Custom Umbrella Buying Guide: Fabric, Frame, Size & Printing

1. Choose the style: straight or folding

Straight umbrellas offer the largest canopy and the strongest frame, which makes them the first choice for golf umbrellas, hotel umbrellas and premium gifts. Folding umbrellas (2-, 3-, 4- or 5-fold) are compact enough for a bag and are the most common choice for retail and mass promotions. Reverse umbrellas close inside-out and suit car-related brands.

2. Pick the right size

Umbrella size is usually measured by rib length in inches. Common sizes are 21" and 23" for folding umbrellas, 23"–25" for everyday straight umbrellas, and 28"–34" for golf and large outdoor umbrellas. Larger sizes give more coverage and a bigger logo area, but add weight and cost.

3. Select the frame material

• Steel / iron: economical and strong; standard for promotional umbrellas.
• Aluminium: lighter than steel, good for travel umbrellas.
• Fiberglass: flexible ribs that bend instead of breaking in the wind – ideal for golf umbrellas.
• Carbon fiber: the lightest and most premium option – see our carbon fiber umbrella.
• Wood: classic shafts and handles for heritage and luxury styles.

Special frames include automatic frames, LED light-up frames and offset (eccentric) frames that extend coverage over a backpack.

4. Compare canopy fabrics

• 190T polyester: cost-effective, good colour range – the standard for promotions.
• 190T pongee: softer handfeel, denser weave and better water repellency; a popular upgrade.
• Nylon and ultra-light fabrics: for lightweight travel umbrellas.
• Yarn-dyed fabric: woven patterns such as checks and stripes.
• Silver, colour and gold coatings: block sunlight and UV for sun umbrellas.
• Printed fabric: full-colour artwork across the whole canopy.

For a custom solid fabric colour the fabric minimum is 1,000 yards; for custom printed fabric it is 1,500 yards.

5. Decide how to apply your logo

• Screen printing: best value for one- or two-colour logos on panels.
• Heat transfer: for detailed, multi-colour logos.
• Gold or silver hot stamping: a premium metallic finish.
• Full printed canopy: the design covers the whole umbrella.

Screen printing needs one plate per colour; we refund the plate fee on orders over 1,000 pieces with logos of two colours or fewer.

6. Choose the handle and opening

Handles come in plastic, wood, EVA foam, rubber, aluminium, leather-wrapped or even with a built-in flashlight. Opening options range from manual to auto open, auto open & close, and manual open with auto close.

7. Prepare your inquiry

To get an accurate quote, send: product style, size, frame, fabric, logo file and colours, quantity, packaging requirements and target delivery date. If you are unsure, tell us your budget and market and we will recommend a specification.