Sun shade sails by shape, size and equipment
Sun shade sails are part of our sun protection for the patio. Choosing starts with one question: how many fixed fixing points do you have? Three points make a triangle, four make a square or a trapezoid. Rectangular sails cover a patio against the house wall. If you already have a measurement in mind, search by size; if you have no posts, the complete kit with poles brings sail, poles and fixings in one package - ask our Service Center for either.
The shape follows the fixing points
You never buy a sail where you want the shade to fall, but where it can be fixed. Points first, then shape, then size. With the same edge length, a triangle shades noticeably less area than a four-sided sail - the equilateral triangle 3 x 3 x 3 m covers 3.9 m², the 3 x 3 m square 9 m².
Three points - triangle
A house wall, a tree, one post - a triangle needs no more. For the corner between two house walls there is the right-angled triangle 5 x 5 x 7.1 m with 12.5 m².
Four equally spaced points - square
From 2 x 2 m with 4 m² for the children's sandpit to 6 x 6 m with 36 m² for half the patio. Equal edges can be tensioned evenly along both diagonals. In the shop this shape is also called a four-sided sun shade sail.
Long house wall - rectangle
The long edge runs along the wall and the two front corners go on posts. Two of the four points are already in place. A rectangle covers a narrow patio better than a square of the same area.
Uneven distances - trapezoid or made to measure
If the points on the wall and posts are not equally far apart, a trapezoid fits. If even that is skewed, the sail is made to measure and fitted exactly to your points; the sewing tolerances are explained under Tolerances for made-to-measure orders.
20 m² - triangle or four-sided?
For around 20 m² of shade, a 4 x 5 m rectangle with four points is enough. With only three points you need the 7 x 7 x 7 m triangle at 21.2 m² - so much longer spans and stronger fixings.
Every shape in three finishes
The finish decides what happens in the rain. We sew from tightly woven outdoor fabrics, not from HDPE fabric - the knitted polyethylene shade netting of 160 to 220 g/m² that is often sold as a sun shade sail: HDPE is air-permeable and inexpensive, but it neither keeps rain out nor holds its colour over the years. More on the fabrics at Agora Liso and Olefin; the guides What is a water column and What is lightfastness explain what the figures mean.
| Finish | Water | Fabric and weight | Lightfastness (ISO 105-B02) | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agora, water-repellent | Water column 180 mm to UNE EN ISO 20811, lets water through in persistent rain | 100 % solution-dyed acrylic, 260 g/m², UV protection UPF 50+ to AS/NZS 4399 | 7-8 out of 8 | 10 |
| Olefin, water-repellent | hydrophobic finish, the fibre absorbs no water, air-permeable | 100 % polypropylene, 260 g/m², UV-resistant from the fibre itself | over 7 out of 8 | 14 |
| Cover, waterproof | Water column over 1,500 mm, PU-coated, weatherproof even in heavy rain | Polyester fabric (PES), 240 g/m², UV-stabilised | 7-8 out of 8 | 5 |
Shade sail for a balcony or patio - what is different
The area decides the size, the rain decides the finish, the wall decides the fixing. These points decide almost every purchase.
Sun shade sail for a patio
Against the house wall, 3 x 6 m, 4 x 6 m or 5 x 6 m are the usual sizes. Add half a metre on each side to the area you want in shade - the sun is never directly overhead, so the shadow falls at an angle. If there are no posts at the front, the sail stands free on poles from the complete kit.
Sun shade sail for a balcony
A balcony sun shade sail gets by with 2 x 2 m; for a corner balcony the 3 x 3 x 3 m triangle fits. Short spans can often be solved without a new foundation - railing posts, house wall, pergola beams. Hung low, the fabric also gives privacy.
Waterproof sun shade sail
Only the Cover finish works as real rain protection; it also holds off heavy rain. Because it lets no air through, it needs a consistent fall, or water collects in the fabric. Under a water-repellent sail, by contrast, the heat rises and escapes.
Fixing and fall
For stability in wind, the corner counts. Instead of punched eyelets there is a stainless steel fixing ring there. Allow 30 to 50 cm of fixing hardware per corner; the fall is 25 to 30 cm per metre along the diagonal. Step by step in the sun shade sail installation guide.
Sliding instead of fixed
A permanently tensioned sail cannot be retracted. If you want to draw the shade open and closed every day, choose the rope-tension sun sail, which slides to the side on two carrier ropes using rope-tension technology.
Care and storage
Wash off stains with lukewarm water and mild soap, do not use a pressure washer, and store dry over winter. Details in the sun shade sail care guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Sun protection for the patio
- Shade sails by size
- Sun shade sail installation guide
- Sun shade sail care guide
- What is a water column
- What is lightfastness
- Advice from our Service Center
Last reviewed: 02.10.2026 · Reviewer: Germes-Team
Unsure about shape or size?
Send us the distances between your fixing points - we will tell you which shape and size fit, or sew the sail to your measurements.