Balcony Awnings – How to Choose the Right Model, Size, and Installation Method

Why a balcony awning extends the outdoor season by months

A balcony without an awning often becomes unusable during the sunniest hours of the day. Direct sunlight makes the surface too hot, and without shade, furniture and plants fade quickly. A balcony awning solves all of these problems—and also creates the feeling of an extra outdoor room.

But choosing an awning for a balcony requires a little more thought than for a patio. Space is limited, homeowners’ associations have rules, and the installation must be done without damaging the facade. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know.

Awnings on Balconies in Condominiums—What Are the Rules?

If you live in a condominium, you almost always need approval from the homeowners' association before installing a balcony awning. Common requirements:

• The color and style should match the appearance of the facade—many homeowners’ associations have approved color schemes
• The awning must not extend beyond the balcony's perimeter
• Installation on the facade often requires a decision by the board—mounting on the balcony ceiling may be easier
• A building permit is not normally required for a balcony awning, but check with your local municipality if you're unsure.

Tip: Send a photo of your balcony and specify any color requirements set by your homeowners' association when you place your order—that way, we can help you choose the right fabric color right away.

The Right Size – Awnings for Balconies in Various Sizes

Balconies vary greatly in size, which makes it especially important to choose the right dimensions. An awning that’s too wide will extend beyond the edge of the balcony, while one that’s too narrow won’t provide enough shade.

Here's how to measure:

• Width: Measure the width of the balcony and subtract 5–10 cm from each side to allow for the mounting brackets
• Projection: How far the awning extends. On a balcony, 1.5–2.5 meters is often sufficient
• Clear height: Measure from the floor to the mounting point. The awning requires at least 2 meters of clear height below the arm bracket.

Common balcony sizes and recommended awning dimensions:

Installing an awning on a balcony—with or without drilling

How the awning is installed depends on the balcony's construction:

Wall mounting (most common):

• The awning is mounted on the exterior wall above the balcony door. Sturdy and unobtrusive. Requires drilling—and approval from the homeowners’ association in a condominium.

Ceiling Mounting:

• The awning is mounted to the balcony ceiling (the underside of the balcony above). Common in apartment buildings. Advantage: does not affect the facade.

Awnings without drilling:

• Clamp-on awnings or freestanding awnings that don't require drilling holes in the wall. Suitable for rental properties and balconies where drilling is not allowed. Limited size.

Balcony awning—motorized or crank-operated?

For balconies, a manual awning with a crank is often the most practical choice. The reason is simple: balcony awnings are usually smaller, and cranking them up takes only seconds. Plus, you don’t have to run electrical wiring to the balcony wall.

A motorized awning is more convenient if you have a large balcony (4+ meters) or want to control the awning via remote control and a smart home system. All of our patio awnings are available with a motor and Somfy integration.

Räckesbutiken's Awnings for Balconies

Our Velum series is perfect for balconies, patios, and outdoor seating areas:

• Velum Lite – Compact and lightweight, perfect for smaller balconies (up to 3.5 meters). Hand crank as standard. Budget-friendly.
• Velum Plus – Stronger arms and larger sizes. Motorized or crank-operated. Our most popular choice.
• Velum Pro – A full-coverage cassette that protects the fabric and mechanism year-round. Ideal if the awning is exposed.

All models are custom-sized and come with all necessary mounting hardware.

An awning or some other type of sunshade on the balcony?

A patio awning is the most effective way to block the sun on a balcony, but there are alternatives:

A patio awning provides the most shade per krona invested and can be fully retracted when you want some sun.