Umbrellas

25 kinds of umbrellas described and visualized

Umbrellas are portable, handheld devices designed to shield individuals from rain, snow, or sunlight, typically featuring a collapsible frame covered by fabric mounted on a central shaft.

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Kinds of Umbrellas

Origin Story

The umbrella's origins trace back thousands of years to ancient civilizations where early forms served primarily as sunshades. Over time, they evolved across cultures—from the ceremonial parasols of Asia to practical rain shields in Europe—adapting materials and mechanisms to meet changing needs and climates.

Classification

Umbrellas are classified by function (rain, sun, or dual-purpose), mechanism (manual, automatic open, automatic open/close), form factor (full-size, folding, mini, golf), construction materials (steel, aluminum, fiberglass frames; polyester, nylon canopies), and intended user (adult, child, ceremonial).

Appearance or Form

Typically, an umbrella consists of a central shaft supporting a canopy made of water-resistant or UV-protective fabric stretched over ribs. They vary in size and shape—from compact, pocket-sized models to large golf umbrellas—and often feature ergonomic handles and durable frames designed for portability and resilience.

Behavior or Usage

Umbrellas function as personal weather shields, opening to create a protective canopy against rain or sun. They are widely used for daily commuting, outdoor events, and travel. Mechanisms range from simple manual opening to sophisticated automatic systems, enhancing convenience and speed of deployment.

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Bubble Umbrella

Bubble Umbrella

The bubble umbrella is a distinctive, dome-shaped personal rain shield featuring a deep, transparent canopy that extends downward to cover the head and shoulders, offering superior protection from wind-driven rain while serving as a fashionable accessory.

Oil-paper Umbrella

Oil-paper Umbrella

The oil-paper umbrella is a traditional, handcrafted umbrella featuring a paper canopy waterproofed with natural oils, renowned for its cultural artistry and widespread use in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia for both practical and ceremonial purposes.

Sun Umbrella

Sun Umbrella

A sun umbrella is a handheld, portable device designed primarily to shield individuals from sunlight and harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, emphasizing sun protection over rain defense.

Children's Umbrella

Children's Umbrella

A children's umbrella is a handheld, portable device specifically designed for use by children, offering protection from rain or sun with a smaller size, lightweight build, and playful, colorful designs that include safety features tailored to young users.

Golf Umbrella

Golf Umbrella

The golf umbrella is an extra-large, full-length handheld umbrella designed to offer extensive protection from rain and sun, primarily for golfers and their equipment on open courses, but also favored for general outdoor use where maximum coverage is needed.

Folding Umbrella

Folding Umbrella

The folding umbrella is a compact, portable device designed for personal protection against rain or sun, featuring a collapsible shaft and canopy that fold down for easy storage in bags or pockets.

Parasol

Parasol

A parasol is a handheld, portable device designed primarily to shield individuals from sunlight, notable for its lightweight frame and often decorative appearance that distinguishes it from rain umbrellas.

Fashion Umbrella

Fashion Umbrella

The fashion umbrella is a handheld, portable device designed primarily as a style accessory, often featuring ornate, decorative, or themed elements that distinguish it from standard rain or sun umbrellas.

Transparent Umbrella

Transparent Umbrella

The transparent umbrella is a distinctive type of umbrella featuring a clear, see-through canopy that allows unobstructed vision while protecting users from rain, widely recognized for its bubble-shaped design and urban popularity.

Artisan Umbrella

Artisan Umbrella

The artisan umbrella is a handcrafted, often bespoke umbrella distinguished by traditional techniques, premium materials, and regional or cultural motifs, valued both as a functional weather shield and an object of art.

Dual-purpose Umbrella

Dual-purpose Umbrella

The dual-purpose umbrella is a versatile handheld device designed to protect individuals from both rain and sunlight, combining water-repellent fabrics with UV-blocking technology for adaptable weather defense.

Mini Umbrella

Mini Umbrella

The mini umbrella is a highly compact, pocket-sized folding umbrella designed for maximum portability and convenience, offering basic protection against rain and occasional sun exposure.

Automatic Folding Umbrella

Automatic Folding Umbrella

The automatic folding umbrella is a compact, portable device designed to shield individuals from rain or sun, featuring a push-button mechanism that enables quick opening and often closing, combined with a folding design for easy storage and transport.

Pagoda Umbrella

Pagoda Umbrella

The pagoda umbrella is a distinctive umbrella type defined by its pointed, multi-tiered canopy that echoes the silhouette of traditional East Asian pagodas, combining both functional rain and sun protection with elegant aesthetic appeal.

Paper Umbrella

Paper Umbrella

The paper umbrella is a traditional handheld device from East and Southeast Asia, characterized by its canopy made of oiled or lacquered paper and a bamboo or wooden frame, celebrated for its ceremonial, cultural, and sun-protective uses.

Windproof Umbrella

Windproof Umbrella

The windproof umbrella is a specialized handheld umbrella designed to resist strong winds, preventing canopy inversion and structural damage through reinforced frames, vented canopies, and advanced materials.

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Cultural Significance

Beyond practical use, umbrellas hold cultural and symbolic value worldwide. Ceremonial umbrellas appear in religious rituals and royal ceremonies, while fashion umbrellas serve as style statements. Their presence in art and literature reflects their enduring role in human society as both utility and icon.

Notable Facts

  • The term "parasol" often refers specifically to sun umbrellas, though it is sometimes used interchangeably with umbrella.
  • Golf umbrellas are notably larger, designed to cover multiple people or equipment.
  • Modern umbrellas may incorporate windproof frames and UV-protective fabrics for enhanced performance.
  • Automatic open/close mechanisms improve user convenience, especially in sudden weather changes.
  • Standards like ISO 21853:2019 ensure umbrella safety and durability globally.

Kinds of Umbrellas

Explore the range of forms, textures, and traditions within this collection.

Sorted by popularity

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Bubble Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Bubble Umbrella

The bubble umbrella is a distinctive, dome-shaped personal rain shield featuring a deep, transparent canopy that extends downward to cover the head and shoulders, offering superior protection from wind-driven rain while serving as a fashionable accessory.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Oil-paper Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Oil-paper Umbrella

The oil-paper umbrella is a traditional, handcrafted umbrella featuring a paper canopy waterproofed with natural oils, renowned for its cultural artistry and widespread use in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia for both practical and ceremonial purposes.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Sun Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Sun Umbrella

A sun umbrella is a handheld, portable device designed primarily to shield individuals from sunlight and harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, emphasizing sun protection over rain defense.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Children's Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Children's Umbrella

A children's umbrella is a handheld, portable device specifically designed for use by children, offering protection from rain or sun with a smaller size, lightweight build, and playful, colorful designs that include safety features tailored to young users.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Golf Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Golf Umbrella

The golf umbrella is an extra-large, full-length handheld umbrella designed to offer extensive protection from rain and sun, primarily for golfers and their equipment on open courses, but also favored for general outdoor use where maximum coverage is needed.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Folding Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Folding Umbrella

The folding umbrella is a compact, portable device designed for personal protection against rain or sun, featuring a collapsible shaft and canopy that fold down for easy storage in bags or pockets.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Parasol (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Parasol

A parasol is a handheld, portable device designed primarily to shield individuals from sunlight, notable for its lightweight frame and often decorative appearance that distinguishes it from rain umbrellas.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Fashion Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Fashion Umbrella

The fashion umbrella is a handheld, portable device designed primarily as a style accessory, often featuring ornate, decorative, or themed elements that distinguish it from standard rain or sun umbrellas.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Transparent Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Transparent Umbrella

The transparent umbrella is a distinctive type of umbrella featuring a clear, see-through canopy that allows unobstructed vision while protecting users from rain, widely recognized for its bubble-shaped design and urban popularity.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Artisan Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Artisan Umbrella

The artisan umbrella is a handcrafted, often bespoke umbrella distinguished by traditional techniques, premium materials, and regional or cultural motifs, valued both as a functional weather shield and an object of art.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Dual-purpose Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Dual-purpose Umbrella

The dual-purpose umbrella is a versatile handheld device designed to protect individuals from both rain and sunlight, combining water-repellent fabrics with UV-blocking technology for adaptable weather defense.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Mini Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Mini Umbrella

The mini umbrella is a highly compact, pocket-sized folding umbrella designed for maximum portability and convenience, offering basic protection against rain and occasional sun exposure.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Automatic Folding Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Automatic Folding Umbrella

The automatic folding umbrella is a compact, portable device designed to shield individuals from rain or sun, featuring a push-button mechanism that enables quick opening and often closing, combined with a folding design for easy storage and transport.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Pagoda Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Pagoda Umbrella

The pagoda umbrella is a distinctive umbrella type defined by its pointed, multi-tiered canopy that echoes the silhouette of traditional East Asian pagodas, combining both functional rain and sun protection with elegant aesthetic appeal.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Paper Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Paper Umbrella

The paper umbrella is a traditional handheld device from East and Southeast Asia, characterized by its canopy made of oiled or lacquered paper and a bamboo or wooden frame, celebrated for its ceremonial, cultural, and sun-protective uses.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Windproof Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Windproof Umbrella

The windproof umbrella is a specialized handheld umbrella designed to resist strong winds, preventing canopy inversion and structural damage through reinforced frames, vented canopies, and advanced materials.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Straight Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Straight Umbrella

The straight umbrella is a classic, non-collapsible handheld device designed primarily for personal protection against rain, characterized by its long, rigid shaft and fixed canopy that offers durable, full-size coverage with a timeless aesthetic.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Promotional Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Promotional Umbrella

A promotional umbrella is a handheld, portable umbrella designed and branded specifically for advertising, marketing, or event purposes, serving both as functional weather protection and a visible canvas for logos and corporate imagery.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Wedding Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Wedding Umbrella

A wedding umbrella is a decorative, handheld umbrella crafted primarily for use in wedding ceremonies, combining ornate design with functional protection against sun or rain to complement bridal attire and event aesthetics.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single UV Protection Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

UV Protection Umbrella

A UV protection umbrella is a handheld, portable umbrella designed specifically to shield users from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, featuring canopy materials engineered for superior UV-blocking performance.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Full-size Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Full-size Umbrella

The full-size umbrella is the traditional, non-collapsible handheld device designed primarily for personal protection against rain or sun, characterized by its long, straight shaft and broad canopy that offer durable and ample coverage.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Travel Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Travel Umbrella

The travel umbrella is a highly portable, lightweight folding umbrella designed for convenient transport during travel, offering reliable protection from rain and sun while fitting easily into small bags or pockets.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Ceremonial Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Ceremonial Umbrella

Ceremonial umbrellas are ornate handheld devices used in religious, royal, or state rituals, symbolizing status and spiritual authority rather than practical weather protection.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Manual Folding Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Manual Folding Umbrella

The manual folding umbrella is a compact, portable device designed for personal protection against rain or sun, distinguished by its collapsible frame and manual open/close mechanism.

Editorial-style hero shot of a single Reverse Folding Umbrella (umbrellas) dramatically lit against a dark gradient background.

Reverse Folding Umbrella

The reverse folding umbrella is a modern umbrella design that folds its canopy inward when closed, trapping moisture inside to minimize water exposure and ease use in tight spaces like cars or buildings.

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