Shade Cloth 101

As our name might indicate, SHADE CLOTH is our passion. Is this an odd thing to be enthusiastic about? Maybe. But this enthusiasm has led to the internet’s widest selection of high-quality shade cloth, just for you!

What is Shade Cloth?

Shade cloth is a type of fabric used to provide shade for plants, outdoor spaces, or structures. It is typically either knitted polyethylene or woven polypropylene. The fabric is designed to block a certain percentage of sunlight, allowing for cooler conditions and reducing the risk of sunburn or heat stress on plants, as well as creating more comfortable outdoor environments.

The key features of shade cloth include:

  1. UV Protection: Shade cloth blocks harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can damage plants, fade paint, lead to skin disease, and even deteriorate outdoor furniture
  2. Light Filtering: It reduces the intensity of sunlight, but still allows light to pass through, helping plants to grow without being scorched
  3. Variety of Shade Factors: Shade cloth comes in different shade factors, typically ranging from 30% to 90%. A higher percentage means more light is blocked, providing more shade.
  4. Durability: It is designed to be durable and weather-resistant, often lasting for years outdoors without significant degradation from sun, rain, or wind.

Common uses of shade cloth include:

  • Gardening and Horticulture: Protecting delicate plants or crops from excessive heat and sun
  • Greenhouses: Regulating light levels for sensitive plants
  • Outdoor Spaces: Creating shade for patios, decks, and seating areas
  • Livestock Protection: Offering shade to animals like poultry or livestoc

Shade cloth is available in a range of colors, though black, green, and tan are the most common, as they tend to absorb light well and blend in with outdoor environments.

Varieties of Shade Cloth

  • Knitted Shade Cloth
    • High-density polyethylene (HDPE) material available in a range of colors. Lifespan is 7-10 years against UV ray breakdown. Knitted shade cloth will not unravel if cut and can be ordered unfinished Black options are knitted unless otherwise noted.
  • Woven Shade Cloth
    • Polypropylene material that only comes in black. Lifespan is 10-12 years against UV ray breakdown. It is about 30% heavier than equivalent knitted options and features a distinct grid of horizontal and vertical lines. The primary application is for greenhouses and other agricultural structures. Please note that while it is difficult for a tear or hole to form in woven shade cloth, it may unravel if this does occur
  • Aluminet / Reflective Shade Cloth
    • Reflective shade cloth is also HDPE knitted material, but its reflective coating has been shown to reduce temperatures by 8-15 degrees F.
    • We carry two types of reflective shade cloth. Aluminet is available in both stock and custom sizes with 30% through 70% shade protection. Its lifespan is about 5-7 years. SilviShade is only available in the sizes listed, with 45% or 80% shade protection. Its lifespan is 3-5 years.

Which Shade Cloth is Right For Me?

We typically recommend shade 65% and lower for agricultural purposes, and 65% and higher to shade people and structures.

Greenhouses most commonly use 40% through 60% shade.

Colors are mostly decorative – the heat retention between black and white shade cloth is somewhat marginal. However, Aluminet’s reflectivity does have a higher impact on heat reduction.

Similar Products

Shade Sails are installed with tension in the corners only. They are typically used to shade people in outdoor seating areas, but our customers’ applications have ranged from concert venues to farms to zoos!

As the name may suggest, Fence Privacy Screens are designed to be installed along fences. Heavier than knitted shade cloth but still made of HDPE, the screens are designed for maximum durability and visual blockage, ideal for commercial and industrial applications, including construction sites and athletic facilities (pickleball, tennis, baseball).

Installation

Shade Cloth Sizing

Our maximum size is 50′ x 200′ for all panels – one direction may be at most 50′ and the other may be at most 200′. Bulk unfinished shade cloth may be available in longer lengths – please visit the Bulk Unfinished Shade Cloth page for more information.

We recommend ordering panels true to the size you’re looking to cover.

Please note that while we try to provide you with precise panels, the acceptable tolerance in shade cloth is +/- 4″.

Shade Cloth Installation

Our material does not have much stretch to it, especially along the edges of finished panels. Therefore, we recommend installing it using the grommets along all four sides and atop a structure to minimize stress. Do not install shade cloth panels using the corners only.

Excessive stress on the shade cloth can cause the grommets to pop out of the finished edges. Please do not install shade cloth with excessive tension.  Shade cloth is meant to rest on an existing structure.  If you are searching for a product with tension, check out our Shade Sails.

You should also avoid installation that can cause abrasions along the interior of the cloth (e.g. steel cables). Improper installation will void any warranty/guarantee on the shade cloth.

Shade Cloth Finishes
  • We use Batten Tape to finish the edges of our shade cloth, and punch brass grommets every 1′ or 2′ as desired. You can also use a Brass Grommet Kit to self-install.
  • Grommets lend themselves to a myriad of installation methods – Zip Ties and Bungee Balls are two popular options used for securing grommets to your structure
  • Unfinished shade cloth has no Batten Tape on the edges. Customers often use Shark Bites or Clip-Its to secure unfinished shade cloth, as brass grommets cannot be installed on unfinished edges