A shade sail, also known as a sun sail, gives a large part of your terrace shade without a pole or base in the way. You stretch the fabric between three or four fixed points, such as the house wall, posts or a sturdy tree. Hanging it is something you can do yourself, but the difference between a taut sail and a flapping sheet comes down to preparation: the right anchor points, enough height difference and tensioners that spread the tension evenly.
In this guide you'll read what you need, which fixing points are suitable and how to hang the sail in 7 steps. The choice test shows which sail shape suits your anchor points.
In short: find three or four sturdy anchor points and only then choose the shape and size of the sail. Buy the fixing hardware separately if it isn't included. Hang the corners at different heights, tension all corners evenly with tensioners and take the sail down in a storm.
What do you need?
The specifications for the loose Coolfit and Dreamsail shade sails state that the fixing hardware is not included. The sail does have fixing rings made of RVS 316 stainless steel at the corners, but everything between those rings and your wall or post you buy yourself. Get this ready before you start:
- The shade sail: triangle, square or rectangle, matching the distance between your anchor points.
- Fixings per point: wall eyes with wall plugs for the facade, eyes or brackets for posts, a wide tree strap for a tree.
- Carabiner hooks: to hang the sail up quickly and unhook it again.
- Tensioners: one per corner, to pull the sail taut and retension it later.
- Posts, if needed: if you don't have enough fixed points, plus material to anchor them securely.
- Tools: a drill with a bit suitable for your surface, a tape measure, a spirit level, a ladder and a second pair of hands.
Choose fixing hardware in stainless steel or galvanised steel. It hangs outdoors all season, and rust stains would otherwise run into your sail.
Which fixing points are suitable?
A tensioned shade sail pulls constantly on its anchor points, and much harder in wind. That's why you start with the points, not the sail. This table shows what you can use and what to watch out for.
| Fixing point | Suitable if | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Facade | Solid brickwork or concrete | Plug suited to the wall |
| Post | Dug deep and anchored | Slightly angled away from the sail |
| Tree | Thick, healthy trunk | Wide strap, the tree moves |
| Pergola or canopy | Sturdy, anchored structure | Not on a lightweight pergola |
| Downpipe, gutter, fence | Not suitable | Too weak for the tension |
Facade: the strongest option if you drill into solid brickwork or concrete. For a cavity wall, cladding or insulated facade you need special fixings; if you're unsure, check with a DIY store or a professional. Posts: dig them in deep and secure them, for example in concrete, and let them lean slightly away from the sail so they aren't pulled inward. Trees: use a wide strap rather than a hook in the trunk, and keep in mind that a tree moves in the wind. A tensioner will absorb that.
Before you order a sail, measure the distance between your anchor points on the terrace with a tape measure. Then choose a sail that is slightly smaller, so there's room at each corner for the tensioner. A sail that fits exactly will never be taut.
Choice test: which sail shape suits your anchor points?
The shape of the sail mainly depends on how many sturdy points you have and where they are. Answer the three questions.
Which sail shape suits your anchor points?
How many sturdy anchor points do you have around the spot that needs shade?
- Three, spread across the garden
- Two on the house wall in a corner of the house, plus one post
- Four, roughly in a square or rectangle
- Four, but I want a fixed construction with cables
What should the sail mainly do?
- Add a playful accent above a seating area
- Cover the corner against the house
- Put as much of the terrace in shade as possible
- Let sun in when I want it, and shade again afterwards
How often do you want to adjust the sail after hanging it?
- Retension now and then, otherwise leave it hanging
- Only loosen it briefly in a storm
- Only at the start and end of the season
- Often, I slide the sail open and closed
An equilateral triangle suits you. With three points you span a triangle with a playful effect, ideal above a lounge corner or seating area.
A 90-degree triangle suits your spot. The right angle connects to the corner of your house, and the long side runs to the post in the garden.
A square or rectangular sail is your choice. It covers the most terrace. Hang two opposite corners higher, and the sail stays taut and water runs off.
A harmonica shade suits you. It hangs from steel cables and slides open and closed, so you decide how much sun falls on your terrace.
Hanging a shade sail in 7 steps
Allow an afternoon for the job and do it with two people: one holds the sail, the other fixes it. Pick a windless day.
On a sunny day, check at a few moments where the sun is, especially at the times you're sitting outside. A sail above your seating area gives shade directly beneath it around midday, but in the evening the shade falls at an angle beside the sail. Take that into account when choosing the spot.
Find three or four sturdy points around that spot and measure the distance between them. Check the fixing table above: a downpipe, gutter or thin fence post is out. If a point is missing, place a post.
The sail must be smaller than the space between the points, so you have room at each corner for a tensioner and carabiner hook. Choose an HDPE sail if you want a light, water-permeable fabric, or a coated polyester sail if you also want to stay dry in a shower.
Don't hang all the corners at the same height. With a square sail, hang two opposite corners higher and two lower. This gives the sail a twisted shape that stays taut and drains water. According to the manufacturer, a waterproof sail such as the Dreamsail must hang with a minimum slope of 30 degrees.
Drill into the facade with a drill and plugs suited to your wall, dig posts deep and secure them firmly, and wrap a wide strap around the tree. After installing, pull hard on each point: if it gives, it isn't strong enough for a tensioned sail.
First attach all the corners loosely with carabiner hooks and tensioners, without tension. Then turn the tensioners in turn, a little at a time, all round, until the sail is equally taut everywhere. Don't pull one corner fully tight before the others have been done.
A new sail stretches a little. Retension it after a few days, and after the first rain check that no water is pooling anywhere. Also make sure all the fixing points are still secure.
Slope and tension: how to keep the sail taut
The two things that most often go wrong are a sail that hangs flat and a sail that hangs too loose. If a sail hangs flat, rainwater sits on it. The fabric sags, the water gets heavier, and that pulls extra hard on the anchor points. Platinum states for all its shade sails: pull the sail taut to prevent water pockets.
A loose sail will also flap in the wind. That makes noise, wears the edges and rings, and can make the fixings work loose. Tensioners solve this: you pull the sail taut when hanging it and retension it later if it has stretched a little.
| Sail type | Water | Hanging |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE (Coolfit) | Water-permeable | Taut, with height difference |
| Coated polyester (Dreamsail) | Waterproof | Minimum 30° slope |
| Harmonica shade | Varies by model | From steel cables, per the manual |
Tip: let water run to a convenient spot
With a waterproof sail, rainwater runs to the lowest corner. Choose that corner so the water ends up in the border or a planter, and not on your lounge set or in front of the back door.
Shade sails to hang
To make the choices concrete, below are three loose shade sails from Platinum. All three have RVS 316 stainless steel fixing rings and no fixing hardware in the box. You can see current prices on the cards.
Coolfit square shade sail 360x360 cm
The Coolfit sail has an open structure that lets air and water through, so it feels less stuffy underneath. According to Platinum, it offers up to 95% UV protection and comes with a five-year guarantee on the fabric. You hang a square sail from four points.
Coolfit 90° triangle shade sail, 570x400x400 cm
A 90-degree triangle is handy if you have two points at the corner of your house: the right angle sits against the wall, and the long side of 5.7 metres runs out into the garden.
Dreamsail square shade sail 400x400 cm
If you want to stay seated underneath during a summer shower, the Dreamsail is an option. The coated polyester is waterproof, but that means the sail must hang with a minimum slope of 30 degrees. So plan that height difference as soon as you choose your anchor points.
Coolfit triangle 360x360x360 cm
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Coolfit rectangle 400x300 cm
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Dreamsail triangle 400x400x400 cm
View →You'll find more shapes, sizes and colours among the shade sails. Still unsure whether a shade sail is the best choice, or whether a parasol would work better? Then read shade solutions for the garden or take our selection guide.
Harmonica shade: hanging works differently
You don't span a harmonica shade from the corners. Instead, you hang it from steel cables along which the fabric slides open and closed. You hang it between the facade and posts or on an existing structure. The big difference from a loose sail: the fixing hardware is included.
Coolfit harmonica shade 370x370 cm
The Coolfit harmonica shade comes in the box with pulleys, slats, steel cables, rope and tensioners. According to Platinum, you install it using the supplied assembly manual and the assembly videos on their website. If you also want to stay dry in a shower, the Prosail waterproof harmonica shade is an option: according to the product information it is fully waterproof and operated with a cord. You can read more about the brand in Platinum Sun & Shade experiences.
Common mistakes when hanging
Buying a sail that is exactly the size of the space
If the sail fits precisely between your anchor points, there's no room left for tensioners and carabiner hooks. The sail will then stay loose. Always choose a sail that is smaller than the distance between the points.
Hanging from weak points
A downpipe, gutter, loose fence post or lightweight pergola isn't built for the pull of a tensioned sail, especially not in wind. Use a solid facade, well-anchored posts or a thick tree.
Hanging all corners at the same height
A flat sail catches water and sags. Give the sail a height difference, and with a waterproof sail such as the Dreamsail, use a minimum slope of 30 degrees.
Tightening one corner fully first
The sail will then pull crooked and you'll get creases you can't get out again. Tension all the corners in turn, a little at a time.
Leaving the sail up in a storm
Platinum advises temporarily taking the shade sail down in a storm or heavy snowfall. With carabiner hooks, that's done in no time.
Tip: don't forget the fixing hardware
The specifications for the loose Coolfit and Dreamsail sails state that fixing hardware is not included. Order it together with the sail so you can get started straight away.
Maintenance, storms and winter
A shade sail needs little maintenance. Platinum gives the same care instructions for all its shade sails:
- Cleaning: regularly, with lukewarm water and a mild soap solution.
- Drying: let the sail dry thoroughly before storing it, otherwise mould gets a chance.
- Tension: pull the sail taut to prevent water pockets.
- Storms and snow: take the sail down temporarily in a storm or heavy snowfall.
At the end of the season, take the sail down and store it clean and dry. Leave the fixing points in place: next spring you can hang the sail back up in a few minutes. For the Coolfit harmonica shade, Platinum advises removing the sail in winter or using the protective cover. You can read more about getting your garden ready for winter in what do you do with garden furniture in winter?
Checklist for the job
- I know at what times and in which spot I want shade
- I have found three or four sturdy anchor points
- I have measured the distance between the points
- The sail is smaller than that distance, with room for tensioners
- I have wall eyes, carabiner hooks and stainless steel tensioners at home
- The corners hang at different heights
- I retension the sail after a few days and after the first shower
Hanging it up in brief
- Anchor points first, then choose the sail
- Sail smaller than the distance, so the tensioners fit
- Height difference between the corners, at least 30° for the Dreamsail
- Tension all corners in turn
- Take it down in a storm, store it dry in winter
Frequently asked questions
What do you need to hang a shade sail?
You need three or four sturdy anchor points, depending on the shape of the sail. You also need fixing hardware, such as wall eyes or post brackets, carabiner hooks and tensioners, preferably all in stainless steel. For the loose Coolfit and Dreamsail shade sails, the specifications state that fixing hardware is not included, so you will need to buy it separately.
At what angle should a shade sail hang?
A waterproof sail needs to hang at an angle, otherwise rainwater will collect on it. For the Dreamsail shade sail, the product information states that it should hang at a minimum slope of 30 degrees for good drainage. A water-permeable HDPE sail such as the Coolfit lets water through, but it is still best hung with a height difference and kept taut, so that no water pools form.
Can you attach a shade sail to a wall?
Yes, a solid stone wall is often the best anchor point. Drill into solid brickwork or concrete and use wall plugs and wall eyes suitable for that surface. Never hang a sail from a downpipe, guttering or loose cladding, as these are not designed for the tension of a stretched sail.
How do you get a shade sail taut?
First attach all the corners loosely with carabiner hooks, then tension them with the tensioners, adjusting each corner a little at a time until the tension is even throughout. Leave some room between each corner and its anchor point for the tensioner. A sail with a height difference between its corners will also stay taut more easily than one that hangs flat.
Should a shade sail be taken down in a storm?
Yes. Platinum advises taking the shade sail down temporarily during storms or heavy snowfall. A stretched sail catches a lot of wind and then pulls hard on the anchor points. Carabiner hooks let you remove the sail quickly.
Can a shade sail stay up all winter?
It is better not to. Remove the sail after the season, clean it with lukewarm water and a mild soap solution, and let it dry thoroughly before storing it. For the Coolfit accordion sail, Platinum advises removing the sail in winter or using the protective cover.
