How big of a patio umbrella do I need?

A 7.5–9 ft market umbrella suits a 4–6 person table; 9–10 ft is the most common all-purpose size. For a 6–8 person table or to shade a lounger plus seating, reviewers point to 10–11 ft cantilevers or 9x12/10x13 rectangular offset models, which dominate the larger-area picks in this category.