Patio umbrellas are outdoor umbrellas. As with other umbrellas they are used for protection from sunlight, rain and provide a covering in an open area. They are also known as garden umbrellas or market umbrellas and they are used in hotels, motels, restaurants cafes, resorts and for domestic consumption also. Patio umbrellas are generally fixed to the ground or to a base and they are more colorful than ordinary umbrellas. Patio umbrellas are available in many shapes, sizes and colors. The common shapes are round, rectangular, octagonal, and square. The sizes vary anywhere from 5 feet to 13 feet. Some patio umbrellas provide tilting attachments. Usually patio umbrellas can accommodate up to 4 people, depending upon the size more number of people can be accommodated.