Sunbrella Awning Fabric: What It Is, How It Performs and How to Care for It
Quick answer
Sunbrella is a brand of solution-dyed acrylic outdoor fabric made by Glen Raven, Inc. of North Carolina, widely used on residential retractable and fixed awnings. Its awning and marine fabrics carry a 10-year limited warranty, resist fading well, are water-repellent rather than waterproof, and can typically be cleaned with mild soap and, for stubborn stains, a diluted bleach solution.
Sunbrella is a brand of solution-dyed acrylic fabric made by Glen Raven, Inc., a privately held textile company based in North Carolina. It is the most widely specified awning fabric in the US residential market, and many awning makers offer it as their premium or standard fabric. In practical terms, Sunbrella performs like other high-quality solution-dyed acrylics: strong fade resistance, good breathability, water repellency rather than waterproofing, and a typical service life in the 8 to 15 year range for acrylic awning fabric. This page covers what the brand is, how it behaves, the warranty, care, and how it compares with alternatives.
What Sunbrella is
Glen Raven introduced Sunbrella in the early 1960s as an acrylic alternative to the cotton canvas then used for awnings, which faded, mildewed and rotted. The fabric is made by adding pigment to the acrylic polymer before it is spun into fiber (solution dyeing), so color runs through each filament rather than sitting on the surface. That is the main reason the brand built its reputation on color retention.
Today the brand covers several product families beyond awnings, including marine, upholstery and indoor/outdoor furnishing fabrics. For awnings, the relevant lines are the awning and marine fabrics: woven acrylics, typically around 9 to 10 oz per square yard, sold in standard roll widths such as 46 and 60 inches. Glen Raven also makes flame-resistant fabrics marketed for commercial uses where NFPA 701 compliance is required, sold under the Sunbrella Firesist name, and coated variants aimed at greater water resistance. Exact product names, weights and colors change over time, so check the current Glen Raven data sheet for any specific fabric.
Note: "Sunbrella" is a brand, not a fabric type. When a quote lists "Sunbrella or equivalent", ask what the equivalent is (fiber, dye method and warranty) so you are comparing like with like.
How it performs on an awning
| Property | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Fade resistance | Excellent for a fabric, because it is solution-dyed. Some gradual change still occurs over many years of direct sun, and bright saturated colors show change sooner than neutrals. |
| Water | Water-repellent finish makes rain bead and run off. Not waterproof: in prolonged heavy rain, mist can pass through and seams can drip. |
| Breathability | Good. Warm air can vent through the weave, which keeps the space under it more comfortable than under solid vinyl. |
| Mildew | The acrylic fiber does not support mildew, but mildew can grow on dirt left on the fabric. |
| Strength | Suitable for residential lateral-arm and fixed frames. Like all acrylics it can stretch slightly over years, especially if water is allowed to pond. |
| Service life | Commonly 8 to 15 years on a well-maintained residential awning, depending on sun, climate and care. |
For how acrylic compares with polyester and vinyl, see acrylic vs polyester vs vinyl awning fabric. The full set of fabric properties (weight, weave, coatings, spec sheets) is in the awning fabric guide.
Collections, colors and patterns
Sunbrella awning fabrics come in a large range of solids, stripes and tweeds, grouped into collections that change over time as colors are added and retired. A few practical points when choosing:
- Stripes are woven in, not printed, so they hold up as well as solids. They help hide minor soiling and fading on a retractable.
- Tweeds and heathered solids mix fibers of different shades. They hide dirt and pollen better than flat solids.
- Light vs dark affects heat and glare underneath far more than brand does. See awning colors and heat before you pick.
- Discontinued colors matter if you plan to replace one panel or a valance later. Ask the dealer whether the color is in a long-running line.
Pro tip: Ask for a physical sample and look at it outdoors, both in sun and shade, held overhead. Colors on screen and under store lighting look very different from fabric seen from below with sun behind it.
Warranty
Sunbrella awning and marine fabrics carry a 10-year limited warranty from Glen Raven. In general terms, the warranty covers the fabric against loss of color and strength from normal exposure, and is limited rather than unconditional: it covers the fabric, not the labor to remove and re-install it, and it does not cover damage from things like wind, abuse, improper cleaning, or chemicals. Coverage terms can change and can differ by product line, so read the current warranty document on the Glen Raven website for the specific fabric you are buying.
Three things to understand when you rely on the warranty:
- The fabric warranty is separate from the awning warranty. The frame, arms, motor and workmanship (sewing, installation) are covered, if at all, by the awning maker and installer. See awning warranties.
- Thread and sewing are not the fabric. Seam failure from UV-degraded thread is a workmanship issue. Ask what thread the fabricator uses; UV-resistant thread such as PTFE generally outlasts standard polyester thread.
- Keep the paperwork. Claims are usually made through the dealer or fabricator, who will need the purchase date and fabric identification.
Care and cleaning
Glen Raven publishes care instructions for Sunbrella fabrics. In general terms, they follow this sequence:
- Brush off loose dirt. Use a soft brush on dry fabric to remove leaves, pollen and dust before wetting.
- Clean with mild soap. Mix a mild soap with lukewarm water, scrub gently with a soft brush, and let it soak in briefly.
- Rinse thoroughly. Remove all soap residue, which otherwise attracts dirt.
- Treat stubborn stains or mildew. The maker's guidance allows a diluted solution of household bleach and mild soap in water for tough stains on solution-dyed Sunbrella; confirm the current ratio in the official care guide and test an inconspicuous area first. Rinse very thoroughly. Do not use bleach near metal hardware without rinsing well, and protect plants below.
- Air dry completely. Leave extended until fully dry. Never retract a wet awning for long.
- Re-treat if needed. Deep cleaning reduces the factory water-repellent finish. Once dry, apply a fabric guard product the maker recommends to restore repellency.
Watch out: avoid pressure washers, stiff brushes and harsh solvents. They can damage the weave and strip the finish. Hot water and dryers can also shrink or distort acrylic.
A light rinse every month or two during the season and a full clean once or twice a year prevent most problems. More detail in how to clean an awning and awning mold and mildew.
Worked example: is the upgrade worth it?
Worked example
A dealer quotes a 16 x 12 ft motorized retractable. The base fabric is a coated polyester; upgrading to Sunbrella adds $450. The awning faces southwest in a high-sun climate.
The polyester is likely to look tired after around 5 to 7 years in that exposure, and a re-cover on a residential retractable typically costs $500 to $2,000. Assume $1,400 for this size. If the Sunbrella cover lasts even 10 years without a re-cover, the $450 upgrade avoids at least one $1,400 re-cover in that period, a net saving of about $950, plus a better-looking awning in years 4 to 10.
Flip the scenario to a north-facing wall shaded by trees. Fading is slow, the polyester may reach 8 to 10 years, and the case for the upgrade becomes mostly about appearance.
Run your own numbers with the awning cost calculator.
Alternatives to Sunbrella
Sunbrella is not the only solution-dyed acrylic. Established alternatives include Recasens (Spain), Sattler (Austria), Dickson, and Tempotest (made by Para in Italy). These are common on European-made retractables and are offered by many US dealers. Quality solution-dyed acrylics from these makers perform comparably; differences come down to color range, specific finishes, warranty terms and local availability.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Fiber and dye method | It should be 100% solution-dyed acrylic to compare fairly. |
| Warranty length and terms | Compare years, what is covered (color, strength), and whether it is prorated. |
| Weight and roll width | Wider rolls mean fewer seams on a large awning. |
| Finish and re-treatment | Ask what repellent finish is used and what re-treatment the maker recommends. |
| Color availability | Long-running lines make future repairs and matching easier. |
If you need a fully waterproof cover or commercial graphics, a vinyl fabric is a better fit than any acrylic. If budget is the main constraint, a solution-dyed polyester is a reasonable middle ground. The fabric selector can help, and dealer-brand options are discussed in best retractable awning brands.
Who Sunbrella is for, and who it is not for
- Good fit: sunny residential patios, decks and windows where color retention and a long life matter, and where you will retract in heavy rain.
- Good fit: re-covering a quality retractable frame that still has years left in it.
- Not ideal: fixed canopies that must keep a space completely dry, where vinyl is better.
- Not ideal: short-horizon or very low-budget installs where the premium will not pay back.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Sunbrella fabric?
Sunbrella is made by Glen Raven, Inc., a textile company headquartered in North Carolina. Glen Raven introduced Sunbrella in the early 1960s as a solution-dyed acrylic replacement for cotton awning canvas. The brand now covers awning, marine, upholstery and indoor/outdoor fabrics, and it is sold through awning makers, fabricators and fabric distributors rather than directly as finished awnings.
Is Sunbrella awning fabric waterproof?
No. Sunbrella awning fabric is a woven acrylic with a water-repellent finish. Rain beads and runs off in light and moderate rain, especially when the awning has a pitch of about 14 degrees or more. In prolonged heavy rain, fine mist can pass through and seams can drip. For a completely waterproof cover, a vinyl-coated or vinyl-laminated polyester is the usual choice.
How long does Sunbrella awning fabric last?
On a well-maintained residential awning, solution-dyed acrylic such as Sunbrella commonly lasts about 8 to 15 years. Intense sun, coastal or polluted air, leaving the awning extended in wind and rain, and infrequent cleaning shorten that. The fabric carries a 10-year limited warranty, but seams and thread are a workmanship matter and can fail sooner if non-UV-resistant thread is used.
Can you use bleach on Sunbrella?
Glen Raven's care guidance allows a diluted bleach and mild soap solution for stubborn stains and mildew on solution-dyed Sunbrella fabrics. Check the current official care guide for the exact ratio, test a hidden spot first, rinse thoroughly, and protect plants and metal hardware from runoff. After deep cleaning, re-treat the dry fabric with a recommended fabric guard to restore water repellency.
What does the Sunbrella warranty cover?
Sunbrella awning and marine fabrics carry a 10-year limited warranty that, in general terms, covers the fabric against loss of color and strength from normal use. It does not usually cover labor, the awning frame, sewing, or damage from wind, abuse or harsh chemicals. Terms can change, so read the current Glen Raven warranty for your specific fabric and keep your purchase records.
Sources and further reading
- Glen Raven, Inc.: Sunbrella fabric warranty documents for awning and marine fabrics
- Glen Raven, Inc.: Sunbrella cleaning and care guide
- Glen Raven, Inc.: company history and Sunbrella brand information
- National Fire Protection Association: NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films
How we write our guides: figures are typical US ranges checked against manufacturer documentation, published standards and installer pricing. Read our editorial standards. Spotted an error or outdated detail? Request a correction.