When you are looking for the types of patio canopies that will best suit your space, you will need to determine a few things first. We will cover some of those issues here as well as discuss why patio canopies make so much sense in today’s economic times and how owning them can actually save you money. There is no need to have to get the most expensive styles if you can get what you need with one of the more simple styles of patio shades.

There are a wide variety of terms used to describe these features of providing shade for your deck or patio. Some of these would include things like outdoor shade or could include structures like the traditional patio cover. These are just a few examples, but you can see how the simple term canopy can encompass a wider range of shade features and structures.

In fact, one very popular style of patio canopy or shade is the shade sail that is visible in the last picture below in the text here. These types of shade structures were developed in Australia so they are sometimes called Australian shades. These have many versatile features to them and can be had in various colors and materials, providing more personality and pizzaz to your patio space.

Well, there are many things that can make them unique and necessary, even. To begin with, you are already here, so you know that there are some tried and true benefits of having shade on your deck or patio. Don’t be fooled by those breezy and cool spring days, hot sizzling summer and intense heat are soon to follow. What you once enjoy can become a nuisance if you don’t have the ability to hide from it (the sun) when necessary. Then, in the fall or winter, and depending upon where you live, you can enjoy your deck and patio space all over again.

Some types of patio canopies would include fixed or mounted styles, others can be more dynamic. Let’s talk about these for a moment. If you are looking for a fixed mount or stationary patio canopy cover, then you will find a great benefit from those shade sails mentioned in the introduction. These Australian shade sails can be mounted quite easily and when tensioned properly, provide for great shade and a stable canopy that is not prone to damage from the wind. This is a key feature as many types of shade structures must be taken down or temporarily tied back in windy weather. This is one reason why retractable patio awnings make so much sense.

A retractable patio awning can consist of a manual crank handle or be motorized for a more ‘hands free’ operation. In either case, the main benefit is the retractable feature of the canopy itself. This allows for the protection of your patio awning or canopy when windy or when not in use. You could also use this type of canopy for when you want to have access to that glorious sun on this great cooler days. Then, when it gets too intense, either open up the crank or press a button and you’ve got shade in no time.

Now, one way to make your patio feel more like a luxurious space, is to add lighting. With a fixed canopy or patio cover type structure, it is possible to wire lighting either into the structure itself or have it mounted just beneath it. If your structure is made of wood, you can mount hanging hooks and have your wiring looped through it. With a retractable awning, this will not be possible. There are styles with fixed poles and retractable canopies, but these are more rare.

The common style of patio canopy that is say 10’ x 10’ could cost you roughly $350-500 USD depending upon material choices.  Also, take into account installation or construction costs if you don’t have the skills to do it yourself.  If you go with the type of retractable patio awning mentioned above, you can expect to pay something closer to $1,200-1,500 USD.  Keep in mind that these costs will also provide shade for your home.  Depending upon where you have your patio, this shade could help to keep that intense sun from penetrating into your home, which drives up energy costs.  With the right patio canopy positioned on your deck or patio, you could actually reduce your indoor utility expenses.   

These are some of the types of patio canopy cover finds that you will see online. Places like Ebay, Amazon and other large marketplaces online will feature very similar styles. This actually makes shopping much simpler, because you can browse for the features you are looking for in your canopy, then go to your local awnings or home improvement warehouse to see them in person. Sometimes, what you see online has little to do with what you will see if it actually sits covering your deck or patio.

This is particularly the case if you are looking for a more fixed patio canopy type structure.  The ones featured here on Ebay are more like portable shade structures that you could use on your deck or for a beach party.  They provide great shade and are quite inexpensive.  For a more built-in type of canopy, you will be looking at spending  a bit more.