How to choose a garden parasol with a crank
Updated: 22.10.2026
You are in a UK garden with a tape measure and an amazon.co.uk search that mixes winding handles with banana-shaped cantilevers. A garden parasol with crank buying guide only helps if the decisions stay in order: the job, the pole, the base, then the handle. The crank opens the canopy. It does not put a stand in the box, and it does not put the pole to one side. The [parasol with crank comparison](/hub/sun-shades/parasol-with-crank) ranks seven kept listings. This page does not name a winner.
You are in a UK garden with a tape measure and an amazon.co.uk search that mixes winding handles with banana-shaped cantilevers.
You are in a UK garden with a tape measure and an amazon.co.uk search that mixes winding handles with banana-shaped cantilevers. A garden parasol with crank buying guide only helps if the decisions stay in order: the job, the pole, the base, then the handle. The crank opens the canopy. It does not put a stand in the box, and it does not put the pole to one side. The parasol with crank comparison ranks seven kept listings. This page does not name a winner.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Tilt | Base included | Cover included | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  VOUNOT VOUNOT 2.7 m tilt with cover | Yes | No | Yes | 9.5 | about £39.46 | View offer |
| Alternative |  PHI VILLA PHI VILLA 2.7 x 4.5 m with base | – | Yes | No | 6.3 | about £142.99 | View offer |
| Preis-Tipp |  Harrier Harrier 2.7 m crank and tilt | Yes | No | – | 7.1 | about £37.99 | View offer |
On this page
What a parasol with a crank actually is
A parasol with a crank is a garden umbrella you open by winding a handle, rather than by pushing a runner up the pole. On a centre-pole model the mast goes through the table, or into a base beside it. Most listings kept here are that shape: a two-piece pole, a winding handle, and often one tilt lock.
A cantilever, sometimes called a banana or offset parasol, also uses a crank, yet the mast stands to the side. That is a different frame and a heavier base. One listing carries a reference line that says overhanging cantilever while the reviews describe a centre post. Read the pole, not the adjective. If you want a clear floor, read the crank parasol versus a cantilever page before you add anything to the basket.
Size, pole, and table hole
Start with the furniture. A 2.7 m round crank is the usual cover for a four-seat to six-seat patio table. A 3 m canopy covers more ground and asks more of the base. A rectangle matches an oblong table. A 2 m push-up can still suit a tiny bistro set,.
Measure the hole before you trust a line that says it fits a standard parasol. Most UK centre-pole cranks use a pole around 38 mm. Some 3 m and rectangular poles are thicker and will not pass. Shade Specialists and Opal Retail flag 38 mm against 48 mm as the check. Where the diameter is unstated, measure it on the live page. One review put overall height at about 2.4 m. A canopy that clears plates can still catch a tall guest if you tilt it over the chairs.
Base, tilt, and fabric claims
A photo of a foot is not a base in the parcel. Through a sturdy table you can use less mass than on the lawn. Free-standing, and any canopy you tilt, needs more. UK guides do not agree on one number. Plot & Patio talks about 20–30 kg for 2.4–2.7 m. Opal Retail puts free-standing 2.7–3 m around 40–50 kg. Shade Specialists suggest about 50 kg free-standing for models 3 m and under. Several listings still print 12 kg. Treat those figures as rules of thumb.
Tilt on these centre poles is usually one lock, not a 360-degree arm, and it shifts weight off the centre of the base. Skip tilt if the listing does not state it. A polyester canopy around 180 g/m² is a typical cloth. A cover in the box is for storage. Water-repellent and waterproof are different words, and neither is a storm rating.
A short buying order
Use five checks, in this order. Name the job: round table, oblong table, or a large patio. Measure the hole and write down 38 mm or whatever the listing states. Decide through-table or free-standing, then budget a base unless you will buy sand for a shell that arrives empty. Confirm a crank, and only then a tilt. One set of reviews puts arm-and-fabric assembly at about 5–15 minutes. Read the cloth last: polyester named, a vent if you care about lift, a sleeve if you will leave it out.
Shelf prices stored on 21 October 2026 sit roughly at about £38–£41, about £52–£81, and about £95–£143. The Products Compared editorial team compared amazon.co.uk listings and public UK guides, not a lab. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Common questions
What size crank parasol for a six-seat table?
A 2.7 m round canopy is the usual UK starting point, and 3 m if you also want shade on the chairs. Gardeners' World puts about 2.7–3 m in that band. A rectangle such as 3.8 × 2 m suits an oblong table better. Measure the tabletop and the hole before you treat any of those figures as exact.
Does a crank parasol include a base?
Usually no. In this comparison only the PHI VILLA 2.7 × 4.5 m includes a base, and you still fill it with sand. If the spec block is silent, confirm the live listing rather than hope the photo includes a foot.
How do I check 38 mm or 48 mm?
Measure the inside of the table hole and the outside of the pole, or read a diameter the listing actually prints. A 48 mm pole often will not pass a standard hole. Do not invent a size when the page says nothing.
Is tilt worth it on a centre pole?
Yes, if you want to follow the sun without moving the table, and only if the listing confirms a tilt. One Harrier review found a single 30-degree stop. One VOUNOT review locks about 45 degrees. If the title never mentions tilt, do not assume the crank includes it.
What does UV50+ on a title actually mean?
It means the seller printed UV50+. It does not mean the canopy passed BS EN 13758, which tests clothing fabric and does not cover umbrellas. Cancer Research UK still tells you to use sunscreen in shade.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Shelf figures stored 21 October 2026. Updated 22.10.2026.
- Shade Specialists parasol buying guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Shade Specialists parasol base guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Opal Retail parasol base weight table (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Ideal Home best parasols (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Cancer Research UK sun safety (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- GOV.UK ultraviolet radiation FAQs (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- BSI BS EN 13758-1:2002 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 19 (retrieved 22.10.2026)