Choosing the Best Mesh Sun Shade Fabric for Your Project

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When the sun is beating down on your patio or streaming through your boat, RV or home windows, finding the right sun shade material can make all the difference. Whether you're looking to create shade sails, roller shades, awnings or snap-in panels, the right sun shade fabric can provide relief from heat and harmful UV rays while enhancing privacy and aesthetics.

Choosing the Best Mesh Sun Shade Fabric for Your Project

At Sailrite®, we offer a wide selection of high-quality shade fabrics designed for various applications. In this guide, we’ll compare our top-selling mesh shade fabric brands — Phifertex®, Textilene®, Polytex™, Parasol™, Soltis® 86 and Top Gun® Vision — to help you choose the best option for your needs.

What Is Sun Shade Fabric?

Sun shade fabric is a specially designed textile that helps block harmful UV radiation and reduce heat exposure, making outdoor and indoor spaces more comfortable. These fabrics come in a variety of weaves and materials, each with different levels of UV blockage, breathability and durability.

When selecting a sun shade fabric, consider the specific application to ensure you get the best performance. Here are some common uses for our mesh shade fabrics:

Parasol & Polytex: Ideal for shade sails, tension structures and marine awnings. Both come with a 10-year limited warranty.
Soltis 86: Great for roller shades, shade sails, snap-in panels for marine and RV windows, pergola canopies, and glass roof blinds (5-year warranty).
Phifertex Standard, Plus & Stripes: Perfect for roller shades, shade sails, marine awnings and snap-in cover panels (3-year warranty).
Textilene Open Mesh, Sunsure & Decorative/Stripes: Well-suited for roller shades, shade sails, marine awnings and pergola canopies (3-year warranty).
Top Gun Vision: Works for roller shades, shade sails, marine awnings and snap-in panels (5-year warranty).

Key Factors to Consider

1. Shade Factor, UV Blockage & Openness Factor

The shade factor of a sun shade fabric refers to how much visible and ultraviolet light it blocks. This is expressed as a percentage, with higher numbers indicating greater sun protection. Some fabrics allow more natural light while still filtering out harmful UV rays.

For areas with intense sun exposure, such as patios and pools, opt for fabrics with a higher shade factor and strong UV protection. Here’s how our top fabrics compare:

Parasol: 70.4-95.4%
Polytex: 72-96%
Soltis 86: 86%
Phifertex: 70% (Standard), 92.5% (Plus & Stripes)
Textilene: 46.8% (Open Mesh), 91% (Sunsure), 79.3-97.5% (Decorative/Stripes)
Top Gun Vision: 91.4%

The openness factor refers to the percentage of open space in the fabric weave. A lower openness factor offers greater privacy and shade, while a higher openness factor lets in more light and air circulation.

Comparing Visibility in Marine Mesh 5 — Soltis 86 Vinyl Mesh Black (14% openness factor)

Comparing Visibility in Marine Mesh 8 — Phifertex Plus Vinyl Mesh Black (7.5% openness factor)

2. Fabric Construction & Durability

The way a shade fabric is constructed impacts its durability and resistance to wear:

Knitted Shade Fabric: Parasol and Polytex use a lockstitch raschel knit, ensuring they won’t fray when cut. This design also enhances wind resistance and stability.

Woven Mesh Shade Fabric: Soltis 86, Phifertex, and Textilene are made from vinyl-coated polyester, offering dimensional stability and durability for roller shades and snap-in panels.

Perforated Fabric: Top Gun Vision is a perforated acrylic-coated polyester, providing excellent visibility while reducing glare and heat.

How to Choose a Shade Fabric 5 — Notice the difference in weaves: Plain (White), Modified basket (Beige) and Twill (Stripes).

A fabric's construction affects its dimensional stability and resistance to stretching and sagging over time. Knitted shade fabrics like Parasol and Polytex have great dimensional stability in tension structures like shade sails but don’t have the same features that are needed for roller shades and snap-in panels for boat and RV windshields. Phifertex, Textilene and Soltis 86 products have a stiffer hand and greater dimensional stability for these types of projects, allowing them to better keep their shape and require fewer snaps to hold them in place.

3. Fabric Width & Installation Ease

Selecting the right fabric width minimizes seams and material waste. Larger widths are great for shade sails and require fewer seams. Narrower widths are better for pergola canopies and reduce material waste. Here’s how our shade fabrics measure up:

Polyex: 150"
Parasol: 118"
Soltis 86: 69"
Phifertex: 54"
Textilene: 54"
Top Gun Vision: 62" & 79"

All fabrics can be cut with scissors or a hotknife for custom applications.

How to Make a Slide on Wire Hung Canopy Video 2 — We've used Phifertex Plus for a slide-on wire hung pergola canopy with great results.

4. Fabric Content & Price Point

Polytex & Parasol: Made from 100% high-density polyethylene (HDPE), naturally resistant to mold and mildew.
Phifertex & Textilene: Composed of vinyl-coated polyester, known for strength, UV resistance, and abrasion resistance.
Soltis 86: A vinyl-coated high-tenacity polyester with enhanced dimensional stability.
Top Gun Vision: Acrylic-coated polyester, offering excellent UV and mildew resistance.

Choosing the Right Color for Your Sun Shade Project

Color selection impacts heat absorption, light filtration and visibility. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting a color for your mesh shade application:

Lighter Colors: Reflect sunlight, staying cooler and allowing more light through.
Darker Colors: Absorb heat but provide better glare reduction and visibility.

All of our shade fabrics offer excellent fade resistance, ensuring long-lasting color vibrancy.

Comparing Visibility in Roller Shade Fabrics 8 — Phifertex Mesh White #393

Comparing Visibility in Roller Shade Fabrics 9 — Phifertex Mesh Black #388

Flammability, Health & Safety Ratings

Many shade fabrics meet industry safety standards:

Flame Retardancy: Some fabrics are treated for fire resistance, which is important for commercial applications.

GREENGUARD® Certification: Phifertex, Textilene and Soltis 86 meet EPA standards for low chemical emissions, making them safe for homes, schools and healthcare facilities.

Antimicrobial Protection: Phifertex fabrics include Microban® for mold and mildew resistance. Parasol and Polytex naturally resist bacteria due to their HDPE composition.

Conclusion: Find the Best Sun Shade Fabric for Your Needs

Now that you understand the benefits and differences between our premium mesh sun shade materials, you can confidently choose the best fabric for your next project. Whether you need a durable shade sail fabric, a breathable mesh shade fabric, or a UV-resistant roller shade material, Sailrite has the right option for you.

Want to feel the fabrics before making a decision? Order fabric samples today! And when you’re ready to get started, explore our how-to blogs for expert guidance. We’d love to see photos of your finished projects in the comments below!