How big should your awning be? For most homes, the ideal awning should be wide enough to cover the area you want to shade and project far enough from the house to protect your patio, seating area or doors from direct sun. The right size depends on the width of your property, the depth of the area you want to cover, the direction your garden faces and how the sun moves across the space.
There is no single standard awning size that works for every home. A made-to-measure awning can be designed around your property and the way you actually use your garden, which is why accurate measuring and professional advice are so important.
At Winchester Awnings, we supply and install bespoke residential awnings across Winchester and Hampshire, helping homeowners choose the right width, projection and position for effective shade rather than simply fitting the largest awning possible.
What Size Awning Do I Need?
When choosing an awning, there are two main measurements to consider:
Awning width is the measurement across the wall of your property.
Awning projection is how far the awning extends away from the property when fully open.
Both matter.
For example, an awning may be wide enough to span a set of bifold doors but have too little projection to shade the patio where you actually sit. Equally, choosing maximum projection without considering where the sun falls may not give you the additional shade you expect.
The aim is to create an awning that gives you useful shade at the times of day when you are most likely to use your outdoor space.
You can explore our range of residential awnings to see the different made-to-measure options available.
How Wide Should an Awning Be?
As a starting point, your awning should normally extend beyond the width of the doors, windows or outdoor area you want to shade.
An awning fitted very tightly to the width of a set of patio doors may leave the edges exposed as the sun moves. Increasing the width can create a more useful area of shade while also making the installation look better proportioned against the rear of the property.
When we measure for an awning, we consider more than the opening underneath it. We also look at:
- the overall width of the available wall
- windows and doors
- downpipes and other obstacles
- neighbouring boundaries
- where you want the shade to fall
- the size of the patio or terrace
- the proportions of the property
This is one of the advantages of choosing a bespoke awning rather than a standard off-the-shelf size.
Our retractable awnings are professionally measured and made to suit the individual property.
How Far Should an Awning Project?
Projection is particularly important when deciding how much shade an awning will provide.
Think about what you want underneath it.
If you simply want to shade bifold doors and reduce direct sunlight entering your kitchen, you may need a different projection from someone wanting to cover a large outdoor dining table, sofas or an entire patio.
As a general rule, greater projection creates a larger potential shaded area. However, awning projection and actual shade coverage are not exactly the same thing.
The sun is constantly changing height and position. The angle of the awning itself also affects where the shadow falls.
This means a three-metre projection, for example, does not automatically create three metres of shade directly beneath it at every point during the day.
That is why we recommend choosing an awning based on the property and orientation rather than looking at dimensions alone.
Does the Direction My Garden Faces Affect Awning Size?
Yes. The direction your property faces can make a significant difference to the awning size and projection you need.
A south-facing patio can receive strong sunlight for much of the day, so creating sufficient projection is often important.
West-facing gardens can experience intense afternoon and evening sun coming from a lower angle. In these situations, simply making the awning larger may not solve everything because the angle of the sunlight becomes increasingly important.
East-facing gardens typically receive stronger morning sun, while north-facing spaces may require less extensive solar shading depending on the surrounding buildings and layout.
Our recent installations across Hampshire demonstrate how differently awnings can be configured depending on the property. One example is our Alresford Weinor awning installation, where multiple awnings were used to create extensive shade across the rear of the house.
How Big Should an Awning Be Over Bifold Doors?
For bifold doors, the awning should usually be wider than the doors themselves rather than finishing exactly in line with the frame.
This gives better coverage as the sun moves and can help reduce direct sunlight and glare entering through the large area of glass.
Projection will depend on whether your main priority is:
- shading the glass
- keeping the adjoining room cooler
- creating shade immediately outside the bifold doors
- covering an outdoor dining or seating area
- or a combination of all four
We cover this in much more detail in our guide to awnings over bifold doors.
Large expanses of glass are one of the most common reasons homeowners consider external shading. Stopping some solar heat before it reaches the glass can also make the internal room more comfortable during periods of strong sunshine.
Should I Choose the Largest Awning Possible?
Not necessarily.
A bigger awning can create more shade, but the best awning is the right size for the space, rather than simply the biggest model that will physically fit.
An oversized awning may look out of proportion on a smaller elevation, while an awning that is too small may not provide useful shade where you need it.
There are also structural considerations.
Retractable awnings place significant loads through their brackets and fixings, particularly when extended. Wall construction, mounting height, available fixing positions and the size and weight of the awning all need to be considered during specification.
At Winchester Awnings, we calculate the appropriate mounting and support requirements as part of our measuring and installation process.
Can One Large Awning Cover the Whole Patio?
Sometimes, but not always.
For a relatively straightforward patio, one large retractable awning may be an ideal solution.
For particularly wide properties, L-shaped patios or homes with several separate areas requiring shade, two or more awnings can sometimes provide a better result than one very large awning.
Multiple awnings can allow different sections of the garden to be shaded independently and can work particularly well where different rooms open onto the same terrace.
Alternatively, where very large areas require more permanent coverage, another style of external shading may be more suitable. Our pergola awnings can be worth considering for larger outdoor living areas.
Is a Motorised Awning Better for a Large Awning?
Motorisation becomes particularly useful as awning size increases.
Rather than manually winding a larger awning in and out, a motorised system allows it to extend and retract smoothly at the touch of a button.
We install Somfy motorised awnings and can also incorporate wind and sun sensors or smart-home controls.
For large awnings that may be used regularly throughout spring and summer, motorisation can make a significant difference to how convenient the awning is in everyday use.
How High Should an Awning Be Fitted?
Awning height is another important part of determining the correct size.
The installation needs sufficient height to allow the awning to project at an appropriate angle while still providing comfortable head clearance beneath the front bar.
We also need to consider what is above and around the proposed fitting position, including:
- rooflines
- soffits
- gutters and downpipes
- upstairs windows
- extensions
- brickwork and structural fixing points
This is another reason why awning sizing should ideally be considered during a home survey rather than simply ordering from basic wall measurements.
What If I Have a Very Large Patio?
Large patios often benefit most from a carefully planned shading system.
For some homes, that may mean one substantial awning. For others, dividing the space between two or more awnings can offer greater flexibility.
During a consultation, we look at where you dine, relax and entertain rather than assuming that every square metre of patio needs covering.
The result should feel like a natural extension of the home rather than an awning that has simply been fitted to the biggest available wall.
If you are considering an awning for a larger garden, our guide to awnings in Hampshire gives more information about the different options we install for patios, terraces and outdoor living areas.
Made-to-Measure Awnings in Winchester and Hampshire
Every home is different, which is why Winchester Awnings supplies made-to-measure awnings rather than relying on standard sizes.
Based in Alresford, we install residential awnings throughout Winchester, Alresford and across Hampshire, as well as surrounding areas.
We can assess your property, discuss how and when you use your garden and recommend an awning width and projection that will create useful shade while remaining appropriate for the building.
We supply premium Weinor awnings alongside other high-quality awning options, with choices including motorisation, Somfy controls, wind and sun sensors, integrated lighting and a wide selection of frame and fabric colours.
What About Blinds Inside the House?
An external awning and internal window shading can also work together.
An awning helps reduce the amount of direct sunlight reaching large windows and doors, while internal blinds provide additional control over glare, privacy and light throughout the year.
Our sister company, Winchester Blinds & Shutters, supplies made-to-measure blinds and shutters throughout Winchester and Hampshire, including specialist solutions for bifold doors, large windows, roof lanterns and motorised installations.
This can be particularly useful in modern extensions where the aim is to control both outdoor shade and indoor heat and glare.
How Do I Work Out the Right Awning Size for My Home?
The easiest way is to start with the area you actually want to shade rather than the size of the wall.
Consider:
What needs shading?
Your doors, an outdoor dining table, seating area or the whole patio?
When do you need shade?
Morning, midday or late afternoon?
Which direction does the garden face?
This influences the angle and intensity of direct sunlight.
How far does your patio extend?
Projection should relate to where people actually sit.
How wide is the usable wall?
Structural and architectural features can affect the available awning width.
Once these factors are considered together, it becomes much easier to specify an awning that will work properly rather than simply choosing a size from a catalogue.
Find the Right Awning Size for Your Home
Choosing the correct awning size is about much more than measuring the width of your patio doors.
Width, projection, garden orientation, sun angle, mounting height and how you use your outdoor space all influence the final design.
A properly sized made-to-measure awning should provide useful shade where you need it, complement the proportions of your property and make your patio or terrace more comfortable throughout the warmer months.
If you’re considering an awning in Winchester, Alresford or elsewhere in Hampshire, contact Winchester Awnings for a free, no-obligation quotation and home consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Awning Size And How Big Should My Awning Be?
What is the best size awning for a patio?
The best awning size depends on the width and depth of the area you want to shade. It should normally extend beyond the main seating or door area and provide sufficient projection to create useful shade as the sun moves throughout the day.
Should an awning be wider than my patio doors?
In many installations, yes. Extending the awning beyond the width of the doors generally provides better shade coverage and can create a more balanced appearance across the rear of the property.
How much projection do I need from an awning?
The required projection depends on the depth of your patio, your garden’s orientation and what you want to shade. Outdoor dining and seating areas generally require more projection than an awning primarily intended to shade windows or bifold doors.
Does a bigger awning give more shade?
Usually, but not in a simple one-to-one relationship. The sun’s height and direction and the awning’s pitch all affect where the shade falls. Correct positioning and projection are therefore just as important as overall size.
Can you fit two awnings next to each other?
Yes. Two or more awnings can be an effective solution for particularly wide properties or large patios. They can also allow different parts of an outdoor space to be shaded independently.
Do you measure the awning for me?
Yes. Winchester Awnings provides a professional measuring and quotation service. We assess the property, available fixing positions, required shade coverage and how you intend to use the space before recommending a suitable made-to-measure awning.