Patio shade and awning wind ratings, in the sellers' own words

Wind comes up constantly when people shop for outdoor shades, and sellers answer it in very different ways. Of the 132 products on this site, 59 have any wind wording on the seller's page. 73 have none.

Below we explain the kinds of wording you'll run into, give the standard wind scale some sellers use, and list every statement we found, copied exactly with a link to where it appears. We don't rank them. Sellers don't test the same way, so a higher number on one page doesn't mean a sturdier product than a lower number on another.

Five kinds of wind wording

A speed in mph (23 products). For example "rated for winds up to 60 mph." The page rarely says how that was measured, whether the shade was open or closed, or what it was mounted to.

A Beaufort level (1). A number on the Beaufort wind scale, explained in the table below. One awning seller lists "Wind rating: beaufort 4", which the scale puts at 13 to 18 mph.

A "class" rating (5). This usually points to the European awning standard, EN 13561, which sorts awnings into wind resistance classes. The European Union set out these classes in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1188. Industry guidance summarized by ZENRON notes that class 0 means wind performance wasn't required or measured, and that even a rated awning depends on the wall and fixings it's mounted with.

A lab or test claim (13). For example "withstood winds of 55–75mph, in tests by an independent laboratory." The test conditions usually aren't published.

Instructions to retract (6). Many sellers, including some that give a rating, tell you to roll the shade up or close the awning in strong wind. That instruction applies whatever the rating says.

The Beaufort wind scale

From the U.S. National Weather Service. Forces 9 to 12 run from 47 mph up to hurricane strength.

Local rules

Some cities and homeowners associations have rules for awnings and shade structures, and they differ from place to place. We don't summarize them here. Check with your city's building department and your HOA before you buy.

Every wind statement we found