During the height of summer, nothing beats relaxing on a shady patio with an ice cold drink to quench your thirst. But what if you don’t have the luxury of a shady spot outdoors? A retractable awning is a great non-intrusive way to take back your patio from the oppressive summer heat and transform it into a shady paradise. With so many different sizes, colors and options to choose from there are a lot of factors to consider. In this article we’ll review a selection of the best retractable awnings, going over their features, dimensions and more so you can enjoy every last inch of your outdoor space. If you don’t care to read the full reviews and comparisons, you can click here to go straight to our top pick.
We’ve compiled the table below with our top five choices for easy reference.
| Product | Size, Frame, Shade, Colors | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | #1 ADVANING Manual Classic C Series | View Review | - Multisized - Steel - Acrylic - 5 Colors |  |
 | #2 Diensweek Patio Retractable Awning | View Review | - Multisized - Aluminium - Polyester - 3 Colors | |
 | #3 Best Choice Products Retractable Deck Awning | View Review | - 98"x80"x6.5" - Aluminium - Polyester - Beige | |
 | #4 AECOJOY Retractable Patio Awning | View Review | - Multisized - Aluminium - Polyester - Beiger, Dark Green | |
 | #5 ALEKO Retractable Patio Awning | View Review | - Multisized - Aluminium - Polyester - 19 Colors | |
Table of Contents
Retractable Awning Reviews
We reviewed every retractable awning in the market to compile our list of the best manual retractable awnings.
#1 ADVANING Manual Classic C Series
With five colors and sizes to choose from along with the option to upgrade to an electrically operated motor the easy to use ADVANING Classic C Series is our top pick for the best retractable awning. Built with robust Corrosion-resistant 6063-T5 Grade aluminum and weighing in at 53 pounds it is the most durable option on our list. The 100% acrylic fabric canopy provides the ultimate in shade with UV80+ sun protection and excellent fade and mildew resistance. Plus the dual stainless steel cables provide excellent strength so you don’t have to worry about them snapping when you’re operating the hand crank. We had no second thoughts when we went to buy some cool mini lantern lights for the awning as we were sure it could take the weight and they looked great.
After installation, the easy pitch system made it extremely quick to level the awning out and it was great not having to climb ladders and fiddle with small bolts and nuts 9 feet of the ground. Plus extending this patio awning was a breeze and the stable design meant we didn’t have to baby the crank. The all-in-one aluminum semi-cassette hood provides excellent protection for the fabric canopy when retracted as it fully protects it from the elements so it’s ready to use as soon as you are. Overall this manual retractable awning is far superior than other options and is almost in a class of its own, the sheer versatility and durability make it a great choice and our number one pick for the best retractable awning. We’d suggest you read a few more reviews and take a look at some additional photos of the Classic C Series so you can truly get a feel for just how well built this awning is.
#2 Diensweek Patio Awning Retractable
This professional designed retractable awning is perfect for patios both large and small. With a variety of sizes and colors available it’s easy to find the right fit for your home. Made from durable 6063-T5 aluminum alloy and retracted with twin 316 grade stainless steel cable you can expect incredible corrosion, water and rust resistance. The high quality components don’t end with the frame either, the awning shade is made from 100% 280G polyester fabric that has been PU coated to provide UV80+ sun protection as well as enhanced fading and mildew resistance for an extended lifespan. We loved the fact that the canopy top was totally water and sun resistant yet still breathable to promote airflow and reduce trapped heat and moisture.
Upon delivery, this patio awning is delivered in a large box and is ready to be put up with almost no assembly, simply hand the included bracket and lift the retractable awning into place. The included chrome plated screws provide superior corrosion resistance and strength when compared to traditional hardware. After installation, it was easy to adjust the pitch of our new canopy from anywhere between 0 and 45 degrees. This is a great patio retractable awning and with the variety of sizes and color, you’ll certainly find something that fits your style. We decided to add some globe string lights for that perfect outdoor ambiance. If you’re still unsure head over and read some more reviews of the Diensweek before making your outdoor shady paradise a dream come true.
#3 Best Choice Products Retractable Deck Awning Sunshade Shelter
This beautiful retractable awning comes in your choice of either a neutral beige or striped blue and white coloring to match your existing exterior. With a stunning white powder coated aluminium frame, your new awning will be both rust and weather resistant right out of the box. The canopy fabric is made from a UV and water resistant polyester material that can stand up to the beating sun of the south and the bitter cold winters of the north. Plus with 53.3 square feet of shade you’ll reclaim a large portion of your outdoor living space. The manual crank makes this a great budget option that requires almost no maintenance and a very quick awning deployment.
Installation wise the Best Choice Products Manual Retractable Deck Awning is very simple. Two adults should have it up and ready to go in around 30 minutes. Just be sure to securely fix the awning to a solid backing, whether that’s concrete, wood studs, or stucco you want to ensure it is well mounted. After installation the adjustable pitch allows you to find the perfect orientation for your patio and the easy to clean design makes removing any build up a snap. Overall this is a great budget retractable awning for your patio and is perfect for relaxing during those hot summer days or in a light drizzle with a good book, pair it with an outdoor cooler table and you’ll have a match made in heaven. Read more reviews
#4 AECOJOY Patio Awning Retractable Sun Shade
Finally, we come to the AECOJOY Patio Awning Retractable Sun Shade. This aesthetically pleasing, patio shade cover comes in two different colors (beige and dark green) and three different dimensions (8.2” x 6.5”, 10”x8” and 13”x8”). Constructed with a rust-resistant aluminum frame, the lightweight design is sturdy enough to stand up to winds under level 5. Double-strand steel rope connects to the retractable mounting brackets, making the AECOJOY even more durable. It adds practical shade and an element of style.
Its aluminium frame combines with polyester and PU coated fabric canopy. The awning provides UV protection and water resistance. More importantly, the UV coating protects the shade against sun fading so that the color will last well beyond your first summer.
The manual crank extends and retracts the canopy smoothly. Unfortunately, the awning has no cover once retracted. We’ve come to realize that covering an awning when not in use greatly extends the product’s life.
Assembly wise, the unit requires two people for installation. The awning hooks into concrete, brick, or even wooden edifices. If you have the proper tools, the work can be done quickly. Unfortunately, the instructions are vague and unclear. AECOJOY provides strong customer service and videos through its website to answer questions. Much of the assembly becomes self-explanatory once you unpack the mounting hardware. Once it’s operational, the product works quite well. It creates shade for your home or business with style and functionality.
Overall, the AECOJOY Patio Awning is more than serviceable. The awning provides shade and blocks rain, but online reviews suggest it struggles against heavy winds. While we recommend the other three options, if your heart is set on having the AECOJOY Patio Awning Retractable Sun Shade in your backyard, it will get the job done.
#5 ALEKO Retractable Patio Awning
The ALEKO Retractable Patio Awning is another great choice when it comes to retractable awnings. With 80 square feet of shady and a well engineered design, this is a sturdy, yet stylish patio shade that is built to last. We were impressed with the smooth hand crank and just how easy it was to roll out the canopy. In under a minute we can fully extend or retract it with little to no effort. Plus without a motor, the left side mounted hand crank is extremely quiet and won’t wake the neighbors in the early hours of the morning. The canopy itself is woven from a thick and durable material that completely blocks the sun’s rays and is near impervious to tearing. The fully tensioned fabric provides superior strength and rain resistance as well for even more added quality.
The ALEKO awning ships fully assembled and ready to go, simply install the two included mounting brackets on a solid backing, hang it up and your shady retreat will be complete. Once installed we were impressed with just how stable the unit felt. There was no wobbling or creaking as we attempted to nudge it and put it through its paces. Another great feature of this retractable patio awning is the pre-drilled accessory attachment holes. These make it super easy to install the optional electric motor or vertical support arms which provide you with a few more options to customize the awning to your liking. Overall this is one of the best retractable awnings on the market due to its reliability, ease of use and upgrade potential, plus the burgundy color looks great when fully installed. Click here to read more reviews and see if this is the right awning for you.
So Which is the Best Retractable Awning?
Based on our research, testing and gut feelings the ADVANING Manual Classic C Series is one of the best retractable awnings on the market, you can pick it up for today’s price here. We love its durable design, wide size and color options as well as the fact that it is also offered in a motor operated configuration. With a host of extra supports, high quality material and superior, easy to use adjustment points it is by far our top pick. If you want to take your patio even further you can check out our fire pit buyers guide so you can have shade by day and fire by night for that perfect outdoor experience.
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