Measurement guide: clearances, wind and fit
Almost every sizing mistake in outdoor furniture happens before checkout, not after delivery. A cantilever umbrella that clears the table by an inch is useless if it fouls the balcony rail. A bistro set that fits the corner on paper will not fit if you leave no room to walk past it. This guide is the short version of what to measure, and why.
If you already know what you are shopping for, each product's own specifications carry the manufacturer's published dimensions. This guide covers what those numbers cannot tell you: the clearances around them, and how to find them on your own space.
The three clearances that decide whether a piece works
1. Footprint plus walking room. Measure the space the piece occupies, then add enough to move around it. A dining table that is technically correct for a four-person space will feel wrong if you cannot pull a chair out behind someone sitting at it. If the measurement is close, buy the smaller option.
2. Overhead and sideways clearance. A cantilever umbrella does not sit above its base, it sits beside it. The canopy sweeps out over the table, so what matters is the distance from the umbrella base to whatever is behind or beside the table: a wall, a railing, a downpipe, a branch. Measure that run, not the base.
3. Wind exposure. This is the one people skip and regret. An offset umbrella is designed to hang clear of the table so the canopy can catch a breeze without hitting anyone, which means it presents more surface to the wind than a centred market umbrella. If your space is fully open or on an exposed corner, that is worth knowing before you order, and worth asking us about.
How to measure the space you have
Take a tape measure, not a phone app, and measure twice in each direction. Write the numbers down where you can see them while you shop. If the space is irregular, measure the narrowest point rather than the average — the narrowest point is what will stop the delivery.
Also measure the route in. A 141-inch assembled stand, a bistro set and a deck box are all delivered as boxes, and a balcony doorway is often the binding constraint rather than the balcony itself.
Matching a piece to the space
- Cast aluminium 3-piece bistro set — the most forgiving option on small patios and balconies, because it arrives as separate pieces rather than one assembled unit. Check the table's diameter against your narrowest measurement.
- Offset cantilever patio umbrella — measure the run from the intended base position to the far side of the table, and check nothing is in the canopy's swing.
- Hammock with stand and pillow — needs the longest run of any piece we sell. Measure the full stand length, not the hammock, and check the fixings you intend to use.
- Outdoor wicker rocking chair — the rocker needs floor space behind it to travel. Leave room for the arc, not just the footprint.
- Decorative cast stone umbrella base — match it to the pole diameter of the umbrella it carries, and weight it adequately for that canopy size in wind.
- All-weather wicker deck storage box — plan where it will live, not just where it will fit. It is bulky when full and awkward when empty.
- 20-inch wicker patio side table — the easiest to place, and the easiest to regret if it crowds a walkway.
If you are between two sizes
Take the smaller one. Outdoor furniture is used in a space, not displayed in it, and the smaller piece leaves you room to move. If you are choosing between two umbrellas for the same table, the larger canopy is the one that matters for shade at the table's edge, not the one that looks better in a listing photograph.
Still unsure
Read how to choose outdoor furniture for the sun, shade and balcony questions that sizing does not cover, or shipping and delivery for what happens after you order. If you would rather ask a person, the contact page explains the fastest way to reach us and when to expect a reply. If a piece does not suit the space, our returns policy gives you 30 days to change your mind on anything unused.