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Wooden parasol pole size

Updated: 16.10.2026

The pole is in your hand, the table hole looks close, and you are about to find out whether the wooden parasol pole size is a match or a jam. About 38 mm and about 48 mm turn up again and again on UK parasol pages, and they do not interchange. This page is the measuring guide for the rows on the [wooden parasol comparison](/hub/sun-shades/wooden-parasol). The Products Compared editorial team used the amazon.co.uk listings and the stored UK reviews on 16 October 2026. We did not measure a pole in a lab. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The pole is in your hand, the table hole looks close, and you are about to find out whether the wooden parasol pole size is a match or a jam.

Our top picks

Garden Marketplace Garden Marketplace hardwood pulley

Best overall

Garden Marketplace Garden Marketplace hardwood pulley
7.6/10about £99.99
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Garden Marketplace Garden Marketplace hardwood pulley, second listing

Alternative

Garden Marketplace Garden Marketplace hardwood pulley, second listing
6.8/10about £99.99
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Outsunny Outsunny 2 × 1.5 m rectangle, cream

Preis-Tipp

Outsunny Outsunny 2 × 1.5 m rectangle, cream
7.2/10about £33.46
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On this page
  1. 1.Two pole sizes
  2. 2.The base is a separate buy
  3. 3.When the pole swells
  4. 4.When to get help

Two pole sizes

Parasols Direct and Ottena describe the split their ranges use: about 38 mm on smaller parasols, often around 1.8 m to 2 m, and about 48 mm on larger hardwood parasols. That is a shop pattern, not a measurement of these ASINs. In this set, only the Outsunny prints a diameter. B07NBSRW5W states 38 mm on a canopy of 200 cm by 150 cm. The three Garden Marketplace hardwood URLs do not state millimetres. A 48 mm pole will not enter a 38 mm hole, and one hardwood review describes a 47 mm pole against a 43 mm table hole. Do not assign 47 mm to a single Garden Marketplace ASIN. Measure the hole you have, and measure the timber rather than the metal cap, before you open the canopy. Why the diameter belongs on the listing is the job of the wooden parasol buying guide.

The base is a separate buy

None of the four kept listings includes a base. The Outsunny says parasol only and recommends 15 kg for its 38 mm pole. The hardwood pages do not mention a base. You buy the socket separately, and it has to match the pole. Other UK shops suggest roughly 15 to 30 kg through a table, and more if the parasol stands free. Those ranges are retailer rules of thumb. There is no British Standard in this source set for domestic parasol bases. Use the kilogram on your listing first. If the listing is silent, ask the seller. Freestanding, the base is the whole anchor, and a light base under a large canopy is the arrangement to refuse.
Garden Marketplace Garden Marketplace hardwood pulley

Testsieger

Garden Marketplace Garden Marketplace hardwood pulley
7.6/10about £99.99
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When the pole swells

Wood swells when it stays wet. Nova's care guide says not to store timber wet inside a tight sleeve. One Outsunny reviewer found the pole would not pass back through the table after wet weather, and sawed 10 cm off. That cut is what you avoid. If the pole is tight but still moves, close the canopy and let the timber dry somewhere airy. Do not bag it while it is damp. Sanding or sawing is permanent, and it is the wrong fix if the pole was already wider than the hole when dry. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says goods must match their description, so raise a stated fit with the seller before you alter the pole.

When to get help

Dry the pole, try again, and stop if it is jammed in a metal sleeve after it has dried. Forcing it can split the timber or mark the table. Once the pole fits, the daily sequence is on how to use a wooden parasol. If you are still choosing, buy the listing that states the millimetres. In this set, that is the Outsunny at 38 mm. The hardwood URLs still need a written diameter from the seller.

Common questions

What pole diameter should I expect?
Expect the number on your listing. The Outsunny states 38 mm. The Garden Marketplace hardwood pages do not state a diameter. UK retailers often use about 38 mm on smaller parasols and about 48 mm on larger hardwood ones. Reviewers in the shared sample quote more than one figure, so those reviews are not a single size you can copy.
Will a 48 mm pole fit a 38 mm base?
No. A larger pole will not enter a 38 mm hole, and a 38 mm pole will be loose in a 48 mm sleeve unless the correct adaptor is seated. Measure both before you open the canopy. A base that lists 32 mm, 38 mm, and 48 mm adaptors shows those sizes exist. It is not a required base for these ASINs.
How heavy should the base be?
Start with the listing. The Outsunny recommends 15 kg and does not include the base. Other UK shops suggest roughly 15 to 30 kg through a table, and more if the parasol stands free. Those other figures are rules of thumb, not a British Standard. A freestanding canopy needs more restraint than a pole dropped through a sheltered table.
Is the base included?
Not on the four listings in this comparison. The Outsunny says parasol only. The hardwood pages do not say a base is in the box, and one review says no cover was supplied. Budget for a base that matches the pole, after you know the diameter.
What if the pole swells in the table?
Close the canopy and let the timber dry before you cut anything. One Outsunny reviewer sawed 10 cm off a swollen pole to free it. Drying is the first step if the pole still moves. Sawing is permanent, and it is the wrong response if the pole was already wider than the hole when it was dry.
When do I stop and call someone?
Stop if the pole is jammed after it has dried, if you would have to cut glass or stone, if a roof terrace needs a fixed socket, or if a split rib hangs over a shared seat. Also stop pulling a twisted pulley cord, because that can snap a strut. Ordinary assembly, when the parts are complete and the pole fits, is something you can do yourself.

Related pages

Best wooden parasol

Wooden parasol

Wooden parasol buying guide: canopy, pole and base

How to use a wooden parasol: open, tilt, and store

Wooden parasol vs metal parasol: which fails first

Sources

Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are from the saved amazon.co.uk pages.

  1. Met Office — Beaufort scale (retrieved 16.10.2026)
  2. GOV.UK — product safety advice for businesses (retrieved 16.10.2026)
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2015 — goods contract rights (retrieved 16.10.2026)
  4. Parasols Direct — frequently asked questions (retrieved 16.10.2026)
  5. Ottena — wooden garden parasols FAQ (retrieved 16.10.2026)
  6. Jati — 3 m octagonal wooden garden parasol (retrieved 16.10.2026)
  7. Tates of Sussex — 3 m hardwood pulley parasol (retrieved 16.10.2026)
  8. Brollies and Parasols — parasol usage guidance (retrieved 16.10.2026)