samples in the post.