Large Umbrellas: Choosing the Right Canopy Size
Most people choosing an umbrella want one large enough to keep them properly dry, but not so large that it becomes a burden on a crowded pavement or a busy train. The answer lies less in the overall length than in the canopy, and in how the umbrella is carried when it is not in use.
This guide explains how umbrella sizes are measured, what a larger canopy offers, and how to choose the right size for everyday use.
How Umbrella Sizes Are Measured
Two measurements matter. The first is the canopy diameter: the distance across the open canopy, which tells you how much it covers. The second is the length of the umbrella when closed, which tells you how it will be carried. A full-length umbrella is carried furled, often over the arm by its crook handle; a telescopic umbrella folds down to fit in a bag.
When comparing umbrellas, look at the canopy measurement first. It is the figure that decides whether your shoulders and coat sleeves stay dry.
What Makes an Umbrella Large
A canopy of around 100 cm across covers one adult comfortably. Above that, a canopy gives a little more room around the shoulders and over a bag or briefcase carried at the side. Very large umbrellas, such as those made for the golf course, are built for open spaces; on a crowded pavement or in a doorway they can be unwieldy.
For everyday use, the most practical large umbrella is a full-length one with a generous canopy, which offers ample cover without becoming difficult to manage.
The Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella: a 106 cm Canopy
The Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella has a canopy 106 cm across, made from Japanese-engineered fabric, on a shaft of solid English beechwood. It is about 91 cm long and weighs about 0.5 kg, so the generous canopy does not come at the cost of a heavy umbrella. It is made in a wide range of colours, from black and navy to green, burgundy and yellow.
The Bucklesbury London Umbrella: the Same Canopy, One Length of Wood
The Bucklesbury London Umbrella shares the same 106 cm canopy and is 93 cm long. Its handle and shaft are one continuous length of English chestnut, with no joint between them, and each one is individually finished by a craftsman.
Because the two share a canopy size, the choice between them is less about cover than about construction: a solid beechwood shaft, or a handle and shaft cut from a single length of chestnut. For those who prefer a slightly smaller full-length umbrella, the Bucklesbury London Ladies Umbrella is 86.5 cm long with a canopy 92 cm across, made from one continuous length of English maple.
When a Compact Umbrella Makes More Sense
If the umbrella must travel in a bag, the Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella folds to 45 cm yet still opens automatically to a canopy 102 cm across. Our guide to compact umbrellas explains how to choose one.
Choosing the Right Size
- For the most cover: a full-length umbrella with a 106 cm canopy, such as the Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella or the Bucklesbury London Umbrella.
- For a slightly smaller full-length umbrella: the Bucklesbury London Ladies Umbrella, 86.5 cm long with a 92 cm canopy.
- For the bag: the Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella, 45 cm folded with a 102 cm canopy.
- For your height: a full-length umbrella should hang comfortably from the arm without the tip touching the ground.
All the measurements are side by side in our umbrella size guide.
Carrying a Larger Umbrella
A full-length umbrella is easiest to carry furled neatly and hung over the arm by its handle. Furl it only when it is dry: after rain, leave it open to dry first, and never store it wet or creased. Open it pointing downwards, and remember that it is made to be carried rather than leaned on, so it should not be used as a walking stick. Our Umbrella Care page has the full notes.
Made in London
Each Bucklesbury umbrella is constructed by hand in London, in small batches, with umbrella-making heritage dating back to 1805, and carries our Rain Tested In England™ trademark. Every one is dispatched in a cotton cover and a Bucklesbury presentation box, which makes it a fitting gift as well as an umbrella to keep for many years. For UK delivery before Christmas, order by 16 December.
