When you buy shade cloth for a greenhouse, it can be hard to choose between different fabrics, colors, and shade percentages. You may also wonder which features are worth paying more for. The cloth also needs to fit your greenhouse structure and be easy to secure or remove when needed.
As a shade cloth manufacturer, we understand how these materials are used and selected. In this guide, we share practical advice to help you choose the best shade cloth for your greenhouse.
First, Decide Whether You Need Shade Cloth or a Greenhouse Shade Curtain
If you have a plastic-covered greenhouse, high tunnel, or simple fixed structure and need to reduce intense sunlight, start with standard shade cloth, also known as shade netting. When you buy it, compare the shade percentage, fabric construction, durability, and price.
Black shade cloth installed above a plastic-covered greenhouse
If your greenhouse has a curtain system and you need to adjust the curtain for the weather and growing conditions, consider a multifunctional greenhouse shade curtain. Depending on the product, it can offer other useful features alongside shading, such as reflecting solar radiation, spreading light more evenly, or reducing heat loss at night.
Shade cloth installed inside a greenhouse
| Product | Best suited to | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Standard shade cloth | General shading for plastic-covered greenhouses, high tunnels, or fixed structures | Shade percentage, construction, durability, and price |
| Greenhouse shade curtain | Greenhouses with curtain systems that need to control light and manage other growing conditions | Shade percentage, required functions, and system compatibility |
Now, let’s look at how to choose the best shading material for each type of greenhouse, step by step.
How to Choose Standard Greenhouse Shade Cloth
1. Choose the Shade Percentage for Your Crops and Sunlight
The shade percentage indicates how much light the cloth is designed to block under specified conditions. For example, 30% shade cloth is designed to block approximately 30% of incoming light. A higher shade percentage generally blocks more light, while shade cloth can also help lower the temperature inside the greenhouse.
For example, in a high tunnel study in Georgia, USA, researchers covered a plastic-covered tunnel with 30% black shade cloth. The average daytime air temperature in the shaded tunnel was about 0.9°C (1.6°F) lower than in the tunnel without shade cloth.
So, where should you start when choosing the best shade percentage for your greenhouse? The table below gives examples from summer growing recommendations in the United States. Find the plants you grow, then consider your local summer sunlight and greenhouse conditions.
| Plants or use | Shade percentage to consider | How to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers | About 30% | If your crops need plenty of light, start by comparing 30% shade cloth. An Arkansas high tunnel guide also describes using 30% or 40% shade cloth in summer. |
| Leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach | About 30%–50% | North Carolina State University suggests starting with 30% in northern or coastal areas. In hot areas, you can consider cloth closer to 50%. |
| Northern highbush blueberries (orchard reference) | About 30%–50% | Washington State University suggests considering this range to help protect northern highbush blueberries from heat. The source mainly discusses orchard use. |
| Cool-season vegetable seedlings sown in summer | About 30% | To protect newly emerged plants in hot weather, you can start with 30% shade cloth. Adjust when you use it as the seedlings grow and the weather changes. |
For example, if you grow tomatoes in summer, you can start by comparing 30% shade cloth. If you mainly grow lettuce or spinach and your summers are very hot, you can also compare cloth closer to 50%.
2. Choose Knitted or Woven Cloth for Your Installation
Once you have an idea of the shade percentage you need, look at the cloth’s construction. Standard shade cloth can be knitted or woven. Both provide shade, but they can behave differently during installation and when cut to size.
Knitted shade cloth is a common choice. It is usually flexible and has some stretch. If you need to cover a curved tunnel roof, or want some stretch during installation, knitted cloth is a good option to consider. If you need to cut it on site, ask the supplier whether the cut edges can unravel and whether they need to be finished.
Close view of knitted shade cloth
Woven shade cloth often has less stretch than knitted cloth, which can be useful when you want it to hold its shape. Its flexibility also depends on the yarn and fabric construction. Before buying, check how flexible the specific product is and whether the cut edges need finishing.
If your installation needs a particular amount of stretch, ask for a sample or check with the supplier before ordering.
3. Check UV Protection and Raw Materials
Standard greenhouse shade cloth is often installed outside a plastic-covered greenhouse, where it is exposed to sun, wind, and rain. If you plan to use the cloth over several seasons, consider a product made with UV stabilizers and virgin material. For short-term use, you can also compare lower-cost shade cloth options, provided they meet your installation needs.
UV rays from sunlight gradually age plastic fibers, making the cloth brittle and weaker. Adding UV stabilizers during production can slow this process and help the cloth last longer outdoors. When buying, ask the supplier whether the product has UV protection and check the warranty period and conditions.
Virgin plastic is made from new raw materials rather than recycled plastic. Recycled material comes from plastic that has already been used or processed and is then prepared for reuse. Virgin material generally offers more consistent quality, making it worth considering when quality and long-term use are priorities. The performance of recycled material depends on its source, processing, and formulation, so check the product specifications and warranty when comparing options.
Plastic raw material used for shade cloth
4. Consider Shade Cloth That Also Helps Keep Birds Out
If you need both shading and bird protection, check whether the fabric and installation are suitable for both purposes. Pay attention to openings and gaps where birds could enter.
5. Check the Size and Finishing, Then Compare Prices
Once you have chosen a type of cloth, measure the area you need to cover. On a curved high tunnel, the cloth needs to go over the roof, so the required width is usually greater than the ground width. Allow extra material for your chosen fixing method.
Clips used to secure shade netting
For a small area, you can consider a ready-made panel that has been cut, edged, and fitted with grommets. For a larger area or bulk order, you can compare full rolls with custom-made panels. When requesting a quote, ask whether it covers only the fabric or also includes cutting, joining, edging, and accessories.
Rolls of agricultural shade cloth
Once you have chosen the shade percentage, construction, durability, and finishing you need, compare quotes using the same unit of area. Check which finishing services are included in each quote. If you need to buy in bulk, you can give the factory your sizes, quantities, and intended use to request specifications and prices.
How to Choose a Greenhouse Shade Curtain
If your greenhouse has a curtain system, you may need a different type of shading material. Depending on the product, a greenhouse shade curtain can help manage light, heat, and airflow inside the greenhouse.
1. Choose the Shade Percentage and Other Functions
As with standard greenhouse shade cloth, if your main goal is shading, first choose a shade percentage based on how much light your crops need. Then consider the growing conditions your plants need and the other equipment in your greenhouse. You may also want the curtain to reflect sunlight, diffuse light, or retain heat. The table below can help you narrow down your options.
| Your goal | Curtain to consider | What else to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce strong sunlight inside the greenhouse | General shade curtain | Light transmission, airflow, and how it will be used |
| Provide shade and manage solar heat | Reflective shade curtain | Reflective properties and installation location |
| Provide shade and spread light more evenly | Light-diffusing shade curtain | Diffusion and the crop’s light needs |
| Shade during the day and reduce heat loss at night | Curtain with shading and heat-retention functions | Shading and heat-retention performance |
| Provide high levels of light blocking or control light hours | Blackout curtain | Light-blocking performance and seals around the system edges |
To learn more about the differences, read our guide to the common types of greenhouse shade curtains.
Reflective aluminized shade fabric
2. Choose an Open- or Closed-Structure Curtain
After considering the shade percentage and functions, look at whether the curtain has an open or closed structure. This affects airflow and heat retention when the curtain is extended.
If your greenhouse relies on roof or side vents for natural ventilation, and you want warm air to rise through the curtain while it provides shade, consider an open structure. If retaining heat at night is a higher priority, start by comparing closed structures. They generally help reduce airflow through the curtain and heat loss, but you also need to consider how to ventilate when the curtain is extended.
3. Decide Whether the Curtain Will Be Installed Inside or Outside
If the curtain will be installed outside the greenhouse to block sunlight and manage solar heat, check whether the material can withstand outdoor conditions such as sun, wind, and rain over time.
Shade curtain installed outside a greenhouse
If the curtain will be installed inside, you can also choose functions such as light diffusion, heat retention, or light blocking alongside shading. Tell the supplier where the curtain will be installed, so they can check the material and use requirements for the model you choose.
Shade curtain installed inside a greenhouse
4. Check Whether You Need Flame Retardancy
Some greenhouse curtains are available in flame-retardant models for projects with fire performance requirements. If you need one, tell the supplier and ask for the test standards and reports for the specific model. Check the product documentation: flame retardancy does not mean the material cannot burn.
5. Make Sure the Curtain Fits Your Existing System
Once you have chosen the shade percentage, functions, and structure, check whether the curtain can be installed in your greenhouse. If you already have a curtain system, look at whether it is inside or outside, how the curtain is supported, and how it opens and closes. This will help you tell the supplier what you need when requesting replacement material.
For a horizontal curtain inside a greenhouse, the fabric may rest on a network of support wires or hang from the wires by hooks. The drive mechanism is a separate consideration. For example, the University of Massachusetts greenhouse guide describes cable-and-drum, rack-and-pinion push-pull, and chain-and-cable drives. Each can move a curtain, but the setup needs to fit the greenhouse and its existing equipment.
Support wires in a greenhouse curtain system
When buying a replacement curtain, give the supplier the greenhouse span, the dimensions of the area to cover, and the curtain’s fixing and support method. Photos or the model of the existing system can also help. If you need heat retention or a high level of light blocking, explain the sealing requirements around the edges so the supplier can check the finishing and installation method.
Choose the Right Shade Cloth for Your Greenhouse
The best shade cloth depends on your greenhouse and how you plan to use it. If you need shade for a standard plastic-covered greenhouse or high tunnel, start with the shade percentage your crops need. Then compare the cloth’s construction, durability, and price. If your greenhouse has a curtain system, choose a curtain based on the functions you need and the system already in place.
If you are a distributor or an agricultural supply company looking for shade cloth or curtains for greenhouse projects, contact us. We can help you compare specifications based on your purchasing needs and provide a quote for bulk orders.