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32 free plans

Shade Sail Frames

Post-and-cable frames that anchor tensioned fabric sails.

Shade sail frames are the wood, steel, or composite post systems that hold tensioned triangular or quadrilateral fabric sails. They are a modern alternative to a fully built pergola — quick to erect, easy to remove for winter, and the most inexpensive way to shade a large area.

The 32 plans below cover every common size in the Shade Sail Frames category, with options for Black Locust, Composite (Trex / Azek), Cypress, Douglas Fir, Mahogany, Pressure-Treated Pine, Redwood, Western Red Cedar, White Oak. Use the size and difficulty filters above each card to narrow down to plans that match your skill level and the available footprint in your yard.

3-Point Triangular Advanced 10x10′

3-Point Triangular Shade Sail Frame

Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends

100 sq ftFootprint $1,850–$2,875Materials

3-Point Triangular Intermediate 10x10′

3-Point Triangular Shade Sail Frame

Cypress · 2-3 weekends

100 sq ftFootprint $1,350–$2,100Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 10x10′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Pressure-Treated Pine · One weekend

100 sq ftFootprint $950–$1,500Materials

Drop-Down Awning Sail Advanced 10x10′

Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame

Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends

100 sq ftFootprint $1,625–$2,525Materials

Cantilever Single Post Advanced 12x12′

Cantilever Single Post Shade Sail Frame

Redwood · A full month of evenings & weekends

144 sq ftFootprint $2,350–$3,650Materials

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Advanced 12x12′

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame

Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends

144 sq ftFootprint $3,375–$5,275Materials

4-Point Square Advanced 12x16′

4-Point Square Shade Sail Frame

Mahogany · A full month of evenings & weekends

192 sq ftFootprint $4,525–$7,075Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 12x16′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Redwood · One weekend

192 sq ftFootprint $3,125–$4,875Materials

5-Point Overlapping Advanced 12x16′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Cypress · A full month of evenings & weekends

192 sq ftFootprint $2,575–$4,025Materials

Cantilever Single Post Beginner 12x16′

Cantilever Single Post Shade Sail Frame

Western Red Cedar · One weekend

192 sq ftFootprint $2,475–$3,875Materials

3-Point Triangular Beginner 14x14′

3-Point Triangular Shade Sail Frame

Western Red Cedar · One weekend

196 sq ftFootprint $2,525–$3,950Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 14x14′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Redwood · One weekend

196 sq ftFootprint $3,175–$4,975Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 14x14′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

White Oak · One weekend

196 sq ftFootprint $3,400–$5,325Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 14x14′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

White Oak · One weekend

196 sq ftFootprint $3,400–$5,325Materials

5-Point Overlapping Intermediate 14x14′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends

196 sq ftFootprint $2,525–$3,950Materials

Cantilever Single Post Intermediate 14x14′

Cantilever Single Post Shade Sail Frame

Western Red Cedar · 2-3 weekends

196 sq ftFootprint $2,525–$3,950Materials

Drop-Down Awning Sail Beginner 14x14′

Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame

Mahogany · One weekend

196 sq ftFootprint $4,600–$7,200Materials

Drop-Down Awning Sail Intermediate 14x14′

Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame

White Oak · 2-3 weekends

196 sq ftFootprint $3,400–$5,325Materials

4-Point Square Intermediate 16x16′

4-Point Square Shade Sail Frame

Black Locust · 2-3 weekends

256 sq ftFootprint $4,750–$7,400Materials

4-Point Square Intermediate 16x16′

4-Point Square Shade Sail Frame

White Oak · One weekend

256 sq ftFootprint $4,450–$6,950Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 16x16′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Western Red Cedar · One weekend

256 sq ftFootprint $3,300–$5,150Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 16x16′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Mahogany · One weekend

256 sq ftFootprint $6,025–$9,400Materials

Drop-Down Awning Sail Advanced 16x16′

Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame

Western Red Cedar · A full month of evenings & weekends

256 sq ftFootprint $3,300–$5,150Materials

Drop-Down Awning Sail Advanced 16x16′

Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame

Cypress · 2-3 weekends

256 sq ftFootprint $3,450–$5,375Materials

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Advanced 16x16′

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame

Black Locust · A full month of evenings & weekends

256 sq ftFootprint $4,750–$7,400Materials

Drop-Down Awning Sail Advanced 18x18′

Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame

Pressure-Treated Pine · A full month of evenings & weekends

324 sq ftFootprint $3,075–$4,825Materials

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Intermediate 18x18′

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame

Cypress · 2-3 weekends

324 sq ftFootprint $4,350–$6,825Materials

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Advanced 18x18′

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame

White Oak · A full month of evenings & weekends

324 sq ftFootprint $5,625–$8,775Materials

3-Point Triangular Beginner 20x20′

3-Point Triangular Shade Sail Frame

Cypress · One weekend

400 sq ftFootprint $5,375–$8,400Materials

5-Point Overlapping Beginner 20x20′

5-Point Overlapping Shade Sail Frame

Cypress · One weekend

400 sq ftFootprint $5,375–$8,400Materials

Drop-Down Awning Sail Intermediate 20x20′

Drop-Down Awning Sail Shade Sail Frame

Redwood · 2-3 weekends

400 sq ftFootprint $6,500–$10,150Materials

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Beginner 20x20′

Sail-and-Rafter Hybrid Shade Sail Frame

Western Red Cedar · One weekend

400 sq ftFootprint $5,150–$8,075Materials