The ultimate parasol base guide – find the right base and weight for your parasol

If you're shopping for a parasol base, then you most likely have questions like:

What is the best parasol base?

How heavy should the parasol base be?

How do I keep my parasol from falling over or spinning away?

What type of base does my cantilever parasol need?

We have answers! Read this complete guide to parasol bases so you know what to buy.

How to determine the right weight for your parasol

How do you find the right weight for a parasol base?

If you’ve never owned a parasol, then you might wonder what the big deal is about finding the right weight for its base.

But some of us have been hit by falling parasols or had to chase them across the garden, so believe us when we say it’s important.

So how heavy should it be to keep it where it belongs?

It depends on the size, position, and angle of the parasol. We call this trio of factors SPA.

Let’s discuss, or jump right to our weight recommendations here.

Want a durable and heavy parasol base?

Ours is stable and durable yet easy to move!

Consider Size, Position and Angle

Size

The simple rule is the larger the parasol, the heavier the base. 

Pro tip:If your parasol falls over often or likes to go tumbling across the garden, then you may need a heavier base to secure it. You can buy a pre-weighted base or weigh the base down yourself with heavy blocks or weightbags

Position

Where you want shade can make a huge difference.

The wind conditions in a garden are much milder than the gusts experienced on a rooftop terrace.

Basically, the higher you go, the windier it gets. So you may need a heavier base than you think for your half parasol if you’re on a 15th-floor balcony.

Angle

If your parasol has a tilt function, that’s great for positioning shade exactly where you want it.

We even recommend making sure it can tilt. But keep in mind that, at a steep angle, your shade could become a sail!

Again, you may need more weight than you think if you spend most of your time outdoors when the sun is low on the horizon.

Want a durable and heavy parasol base?

Ours is stable and durable yet easy to move!

How heavy should a parasol base be?

Determining the weight of your parasol base depends mostly on the size of your canopy. Generally, a 3.5-metre canopy needs a 50-kg base, 3 metres requires 40 kg and 2.8 needs 30. If you need more weight, you can buy extra weight bags to put on top of your existing base.

To find the perfect weight for your base, check out our super easy guide below.

Size

1.8 m

2.2 m

2.8 m

3.0 m

3.5 m

Weight

20 kg

25 kg

30 kg

40 kg

50 kg

Pro tip:The type of parasol also affects how heavy your base should be. If you have one made with wood or steel, you’ll need a heavier base. You may want to consider lightweight aluminium or fibreglass. Check out our ultimate parasol guide to get a better understanding of the differences in the materials so you can pick the best parasol

Want a durable and heavy parasol base?

Ours is stable and durable yet easy to move!

Get the weight right for your cantilever parasol

A cantilever or offset parasol is more wind sensitive than a regular one due to its hanging canopy. It can have a cross-shaped base that you can set weights on or a fillable base that you can put weight in. A 3-metre canopy needs 80-100 kg, whereas a 3.5-metre canopy needs 100 kg or more.

To find the perfect weight for one of these cantilever parasols, you can follow our simple guide. 

Size

3 m

3.5 m

250x250 cm

300x300 cm

Weight

70-80 kg

100 kg

70-80 kg

100 kg

Pro tip:

To stabilize and weigh down your cantilever, we recommend either fillable weights such as sandbags or heavy blocks like concrete slabs.

Want an easy way to weigh down your cantilever?

Baser sandbags are stable and easy to move.

How to choose the best parasol base

Now that you know how much the base should weigh, you need to decide what type would suit your needs best. You need to think about both the canopy and the pole to answer this question. Make sure you get a base that fits your specific parasol. You also want to think about mobility and durability when making your choice.

Pro tip: Parasols come in many sizes, so it’s difficult to find a base that fits them all. To make sure your parasol fits your base, find the minimum required weight and make sure the base can hold the pole snugly. Smaller bases fit poles up to 40 mm, medium bases up to 48 mm and larger bases up to 55 mm.

Mobility

If you need shade in different areas of your garden throughout the day, being able to move your parasol easily becomes very important. Some bases come with wheels, and you can sometimes purchase wheelsseparately. Others have the base and the weight separate so you can make two trips rather than moving the whole thing.

Durability

You want your outdoor shade to last a long time, right? Then you need to pay attention to the type of material it’s made of. Rust or a loose tube can turn a nice base into rubbish in one season, so choose one that holds up against the weather and stays free of rust.

 

Pro tip:To choose the best parasol base, make sure that the base is heavy enough to keep the canopy stable and that the pole fits. Parasols smaller than 3 metres across need a 30-kg base that adjusts to 38 mm. Larger than 3 metres needs a 50-kg base that adjusts to 30-55 mm.

Fit

When shopping for your perfect shade, you’ll want a base that tightly fits your parasol pole. Most parasols lock in one of two ways – with a tube and a screw or with a tightening ring, like with the Baser locking system.

Manufacturers have used the tube and screw system for decades because it’s cheap and easy to produce. However, no matter what adjuster they use, it never really fits the pole perfectly.

The tube can also loosen over time, especially if the screws or metal parts begin to rust or warp. At Baser, we created and patented a system that fits the pole tightly. It has an easy push-to-open setup, and because it’s fibreglass, it can never rust.  

Pro tip: If you have a traditional parasol base and you want to keep your parasol from spinning in the wind, then make sure that the screws are tight. If it continues to spin, add a wedge or two to tighten it.

Stability

Weight and stability go hand in hand for bases, and following our weight guidewill help you make the right choice.

The construction of the parasol base can affect how well it stabilizes against wind. A base that absorbs impact, with sandbags or weight bags, can provide better stability than a concrete or granite base and helps ensure that the parasol base does not tip over. 

Pro tip:The best parasol base is a durable one that can hold your canopy stable. Key points to consider are its ability to adjust to the pole and hold your parasol in one place while still being easy to move. Look for materials that last a long time and remain free of rust, like aluminium or fibreglass.

Want a durable and heavy parasol base?

Ours is stable and durable yet easy to move!

Small parasols - or half parasols

Smaller parasols often come with canopies from 1.2 to 2.8 metres and with poles between 20 and 45 mm in diameter.

The best type of base for a small parasol is a compact base or a flexible half-parasol base that you can position against a wall or rail. This setup will keep your parasol secure in the minimum amount of space.

To keep a parasol safe on the ground, the base needs a weight of 20-50 kg at minimum. To get the precise weight for your parasol, see our guideto how heavy your base should be.

Medium large parasols

Larger parasols can range between 2.6 and 3.5 metres with a pole diameter of 30-52 mm.

Medium or large parasols need heavy-duty bases, but what if you want to move them from place to place in your garden? Look for an easy-to-lift or movable base that still offers great stability, made from a durable material such as aluminium or fibreglass.

If you often tilt your parasol, then you’ll want either an extra-heavy base or more weights to increase the stability

Check out our guide on how heavy your parasol base should be to get the right weight or check out our 3 meter Baser parasol.

Cantilever parasols and offset parasols

Cantilever or offset parasols often have dramatically different designs from regular parasols. The pole may be square, oval or even have a curve to it. So this type often comes with its own base or simply a cross so you can pile on weight. Check out our weight guide for cantilever parasols to find the right weight and stability for cantilevers.

The best way to stabilize your cantilever parasol is to add weight bags or sandbags on top of the cross. You can also use concrete blocks, but those take up more space. If your cantilever comes with a base, then use that and always fill it with sand instead of water, as sand is heavier. 

Make sure you have enough sandbags or other weights to stabilizeyour cantilever. 

Need weight bags for your cantilever or parasol?

Basers sandbags that are durable   yet easy to handle.

Best parasol bases 2022

To make your search for the best parasol base on the market a little easier we collected some great choices for your parasol.

Best parasol base for parasols larger than 2.8 metres

Brand: Eletiffi

Where to get it: Ebay

Price: £60.99

Weights: Up to 42 kg

Parasol size: Up to 2.8 meter

Evaluation: Seems a little unstable and not the most beautiful choice. 

Brand: Schneider

Where to get it: B&Q or Wayfair

Price: £39.99

Weights: Up to 45 kg

Parasol size: Up to 2.8 meter

Evaluation: Offers 45 kg with wheels but lacks stability

Brand: Baser

Where to get it: mybaser.co.uk and Amazon

Price: from £69.95

Weights: Up to 50 kg

Parasol size: Up to 3.2 meter

Evaluation: Stable, easy to set up and moveable

Brand: C-hopetree

Where to get it: B&Q, Homebase, Ebay and Amazon

Price: £59.99

Weights: Up to 50 kg

Parasol size: Up to 3.2 meter

Evaluation: Must be filled with sand to get to 50 kg!

Brand: Platinum

Where to get it: Qubox.co.uk

Price: £135,95

Weights: 40 kg

Parasol size: Up to 3.2 meter

Evaluation: Offers great moveability, stability is okay, but its expensive. 

Brand: Garden Market Place

Where to get it: Amazon

Price: £99.99

Weights: 30 kg

Parasol size: Up to 2.8 meter

Evaluation: Seems sturdy however tupe slowly loosen over time.

Best parasol base for parasols smaller than 2.8 metres


Brand: King fisher

Where to get it: Ebay and Amazon

Price: £34.99

Weights: 9 KG

Parasol size: <1.6 meter must have a table!

Evaluation: Light weight, not sturdy enough for large or free-standing parasols. If wish to use it free-standing or with a large parasol - ensure to weight it down with weight bags for stability.


Brand: Suntime

Price: £29.99

Where to get it: British Garden Centers

Weights: 15 KG

Parasol size: <1.6 meter must have a table!

Evaluation: Not stable enough for larger parasols! Easy to move. If the parasol base is too unstable you can also add sandbags as weight


Brand: Greenmotion

Where to get it: Ebay and Amazon

Price: £22.73

Weights: Up to 14 KG

Parasol size: <1.6 meter must have a table!

Evaluation: Not stable enough with water. To achieve 14 kg, it must be filled with sand! If the parasol base is too unstable you can also add sandbags as weight

Brand: Baser

Where to get it: mybaser.co.uk and Amazon

Price: From £69.95

Weights: 25 kg or 50 kg

Parasol size: Up to 2 meter

Evaluation: Easy to move and flexibale construction. Can be positioned up againt the wall or rail. 

Brand: C-hopetree

Where to get it: Ebay and Amazon

Price: £69.95

Weights: 15 KG

Parasol size: Up to 1.6 meter

Evaluation: Half parasol base design for flexability. Consider more kg to add on such as sandbags or weightbags to achive more stablity. 

Brand: Greenmotion

Where to get it: Homebase, B&Q, Amazon and Ebay

Price: £39.95

Weights: 20 KG

Parasol size: Up to 1.8 meter

Evaluation: Can be positioned towards the wall. Design could be improved. 

Best cantilever bases and weight bags 2022

To make your search for the best cantilever base on the market a little easier we collected some great choices.

Brand: Blooma Tivano

Where to get it: B&Q

Price: £23 per piece (4 is needed)

Weights: 15 KG each

Parasol size: up tp 2.8 meter cantilever

Evaluation: Light weight, not sturdy enough for above 2.8 meter cantilevers. A hassle to move when setup and a little expensive. 

Brand: Divine Style

Where to get it: Amazon

Price: £61,97

Weights: 25 KG each

Parasol size: up to 3 Meter cantilever. 

Evaluation: Must be filled with sand (water is not stable enough in the wind). Build and made in Britan. Fells stable. 


Brand: Baser

Where to get it: mybaser.co.uk or Amazon

Price: £34.99

Weights: 25 KG in each bag total of 100 KG

Parasol size: up to 3 meter cantilever

Evaluation: Easy to move, easy to fill and made of durabel materials that are weather resistant. 

Brand: Lyxihap

Where to get it: Ebay or Amazon

Price: £17.98

Weights: One bag filles up to 20-25 KG

Parasol size: A minimum of 80 kg is recommended.

Evaluation: Effective, however, a little annoying to fill and it's not particular beautiful.

Brand: Schneider Schirme

Where to get it: Wayfair

Price: £219.99

Weights: 25 KG each in pack of 4

Parasol size: Up to 3 meter parasol

Evaluation: Good as it works with cantilevers that has a pedel. The filling and assembly is a hassle - use sand NOT water!

Brand: King fisher

Where to get it: qubox.co.uk

Price: £119.99

Weights: In Ground. 

Parasol size: up to 3 meter cantilever parasols. 

Evaluation: Stable but you will need to dig it down in the ground. 

Brand: Glatz

Where to get it: Hayes Garden World

Price: £799.95

Weights: 90 KG

Parasol size: 2.8 to 3 meter parasols

Evaluation: Very expensive but high quality and it has wheels for mobility.

Need help deciding?

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