19 Solid DIY Shade Sail Post Ideas [Stay Cool In the Sun!]
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Shade sail post ideas! A shade sail is a nifty way to keep cool in your favorite sunny spot. And they’re relatively inexpensive! However, to make them work effectively and safely, you need sturdy shade sail posts to mount them on.
To cast shade optimally, semi-permanent shade sails must be taut between solidly secured shade sail posts. Temporary shade sails don’t need quite as much tension, but they do need rigid and stable sail posts to fly right.
We’ve dived deep and bagged a bunch of solid DIY shade sail post ideas to get you sitting pretty in outdoor summer coolness!
Want to explore these DIY shade sail posts with us?
Then grab a seat at the helm.
Let’s set sail!
19 Solid DIY Shade Sail Post Ideas
The best DIY shade sail post ideas help ensure optimal shade, functionality, and longevity from shade sails. A rigid steel or wood post with a solid foundation will safely suspend a shade sail and prevent post failure when tension loads, rain, or strong winds act on the shade sail and sail post.
- Shade sails offer a novel and easy DIY alternative to traditional outdoor sun protection such as fixed awnings, pergolas, and gazebos.
- A shade sail makes stylish sense if you’re looking for a versatile, semi-permanent shade solution.
Bona fide shade sails must get tensioned properly, sloped or hypar, securely anchored to existing home infrastructure (trees, too!), and, more often than not, attached to dedicated shade sail posts.
Ideally, shade sail posts should be:
- Make the sail post from a rigid material to withstand high-tension loads from the shade sail.
- Anchor the sail solidly for protection against strong winds, rain, and hail.
- Allow for easy and quick demounting of the shade sail when you expect snow or hurricanes.
- Rust, rot, and termite resistant.
- Fit with rustproof shade sail hardware (eye bolts/eye lags, turnbuckles, pulleys, and cleats) to adjust shade sail tension and height.
- Lean away from the center of the shade sail at a 5° to 15° angle.
- Allow the shade sail to demount easily in the snow season and for cleaning/maintenance procedures.
Installing a premium shade sail post will invariably require digging a hole and pouring concrete.
If all of these considerations seem overzealous to cast a pool of shade, read on!
- There are straightforward ways to erect a lightweight shade sail using posts that don’t need digging, concrete, or fancy rigging hardware.
Before we look at the recommended specifications for various shade sail posts, let’s get into the selection of shade sail post ideas – from the semi-permanent to the light-duty and temporary!
1. Easy to Hoist and Demount 3-Point Shade Sail Post Idea
Here’s an easy DIY shade sail post for a garden deck from PrimroseTV that provides solid support for the shade sail. And it is fully demountable!
The design makes it super-quick to get the poles in or out of the ground and the shade sail hoisted and struck (that’s ‘up’ and ‘down’ in nautical terms) when the weather changes.
- A dramatically-sloped triangular shade sail gets supported by a tree stump. Two galvanized 2-inch steel posts also offer support. The posts slide into PVC pipe sleeves that rest in deep concrete ground anchors.
- The steel posts have pulleys, cam cleats, and dock cleats to adjust the sail height without worry.
This idea makes for a relatively easy DIY shade sail post. And the result is ergonomic and responsive to cast shade where and when you need it!
Read More – 20 Fruit Trees That Grow In Shade! They Will Surprise You!
2. Shade Sail Combo with Steel Posts In Concrete
Large outdoor entertainment areas generally need more than one shade sail to provide a comfortable shade footprint. Here’s an installation by Australia’s Great Home Ideas that hoists rectangular and triangular shade sails using two 4-inch steel posts.
- The galvanized steel posts sit in concrete with drain holes at the base of the posts.
- Standard shade sail hardware works nicely to keep the shade sails tensioned appropriately.
- The builder in this video recommends giving the posts five days to set in the concrete before installing the shade sails.
With steel posts solidly anchored and tensioned, those shade sails can fly in strong winds without ongoing fuss!
3. Two 4×4 Wood Posts with Simple Rigging for a Square Shade Sail
Fish need shade too! Here’s a neat shade sail post idea for a koi pond using a rectangular shade sail suspended by two pressure-treated four-by-four wood posts by DoItYourselfDad.
The idea uses suitably deep holes and quick-drying pre-mix concrete.
The tensioning of the shade sail works simply by using the following components.
- Eye screws.
- Paracord.
- Clam cleats.
The quick-release clam cleats allow the owners to quickly and easily lower and remove the shade sail when they want to prune trees near the shade sail posts.
Low cost, ergonomic, and sturdy!
4. Two 6×6 Wood Posts with Turnbuckles for a Deck Shade Sail
A raised deck adjoining your house makes an ideal anchor point for a shade sail. Or two! Watch as Mitre Ten New Zealand demonstrates with their DIY shade sail post tutorial.
Using 6” x 6” glue-laminated wood posts, the builder secures the posts in a 4-feet deep hole with concrete. For extra stability, the posts secure to the deck with steel brackets and lag screws.
When tensioning the shade sail, D-shackles and four turnbuckles are used, along with lengths of chain that extend the tensioning system’s reach from the sail to the posts.
The post foundation holes seem professionally executed, the posts are super-strong, and the recommended tensioning hardware creates a no-nonsense taut shade sail for a durable and crisp shady experience!
Read More – 15 Best Plants for Hanging Baskets In Shade Gorgeous Flowers and Foliage!
5. Wood Posts and Cross Beams for Four Triangular Shade Sails
Little About A Lot avoids digging deep holes into his garden by replicating a basic pergola frame design. They use wood cross beams to help three shade sail posts support four triangular shade sails.
With 6” x 2” wood beams held aloft by 6” x 6” wood beams (joined using steel brackets), the design creates tension in the shade sails using lag hooks, chains, carabiners, and turnbuckles. Very clever.
Despite being a labor-intensive DIY project, the design has proved itself over several years – stormproof and solid!
6. Hinged and Cross-Braced Shade Sail Posts with Back Stays
Here’s an innovative approach to achieving post lean without sinking the sail posts into concrete, courtesy of The Cuban Redneck.
Instead of relying on standard timber posts, this idea laminates and screws together four two-by-fours to create two shade sail posts. It seems less prone to bending under duress.
Two concrete slabs rest adjoining a concrete patio to attach two T-hinges that secure the posts to the patio foundation.
- A steel crossbar adds lateral stability to the posts.
With the posts on hinges, ratchet straps acting as backstays are connected to the top of the posts and the concrete slabs to adjust tension in the sail!
Ingenuity or DIY folly? You be the judge!
7. Three 4×4 Posts with Planter Bases for Two Patio Shade Sails
Making shade sail posts attractive may not be top of the project list for most DIY enthusiasts, but The Will To Make brings flowers to the scene!
Three plastic planters with holes cut into the bases form the ground garnish for three 4” x 4” wooden posts in concrete foundations.
- Tension in the two shade sails occurs using only eyehooks and ropes.
It’s a beautifully simple shade sail post idea that works. Check it out!
Read More – Herbs That Grow in Shade – 8 Useful Herbs for Your Shady Herb Garden!
8. Two 6×6 Posts in Concrete with Rapid Demount Cam Cleats
If you live in a tornado country, you will need a hasty demount shade sail solution, like this idea from Dom’s Rustic Garage.
Solid 6” x 6” wood posts sunk into deep concrete at an angle leaning away from the sails get equipped with cam cleats, carabiners, pulleys, and eye screws.
- Ropes are used to tension the shade sail.
Dom attests that his shade sail can get taken down in less than two minutes!
A solid shade sail post idea setup with disaster management built in!
Say no more!
9. Two 4×4 Posts with Cam Cleats and Pulleys for Patio Shade Sail
Here’s another lovely shade sail post idea that uses cam cleats instead of turnbuckles to tension the shade sail, a patio cover by Drone Flyers Multirotor.
Two 4x4s are set in concrete on the lawn at an angle leaning away from the deck. The shade sail is suspended and tensioned with ropes running through pulleys and cam cleats.
- The timber posts match the earth tones of the square shade sail, which is installed with a gentle slope to allow rainwater to run off!
A low-cost and sensible shade sail post idea!
10. Lightweight No-Dig PVC and Dowel Sun Shade Posts
If you need a temporary sunshade for a patch of lawn in your garden, consider this crafty shade sail post idea from The Project Cave using ¾-inch PVC pipe.
The idea attaches two points of a rectangular shade sail to the branches of a large tree, with the other two corners suspended by eight-foot PVC pipes reinforced with dowel rods.
The tops and bases of the PVC pipes fit with PVC pipe caps equipped with hex bolts to secure guy ropes and steel spikes into the earth.
The stability of the shade sail is made possible via the guy lines and good old tent pegs.
OK. It’s a tarp on poles, but it works perfectly as an occasional shade sail for garden lounging!
Read More – 22 Spectacular Flowering Succulents – With Gorgeous Photos!
11. Budget PVC Pipe and Steel Stake for Koi Pond Sun Shade
Here’s another fishy idea. It’s a cheap and joyous low-effort project to protect koi fish from the sun and predatory birds – presented by Ha Y N Fish Keeper.
A seven-foot PVC pipe with an eyebolt at the top positions over a steel fence stake hammered into hard ground.
- A galvanized hex bolt runs through the PVC pipe. Then through a hole in the stake to secure the pipe to the stake.
With three corners of the shade sail attached with rope to existing walls, the single shade sail post wins points for neatness by using a jam cam to create tension in the shade sail.
It may not look pretty – but it is cost-effective! And the fish won’t complain!
12. Demountable Shade Sail Posts with Fence Top Rail and PVC Sleeves
If you want a shade sail and its posts removed from your patio during winter, this idea from Adam Wellborn may be the ticket.
Steel fence top rail is cut to three 10’ lengths and dropped into PVC sleeves set in concreted holes adjacent to the patio to support two triangular patio shade sails.
- Tensioning hardware includes turnbuckles, carabiners, and rope.
PVC pipe end-caps seal the PVC sleeves flush with the soil surface when the steel posts extracts during the off-season.
It is a lightweight seasonal shade solution. But your patio will stay cool with the posts in concreted PVC sleeves and the shade sails tensioned.
13. Strong Shade Sail Posts Using Steel Scaffolding Components
The big difference between semi-permanent and temporary shade sail posts is how well they stick to the ground. Here’s a great shade sail post from Nicki Shaw that uses scaffolding components.
Nicki uses a scaffolding T-joint to create a bulky base for a scaffold upright shade sail post.
- The base is attached to the upright, and the post sets in subterranean concrete.
- The shade sail anchor points are scaffolding hangar pipe straps with holes suitable for shade sail rigging.
- Scaffolding is relatively cheap, rustproof, and sturdy!
- Scaffolding materials can be sourced new from scaffolding suppliers or bought used online.
This scaffolding method will make you wonder why it wasn’t your idea.
If you’re seeking semi-permanent shade sail posts with muscle, this idea is it!
14. Lightweight Steel Posts with Fence Stake Anchor and Guy Lines
Need a budget-friendly shade sail post for a spot of occasional shade? Here’s a neat DIY project by BABO Home & Garden that will fly lightweight shade sails with minimal expenditure, sweat included!
You’ll need the following.
- Half-inch steel conduit pipe.
- Rubber doorstoppers.
- Eye screws.
- Steel fence posts.
- Carabiners.
- Cable ties.
Do it this way:
- Drill holes in the rubber doorstoppers and insert the eye screws.
- Insert the doorstoppers into the top of the conduit pipes.
- Drive the fence stakes into the ground and attach the conduit poles to the fence posts with cable ties.
- Attach the shade sails to the posts with carabiners.
It’s a temporary solution but dead simple to make!
Read More – Should You Shade Your Vegetable Garden?
15. Black Steel Posts In Deep Concrete for Large Shade Sails
For a professional shade sail installation, follow what the Agile Remodeling Handyman does with steel posts and concrete.
The secret to this solid shade sail post idea is the quality of the post foundations.
- Deep holes and plenty of concrete ensure ultimate rigidity and stability from tall spray-painted steel posts.
- Optimum shade sail tension occurs with the posts leaning away from the shade sail and turnbuckles cranked to maximum torque.
With an afternoon of heavy digging behind you, you’ll have a shade sail setup capable of withstanding heavy weather!
16. Lightweight Cantilever Steel Post for Deck Shade Sail
What do you do when your shade sail extends beyond your floating deck? And you don’t want to dig holes in the ground? Try this cantilevered shade sail post idea from Make It or Break It.
In a flurry of DIY trial and error, this fellow achieves the objective of erecting a shade sail post at a 45° angle off his deck, effectively suspending an awkward corner of the shade sail!
Steel conduit piping, PVC piping, wood, eyehooks, rope, steel brackets, and glue. Enough said!
Watch the video!
17. Wood Posts In Steel Anchors with Pergola Frame for Triangular Shade Sails
The following shade sail post idea uses a snazzy-looking Brazillian hardwood frame. And it includes a lovely customized pergola with shade sails for sunlight protection. HomeRenoVistionDIY also shares their best tips on building the entire shade sail project in one afternoon. Not bad for a day’s work on the homestead!
A concrete patio base with a floating deck forms the base anchor for a pergola-style shade sail post and frame design by Home RenoVision DIY.
Brazilian hardwood 4” x 4” posts are bolted to a concrete patio with steel anchor plates, while 2” x 6” beams create the necessary rigidity to suspend two triangular shade sails.
You will need extra hands for this project. But the finished result looks strong. And striking!
18. Square Steel Posts for Large Hypar Shade Sail
Here’s a genius example of a professional shade sail installation from Jonty Acton that demonstrates the hypar shade sail installation technique.
Square 4” steel posts set at an angle in concrete foundations provide the resistance to handle the tension loads from a large shade sail.
The hypar effect is achieved by positioning all four corner anchor points at different heights and then tensioning with industrial-grade hardware.
Don’t be intimidated by the result. If Jonty can do it, so can you!
19. Height-Adjustable Shade Sail Post Using Track and Trolley Wheels
The shade moves across the ground as the sun moves across the sky. This shade-shifting can be annoying if you constantly move furniture around to keep cool!
Can a shade sail post facilitate easy repositioning of the shade sail to cast shade dynamically? Yes, it can. But only if equipped with a track and trolley wheels!
We got the idea from Shade Sails Canada and its Traveller System, a high-end shade sail rig designed to lower and raise a sliding shade sail corner attached to a shade sail post.
Watch the video and then envision a 6” x 6” steel or wood post with a metal strut channel and trolley wheels attached to it.
- How can you pull the trolley wheels up and down the track? Attach clam cleats above and below the strut channel and braided nylon rope.
- Give your shade sail an authentic nautical look by winding a sisal rope around the base of the shade sail posts.
Ingenious, even if we say so ourselves!
Now let’s look at the shade sail spec sheet.
Recommended Specifications for Shade Sail Posts
Premium shade sail posts come from galvanized or stainless steel tubing or pressure-treated wood posts. A shade sail post’s rigidity in a solid foundation helps optimum shade sail tension. A shade sail post-lean angle of five to fifteen degrees compensates for post-deflection under extreme load.
- Best Steel Tubing for Shade Sail Posts
Use 4-inch round or square schedule-40 steel tubing. Galvanized or stainless steel tubing is maintenance-free.
- Best Wood for Shade Sail Posts
Pressure-treated laminated 6” x 6” wood posts rated for ground contact are ideal for long-term shade sail installations.
How Deep Must I Dig a Shade Sail Post Hole?
Shade sail post holes should be at least 3 feet deep and 1 foot wide for shade sail areas under 150 square feet. Post holes for large shade sails should be 4-6 feet deep for optimum rigidity and durability.
What’s the Best Way to Secure Shade Sail Posts In Concrete?
Screw four to six steel lags into the base of the shade sail post to give the concrete more surfaces to adhere to effectively. Rebar fed through holes drilled into the steel base and wood shade sail posts also ensures the posts remain in their concrete anchors.
How Long Must Shade Sail Post Foundation Concrete Cure?
The minimum curing period for concrete is 24 hours. For heavy-duty shade sails and posts, allow the concrete to cure for at least 72 hours before attaching the shade sail and tensioners.
How Much Tension Does a Shade Sail Need?
Shade sails need to be tensioned to between 150-400 pounds to create a wind-deflecting surface that will ensure the sail’s longevity and the tensioning hardware. A slack shade sail will billow and deteriorate rapidly, while the tensioning hardware will make an unpleasant noise and suffer premature fatigue.
What is the Best Shade Sail Configuration?
Shade sail posts should enable a wind-deflecting ‘hypar’ shade sail configuration where two diagonally opposite corners of a square or rectangular sail-shade are mounted higher than the other two diagonally opposite corners, creating a pitched and triangulated 3D effect.
- A hypar technique keeps the shade sail taught and allows for runoff (preventing water pooling in the sail).
- A hypar fitment prevents the shade sail from billowing in windy conditions.
- A hypar shade sail will last longer than a flat or sloped shade sail.
- A hypar shade sail installation creates an aesthetically appealing dramatic effect.
For expert info on shade sails, shade sail posts, hardware, and shade sail installation watch Shade Sails Asia.
If you plan to dig your holes and pour concrete to ground your shade sail posts? Then watch this skillful post-setting tutorial.
Solid DIY Shade Sail Posts – FAQs
Building a shade sail post is trickier than most homesteaders think! But no worries. We amassed a lovely list of common shade sail post FAQs you may encounter in your quest to keep the sun out of your eyes!
We hope these shade post insights help you!
Shade sail posts generally use 4-inch tube steel or 6 x 6-inch wood posts. Steel posts should be galvanized or coated with enamel paint. Wood posts must be pressure-treated and rated for ground contact. Tensioning and anchoring hardware should be galvanized or stainless steel.
A shade sail should ideally be attached to a post using tensioning hardware such as a turnbuckle or clam cleat. Eyehooks, D shackles, carabiners (quick clips), lag screws, and braided nylon paracord to facilitate optimal tension in the shade sail. Ratchet straps help pull the shade sail into place before the turnbuckle or rope gets affixed to the post.
The best way to improve the appearance of a shade sail is to keep it taut via the fitment of tensioning hardware and rigging. A hypar fitment of the sail, where two diagonally opposing corners of the shade sail are mounted higher than the opposite diagonal corners, creates a distinctive triangulated 3D look to the shade sail.
A shade sail can be attached to a patio using the house’s Fascia boards as a connection anchor for one side of the shade sail, while posts mounted to the deck using steel brackets and backstays suspend the opposite corners of the shade sail. A pergola-style design also effectively lifts shade sails above a patio or backyard deck.
The rule of thumb for sail shade post-hole depth is one-third of the desired height of the post above ground. If a shade sail height of 12 feet is required, the sail post should sit in a hole 4 feet deep. In this example, the shade sail post must be 16 feet long to satisfy the shade sail height requirement.
Shade sail posts are angled away from the shade sail center to reinforce the support shade sail structure and prevent slackening of the shade sail. By presenting an additional resistive force to the load established on the sail and post by the tensioning hardware, the angled sail post maintains shade sail tautness. And it helps prevent premature wear or failure of the shade sail and hardware.
For optimum functionality and safety, the shade sail should get angled. The tensile forces created by the shade sail and its tensioning hardware, coupled with wind loads, cause the shade sail post to deflect (bend). A sail post angled at 5°-15° away from the shade sail center will compensate for deflection and minimize slackening of the shade sail.
Land Ahoy!
There you have it, folks! A veritable odyssey across the oceans of shade sail post selection and installation. Whatever your choice of shade sail or shade sails, follow these guidelines for the best possible DIY shade sail post-project – one that will last for a decade or more and always keep you cool!
Also, feel free to ask more shade sail setup questions. We thank you for reading – and we are happy to help.
Have a good day!
More Solid Shade Sail Post Resources and Works Cited
- Shade Sails Hints and Tips
- Shade Sail Installation Tips
- Creating the Perfect Shade Sail
- Shade Sails Canada
- Sail Shads Fabric Calculator
- How to Tension a Shade Sail – Properly!
