Shade sails and shade cloth

How to choose between a shade sail and shade cloth

A shade sail is a shaped panel, usually a triangle or a rectangle, that stretches tight between mounting points. It gives a clean look over a seating area or a driveway. A shade cloth is a flat mesh panel that blocks a share of the sun while letting air move. It suits gardens, animal pens, carports and work areas.

Start with the space you want to cover. A triangle sail fits a corner where two walls meet. A rectangle sail covers a longer span, such as a patio or a pool deck. Shade cloth works well when you want to cover a row of plants or a wide open area and you do not need a tight, tailored shape.

Sizes and how to measure

Measure the area you want to shade before you order. For a sail, measure the distance between each mounting point, then allow a little slack for the turnbuckles or ropes. For cloth, measure the width and length you need to cover.

The Haven Brown HDPE Sun Shade Net comes in 6.6 x 9.8 ft (2 x 3 m), 6.6 x 13.1 ft (2 x 4 m), 9.8 x 13.1 ft (3 x 4 m) and 9.8 x 16.4 ft (3 x 5 m). Those sizes cover a small seating corner up to a large patio or yard area. Other cloth and sail listings on this page come in their own shapes and sizes, so check each product page for the exact measurements.

A common mistake is ordering a sail that is the same size as the gap. A sail needs to stretch, so leave room for the hardware and a small amount of give. If you are between two sizes, go with the larger one for cloth and the size that matches your mounting points for a sail.

Materials: canvas, polyester, HDPE and PE

Canvas sails, such as the Harbor Triangle Shade Sail with Storage Bag and the Harbor Rectangular Canvas Shade Sail, use 185 gsm canvas. They are waterproof and UV-resistant, and they let rain through. The Harbor Triangle Canvas Shade Sail adds a PU coating to the 185 gsm canvas for extra water resistance.

Polyester sails, such as the Harbor Rectangular Shade Sail and the Harbor Triangle Shade Sail, use Oxford polyester. They are waterproof and UV-resistant and let rain through. The Harbor Triangle Shade Sail has a PU coating. The Harbor Waterproof Sun Shade Sail uses 160 gsm poly cotton with a PU coating and comes with ropes and suction cups with some colors.

HDPE and PE cloths are the mesh options. The Haven Brown HDPE Sun Shade Net, the Verdant HDPE Shade Net and the HDPE Sun Shade Net are all HDPE and UV-resistant. The HDPE Garden Shade Net With Grommets is HDPE with 40% shading and is not waterproof. The Black PE Shade Cloth With Grommets is PE mesh that is UV-resistant and sunblock, and it lets rain through.

Corners, grommets and mounting hardware

Look at how each product attaches. The Black PE Shade Cloth With Grommets has grommets along the taped edge. The HDPE Garden Shade Net With Grommets has metal grommets in each corner. The Verdant HDPE Shade Net has a reinforced corner with a metal grommet. The HDPE Sun Shade Net has reinforced corner protectors with grommets.

For sails, the Harbor Triangle Shade Sail with Storage Bag has D-rings in every corner. The Harbor Rectangular Canvas Shade Sail has metal grommets along the edges and includes 4 ropes and 1 carabiner. The Harbor Triangle Canvas Shade Sail has metal D-rings in every corner. The Harbor Rectangular Shade Sail has stainless steel D-rings in every corner and includes 4 ropes. The Harbor Triangle Shade Sail has D-rings in every corner. The Harbor Waterproof Sun Shade Sail has reinforced corners with mounting points.

Some listings do not include mounting hardware. The Black PE Shade Cloth With Grommets, the Harbor Triangle Shade Sail with Storage Bag, the Harbor Triangle Canvas Shade Sail, the Verdant HDPE Shade Net and the HDPE Sun Shade Net all list hardware as not included. Plan for ropes, poles or anchors if your product does not come with them.

Rain, sun and airflow

Every product on this page is UV-resistant. That matters for long days in direct sun. If you want rain to pass through, choose a sail or cloth that lets rain through. Most of the sails here do, and so do the Black PE Shade Cloth With Grommets, the Verdant HDPE Shade Net and the HDPE Sun Shade Net.

If you need a waterproof panel, the canvas and polyester sails are the ones to pick. The HDPE Garden Shade Net With Grommets is not waterproof, so it suits shade only. Mesh cloths also let more air move, which keeps a patio or garden cooler than a solid panel.

Care and storage

Rinse mesh cloth with water and let it dry before storing. The HDPE Garden Shade Net With Grommets lists this care step. For canvas and polyester sails, keep them clean and dry when they are not in use, and check the corners and grommets each season. Store sails flat or rolled, not folded tight, so the fabric and coatings stay in good shape. Bring cloth and sails in during high winds if your setup allows it.