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How to use a rectangular parasol

Updated: 22.10.2026

The canopy is still strapped, the base you ordered may not be the base that arrived, and the afternoon looks brighter than the evening. How to use a rectangular parasol, for the listings in this set, is three jobs in order: open the mechanism that page actually names, weight it the way that listing states, and close it before you leave, including overnight. Opening fields and UK review notes come from the [rectangular parasol comparison](/hub/sun-shades/rectangular-parasol). We did not film your patio. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The canopy is still strapped, the base you ordered may not be the base that arrived, and the afternoon looks brighter than the evening.

Our top picks

PHI VILLA PHI VILLA 2.7 x 4.5 m

Best overall

PHI VILLA PHI VILLA 2.7 x 4.5 m
9.0/10about £142.99
View offer
VOUNOT VOUNOT 200 x 125 cm

Preis-Tipp

VOUNOT VOUNOT 200 x 125 cm
8.6/10about £33.36
View offer
Outsunny Outsunny 2 x 1.5 m

Alternative

Outsunny Outsunny 2 x 1.5 m
8.4/10about £33.46
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Open the mechanism this listing names
  2. 2.Weight it the way the listing says
  3. 3.Close it before the wind, including overnight
  4. 4.Failures already described on these listings
  5. 5.The order that keeps the cloth up

Open the mechanism this listing names

The Outsunny 2 x 1.5 m opens with a pull rope, and a button sets a 45 degree tilt. The VOUNOT 200 x 125 cm field says bendable, with manual tilt. One owner could not close it while the pole stayed in the socket. Take it out to close it, rather than forcing the ribs. The PHI VILLA 3.8 x 2 m titles and the 2.7 x 4.5 m title say crank. None of these files states a direction. If the handle resists, stop. The clamp is a manual lift, with tilt stated up to 30 degrees. Grand patio's field is a manual crank or lever, with 360 degree rotation. One review says it spins and raises but does not tilt. AKTIVE 53877 and the wall parasol do not state an opening. If the pole or the base was the wrong purchase, the rectangular parasol buying guide is the check you needed first.

Weight it the way the listing says

Outsunny says parasol only and recommends 15 kg, on a 38 mm pole. Put that base under it before you sit down. Grand patio recommends a minimum of 25 kg and does not provide it. The 4.37 kg figure is the parasol, not the ballast. The clamp includes the clamp and no slab, and reviews say it suited some balcony rails and not others. The 2.7 x 4.5 m title includes a base. Reviews describe sand fill and a heavy lift. The title does not say whether that base is sand or water. The double and the 3.8 x 2 m files do not say whether a base is included, and reviews say both move in a light wind unless you add weight.
PHI VILLA PHI VILLA 2.7 x 4.5 m

Testsieger

PHI VILLA PHI VILLA 2.7 x 4.5 m
9.0/10about £142.99
View offer

Close it before the wind, including overnight

Brollies and Parasols say to close a parasol above 25 km/h unless a contractor has bolted it down, to store it inside above 35 km/h, and to close it when you leave, including overnight. No listing here publishes EN 13561. That standard is for awnings. Point the short side into the prevailing wind if you leave it up for an afternoon. A small VOUNOT arm distorted in a breeze, and the 3.8 x 2 m text says the canopy spins unless you anchor it. Keep the cloth off heaters and flames. Do not drill the pole or add side sheets. Factor 30 sunscreen still belongs from March to October when the UV index is 3 or higher. A UV50+ bullet is not a BS EN 13758 label.

Failures already described on these listings

The Outsunny care line is wipe with a dry cloth. One reviewer said the wooden support swelled, stuck in the table hole, and had to be sawn. There is no waterproof claim on that listing. If the pole is swelling, stop forcing it, and do not saw it as a first repair if you still want to return it. The Grand patio file includes a rising cord that broke for one reviewer. The clamp reviews describe rods that will not join. Grease is already further than a domestic assembly should go. A wrong colour against the order is a description problem under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. If mains lighting is wet or damaged, stop. Only the about £134.99 URL's later title check added with LED.

The order that keeps the cloth up

Open only the mechanism the listing names, put the stated base or clamp under it before you sit, and close the canopy when you leave, including overnight. If the handle fights you, or a wooden pole is swelling in the hole, stop. A café bolt or a wet mains light is the point where a professional takes over.

Common questions

Which way do you crank it?
These files do not say clockwise or anticlockwise. A manual for a different parasol says open clockwise. Use the leaflet in your box. If the handle fights you, stop. The Outsunny has a pull rope, and the small VOUNOT field says bendable.
How do you open one that has a pull rope?
On the Outsunny 2 x 1.5 m, raise the canopy with the pull rope, then use the button on the pole if you want the 45 degree tilt. The 15 kg base goes on before you pull. There is no crank to wind on that row.
What base weight does this listing state?
Outsunny states 15 kg, not included, on a 38 mm pole. Grand patio states a 25 kg minimum, not provided. The clamp includes a clamp and no slab. The 2.7 x 4.5 m title includes a base and does not print a kilogram.
Sand or water, if the base is fillable?
Reviews of the 2.7 x 4.5 m describe a sand-filled base. The title does not say sand or water. For a separate fillable base, retailer sheets say sand is heavier than the same volume of water, and that you should drain water before a freeze.
When do UK guides say to close it?
Brollies and Parasols say above 25 km/h unless a contractor has bolted it down, and inside above 35 km/h. Their older 15 mph line is the same band. None of these parasols has a printed EN wind class.
Can you leave it up overnight?
Close it when you leave, including overnight. The reviews here describe a bent rib, a spinning oblong, and a double that tips when a light canopy stays up. Strap the cloth so it cannot fill with wind or rain.

Related pages

Best rectangular parasol

Rectangular parasol for a balcony

Rectangular parasol

Rectangular parasol buying guide for UK tables 2026

Rectangular parasol vs round canopy comparison 2026

Sources

Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Listings captured 19 October 2026. Updated 22.10.2026.

  1. NHS: sunscreen and sun safety (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  2. GOV.UK: ultraviolet radiation FAQ (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  3. GOV.UK: General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  4. Regulation (EU) 2019/1188 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  5. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  6. White Stores parasol buying guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  7. Shade Specialists parasol buyer guide (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  8. Brollies and Parasols usage guidance (retrieved 22.10.2026)