A garden space can be designed in any way you like, no matter what you’ve got to work with.
Small space? Create a cozy, more intimate outdoor room that lets you walk from your home to the outside without even noticing.
Clay soil that clogs up and makes planting hard? Take the plants out of the ground, and dot them around in leveled planter boxes, hanging baskets, and weave them in and out of trellises.
Patchy lawn? Trim it down to a smaller size to let the grass grow in better. You can then border it in with all kinds of edging, whether it’s stones, logs, or something else.
Or if you’d prefer, simply get some artificial turf to lay down so you never have to think about the state of the lawn again.
All in all, gardens are highly customizable places that can make your home a better place to be.
So, when the sun comes out and the temperature warms up, you should also have the right level of shade and cool to spend time in too.
But if you’ve got very little natural shading in your garden, it can be hard to find a spot that doesn’t feel like you’re still burning up, even when you’re out of the direct sunlight.
Instead, you need to invest in a sun screen, shade, pergola, or awning that’ll help you get out in the garden without feeling like you’re being slowly roasted with the way the sun moves.
And to help you track down the best product for your budget, garden size, and shade level, here’s a list of the top 5 awnings and shade manufacturers in 2026.
1. Liberty Home Products – Best for expert design and installation
Our top pick for a reliable, high quality shades company in 2026 is Liberty Home Products. Every single shade, awning, or screen is custom designed and made to suit your home, with a member of their expert team available to measure on-site whenever is most convenient for you.
The team at Liberty Home Products has nearly 40 years experience in awning and shade installation too, so you can be sure the job is completed by someone who knows what they’re doing.
And this experience is evident in their product range too. After all, they offer patio zipper shades that can be zipped shut and secured, which protects against any insects that might buzz by. In the summer, you won’t need to set up separate bug nets or zappers.
Cost: Liberty Home Products offers competitive, factory pricing, as well as an in-home estimate for all projects.
2. Sunesta – Best for a wide range of awning fabrics
If the design and comfort level of your awning is the top priority for you, look no further than Sunesta.
They get the number two spot thanks to their wide range of awning fabrics and textures, allowing you to customize your outdoor shade to be as colorful, cozy, and tactile as you want.
And with a 10 year warranty on the fabric, any dents, rips, or tears are fully covered over the next decade.
Cost: Sunesta provides free quotes, as well as a $150 money off coupon on all awnings and shades.
3. SunPro – Best for motorized sun shades
Retractable shades and awnings are the modern solution to the age old problem of wanting to get out of the sun.
They’re more convenient to use, as you don’t need to manually pull them out or put them away. They also allow a greater level of control over how much shade you get, as you can set out and retract as much or as little as you like.
And with SunPro being the experts in motorized outdoor sun protection, they hit third place in our recommendations. Features like dimmer lights, adjustable pitch, and wireless control are included in all units.
However, you will need to find a SunPro dealer to buy one of their products, as they cannot be bought directly. You can use their website to find a dealer nearby.
Cost: Prices usually start around $3000, but dealers will set their own price ranges.
4. Absolute Awnings – Best for financing options
Absolute Awnings is the fourth pick for our list of the best shades companies in 2026, and all because of their approach to financing over their products.
That can make them a more affordable choice for those on low budgets, or for anyone who wants to stretch out their payment term on outdoor features.
They have a simple financing program (provided by a third party) and allow anyone to co-sign the financing deal with you. They also promise to never offer discounts, coupons, or rebates, so you can be sure the price of your awning won’t be suddenly hiked up or down.
Cost: Priced per project, with estimates given in advance. However, details on Absolute Awning’s pricing range are thin.
5. Polar Shades – Best for outdoor rooms
For our fifth and final pick for this list, we come to Polar Shades. They offer a wide range of sun protection screens and shades for both interior and exterior windows, as well as some classic retractable awnings options.
That’s why they could be a great fit for anyone who has more of an outdoor room space, rather than a full blown garden with lawn and yard.
Say you’ve got a large conservatory that you like to spend time in, or you have a summerhouse that replaced the lawn when you fitted it 5 years ago.
Interior or exterior sun shades can protect the windows, cover any skylights, and even provide extra shaded areas around these outdoor rooms and outbuildings.
Cost: Polar Shades provide a free in-home estimate, but we can’t find any information on their general pricing range.
Make Your Garden a Comfortable Place to Be
If your garden needs shade, any of the 5 manufacturers above could have the right awning or sun screen for you. Check out our list, get some quotes, and see what fits best.
