Awning Vs Canopy: Which Is Better to Choose

Although both awnings and canopies are similar, there are significant differences in functionality, installation complexity, and applicable occasions. This article will explore the characteristics of these two screening structures in depth to help you decide when you need to choose an awning vs canopy.

What Is An Awning?

Awning refers to a kind of architectural protrusion on the exterior wall of a building. Its main function is to block the sun and rain. Usually, the frame of the awning is made of aluminum, iron, or steel, and the whole awning is composed of frame and fabric.

When installed on the exterior wall of an office, the awning can block the sun without blocking the visibility inside the office.

After installing an awning on the exterior wall of a restaurant, customers can dine or gather under the awning without worrying about sun damage or rain. Furthermore, some stores will also write the store name on the awning, so that it can serve as a billboard.

What Is A Canopy?

A canopy is an elevated structure with an overhead roof, usually covered with fabric or metal. It can cover more area than a typical awning, thus providing more protection. A canopy can also be a tent, generally without a floor, such as frame tent, high peak tent, etc.

The overhead structure of a canopy can not only provide shade without blocking the view but also withstand the invasion of rain and snow.

Fabric canopy can also meet various design requirements, and according to the characteristics of different materials, it can give canopy durability, smoothness, flame retardancy, and other characteristics.

Difference Between Awning and Canopy

There are many differences between awnings and canopies, and the factors that cause these differences are not only the differences in their structures but also more practical factors. Let's distinguish what the differences are step by step.

Design

The awning is designed to be used as a shelter for the exterior walls of buildings, with the main structure being fabric fixed to the building, while the canopy is an independent structure that can provide an independent space, with a structure that uses poles to support the top of the fabric.

Durability

Both awning and canopy are very durable, but as the awning is always in an outdoor environment, it is constantly exposed to harsh weather such as sun damage, strong wind, rain, and snow all year round, so it wears out faster than the canopy.

Canopy is more flexible to use and can be put away at any time when not in use. It rarely faces harsh weather for a long time, so the wear rate is greatly reduced.

Space Saving Degree

The awning and canopy have very different degrees of space saving due to their different structures.

An awning is only fixed on the exterior wall of the building and does not occupy any space inside the building. On the outside, the awning is fixed and suspended and does not need to occupy any ground space.

In contrast, the canopy is a semi-enclosed space built with supports and fabrics. Whether it is in the yard or outdoors, it needs to occupy a certain amount of ground space.

Easy Installation

The awning needs to be fixed to the exterior wall to provide a solid foundation to prevent it from collapsing, so the installation of the awning requires professional personnel.

However, the canopy can be assembled and disassembled without professionals, and it is a large canopy. It also requires several people to cooperate and install it together.

Flexibility

After installation, Awning can only be fixed on the exterior wall. If it is not damaged and needs to be replaced, it is generally not movable. Canopy is much more flexible. It can be installed when it is needed to provide shelter or space.

And when it is not needed, its simple structures allow for easy disassembly and storage. Moreover, the canopy can be adjusted at any time according to needs, and it can be easily moved to other locations.

In comparison, the flexibility of the canopy is better than that of the awning, as the awning can only be fixed in one place.

Versatility

The awning has a relatively simple function, which is to provide only sunshade and rain shelter. But the canopy can provide a relatively spacious outdoor space in addition to these two functions.

Application

Awnings are generally used to block the sun's rays without affecting sight or ventilation. But canopies are used much more.

Canopies protect from the sun and rain during wedding events, sports events, exhibitions, promotions, and a variety of other activities. Installing a canopy on a patio or garden can block heat and rain and enhance the beauty of an outdoor room.

Some canopies can also be used as carport roofs to protect cars from wind, precipitation, and snow.

Cost

For the same coverage area, such as 12x12ft, the cost of the basic awning is $400 – $1,300, while the cost of the basic canopy is $200-$400. In this comparison, the cost of the canopy is cheaper.

And if you want to upgrade the function, such as upgrading the awning from manual to electric, the corresponding cost will become higher. The cost of the electric awning 12x12ft will be $1,900 – $3,300.

If you are not sure about your cost, you can contact Sheltent for a free consultation.

Maintain

Do not place heavy objects on the awning during normal use, as this will damage the fabric. At the same time, give the awning a comprehensive cleaning every three months, which will help increase the service life of the awning and maintain its beauty.

When cleaning, wipe it with clean water or neutral detergent, and avoid using corrosive detergents. In addition, regularly check whether the fastened screws and nuts are loose or deformed.

Canopy should also be cleaned with clean water or neutral detergent, and corrosive detergents should not be used.

After cleaning, wait until the canopy is completely dry before storing it in the storage bag, otherwise, it is easy to get damp, produce odors, and even damage the waterproof coating.

Here is a list of all the differences:

Awning vs Canopy: How to Choose？

After understanding the difference between an awning and a canopy, you can consider how to choose between an awning and a canopy from the following three perspectives.

Purpose of Use

If you want it to be fixed outside the window for a long time, provide continuous shading, and reduce air conditioning costs, there is no doubt that you should choose an awning.

But if you want to build a sunshade and rain shelter space in the yard occasionally, the canopy is more suitable for your needs. And canopy can be placed not only in the yard, but also for camping, hiking, and even on the beach.

Space Requirements

The awning does not take up any ground space. When space is limited, the awning can save space to the maximum extent.

In contrast, the canopy requires a certain amount of ground space to build. You should first consider whether there is enough space to build the canopy when choosing.

Budget

There are many different types of awning and canopy. Generally, the awning is more expensive than the canopy, and the awning needs to be installed by professionals, which will also increase your costs.

In addition, the awning is exposed to wind and sun for a long time, and it will break quickly, thus the replacement frequency is higher than that of the canopy.

Therefore, if you only need to build a sun-proof and rain-proof space occasionally, and don’t want to spend too much on high cost, a canopy would be a better choice.

In actual application, how to choose depends on your specific needs and personal preferences.

Conclusion

Throughout the article, you have learned what an awning and canopy are and deeply understand their differences. After meticulously considering these factors, you know how to choose an awning vs canopy. If you want to consult more details, please don’t hesitate to contact Sheltent.