If you are shopping for a custom boat sunshade, the first question is almost always the same: what does it cost? The honest answer is that it depends on your boat and the materials, but the range is easy to understand once you know what drives the price. Here is a clear breakdown.
The short answer
A quality custom boat sun shade with poles and hardware generally runs from about $1,995 to $5,000. A two-pole shade for a smaller center console sits at the low end, while a six-pole system for a larger boat with premium poles sits at the top. At National Canvas, our custom center console sunshade starts at $1,895, shipped anywhere in the country.
What drives the price
1. The size of your boat
Bigger boats need bigger shades, which means more fabric and more labor to pattern and sew. We price in bands by boat length, from under 22 feet up to 50 feet, so you pay for the coverage your boat actually needs.
2. How many poles
Most boats are covered by a simple two-pole shade. Longer boats or fuller coverage step up to four or six poles for a symmetric panel with a tight, clean fit. Each added pair of poles adds material and labor. See our buying guide for help choosing.
3. Pole type
We offer two premium telescoping options: carbon fiber or stainless steel. Carbon is the lightest and easiest to handle; stainless is the strongest with a classic look. Both are marine-grade and built to last for years.
4. Fabric and hardware
Cheap shades fade, flap, and tear in a season. One thing that does not move our price is the fabric, because there is only one. Every shade we build is Stamoid, the best sunshade material we have found in 52 years of marine canvas. There is no upgrade tier and no budget tier. Add 100% PTFE lifetime thread and all-stainless quick-release hardware, and the materials cost more up front and last far longer, so you buy once.
Why custom costs more than a generic shade
An off-the-shelf shade is built to an average boat, not yours. It sags, gaps, and flaps. A custom shade is patterned in 3D to your exact measurements, so it pulls tight, looks clean, and goes up in under 60 seconds. You buy it once instead of replacing a cheap one every couple of seasons.
How ordering works
You never have to leave the dock. You order online, we ship your poles and hardware first, you send us a few simple measurements, and we build and ship your finished shade in days. We confirm every measurement before we cut, backed by our Perfect Fit Guarantee.
See your price in two minutes
Pick your boat length, poles, and color, and your exact price shows instantly. Build your sunshade, or call our Delray Beach, Florida shop at (561) 270-6922. We have built marine canvas since 1974 and we ship across the USA.
