Cantilever or centre pole? Both provide shade, but they ask different things of your patio. A centre pole parasol is light, compact and fits through the hole in your table. A cantilever parasol keeps the space under the canopy clear and rotates with the sun, but it has a heavy base and needs more room beside the seating area. In this comparison we put them side by side point by point: shade, space, base, weight, wind, tilting and price range. With three duels of the same size in both types and a short choice test.
In short: if you dine at a table with a parasol hole or have little space, a centre pole parasol is lighter, smaller and cheaper. If you want shade over a lounge set or sunbeds without a pole in the middle, choose a cantilever parasol and allow for a heavy base and space beside the seating area. Not sure? Take the choice test.
Cantilever and centre pole compared in one table
With a centre pole parasol, the pole sits in the middle beneath the canopy. With a cantilever parasol, the pole stands beside the seating area and the canopy hangs from an arm. What that means in practice is shown below. The examples come from the Platinum Riva (centre pole) and the Platinum Voyager T¹ and Challenger T² (cantilever).
| Point | Cantilever parasol | Centre pole parasol |
|---|---|---|
| Under the canopy | Completely clear | Pole in the middle |
| Beside the seating area | Room for pole and base | Hardly any extra space |
| Base | Heavy, Voyager: recommended 90 kg | Lighter, or the table helps |
| Pole (examples) | 70 to 86 mm | 38 to 48 mm |
| Packed weight | 20.5 to 22 kg | 7 to 9.5 kg |
| Moving the shade | Rotating and tilting | Tilting or repositioning |
| In strong wind | Close it | Close it |
| Storage | Often stays up, with cover | Fold down and put away |
| Price range | Higher, base often sold separately | Lower |
| Best suited to | Lounge, sunbeds | Table with a hole, balcony |
Not yet familiar with the parts of a cantilever parasol, such as the arm and the tilt mechanism? These are explained in what is a cantilever parasol? Below, we look at what the difference means for your choice, point by point.
Shade without a pole in the middle
The biggest advantage of a cantilever parasol is that nothing stands under the canopy. Whether that matters to you depends on what you place beneath it:
- Dining table with a parasol hole: the pole goes through the middle of the table. You sit around it anyway, so the pole is hardly in the way. A centre pole parasol is the logical choice here.
- Lounge set or sunbeds: a lounge table usually has no hole, and between sunbeds you want to be able to walk freely. A pole would be in the way. A cantilever parasol hangs over the seating area.
- Children, serving, getting up: in a spot where there is a lot of movement, a clear space under the canopy is handy. There is no pole to walk around.
Please note: a cantilever parasol does not automatically give more shade. The size of the shade depends on the canopy size and the position of the sun. You can read how large your canopy should be in what size parasol do I need?
Space and base beside your seating area
This is where the main drawback of a cantilever parasol lies. Because the canopy hangs from the pole on one side, the base has to counterbalance a lot. Platinum supplies the Voyager T¹ without a base and recommends a 90 kg parasol base. Such a base stands beside your seating area: the Madison 90 kg parasol base for cantilever parasols measures 80 x 80 cm. Allow room for the pole and for the arm when you rotate it.
With a centre pole parasol it is simpler. If the pole goes through a table with a parasol hole, the base sits under the table and takes up no extra floor space. A base for a centre pole parasol is also smaller: the Eureka granite base of 40 kg has a stainless steel holder for centre poles up to 55 mm and four swivel castors with brakes.
Little space on the patio, but ground next to it?
According to Platinum, an in-ground base sits entirely in the ground and is installed without concrete: dig a hole, place the base, backfill with sand. After the season you remove the parasol and no base is left standing on the patio. Do check whether your cantilever parasol fits: Platinum lists hole spacings of 7.6, 9.55 and 11.3 cm centre to centre.
Which weight and type of base belongs with your parasol, and how to check the fitting, is covered in which parasol base do you need?
Weight: setting up and storing
A cantilever parasol is considerably heavier than a centre pole parasol of the same size. You notice this when setting it up and when storing it. According to the product specifications:
- Pole: the Riva ø300 has a 38 mm pole, the Riva ø400 a 48 mm pole. The Voyager T¹ has a 70 mm pole, the Challenger T² an 86 mm pole.
- Packaged: a Riva weighs 7 to 9.5 kg packed. A Voyager T¹ weighs 20.5 kg packed, a Challenger T² 22 kg. The base comes on top of that.
You fold a centre pole parasol, lift it out of the base and put it in the shed. A cantilever parasol often stays in place and, out of season, goes under a breathable cover. Platinum itself offers the AeroCover parasol cover (item no. 7970) for the Voyager. For cantilever parasols there are bases with swivel castors, so you can move it without lifting.
Wind: what the difference does and doesn't do
Neither type is inherently better in wind. With a cantilever parasol the canopy hangs beside the pole, so the base has to absorb a considerable leverage. That is why cantilever parasols need a heavy base. A centre pole parasol is balanced directly above its base, but is built more lightly. Both manufacturers give the same advice: Platinum writes for both the Riva and the Challenger, quite literally, "Close the parasol in strong wind".
Choose your type based on your seating area, not on the wind. You address wind with a base that meets your parasol's weight recommendation, and with the habit of closing the parasol when you leave or when it starts blowing harder.
Do you live on the coast or in an open spot? Then read which parasol copes best with wind?
Tilting and rotating
This is where the second major difference lies. Many centre pole parasols can also tilt: the Riva tilts in most sizes, except Ø350, Ø400 and 275x275, as Platinum itself states. If you want to move the shade to another spot, with a centre pole parasol you move the whole parasol with its base.
A cantilever parasol you rotate around the pole and tilt with the sun, while the base stays put. The Voyager T¹ tilts backwards and has a 360-degree rotating base. The Challenger T² tilts sideways and backwards and rotates 360°. This way you keep shade in the same spot in the morning and evening without hauling anything. You can read the difference between the T¹ and T² in buying a cantilever parasol: what should you look out for?
Price range: what are you paying for?
A cantilever parasol sits in a higher price range than a centre pole parasol of the same size. This is also the case in the range on offer: a Voyager T¹ costs clearly more than a Riva in the same size. You pay for the thicker pole, the arm and the rotating and tilting mechanism. And with many cantilever parasols the base is added on top, as it is often sold separately.
A centre pole parasol is the good-value choice, especially if you already have a table with a parasol hole. There are even sets with a base, such as the Aloha parasol set Ø200 with base. You can see current prices on the product cards below.
Three duels: same size, different type
To show the difference clearly, we always place a centre pole parasol and a cantilever parasol of comparable size side by side, both from Platinum. That way you can see what you gain and what you give up.
Duel 1: round 300 cm
The Riva ø300 is a tiltable centre pole parasol with an aluminium frame, a 220 g polyester canopy and a 38 mm pole. Packed, it weighs 7 kg. The base is not included.
Riva centre pole parasol ø300 ecru
The Voyager T¹ ø300 has the same canopy size and the same canopy weight, but hangs from an arm. It tilts backwards and rotates 360 degrees on the base. Platinum supplies it without a base and recommends a 90 kg base.
Voyager T¹ cantilever parasol ø300
Difference: the Riva goes through the parasol hole of your dining table; do check whether the hole is wide enough for a 38 mm pole. Choose the Voyager if there is no hole, or if you want to move the shade with the sun.
Duel 2: square 250 x 250 cm
For a smaller table or a compact patio. The Riva 250x250 is tiltable, has a 38 mm pole and weighs 7.30 kg packed.
Riva centre pole parasol 250x250 anthracite
The Voyager T¹ 250x250 is one of the smallest cantilever parasols on offer. The canopy has a water- and dirt-repellent coating. Packed, it weighs 20.50 kg, without a base.
Voyager T¹ cantilever parasol 250x250
Difference: on a small patio, the space for the base is often the deciding factor. If there is no room for a base beside the seating area, choose the Riva, or look at an in-ground base if there is ground next to the patio.
Duel 3: large format
For a large table or a lounge corner. The Riva ø400 is a large centre pole parasol with a 48 mm pole. Please note: in this size the Riva does not tilt.
Riva centre pole parasol ø400 anthracite
The Challenger T² premium 300x300 has a 240 g spun acrylic canopy, an 86 mm pole and tilts sideways and backwards. You rotate it 360°, so the shade follows the sun all day.
Challenger T² premium 300x300 faded black
Difference: a large round canopy above a large dining table with a hole is handled economically with the Riva ø400. Above a lounge set, where you also want shade in the evening, the Challenger T² wins thanks to its tilting and rotating.
Choice test: cantilever or centre pole?
Answer four questions and see which type best suits your outdoor space.
Cantilever or centre pole: which parasol will you choose?
Which piece of furniture needs to be in the shade?
- A dining table with a hole in the middle
- A lounge set, sunbeds or a table without a hole
- A dining table and a lounge corner, in two places
How much free space do you have beside the seating area?
- Little: the patio or balcony is just big enough
- Enough for a pole and a sizeable base
- Little in one spot, enough in the other
How often do you move the shade during the day?
- Rarely, the parasol can simply stay put
- Often, I want to turn it with the sun without hauling
- Not at the table, but at the lounge
What weighs most heavily on your budget?
- Spending as little as possible, base included
- I'd rather pay more for convenience
- I'm dividing the budget across two spots
A centre pole parasol suits you. Light, compact and good value, and at a table with a parasol hole the base stays out of sight. Choose a tiltable model if you also want shade when the sun is low.
A cantilever parasol suits you. Clear space under the canopy and shade that rotates with the sun. Expect a heavy base and space beside the seating area.
Both suit you: a centre pole parasol through the hole in the dining table and a cantilever parasol above the lounge corner. That way each spot gets the type that works best there.
Would you also like to choose your garden furniture? The choice guide will help you on your way in a few steps.
Which suits your situation?
Choose a centre pole parasol if
- You have a dining table with a parasol hole
- Your patio or balcony has little space beside the seating area
- You want to fold the parasol away and store it after use
- Your budget is limited or you want a set with a base
Choose a cantilever parasol if
- You want shade over a lounge set or sunbeds
- No pole may stand under the canopy
- You want to rotate and tilt the shade with the sun
- You have room for a heavy base, or ground for an in-ground base
Also worth a look:
Centre pole: Aloha Ø200 with base
View set →
Cantilever: Voyager T¹ 300x200
View parasol →
Cantilever: Hawaii Emperor 3x4 m
View parasol →For a long table, a rectangular canopy is handy: take a look at the rectangular parasols. The Hawaii Emperor has a telescopic function and a clearance height of 225 cm. Would you prefer a complete set? See parasols with base. The best models for each situation are listed in the best parasols of 2026 and the best cantilever parasols of 2026.
Common mistakes
Forgetting the base in your budget
Many cantilever parasols are supplied without a base, such as the Voyager T¹. So include the base when you compare the price of a cantilever parasol with a centre pole parasol.
Only measuring the canopy
A cantilever parasol hangs above your seating area, but the pole and base stand beside it. Measure that spot too, along with the space the arm needs to rotate.
A centre pole parasol in the middle of the lounge
Without a parasol hole, the pole ends up in a loose base between the sofas. Then you keep walking around it. Above a lounge set, a cantilever parasol usually works better.
Assuming every large parasol tilts
The Riva does not tilt in Ø350, Ø400 and 275x275. Check the product information for every parasol to see whether it tilts, and in which direction.
Thinking a cantilever copes better with wind
A cantilever parasol also closes in strong wind. A heavy base helps, but is no guarantee. Read where to place a parasol for best results.
Checklist before you choose
- Does your table have a parasol hole? Then a centre pole parasol is the obvious choice
- Is there a lounge set or sunbed underneath? Then a cantilever parasol is more practical
- Measure the free space beside the seating area for the pole and base
- Look up the manufacturer's base recommendation and include the base in your budget
- Check whether the parasol tilts, and whether it can also rotate
- Decide where the parasol will stay outside the season
- Choose the size using the size chart
Frequently asked questions
When should you choose a centre-pole parasol instead of a cantilever parasol?
Choose a centre-pole parasol if you have a dining table with a parasol hole, if your terrace or balcony has little space beside the seating area, or if you want to fold it down easily and store it away. A centre-pole parasol is lighter, packs down smaller and is cheaper. The pole in the middle matters little at a dining table, as you sit around it anyway.
Can a centre-pole parasol be used over a lounge set?
It can, but it is less suitable. A lounge table usually has no parasol hole, so the pole ends up in a separate base next to or between the sofas. Then only part of the canopy covers the seating area, or the pole stands in the middle of your walkway. Over a lounge set or sunbeds, a cantilever parasol usually works better, because the mast stands beside the seating area and the canopy hangs over it.
How much extra space does a cantilever parasol take up?
Next to your seating area you need room for the mast and base, and the arm must be able to rotate freely. A granite cantilever parasol base such as the Madison 90 kg measures 80 x 80 cm. Short on terrace space but have ground beside it? According to Platinum, an in-ground base sits entirely in the ground, so you keep more space on your terrace.
Why is a cantilever parasol more expensive than a centre-pole parasol?
A cantilever parasol has a thicker mast, an arm that carries the canopy on one side, and a rotating and tilting mechanism. You also need a heavy base or an in-ground base, which many models sell separately. A centre-pole parasol is simpler in construction and therefore falls into a lower price range, even including a base.
Is a cantilever parasol heavier to set up?
Yes. In the range we compare, the Platinum Voyager T¹ package weighs 20.5 kg, compared with about 7 kg for a Riva centre-pole parasol of the same size. Platinum also recommends a 90 kg base for the Voyager. So set up a cantilever parasol preferably with two people, and choose a base on wheels if you want to be able to move it.
