What Is the Difference Between a Canopy and an Awning?

While an awning is an arched structure permanently attached to a home or business over windows, doors and entryways, canopies are freestanding, tent-like structures that offer coverage for larger areas like decks and patios. Although both ultimately provide much-needed shade for Arizona residents, they do so in fundamentally different ways that are essential to understand if you’re deciding between the two.

Awning vs. Canopy

Size and Coverage

Awnings are much smaller than canopies, shading specific areas of your home or business like windows, doors and entryways as opposed to large parts of your backyard or an open space.

Purpose

Canopies are designed to enhance your family’s leisure, sheltering you from the sun so you can relax or play outside, while awnings protect you and your home from sun damage and heat transference. They prevent ultraviolet rays (UV) from discoloring your floors and furniture and protect you from the hazardous effects of continual sun exposure, which can range from eye damage to elevated chances of developing skin cancer.

Attachment and Mobility

Since canopies aren’t attached to your home’s structure like awnings, they can be more easily moved to other locations if you want more sunlight. While awnings can be made retractable to give homeowners more control over their shading, uninstalling them from one location and moving them to another is an ordeal.

Design

Due to the size difference, canopies can serve as the centerpiece of your home’s outdoor space, while awnings are generally more understated. Although you can outfit both in stylish and vibrant fabrics, they will affect your home’s aesthetic in different ways. Depending on your preferences, your shading solution can either visually impact your patio or subtly enhance your home’s architecture.

Cost Difference

Because canopies need to be anchored to your patio or deck to give them a strong foundation and prevent them from potentially falling over, they can cost more to install[1] . Not to mention that their larger size also means they’ll require more fabric than awnings, which can affect the project’s total. Although awnings also need to be securely mounted to your home’s exterior, their smaller size usually makes them less costly to install. However, a retractable awning will be more expensive[2]  than a fixed one.

Weather Resistance

While canopies can provide more comprehensive weather protection that can shield your patio or deck against both sun and rain, their freestanding nature makes them more vulnerable to wind damage. Awnings protect your home from sun damage and are better positioned to withstand severe wind. Retractable awnings are the exception due to their more delicate hardware. They should always be retracted to avoid exposure to heavy winds.

Why You Should Get a Canopy

Canopies might be an ideal choice for you if you want to provide shade to a larger outdoor area such as a patio, deck or garden. They can also be easier to relocate than awnings while offering a substantial visual effect that can serve as a statement piece to your backyard. Ultimately, canopies can transform your open space into a sheltered oasis perfect for relaxing or entertaining guests.

Why You Should Get an Awning

On the other hand, if your primary goal is to provide shade to specific areas of your home and reduce indoor heat and sun glare, an awning could work in your favor. Awnings can help you increase your energy efficiency and save more on utilities, which is especially valuable during Arizona’s unbearably hot summers. Awnings are often more cost-effective than canopies and can seamlessly blend into your home’s architecture. If you’re focused on acquiring functional shading that doesn’t require extensive coverage, an awning might better suit your needs.

We’ll Help You Find the Perfect Shading Solution for Your Home That Checks All the Boxes

At Arizona Awnings, our experts will help you decide whether you would benefit more from an awning or canopy and install your choice on your schedule. You can customize your choice to your style preferences, selecting from our various style, valence and fading-resistant fabric options. We’ll maximize your awning’s shade effectiveness to provide you and your family with long-lasting comfort and sun protection. Call 602-252-3430 today to schedule a free consultation and receive a no-obligation estimate.