More and more umbrellas are sold as “anti-UV, UPF 50+”. The label is useful, but it says less than you might think.
What UPF measures
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It’s the textile equivalent of the sun cream index: a UPF 50 fabric lets through about 1/50 of UV, i.e. 2%.
Above 50, the standard requires writing “50+”: the difference between 50 and 80 is no longer significant.
What it doesn’t guarantee
An umbrella blocks UV that comes from above. It does nothing against the UV that bounces off the ground, sand, water or a light wall, which makes up a large share of exposure, especially at the beach.
In other words: a parasol greatly reduces exposure, but doesn’t eliminate it. It doesn’t replace sun cream on a face exposed for several hours.
What makes a good anti-UV canopy
- A dark colour or a black underside. Black absorbs UV better than a light canopy.
- A silver coating on the inside. It reflects the radiation and lowers the perceived temperature under the canopy, which is very noticeable in full sun.
- A tight weave. Look at the canopy against the light: if you can see the sky between the threads, UV gets through too.
Why we write “according to the manufacturer”
The UPF index is measured in a laboratory, to a precise standard. We receive these values from manufacturers, without always having the test report. So we show them with the note “according to the manufacturer”, rather than presenting them as a measurement we made ourselves.
When it’s really useful
For waiting for a bus in full sun, for a terrace with no parasol, for a pushchair, or for someone whose skin can’t cope with the sun. In those cases, an umbrella with a silver lining makes an immediate difference, especially to perceived heat.
See our anti-UV umbrellas and the minis, often anti-UV treated.